Re: In other news

On 30.08.2023 14.42, Merlyne wrote:
> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]: 
> 
>> 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.
> This is just a guess - it's mostly non-sports people who drink it.
Also the sports people/teams who are sponsored by the company, I bet. At
least when they are on teevee.

>>>>>>>>> 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.
> I'm so excited. I never win anything. I have to pee!
You know what they say: You can't win unless you play. Maybe you should
start doing some sportsball or something... After you are done peeing,
obviously.

>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
> Probably.
> I usually end up teaching myself.
Whereas I on several occasions ended up teaching others...

>>>>>> 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!
>>
> All pensionable time!
> If they want me to be more productive, they need to get me more staff 
> and stop assigning me extra work.

Your productivity isn't going to increase if you run out of work to do.

-- 
BeH

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