rich-c: confirm rich-c: refresh
moved to room Meeting Place
changed username to Ron Ron: well...wherever two or three are gathered together Ron: Anyone home? rich-c: and not onl;y that, I'm wearing my AC15 t-shirt rich-c: sorry - didnt see you come in at first rich-c: too busy beating a game of Free Cell Ron: oh no..... I'm improperly dressed--- I'm in a Apple Mac T-shirt from the local store Ron: Really must try that some day rich-c: well - as long as you're using one of your Macs to get on line... Ron: Never used the games on these machines Ron: Well no, I'm on the Duron Ron: Nothing ever matches around here rich-c: as you know I am not a game enthusiast but I do use Free Cell (it's a form of solitaire) while waiting for the gang to show up Ron: right rich-c: OK then, go change into your "Defenestrate Windows" t-shirt! Ron: Know a couple of devotees here in town Ron: I have a button that says that rich-c: I keep trying to jack my win percentage over 82% Ron: aha Ron: but no Joy? rich-c: not right now though I have a streak of 8 wins going rich-c: my totals are W 1520 L329 Ron: well, that's not bad rich-c: I think my record is 29 straight wins and I keep trying to break that Ron: Over at the Extended Care Unit at the local hospital we have a computer club for the residents Ron: And they have solitaire tournaments Ron: This morning one of them won a Panda Bear for her efforts during August rich-c: really? which flavour of solitaire? Ron: the stock Windows game Ron: Klondike rich-c: on 98SE Free Cell is also Windows stock, though it may not be installed automatically Ron: Between the slot machine game and the solitaire, you'd swear it was a gambling casino over there rich-c: Klondike farv as I can see is strictly a random chance, no skill game Ron: my kind of game Ron: I'm trying to mix things up over there.... this morning I installed pinball on a couple of the Macs rich-c: gets wearing after a while - I do have a fw other freebie games I've brought down from the net Ron: just to see if they'd take to anything different rich-c: there's a mini-golf game I take a bash at occasionally Ron: oh now that would be fun Ron: the trick is with some of our residents .... that they don't like anything too complicateed Ron: complicated rich-c: yes, maybe you should take a prowl around the net Ron: It has to be simple.... a couple of mouse keypresses, and that's about all they can follow rich-c: trust me, when I game I'm generally looking for the idiot level Ron: I have done... but every time I go, there's something out there that I find new Ron: some of these people come to us for some hand-eye co-ordination exercise Ron: me too.... idiot level, I mean rich-c: try freefungames.com and popcap.com as a start Ron: sec gotta write those down Ron: right...got 'em rich-c: I've given up writing down - now I set up a blank notepad sheet minimized at the start of each session Ron: Always on the hunt for something different Ron: hey now there's an idea Ron: like it's not exactly like I'm short of computers to keep a notepad open on rich-c: then whenever someone gives me a url I highlight it, give it the old control-c Ron: indeed rich-c: bring up the minimized notepad, position the cursor and control-v it Ron: Guy Cousineau always used to tell me that I'm not lazy enough Ron: go to more steps than necessary rich-c: nowadays I have a file in "My Documents" called "urls from chat" Ron: right rich-c: I just start and minimize it then bring it up as needed when I have to copy something new rich-c: that's how I got the Hubble addresses Wednesday Ron: right rich-c: Guy was actually talking about how to write elegant software but teh principle applies generally Ron: yup rich-c: if you want to find out how to to a job most efficiently, assign it to the laziest guy in the shop Ron: with me, he'd always get on my case for not using shortcuts Ron: I still don't Ron: yup rich-c: I tend to learn them from necessity rich-c: that's how I got the url list stunt - couldnt keep up with our gurus Ron: well.... in my case, mostly I find that by the time I remember the shortuct, I could type the real line at least twice Ron: but some days, I'm not so sure if that's really true rich-c: depends on what your up to Ron: exactly rich-c: just like I tend to cut and paste addresses when responding to emails - otherwise my erratic typing betrays me Ron: let the approach fit the situation rich-c: anyhow I think maybe I can get you a couple more useful game sites - wait a second Ron: Like... I didn't realize until recently that there are keyboard shortcuts for just about everything on the menu Ron: ok Ron: I have my notepad at the ready ....(the Windows one that is) rich-c: sorry - can't find them on my favourites list right now (now ain't that stoopid?) rich-c: forget which folder to look in, I guess Ron: It has been known to happen rich-c: of course almost all the freeware sites have big game sections Ron: yep.... I have a couple of favourites.....usually TUCOWS or CNET..... and then "This Old Mac" for the Apples rich-c: OK - try bored.c0m, coffeebreakarcade.com Ron: so... now tell me.... what are the shortcuts for copy and paste? rich-c: also free2com.com/games, spikything.com rich-c: OK - control-c copy, control-v paste rich-c: relics from the late great days of CP/M ;-) rich-c: next: miniclip.com; gratis.it, psychogoldfish.com (which is Canadian)
moved to room Meeting Place
changed username to George rich-c: hi George, figured it was you George: Hi Rich, Ron rich-c: just telling Ron some places whre he could find freebie simple games for some unskilled users Ron: good.got em Ron: although control-v and control-c didn't work rich-c: there are lots more, Ron, but those have links and they're easy to come by Ron: had to type them from the Spaniel Screen to my Notepad window George: we have severe T-storms here Ron: the Good Lord is bowling, George rich-c: right, George, you must be getting th cold front that went through here yesterday noon George: it went from 90 to 75 rich-c: sure you didn't get 'em backwrds, Ron? they do work for me Ron: Are either of you tennis fans? Ron: got Agassi and Kafelnikov playing now rich-c: sorry - for me it ranks well behind watching paint dry or grass grow Ron: right.... would for me too if I hadn't actually played it a few years ago rich-c: hey, were you bust cheering for Ottawa last night? Ron: Always enjoy people doing things well that I've tried to to myself Ron: oh yes Oh YEs rich-c: I suspect that slight earth tremor I felt might be you jumping up and down with glee Ron: yup... that was I rich-c: that, sir, were one sumpin' game Ron: indeed George: BOY, that was a loud crash rich-c: was it very close, George, or just loud? Ron: storm must be close eh George? George: it is very close and violent. it shook me up rich-c: for every second between the time you see the lightning and hear the thunder, the lightning strike was 1000 ft. away rich-c: so if you saw teh flash and got the bang one second later, it hit about 1000 ft. from you George: doppler has storm overhead rich-c: if you're still on during a thunderstorm, I assume that means you have full surge protector George: i'm on note book George: wifi rich-c: even so you need your phone line surge protected, unless the smell of frying modems turns you on George: no modem wifi Ron: Tony Morehen lost one that way in Ottawa once rich-c: then your wireless interface would be what needs the surge protection rich-c: yes, I gather insurance companies in the US get over a million claims a year for fried computers Ron: imagine so Ron: we don't have much of a problem out here, although every now and then rich-c: I have whole house central surge protection - industrial strangth, and computer on UPS George: that has full surge $50,000.00 garenteed Ron: right rich-c: I didnt get crashed in the great blackout, just closed down normally Ron: PJ during the old compuserve days used to leave in mid-sentence somethimes...... she' shut down at the first hint Ron: she told us once....not to take it personally rich-c: couple of years back a local columnist who has surge protectors on everything in his house was talking about them George: now i need backup power too rich-c: seems on his block a car hit a tulitity pole and falling and shorting power lines fried evreything for blocks around Ron: oh oh rich-c: except his house of course where the only things damaged wre the surge protectors themselves Ron: ah...killed off in the line of duty rich-c: George, there is an outfit in Buffalo that has refurbished UPSs at good pricves George: My father is missing rich-c: I think their price has shipping included George: i'll pick up fresh soon rich-c: what do you mean, missing? George: family hasn't heard from him since yesterday, He never came home rich-c: anyway, George, make a note of: www.logicbox.com rich-c: is that unusual? - it was obviously unexpected George: yes rich-c: do you have any specific cause to be worried? George: he has severe memory problems Ron: brb rich-c: OK - so you are more worried about something like spontaneous amnesia or a TIA than foul play George: at times he doesn't know me anymore rich-c: was he using his car or public transit? George: his car rich-c: if his memory is that bad, having teh car is worrisome George: he has slow reaction time rich-c: I assume that you have been checking with the police George: not yet George: need at least 24 hours rich-c: don't you think that perhaps it is time that you did? rich-c: although I suppose if he was in an accident you would hear quite promptly George: police won't do anything till at least 24 hours rich-c: older folk with a history of impaired emntal function tend to be a special case rich-c: I can't figure why they havent lifted his drivers licence George: me too rich-c: aren't your doctors required to report such things? George: it's like riding with Mr. Magoo rich-c: I understand teh relationship problems in trying to take away his keys - better let the doctor or statev examiner do it rich-c: what is the PA age for mandatory testing to start? George: none set rich-c: none at all? here it's 80 Ron: BC Gov't is just about as lax Ron: just prior to dad's passing away in 1995 George: they had a woman on the news driving at 103 rich-c: right now we've had a number of pretty nasty senior accidents of late so there's quite a buzz Ron: his Doctor said he really shouldn't be driving, but somebody else had to initiate action Ron: We had to write to Dept of Motor Vehicles to ask for a test rich-c: no reason why a 103 year old shouldnt drivw so long as she is competent Ron: by the time the got to it, Dad had departed this world rich-c: here doctors are required to report worries - it's not an option Ron: registered letter arrived two weeks after the funeral Ron: yes....and so it should be rich-c: I am hoping I have sense enough to hang up the keys on my own when it's time Ron: So far, all we have here is ICBC doing a study on seniors and driving Ron: think they know there's a problem....but the politics in this province tends to lead to studies first rich-c: so far, as AARP and CARP will insist, figures suggest seniors can drive competently at any age rich-c: but they quickly add that not ALL seniors are competent forever Ron: I suspect so rich-c: they also note us elders tend to reduce our high-hazard driving voluntarily Ron: Anyway gents, i'm going to leave you both Ron: see ya Wed the Good Lord Willin rich-c: I think I'm an overly aggressive driver in the city here George: my father forgets oneway streets rich-c: simply because I want to prove not all seniors have forgotten where the loud pedal lives rich-c: and the disability sign doesn't refer to my mental powers (so many act as if it does) Ron: later guys George: bye Ron rich-c: OK Ron. take care, send some rain to the interior, and DV see you Wed Ron: fer sure eh? rich-c: 10-4
Ron left chat session rich-c: maybe it's time you made some (carefully anonymous?) inquiries to the DMV, George George: boy, did it get dark rich-c: yes, thunderstorms are like that rich-c: we sometimes have ones that turn the streetlights on George: it's like midnight rich-c: don't worry - "this too shall pass away" rich-c: notice we're getting some lag time on this server - wonder if it is planning to dump us? George: i noticed that rich-c: anyway, George, if you aer interested in a UPS at a good price, try www.logicbox.com George: ok rich-c: they offer quite and extensive line of refurbs with new batteries and guarantees rich-c: they also have a toll-free inquiry and order line and I think offer free shipping rich-c: I bought onw from their Toronto operation and it seems to be fully satisfactory George: i have one but as i have a network it's not enough rich-c: well, won't cost you anything to look at their website, so why not give it a peek? George: ok rich-c: in fact, if Dale's server is planning to crash out from under us anyway, maybe we should call it an afternoon George: ok rich-c: right - good luck then in finding your father, and hope you'll have good news for us Wednesday George: yes George: i'll try rich-c: see you then - bye now George: bye now rich-c: poof
rich-c left chat session
George left chat session
moved to room Meeting Place
changed username to georgie
georgie left chat session
moved to room Meeting Place
changed username to rich-c