Re: In other news

On 18.08.2023 14.51, Merlyne wrote:
> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]: 
> 
>> On 13.08.2023 23.28, Merlyne wrote:
>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>
>>>> On 09.08.2023 14.19, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 01.08.2023 13.32, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 27.07.2023 15.32, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On 22.07.2023 17.21, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> On 18.07.2023 13.24, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 12.07.2023 13.22, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 08.07.2023 17.01, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 05.07.2023 14.14, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 02.07.2023 16.29, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 28.06.2023 13.31, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I got a new phone and a better plan.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Why are cell plans so much more expensive in my
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> country vs the US? 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> CAPITALISM! It's always capitalism. We've been
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> over this. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sure. Are you sure that it's not related to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> population base? 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you pay the same country-wide and you the same
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> coverage in sparsely populated areas (I know you
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> have some of those), then maybe. But most likely
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> capitalism. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ugh!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I got a new S21 and 20GB of data for $47/month
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> taxes in. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I pay a base fee of ~$4/month (deducted from
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> consumption) with slightly higher per-minute
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> charge and no free data. But then I only use data
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> in emergency (which haven't happened yet) and make
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> maybe two calls and two texts/month. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I used to have a prepaid cell for like $10 a month
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> back in 2003 when it was my emergency phone.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Once I started using it all the time, it was more
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> cost-efficient to have a plan with unlimited talk
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and text. I would say that I am most frequently
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> contacted by text than by other modes i.e. voice
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> call or email. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On the other hand I still pay for a landline (IP)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> even though it hasn't made a sound (or call) in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> several years. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I also have a landline. My Dad calls it and a few
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> places where I keep forgetting to change my contact
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> info to my cell. I think the landline isn't VOIP
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> it's whatever came before that but after rotary
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> dial phones. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Analog... (rotary dials relied on counting the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> impulses - one for each digit passed on return;
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> pushbutton 'dialing' relied on the frequency of the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> tone correspondig to each digit/button) 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> They will probably phase it out eventually.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Like they did with teevee signals, thus making
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> everyone get new teevees... 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I thought I got a new tv because the old one stopped
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> working. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> That may be, but lots of people got new tvs because
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> their old one couldn't receive/decode the digital
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> signal. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The cable company gave out digital conversion boxes to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> people. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Can you still get one of those. To use on an old teevee
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that you buy at an antique shop?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I doubt anything would work on a tv that old.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> In theory it would. It would require a digital to analog
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> conversion and probably a granularity reduction from HD to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> PAL or [whatever the American format is called]. An old
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> cable converter might just work if one could bypass the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> subscription bit. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> It could work from an antenna. Some channels are in the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> air. In HD even. 
>>>>>>>>>>>> That's what I meant, using the antenna as input for the box.
>>>>>>>>>>>> A really old TV will probably make a mess of an unaltered HD
>>>>>>>>>>>> signal. 
>>>>>>>>>>> I can imagine.
>>>>>>>>>>> It would probably make a mess of SD signals too.
>>>>>>>>>> And if by some miracle it could be made to work, there
>>>>>>>>>> probably wouldn't be anything good on anyway.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Nonsense! There are always quality programming available like
>>>>>>>>> those reality shows were a farmer needs a wife.
>>>>>>>> Grrr! No matter when I look it seems to be all American 'Married
>>>>>>>> at first sight' or some survival show...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> There's now a couple of them on about finding a spouse for
>>>>>>> farmers. 
>>>>>>
>>>>>> And some where they put couples in an isolated spot and see how
>>>>>> long it takes for people to cheat on their partners. *sigh*
>>>>>
>>>>> And how long does it take? I need closure.
>>>> Sorry, I don't have that information. I don't watch that type of
>>>> programming. It's detrimental to my health.
>>>
>>> I bet it would help you fall asleep = good for your health
>>
>> Not really. I tend to get irrationally angry that this shite is even
>> produced, much less broadcast - using my money to do it.
> 
> But it's outside your control. You need to chill.
That certainly does not lessen the frustration.

> Here have some Gatorade.
Mmmmm... electrolytes. (I've never actually tried Gatorade.)

>>>>> I see that Big Brother is back for it's 25th season.
>>>>> Ugh!
>>>> But of course it is... It's what the people want.
>>> People are stupid!
>> Gatorade contains a lot of electrolytes... (guess the reference for
>> the chance to win a modest prize)
> 
> Idiocracy?
Yup! I'll mail you a gold star...

>>>>>>>> They do show Colombo (again) but late at night and I still
>>>>>>>> remember all the plots from last time.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don't remember all the Columbo plots. Doesn't matter since they
>>>>>>> show you who did at the beginning of the show.
>>>>>> Yes but Colombo is more about howdonit than whodunit... and
>>>>>> Colombo pretending to be dumb but really being very smart of
>>>>>> course. 
>>>>>>
>>>>> And one more thing...
>>>> Oh yeah, it must have slipped my mind for a moment...
>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I have Acorn and BritBox now so I can catch up on all my
>>>>>>>>> British murder mystery shows. I feel with the writer and actor
>>>>>>>>> strike that there may be a long tv show drought.
>>>>>>>> I get BritBox as well (on that streaming service). They have Yes
>>>>>>>> Minister/Prime Minister.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I never watched that one.
>>>>>> It's a good introduction into how gubbernment *really* works...
>>>>>> sort of. 
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'm going to finish Good Omens and then watch the latest season
>>>>>>> of The Witcher. The next season of The Wheel of time starts
>>>>>>> September 1. 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I did see a Canadian police series in french. It had all the
>>>>>>>> right characters:
>>>>>>>> - a neuro-divergent sketch artist with 'amazing' abilities,
>>>>>>>> - a wheel-chair bound, female chief always wearing a baseball
>>>>>>>> cap, - a young arab gay forensic investigator,
>>>>>>>> - a semi-alcoholic older detective who broke all the rules
>>>>>>>> (violently) - a middle aged female researcher, who was a former
>>>>>>>> elite hacker. And that was just the Good Guys(tm).
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don't know that one. I used to watch 'District 31' when I was
>>>>>>> on language training.
>>>>>> 'Portrait Robot' in Canadian. ('The Sketch Artist' in 'danish').
>>>>>> I don't know 'District 31' but I do have a Belgian series of all
>>>>>> things, all about sex-crimes.. in Flemish language.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> And speaking of programming, I wrote a Python program today
>>>>>>>>> without taking a course.
>>>>>>>> I had no idea you were a parseltongue.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Well, I had to do something after I failed out of wizard school.
>>>>>> Is that even possible. I thought you would just have to take the
>>>>>> year again. Or become Key Warden or something.
>>>>>
>>>>> But eventually they found out that I'm too stupid to be a wizard.
>>>> Is that even possible? I thought it's an innate ability for those
>>>> whom it is gifted.
>>>>
>>> I'm more of a Rincewind type of wizard or not gifted at all.
>>> Smoke and mirrors!
>> I'm not familiar. Or _a_ familiar for that matter...
> 
> That's what the cats are for.
I have no cat. Also no wizardry.

>>>>>>>> One of these day I'm gonna install the ADA pre-compiler for gcc
>>>>>>>> again and think of something to code in it... Something with a
>>>>>>>> lot of things happening at the same time.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> No, you won't.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I will. Some day...
>>>>>
>>>>> Right after you build that water feature in your yard, I'm sure.
>>>>
>>>> Well I won't be able to work on the water feature in winter, so I
>>>> could do the installing then.
>>>>
>>> Isn't that when you are painting the living room?
>>> *snickers*
>> No that was this spring, theoretically... Or next spring. Some time
>> when I can keep the doors and windows open.
>>
>>> Anyhoo....
>>> You should learn Python so that you can nitpit my code.
>> What made you think that I don't know Python? (I don't, but still)
> 
> It was a calculated risk. It was created after you left school and were 
> a fully functioning adult with a regular day job.
Yebbut I was reasonably capable of learning several programming
languages for many years after that.

>> What made you think I can't nitpick any code from a position of
>> relative ignorance?
>>
>> But really. Code is code. The symbols may be different but logic is
>> forever...
>>
> That's what I keep telling coworkers who are panicking about having to 
> learn Python or R. If you can program, you can do it in any language. 
> You just have to learn to syntax.
And memorise all the function libraries, of course... Piece of cake.
 --
BeH

" We are trapped by language to such a degree that every attempt to
formulate insight is a play on words." - Niels Bohr