Re: In other news

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

> 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.

Or the Gatorade container is filled with water. At least that's what it 
looks like when they dump it on the winning coach.

> 
>>>>>>>>>> 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.

I can't picture me playing team sports.

> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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...

I haven't taught anyone to program, but I do end up reviewing other 
people's code. I get questions about 'How do I do thing X?' I have one 
programmer who can't program from scratch. I usually have to meet with 
him and outline step 1, step 2 etc.
Sometimes people write 10 pages of code to do something when all they 
need is the coalesce function.

> 
>>>>>>> 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. 
> 
That will never happen. When we are understaffed, I don't have time to 
focus on my own work. All the work has to be distributed amongst the 
existing staff.