Re: In other news

On 24.08.2023 16.55, Merlyne wrote:
> 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.
Well, sports people need their energy.

>>>>>>> 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.
Hang on. I need to find a stamp... I'm sure there are some around here
somewhere.

>>>>>>>>>> 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.
I'm somewhat familiar with the behaviour of cats.

> Not familiar with the rules of being a familiar.
Me either. But that's okay since I'm not a cat.

>>>>>>>>>> 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.
And some probably even learned a programming language as well.

>>>> 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.
But... your productivity!!1!

-- 
BeH

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