ColonelCrockett: Some do. And these kind of programs are very dangerous as hakers will usually find the back door and figure out how to exploit it. I recomend people check out hacking web sites. Good way to find out how secure your stuff really is. But a good programer that doesn't want to get suid will not include a back door but instead will have an automatic update script wich checks the web site for new updates and asks the user if they want to download them. This way can only be hacked by taking over the server. And the user still has the choice of wether or not to download it.

I don't get it, there is no information on the site to worry about, and as mctrivia correctly says, there is clearly no attempt to encrypt anything anyway. Haven't we had this discussion?

mctrivia: I've heard that some client software has built in backdoors for "easy" access and fixing of some errors.

ColonelCrockett: Very true. Though this web site is unencrypted so there really is no privacy isues that I can see that a client based program would have asuming of course there are no back doors included and it is a strictly push pull data type program.

mctrivia: I wasn't disputing the advantages, just stating an obvious concern (for me personally). There are measures Fencer can use to increase the security of a Client Software Platform, I've just seen too many clients that aren't safe.

Fencer: Never thought about the Cell Phone. I don't own one yet but that would be cool to be able to play on one with the lower bandwidth and screen size fiting beter then the web page would.

ColonelCrockett: I can't say for sure what fencer would be thinking but I am sure both options would be available. The website is good for when you are using diferent computers(the library or friends computer). Software more convenient for your own computer(especially when on wireless low bandwidth conection)

ColonelCrockett: ?

Fencer: some people dislike software clients (privacy concerns). Just keep that in mind . . .

mctrivia: I've been already thinking about creating a rich cross-platform client with several different profiles (cell phones, PDAs, Java desktop application) but, as you said, it's a time consuming job. I'll think it over.

If Fencer had time it would be cool if he could write a windows based program. There are several advantages to a software program over the web page and only a few disadvantages.

1) Most importantly fast game play would be possible as the data could be sent to the server as well as directly to the apponent(You do not need to keep polling the server you can wait for the aponent to send to you). This would allow for the adition of games like speed chess.

2) Game play could also continue when the server goes down as the server does not need to receive eery move update they would be there for tracking of stitistics and to minimize the chance of hackers cheating. When the server goes back up it will continue geting updates and can ask for the missed moves from both players wich should give it the same answer.

3) The bandwidth load on the server would be less as graphical data can be kept on the local computer requiring only move codes to be transfered.

4) Finding an oponent could be sped up to mere minutes by letting the computer automatically match up oponents in the range you want to play against. This would of course should be optional with the regular method still available.

5) Being optomistic could eventually replace MSN. That is being a little hopeful though.


The bigest disadvantage is it would require a lot of programing time for Fencer. The secound bigest problem is that it would be possible for a haker to say the game went differently then it did if the server was down for a long time. But having the server check both computers should bring that possibility to almost none.

I think it's clear that the number of points needed to qualify for an "established" BKR is too small in backgammon games. It's only necessary to view the ridiculously inflated ratings at the top of the lists and notice the small number of games behind them to prove this.

I believe that the BKR formula provides for larger ratings adjustments for players under a certain level of experience (500 points?). I would recommend that this number be lowered -- say to 100 points -- and that the same number be used as the dividing line between provisional and established BKR.

WhiteTower: I've never seen stats kept on such things as gammons. I don't think it's a meaningful statistic. Backgammon is a money game, and the only thing that's really relevant in tournament style play (as here) is whether you win or lose.

WhiteTower: Not yet.

Fencer: How about adding more relevant formulae for other game types, e.g. Backgammons? We have been discussing this in the Backgammon DB for some time now, but have no feedback from you yet - is there any?

mctrivia: I've sent you a message, I don't want to start another discussion of this kind on this board.

Fencer: What is the formula exactly?

Fencer: Good business policy, Fencer.

Thad: Don't play rated games then. Who is not satisfied here, can play elsewhere. But I won't change the formula anyway, it's pointless to spit on it.

I just had a two game match end in a draw:

xxxxxxxxxxx: old BKR = 1876, new BKR = 1875 (-1)
Thad: old BKR = 1869, new BKR = 1870 (+1)

When two players are this close in BKRs and then draw, their scores shouldn't change, not even one point. BKRs are garbage.

nobleheart: yes I know. but 50% usually is enough to get the gist. Have so far only goten one message that the translater gave me no clue.

mctrivia: even the best language translation tools are not 100% accurate in translation

Thad: It a history of anyting you bought, including T-shirts or membership. I think it really only records after he built the shopping cart.

Thad: Yes, my list is empty too

Marfitalu: So it's a paid membership history? Ok. Must not be complete, only from a certain date on, because my list is empty. ;-)

Thanks.

Marfitalu: Yes your right

Thad: I think it means , what order u want to see your players and games in.

On my profile page, it says, "(edit | change password | order list)". What is order list? I tried a search, but it didn't turn up even a clue.

Sorry, a little off-topic.

Princess Alison: So I noticed they are going frail around the edges

ANychance of some different smileys , ive worn all the current ones out

Vikings: yes but the there are a lot of devices like computers that automatically change for daylight savings time. so you would be fighting with the machine because it would change with the US. But rod is right this is off topic(I love the little sign)

mctrivia: the change will afect only 3 weeks a year

mctrivia: it starts march 2007. It would be kind of impossible to start immediately wouldn't it

As this is now off topic this is my last post on this:
http://www.livescience.com/othernews/ap_051029_time_change.html

Do a Google on proposed daylight savings change. There are tons of reports on it.

Rose: Everything I have read says effective emedietly not starting 2007. But that is of course effective the day the president signs. We have said we would do it in 2007 but I thought the US were going to do it sooner. Oh well.

mctrivia: You said NOW.. It hasnt happened yet and last I read we had agreed to the same changes that are going to happen in the US. Also the change isn't even going to happen until 2007

Rose: The news. The US is changing when Day light savings time starts and stops to use less hidro. Canada is still fighting over wether or not to follow.

mctrivia: The US isn't using a different daylight savings time than Canada is. Where do you get your info?

grenv: Time is going to get really wered now that the US is using a differnt day light savings then Canada.

Thad: AHHHHH! Whydya have to say that???? I miss Maui so much and now Im up in Maine surrounded by snow!

pgt: Well my time is correct, but I have to admit this is the first time I've used brainking to tell time.

Thad: You're not the only one. My clock on BK is consistently 1 hour behind the actual time irrespective of whether we have DST or not!

grenv: Hawaii. DST wouldn't do us any good. ;-)

Thad: Arizona by any chance? Why can't you guys get with the program?

Before all that, perhaps we could just get the time to be correct! I live where daylight saving time is not celebrated. BrainKing's clock is wrong all summer long!!!

Czuch Chuckers: And if the short month form were used instead of the whole, then no a lot of space need be lost either, except in early-summer.

I'd like the feature. It would be handy to have it in PMs as well.

grenv: The feature request here, then, is for more Australian knowledgeability, so that there IS no need for local timezone info for posters :PPPP

wellywales: And New Zealand (League in Leeds!)

furbster: When I was in Australia we were more likely to sleep through most of Sunday after sampling the local pubs on Saturday night. Then again maybe that's just me...

pgt: By Wales