Re: In other news

BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]: 

> 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 think my Dad bought some in the 70's when it was green sea water.
It's pretty gross.
I'm sure the stuff they have now is full of sugar.

>>>>>> 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...

YAY! I hardly get any snail mail anymore.
This is so exciting.
> 
>>>>>>>>> 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.

I have a cat. It does what it wants.
Not familiar with the rules of being a familiar.
> 
>>>>>>>>> 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.
> 
As did I.

I think once MS took over the workplace, most people learned VB.

>>> 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.

Nah. I mean the stuff I use often will get engraved in my mind. Anything 
else, will be googled.