Spirit Plants - Discussion of sacred plants and other entheogens

So, how do you kids like our new computer? Folks in the store told me we'd be the envy of all of our friends....

lw

Sheesh........

Tough crowd this morning. And where's the straight man when when you need him?

Pit-ah-bangh!

lw

pfffft!!

I don't get it. ????

-TM

You mean, you guys can't see my new computer system? That sales guy must have been exagerating this things capabilities!?!

Guess this must be a group home sort of joke, or something. Maybe its just a plain old dead virgin joke... hehe

lw

....but seriously, ain't it kind of funny to see a post intimating that you'se guys are the only friends balanced against the fact that the pride and satisfaction of owning a new machine is more or less a solitary satisfaction. I mean, my posts look the same as they did yesterday on the old machine. hehe

lw

hey, i'm impressed.
i love the mouse

"Man the ad said if I don't buy this(toothpaste, deoderant, car, computer) I will never have sex again"

Ah, that is a nice computer. I think I'm envious.

-TM

Damn it troutie, not you. I know you'se guys are a wireless mac household, too. Shucks, from here it looks like you have a ViewSonic monitor, too. I mean if'n I squint just right.....

ps judih:  Thanks for noticing. I like this new wireless mouse from apple, too.

lw

Anyhoo... We picked up a new mac mini the other day and are going wireless to boot.

We finally have a burner!  

And I've been researching the equipment needed to record acoustic instruments/drums through a quality mic and into garage band. It looks like I can get a little preamp and a usb audio adapter for under $100. Still need a mic or two and I'm guessing they will each cost as much or more than the equipment mentioned above....

lw

True, but they have come way down. Pre-sonus makes good mic preamps for around $100. Rode and Blue make good mikes for a fourth the price of the full on pro stuff.

Hey, jrl....

I've been looking at the Art tube preamp for a little less or about the same money for a couple of models.

Any comparisons between Art and presonus?

Thanks.

lw

Quote from: "laughingwillow"And where's the straight man when when you need him?

Ima strait man...not that there'z anythang wrong with that.

Pa-dum-shhhhhhhhh!

Mmm, puter-envy. I likez tha sound of that.

I'll bea gettin' one of them two LW. I am still apayin' off me old one furst.

Do us one of them reviewz of tha puter. I wanna see picz of tha thang after it haz been dropped froma roof top. Ya know...durability testin' an such.

I likez tha Pro Mouse. Two bad about tha design flaw where tha wire meetz tha mouse. I found a nice site that showz how to repair them. It worked!

I need to go wireless. That iz whut tha stripper said anyway.

Fin

Well, we done gave up trying to sync up non-mac equipment last night. Every product we've bought that is supposed to cross over between microsoft and mac has just plain been a pain in the arse. And everything we hook up from mac just syncs up by itself. I couldn't even open the software discs from ehawk for a wireless router that supposedly is supported by mac osx. Sure we'll pay a little more but I think its worth it at this point.

jrl: Please see my above post concerning preamps if'n you happened to miss it.  

Is my toof blue, yet?

lw

Relax, finny. I know a couple of nigerian fellows who will help pay off your old computer, for a favor......

LOL I changed my mind on the pro mouse after realizing it had that defect, too.

ps: I think our stripper niece left town on a whim wit hsome guy promising to treat her like shite. Appears you missed out, bro. And I was ready to throw a nice discount your way. hehe

ps2: I'm not checking me old email account anymore. I'll get my new one to you when I get it set up, k?

lw

jrl: One more question......

I'll be putting a tube preamp between mic and computer for a little warmth. Any real need for a tube mic at that point?

And could/would you care to explain the difference between a large and small diaphram on a cartoid mic?

Would that be best for most hand drum applications?

ANy other suggestions?

Thanks.

lw

LW odds are they are all good, I have had more experience with various Pre-Sonus boxs.

Man, I don't think you have to spring for a tube mike. Let me peruse the Sweetwater catalouge and ask a few questions. Get back to you later.

LW,

Thoze Nigerian igitz already owe me a bigtime favor :wink:  Throw tha dawg a bone...and ya never hear from 'em again.

Here'z tha Mouse repair link
//http://www.sewardweb.com/applepromouse/

Only one stripper niece in tha fam? No worriez, I gave up stripperz. I have moved on ta porn starz.

LOL, here'z a funny. I actually met a famous porn star chika when I wuz datin' said stripper. Some of them, apparently so I have been told, tour the strip clubz for promoz and ta earn some extre muniez.

This skin star chika wuz actually very interesting. We had thiz long discussion about the Mayanz and tha Aztecz. Went on for close to an hour.

Me thinkz, 'she needz ta be massagin' tha crowd instead yackin' with Fin.'

Turnz out, she iz from that region. So, she iz turned on by thiz stripper and now, porn star aficionado.

There are several gagglez of tha most beatimuss stripperettez tha some desert-dry, stripperless eyez have ever seen. Yet, I see them none. Me whole focus iz on thiz chika I have...eh-hem, heard about for yearz.

She leanz over in me ear and whisperz, "So, you want to make a movie with me?"

As many of you have bore witnezz to me constant babble over tha yearz, I for once, wuz speechlezz.

Me thinkz, 'She has had this line pounced on her a thousand timez. Why iz she askin' me thiz questionae?'

Yeah, yeah, I know everyone else would have had tha perfect comeback...well, fuck all. I did not. As I type thiz dribble, I still can not manufacture a reply.

Truth be told, I could not have crossed tha heart of me stripper muse. It iz not in me. Besidez, I wuz more than stunned to be with a woman that coulda been in Playboy.

An' Fin thought he wuz doin' fine until HST getz hiz ashes shot outta cannon. Even Fin could not have figured out how ta get blown...after life had passed.

So, Lw - your skin-kin iz safe with me. That iz, tha not treatin' 'em like sheeyot part. Be they stripperettez or otherwize.

But, typin' theze wordz tonight...stripperless - I shoulda made that movie.

Of course, those in "tha biz", do not brag when they makez such mooveez. :wink:

Finstar

LOL Holy wank-yankers! Ever thought that move with the porn star could have helped the cause with your favorite stripper?  Funny how those things work. 'Specially with strippers.

lw

LW, here is the mike you want, the Rode NT 1A. Sweetwater has 'em for $199 with free shipping.

Rode NT1-A
Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone with Shock Mount. RODE's new NT1-A is one of the world's quietest microphones! Why is that important? Low noise will give your work the dynamics you deserve. Adding noise from any device, especially at the source, only degrades your performance. The NT1-A has a self-noise of only 5 dB-A!

Thanks, man. I was looking at that mic.

I'll post the specs of a couple of other mic rigs I've found to be of interest.

Turns out garage band can support more than one live instrument/mic at a time. And I remember seeing a matched pair of mics selling from a brand I think you mentioned. (Maybe Rodes.) I'll look. Anyway, these mics allowed you ot record a channel in stereo and were said to be good for overhead drum micing.

I'll be bock.

Thanks.

lw

Heres what I was peeping.....

The Rode NT5 is a condenser microphone specifically designed for instruments including guitar, saxophone, drums, violin, and many others. Its design allows for tight positioning where small mics are most useful. They come as a matched pair complete in a case with a stand mounts and windscreens.

Technical Description


Acoustic Principle: Externally polarized single diaphragm condenser transducer

Capsule Size: 0.5 in. (13 mm)

Active Electronics: JFET Impedance converter with bipolar output buffer

Directional Response: Cardioid

Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz

Sensitivity: -38 dB re 1v/Pa ± 2 dB equivalent to 12mV/Pa where 1 Pa = 94dBSPL

Equivalent Noise: <16 dBSPL, (A-weighted per IEC268-15)

Maximum Output: +13.9 dBu @ 1% THD into 1k ohm

Dynamic Range: >128 dB

Maximum SPL: 143 dB @ 1% THD into 1k ohm

Signal to Noise: 78dB

Power Requirements: 4 mA, P48 Supply (38VÅ¡52V) 2 mA, P24 Supply (20V-26V) The microphone operates in accordance with the above specifications to a minimum of 18V. It will operate with some performance degradation below 18V.)

Packed Weight: 1.8 kg (Mic only 100g)

.....................................

Now I'll go look for the one you mentioned.

Thanks again.

lw

Oops. I thought the nt5 was selling for a pair at the price fo one. $199.

I'm guessing the mic you mentioned is the way to go.

lw

Mrs lw's new dell laptop showed up this morning. And it synced up with our mac wireless airport system right of the box.

Now if I could just figure out how to make our wireless phone quit messing with the wireless computer reception. IWe tried switching phone channels but that didn't do the trick.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

lw

I must say, after helping to set up the wife's new system yesterday that I've never been so happy to be on a mac. Not that there were any serious problems with the dell/mocrosoft set up. But I sure like the new mac ox 10.4 better than windows pro. At least the little I messed with it. But that whole "cluttered desk top" of windows os looks so 1995..... Right click. Left click. Oye!

lw

LW - You most likely have a 2.4 GHz phone.  Getting a 900 MHz or 5.8 GHz phone might work. - according to Sept 2005 Consumer Reports.

Thanks ttts.

Makes sense.

I'm guessing a new phone will make it higher on our wish list than the HP doo-hickey which will allow us to print wirelessly from multiple computers here in our little bunker on the prairie.....

viva la herba mexicana!

lw

Get any war-drivers attempting to spoof on your system yet?

Huh? Wha-dat, windey?

lw

SO I just googled war-drivers.

The wife and I are both wpa capable, so that would potentially take tare of most concerns. But then again, unless malicious intent accompanies a war-driving foray, I'm all for open access.

Good question, windey. I've been slowly getting educated on wireless security, including the differences between mac and pc vulnerability.

I found a nice security link while googling the war-driver deal.

Tanks

lw

QuoteI've been slowly getting educated on wireless security, including the differences between mac and pc vulnerability.

When the signal is outside the computer, Mac and PC are all the same as far as the network is concerned.

We use WPA in our house just in case, but it would take a very bored (and probably trespassing) person to get on our wireless network either way.

-TM

troutie: So, if'n the signal is captured outside a computer, to what extent is a network or individual computer systems vulnerable due to the tricksters actions in question?

Thank you for your moral and technical support.

lw

//http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/01/08/24/010824hnfreewireless.html

Parasitic gridz also called the "hippie" network. Hehe. This meanz that a system could be set up where net access iz free. Iz being done in several citiez. Anyone think they will get suspicious when there iz just one peep pain' fer net access? Hehe.

Them astronaut fellerz left a mirror on tha moon. So, one could use tha mirror ta bounce a signal off it and come down in some cornfield somewherez. Specially iffin' one user haz tha speedier cable access. Hehe.

//http://www.iss.net/wireless/WLAN_FAQ.php

//http://techdir.rutgers.edu/wireless.html

//http://www.macsecurity.org/

One of them linkz mentionz changin' tha default password. 63 character length possible. Use that. Wiff Mac, one can: highlight, drag-n-drop text to one'z desktop. No need to write down tha password. Close your eyez and type some letters. Open eyez and type a number thruout tha process. Repeat. Avoid using wordz in tha dicktionary.

There iz password generatorz out there. I would avoid them. They iz just algorithmz. So, yur password could be "predicted" iffin' a cracker knew which password generator you used. Remote possibility. I read where thiz guy figured out tha algorithm fer Kino in Vegaz. Placed bet in hiz room. Won. Went down ta collect. Only problem...he hit another winner. There iz a joke in Vegaz that, "nothin' ever hit in a Kino room 'ceptin' a erfquake." One winnin' number iz strange...two iz impossible in a short time frame. The igitz were arrested.

The guud thing iz that Mac is not used by the majority of peepz in tha world. Less numberz of attackerz.

I would be more worried about some pre-pub teen wiff too much time on itz handz. Specially iffin' it lived next door. 300 ft range of wireless technology. Thiz concern may be void iffin' bunker iz >300 ft deep.

Me thinkz yur wireless phone ghz iz tha same az tha wireless
puter. Causez interference when them wavez iz "in phase". Hehe. Smash phone.

Of course, the ASN(backwardz) can crack anythang. 'Ceptin' a certain stripper'z heart-o-stone. Hey, ASN jockeyz - can youz guyz crack telepathz yet? Also reefered to az tha No Stripperz Allowed.

Me thinkz I am headin' to Wall Skreet. Maybe I'll get some guud stock "tipz". Hehe.

Fin

OK fin. I just smashed the phone. Now what? I can't get a dial tone, but the problem with the computer does appear to be fixed. You is a freaking genius, bro.

Btw, I'm still curious as to the access that can be gained to my computer hd by wardrivers. I'd just soon have the system set up to allow wireless internet access by anyone close enough ot participate without letting them in my hd. The hippie grid sounds like a swell idea to me.

Anyone care to educate me as to why it's dangerous or unadvisable?

Thanks.

lw

ps fin: I'm never taking your country-assed advice again. What an id-jet you are! I made my last post and then realized that if smashing the phone made the computer work, naturally, smashing the computer would make the phone work, too. Well, I was duped. (And I thought you were a friend.) Now I'm guessign that the whole, "smash the phone to make the computer work" suggestion was nothing more than your way of getting back at me for getting a new computer before you did.

At least I still remember how to run this old machine.....

lw

LW, you can set up a firewall at the wireless router and/or at the computer level. There are a number of levels of security for the home user including the following:

1. Firewall at the router/wireless transmitter. This essentially makes all computers on the wireless network "invisible" to prying outside eyes. I use this on our Airport Extreme Base Station, routing specific ports to my G5 for Bittorrent. All other network Macs are invisible from outside the network and access to the G5 is only through bittorrent port.

2. Firewall at the computer. For even more security, you can run firewall software on your computer. For your Mac, go to System Preferences > Sharing and click on the Firewall button. Click "Start" and you have your own personal firewall. The area below that provides the ability to allow traffic on specific ports for the listed activities. If you click the "Advanced..." button, you can specify your Mac as stealth, returning no acknowledgement that your Mac even exists. For your PC, cross your fingers and pray. And whatever you do, don't connect to the internet or get email. Haha, just kidding. I'm sure there are plenty of firewall options for Windows, but that's beyond my experience.

If you enable wireless encryption (just give the network access password to whoever needs it) and enable at least one firewall you should be about as safe as you can be.

-TechGeek

While they may not access your hard drive, they might down load or post material or order stuff that could get traced back to YOUR isp account.  Say certain seed types from Amsterdam or 9 year olds doing heavy petting donkeys undersides.

LOL Thanks windey.

troutie: I enabled my ox firewall the other day, but have yet to do so for the router. Prolly the way to go. I like the idea of stealth mode.

Thanks guys.

lw

Looks like I was already running stealth. Maybe it defaulted to that setting right out of the box?

Firewall logging is disabled. Is the log how one recognizes a wardriver visit?

lw

I have wep enabled and password specific. (Did it last week.) But I don't remember giving laura the password to access the router wiht her pc and she's been on the net wireless all week....... Guess I'll have to ask her when she gets up. She'd prolly have a coniption if'n she caught me browsing her pc. And in that she has no worries. hehe

viva la difference

lw

Hey, troutie.....

I'm trying to secure our network. When I go into the "sharing" files I see various capabilities to enable or vice versa. Any idea what I need to shut down in order to force the wife to use wep encripted password of my choice? Would you be so kind as to enlighten me a little on the subject?

Anyone else is welcome to participate, btw.

Thanks in advance.

lw

WEP password is set in the router/transmitter. You would need to connect to your router and turn it on. What kind of wireless router/transmitter are you using? Did it come with software or info on how to connect to it for configuration?

-TM

Doh! I didn't mean wep, I meant wpa.

We are using airport extreme base station. When I go to preferences>sharing>internet>advanced, there is a page ot give wpa passphrase and to repeat. I did that. Then there is a page to enable web sharing. However, I get a warning that I may get shut down by my provider for activating. Either way, on or off, the wife is able to connect to what shows up as an unsecure apple router.

I doubt any neighbor has an apple router set up to provide her access. I must be missing something.

lw

WEP/WPA, either way it's set at the base station. Now that I know you're using an AEBS it becomes much easier.

Go to Applications > Utilities and open Airport Admin Utility.app. Double-click on your base station in the list (should only be one there) to open config. Click "Change Wireless Security..." to configure network security. That is where you set the security type and the password for other users to access the network.

Once you set this, AEBS will reboot and any computers without WEP configured and with the correct password will not have access to your wireless network. I assume your Mac's using an Aiport card, so it will be disconnected from the base station. If you aren't automatically prompted to enter a password click on the Airport icon in the top menu bar and select Other..., then select your existing network, set your Wireless Security and Password and you're done.

-TM

Thanks, man.

That should do it.

lw

troutie: All appears well and good now.

However after restarting my computer logged into the airport network with the correct password and have never been prompted since. I can't find a place where I asked the machine to remember the password. DOes it just automatically remember?

When I returned to the settings it claims I'm 128 bit wep enabled. (I guess I don't have wpa on this thing, as it denied my attempts to set that one up.)

Thanks for the help.

We'll see what happens when laura gets home. hehe

lw

Btw, when attempting to set up a WPA personal encryption I get this message:

Joining a WPA-protected network and making changes to a WPA-protected base station requires a WPA capable computer. This computer is not WPA capable. If you continue you will not be able to join the WPA-protected network or make changes to the WPA-protected base station.

I'm set up fine with WEP 128 bit, but am curious as to why this machine isn't capable of the non-radius supported personal setting?

lw

"I can't find a place where I asked the machine to remember the password. DOes it just automatically remember?"

Yes, it remembers. There's probably a setting to make it NOT remember but I'm not sure why non-CIA would use it. :-)

"I'm set up fine with WEP 128 bit, but am curious as to why this machine isn't capable of the non-radius supported personal setting?"

I think what you're tinkering with is Internet Sharing for your Mac. You could connect your cable/DSL/dial-up to your Mac instead of the base station and have your Mac act as the router, enforcing WEP encryption on it's own network. But if it's acting as the router and using its own encryption, it won't match the encryption of the base station (the other router) and they won't be able to talk to each other. No need for Internet Sharing from your Mac if you're doing it via the base station.

-TM

Thanks, man.

But I'm still curious as to why I'm not able to use the WPA encryption on this machine.

lw

troutoe: Are you set up with WEP or WPA?

LAst night the better half had to log onto the wireless network, so all appears swell in the kingdom this morn.

Tanks.

lw

We use 128-bit WEP. We've been wireless for a couple years or so but it was only after we moved to the middle of nowhere that I got paranoid enough to turn on encryption. At least I know the bears and elk won't be getting free internet from us.

-TM

It makes sense. You're looking ahead to the future wireless crowds gathering at the tram platform in your back yard to catch a lift to redrocks. ANd I hear those old bull elk get hella reception with those monster antlers. A fella can't never be too safe.

lw

LOL So we just got a call from Dell. I answered it only because we just bought a new dell. The lady called to verify the location fo the new machine. "Oh, by the way," she then mentioned innocently, "it appears we failed to include a deal on high speed cable access. Do you currently have a connection to the internet?" "Well, sure," I say. SHe asks me our provider and I tell her. Then she explains how she can save us some money every month (on a trial basis) just by switching providers. I took the time to explain that we didn't care for the offer for reasons beyond the month to month initial cost comparison and that we hadn't accidently overlooked the option. We just didn't choose it even if it was billed as "free."

I know, I know... She just wanted to HELP!!!

lw

Yesterday I finally hooked up the little JBL duet speakers the wife bought awhile back for me mac mini.

At first I was dissapointed. There was just no volume or "punch" at all. Then I started snooping around the controls and found the little graphic EQ and preamp set up in itunes. Needless to say, things are rocking here in the computer room. Nothing like a 10 band EQ to make the most of Dead boots.

I have to laugh at the range of automatic EQ settings the system offers, though. None automatically engage the preamp and need a hearing aid to listen to the results. Unless me rock and roll ear has been getting worse as of late.

lw

Hey LW!! Remember when I sent you that one cd about 5 years ago? The jarring one that when "Waaa-Waaa-Neeaauuughhhh!!"

You told me that you got good use from it scraping off your b un g when you went camping.

Under the rules of Greenspan economics, you owe me like 1.2 cds now.

Poo free please.

Oh, man... What timing, lizzy. We've a new burner, so name your poison.

Good to hear from you, bro.

lw