neglected2much In reply to Switchman2002 [2016-03-20 02:15:23 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! Likewise. I didn't realize you were also on dA until I ran into one of your stories. 

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

neglected2much In reply to absolutissimus [2016-03-13 15:33:20 +0000 UTC]

I like the idea in 'Elevator Pitch.'  You captured a lot in a little space (just like an elevator pitch). The descriptive elements are great and it really comes together.

Thanks. Slow, but I have been grinding away. I've only been getting time late at night, and it's been hard to keep my eyes open and motivated. I've got a few different things in progress at the moment, which also isn't good for getting things done, but should have some postings soon.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

neglected2much In reply to Juanilla [2016-03-12 18:17:13 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome. I always enjoy seeing your work.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Juanilla In reply to neglected2much [2016-03-17 21:20:27 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

neglected2much In reply to slamm345 [2016-03-07 15:36:02 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome. Looking forward to what you come up with in the future!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

neglected2much In reply to igachu80 [2015-10-30 15:31:34 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much!

I've been giving llamas to people I see visiting enough that I remember seeing them a few times as a way of saying "thanks for the interest."

I have the next part almost done. I need to give it another read over and then plan on posting it. I'm hoping for this weekend. This one was a bit of a struggle for some reason. I just couldn't get it to have the feel that I wanted.

Aside from writing time, I need to get faster at writing that's for sure.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

neglected2much In reply to Bound-to-please [2015-09-27 16:39:52 +0000 UTC]

You're very talented, my pleasure.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

neglected2much In reply to Rob66 [2015-09-02 20:13:53 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome. I have a paper book of the original Alazar pencil drawings and have always liked it.  Good job with the colorization. I seem to remember another harem drawing that I liked even more. I'll have to dig the book out of it's hidey-hole.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Rob66 In reply to neglected2much [2015-09-02 23:09:47 +0000 UTC]

The colorizing is by Alazar, not me.  I'm not even talented enough to color 

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

neglected2much In reply to Rob66 [2015-09-03 00:26:17 +0000 UTC]

I know that feeling.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

neglected2much In reply to SpaceShipEarth [2015-08-28 00:54:21 +0000 UTC]

Keep up the good work

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

neglected2much In reply to Blades-123 [2015-07-06 04:38:12 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

neglected2much In reply to PleaseImJustaGirl [2015-07-04 05:12:56 +0000 UTC]

Yes, one of the well-respected masters there with a lineage. I studied through a lineage of American Marines that learned in Okinawa and brought it back to the US in the 60's. Most people don't know how much American martial arts has evolved and progressed from traditional roots.

I studied various forms of martial arts here and there for a few years (Shotokan, a eclectic style taught by some bar bouncers, a mix of Akido and Ju-jitsu) and then settled on an Okinawan style because I found a great sensei and school that I could get to regularly and easily. I stayed there over 12 years before life got to be too hectic. Mainly, it was something I had to give up to support my kid's activities. 

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

PleaseImJustaGirl In reply to neglected2much [2015-07-04 06:57:00 +0000 UTC]

 I Think My Cousins and You could be Good Friends.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

neglected2much In reply to PleaseImJustaGirl [2015-07-04 16:09:44 +0000 UTC]

There is a weird way in which people serious about martial arts get along with each other. Some kind of common ground right from that start.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

PleaseImJustaGirl In reply to neglected2much [2015-07-04 20:23:08 +0000 UTC]

 Hai! So Des. BTW I grew up on Mainland Japan, But I did Ballet, Not Karate.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

neglected2much In reply to PleaseImJustaGirl [2015-07-04 21:10:37 +0000 UTC]

We didn't use Japanese in class very much and mostly butchered it. The one place I studied was much more traditional and, I learned later, was much more proper about pronunciation.  Hai = Yes, one of the words we did use (of course), but I don't now "So Des" and it come up on google translate in a meaning way. I'm going to guess it's something like "isn't it true."

That's pretty cool that you grew up on Mainland Japan. I think it's great to have more than one cultural exposure. I've been pretty sheltered in the US, but now that I live in New Jersey, I'm around all different immigrant and get some amount of exposure to different things.

I've always heard that they teach Shotokan Karate in the school system in Japan.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

neglected2much In reply to ForceMasterR [2015-05-17 03:10:11 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

neglected2much In reply to BritslutJenny [2015-05-11 14:11:36 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!  Happy Birthday!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

neglected2much In reply to FurhavenLabs [2015-03-09 04:35:21 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome. That's a fun story.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

FurhavenLabs In reply to neglected2much [2015-03-09 07:28:40 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! 

It was kind of a chore to get up to speed on Cycles but, now that I'm beginning to get the hang of it, it's getting more fun to make, too. 

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

neglected2much In reply to FurhavenLabs [2015-03-09 15:04:45 +0000 UTC]

Nothing like a "mandatory upgrade" to encourage the exploration of new tech.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

FurhavenLabs In reply to neglected2much [2015-03-09 19:10:35 +0000 UTC]

I was planning to get a new video card, eventually.
This just sped up the process. 

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

neglected2much In reply to FurhavenLabs [2015-03-09 19:14:19 +0000 UTC]

That's what I mean about the "mandatory upgrade."   

At least it wasn't a brand new one. That would suck even more.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

FurhavenLabs In reply to neglected2much [2015-03-09 19:28:58 +0000 UTC]

I was afraid that it was the whole computer!
The thing wouldn't start at all because the video card is a critical link.  If that fails, the rest of the boot process stalls.
Took me a couple of days of intermittent, off and on, failures to finally figure it out.
Then, on top of that the HD crashed, adding insult to injury.

BTW:  If you are ever in need of parts, accessories or even just some technical advice on your Mac, Other World Computing is a top notch company, IMO!
www.macsales.com/

They helped me diagnose the problem over the phone and, once we had a solution, the replacement part was on my doorstep by noon the next day.
I can't give enough accolades to them!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

neglected2much In reply to FurhavenLabs [2015-03-09 19:43:06 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, it can be hard to tell if you've fried to whole thing or just the video card (especially on laptops).

Cool, good to know. I'm still in the Microsoft and UNIX world for my main usage (with some ipads in the mix), but think about going the Mac route sometime (The Mac OS is really just a build over on Unix).  My main obstacle has been service stuff. I haven't been very happy with Apple and the geniuses when getting other things fixed (three different service incidents).

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

FurhavenLabs In reply to neglected2much [2015-03-09 20:39:25 +0000 UTC]

I rarely rely on Geniuses because they are mainly sales people in disguise.
I've been using Apple products since the Apple ][ and have rarely owned any other kind.
I never liked the Microsoft paradigm.  It always seemed "backward."  Backward "on purpose" just to avoid being accused of copying.  And that "backwardness" just gets in the way of doing the things that I wanted to do on computer, in the first place.

I do like UNIX/Linux and use them on a fairly regular basis.
I often prefer to do some things on command line.  Just seems more efficient.  I often feel like using a mouse is more work than simply typing...  grep "something" ...path... > ...path...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

neglected2much In reply to FurhavenLabs [2015-03-10 03:31:18 +0000 UTC]

I've had to have three Apple devices repaired: iphone and two ipods. Each time, I was herded through Apples annoying mechanisms. Schedule an appointment (even though I was already in the store and people were standing around). Arrive precisely within my 15 minute window. Wait 10 minutes for my "genius" to be available. Have him lecture me about how I should use the kind of case that he uses on his phone (nice form factor Apple when a case is necessary--sarcasm intended). Then have him talk about how they may or may not have one in stock. Hear the sticker shock on how much they want. Decide it's still cheaper than buying something else.  Yeah, I think you can tell how much I love Apple service--more sarcasm.  Don't get me started with all of the software problems I've had with itunes.

In fairness, getting anything electronic repaired is a bit of a trauma, but Apple is the only electronic I ever visited that tried to make me believe that the problems were my fault. It's not an entirely logical process. There's lots of reasons to argue pro and con for the various types of hardware. In the end, I don't have a particular loyalty to one brand of anything. More of a collection of good and bad experiences.

Yeah, the mouse can be overrated. I tend to mix command line and GUI operations quite a bit.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

FurhavenLabs In reply to neglected2much [2015-03-10 04:12:15 +0000 UTC]

I don't have a lot of trouble with Apple Store employees but, then, I usually come in knowing what I want.  My questions are usually pretty well pointed at specific things.  I figure, for the price I pay, I am somewhat entitled to make use of their services to get what I need.  (IMO: Few people understand how to "properly" use service personnel, these days.)

I gotta agree with you about iTunes.  It has become pretty bloated.  I don't care for the way it is used to "manage" your iPad/iPod/iPhone at the same time it is used to manage your music and movies, etc.  Those functions should be split into different applications.

Aside from i-devices, most Apple products have a longer service life than other brands I have used.  It is nothing to get 10 years-plus out of an Apple computer.  My original iMac is still working and usable.  It's just slower than the newer computer(s) I have.  Other than that, I can turn it on and use it, even though it is 15 years old.

I keep the Terminal application on my dock and I use it frequently.  I find it frustrating to have to take my hands away from the keyboard to do something I could do at the terminal in a few keystrokes.  cd ~/    ls is WAY faster and easier than using a mouse.  It even takes longer to say than it does to do it. 

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

neglected2much In reply to FurhavenLabs [2015-03-10 14:36:22 +0000 UTC]

I do get the impression that 90% of the people the Apple store employees deal with are rather clueless so they seem to start off with the attitude issues as a result. I can't say I blame them, but it is annoying.  It's also hard to walk out with an unresolved issues since the Apple store is typically the only game in town for some people to get their problem solved. They claim that if you get something serviced somewhere else that they will refuse service at the Apple store after that. I haven't wanted to push my luck on that one, but they said it to my face.

Aside from the issues you mentioned with itunes (adding that the "manage" stuff is also functionally deficient), I mostly have a lot of software issues with it. Hangups, crashes, things that are lost, syncs that don't work, etc. Currently, it fails during upgrade to the newest version. I tried a number of things I found online and in the help without success. I don't have time to spend on it so have left it along. The 2 hours I already spend were far more than I should have had to spend.

Yeah, the idevices are orphaned by Apple after about 4 or 5 years. I have an old phone that cannot be upgraded to the newest OS. As a result, it can run some of the new apps. I have a nano which is essentially a brick now since it's incompatible with their own stuff. People can bitch about Microsoft, but they go to great lengths not to orphan people.

I think one of the differences with MS and Apple is that the really old products get to be rather intolerable with MS. I can't stand to use an old XP machine, slowness being one of the big issues. However, as far as durability goes, old Windows machines last 10 years quite often as well--for the people that can still stand them. Between work, my family and myself, I've had 22 windows machines and only retired 2 because of hardware failure. One of them the laptop I mentioned with the seeming design flaw (which by the way is not a Microsoft problem, but an Asus problem) and the other because I didn't want to put the effort in a power supply repair since it was 7 years old (I just loaded up the hard disk info on a newer box). Of the others, I've repaired one laptop and two monitors. I don't really count the monitors (they were the old CRT kind), so can essentially say I've had 19 of 22 flawless machines (I'm knocking wood right now) of various brands running Windows.

I'm the same way with certain operations and go straight to character mode. I try to keep in mind which way is better for the various tasks I have to do.  There are a number of things that character mode is blazingly faster. I can't even start up some of the GUI tools as fast as I can finish the change in character mode.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

FurhavenLabs In reply to neglected2much [2015-03-10 19:34:22 +0000 UTC]

You can get things serviced at other places as long as it's an "Apple Authorized" place.
There is one in town, where I live.
But, frankly, I have so few problems with Apple stuff.  And the stuff that does happen, I mostly manage by myself.
The video card was from NVIDIA.  It wasn't Apple's fault/problem at all.
Same with the hard drive.  It was a Seagate drive that failed.  Seagate's fault.
In terms of technical advice... Other World Computing did a bang up job at helping me.
I think, in 30 years of owning Apple stuff, I called Apple for actual repairs, maybe two or three times.

Apple store employees are obliged to repeat the "company line" but, if you talk to them right, you can get them to give you the "real skinny."
I had an older iPad that was running iOS-7 and it was time for the iOS-8 to come out.
Knowing that my iPad was older, I was hesitant to install iOS-8.  I asked the Apple Store guy and he said, "According to Apple, the upgrade will work."  But, then, I asked him, "If it was YOUR iPad, would you do it?" and he quietly said, "No, I wouldn't."

I think you are right about the hardware and OS issues.
My mother has had three older  (two "old" and one "really old") computers that were too old/slow to run the latest M$ so I reformatted them and installed Ubuntu Linux and they work perfectly fine.  Two of them work just fine, to this day.
I have an old, white iBook that I can dual boot into Yellow Dog Linux.
I'm not planning on dual booting my desktop computer into Linux, just yet, but I might, some day. 

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

neglected2much In reply to FurhavenLabs [2015-03-10 20:19:09 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, most of these machines, including those from Apple have parts that are fairly standard across the industry.  A couple years ago, I heard that all laptops from major manufacturers come from a set of 5 factories in Taiwan.  It's always been that way with manufactured goods.

Most of my issues have all been with i-devices. I did got to a non-apple place for one screen repair.

I think some of the current hardware is getting so good that the whole need to change hardware should slow down. The switch to laptops and tablets has been fueling most of the growth right now. I also think more people are buying second and third devices. However, it's going to be harder and harder to convince people to upgrade as time goes on. I know I'm already there with phones too. 

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

FurhavenLabs In reply to neglected2much [2015-03-10 20:54:35 +0000 UTC]

In terms of hardware, the only difference with Apple is the ROMs that load the firmware upon booting.  But, now, that's all done with EFI, so even that is fairly standard.  It is possible to flash the EFI of non-Apple hardware to run OSX.  I read about a lot of people who do the "Hackintosh" thing.  Eminently doable.

The thing that is important to me, and the thing that I think most people forget is that (((I))) am the owner of the computer and (((I))) should be the final arbiter of how the computer should be used to fit (((MY))) needs, not the other way around.  Apple, MS or any other company are there to do MY bidding.  I DO NOT want them to get in my way!

Although any platform, nowadays, has its "fanboys," I often think that Apple fanboys are the worst.  At least they seem to be.  I don't know if it's laziness, stupidity, herd mentality or all of the above but those people piss me off.  And it pisses me off when people seem to classify all users of a given platform as fanboys.

I use computers and technology to do what I want to do and in the way that I want to do it.  Everybody else can just go fly a kite as far as I am concerned.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

neglected2much In reply to FurhavenLabs [2015-03-10 21:34:23 +0000 UTC]

I never thought about trying to turn an old windows box into a Mac.  Hmm, interesting idea.

Exactly! Now days so many companies seem to want to railroad everyone into being a cookie cutter mindless bot that's easy for them to support.

It's almost tech chic to be an Apple fanboy. I was playing around one day the Apple store and making comments about how much better Windows was at some things. It was funny. It got the lecture on their so called better displays (the typical Windows person doesn't pay for a top quality display, but the apple machines pretty much only come that way), and that kind of thing. In the end, it was all mostly Apple marketing and "I had this Windows machine with Vista and ...."  It was like they had to talk themselves into it. Worse yet, it was like they felt like they had to convert me to their religion. There definitely a subculture thing linked to them.

Exactly, it's all about what you want to do and the tools to do it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1