Re: In other news

On 23.09.2023 23.14, Merlyne wrote:
> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in news:[email protected]:
> 
>> On 17.09.2023 19.50, Merlyne wrote:
>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>
>>>> On 09.09.2023 22.51, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 06.09.2023 14.22, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>> 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.
>>>>>> One would hope so, given the stickyness of sugary drinks...
>>>>> But you never know...
>>>> That may be what happened to that Spanish womens football coach...
>>> He got drunk on fermented Gatorade and kissed one of the players?
>> Or maybe he was covered in sticky Gatorade and unwittingly was
>> sticking to the players mouth...
>>
> We should send these excuses to him. For a fee.
To late now. He has already been 'released'...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>>>>> There are types of sportsball where you play alone (against an
>>>>>> opponent, obviously). Also without team sport you don't get to
>>>>>> imbibe the team spirit...
>>>>> No. I get that at work.
>>>> Oohh! do you get to go on retreats and play stupid games too? (Made
>>>> up by a genuine behaviourist sociologist.)
>>>
>>> Before COVID, we had stupid team building exercises.
>>> One time a manager brought in a bag of carrots and tried to get us
>>> all to go outside and make a snowman.
>> This was in winter, one assumes.
>>
> You're so SMRT.
It was a natural inference.

>>> Another manager had a stuffed animal that each person was supposed to
>>> take home for the weekend and then share the toys adventures with the
>>> rest of the team.
>> Invasion of privacy if I ever saw it. Mind, if it had been me the
>> stuffy thing would most likely have experienced doing laundry and
>> watching telly. Very adventurous.
> 
> My adventure would be: Merlyne spends entire weekend trying to find an 
> identical animal after BF's dog shreds the toy.
Why, though. It would be a dramatic adventure at least. And you would
spare your remaining colleagues the effort.

>>> During COVID, they tried a bunch of virtual events because they think
>>> we are retarded 6 year olds. Show 'n' tell, anyone?
>> I don't remember most of the stupid tasks we were given at those
>> sessions. Most of they were to do with working as a team, and everyone
>> was faffing about getting nowhere until someone took charge and
>> started giving orders. More often than I care to remember someone
>> being me - just to get the thing over with. Great way to consolidate
>> respect for section managers and such who was doing their fair share
>> of faffing. 
> 
> The formal team building thingees that I've been to have a facilitator 
> who gets the ball rolling. Sometimes literally. I was at one where 
> participants were not allowed to speak unless they were holding the 
> ball.
Yeah, that's pretty typical. I think they use something similar in
pre-school...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>>>>> But you are supposed to learn that in programmer school...?
>>>>> I think his degree is in Philosophy or History or something non-
>>>>> programming. How he got into this line of work, I'll never know. He
>>>>> told me his dream job would be to work on video games. He would die
>>>>> in that job.
>>>> Probably. How he got the job: probably the same way as everyone else
>>>> - lied on his resume...
>>>
>>> I would be impressed if that were the case. This one has about 0 
>>> initiative. 
>> Maybe you could assign him to go to all the meetings...? Just tell him
>> to say "No".
>>
> 
> He doesn't speak at meetings. Then he would come back and wouldn't 
> remember what went on at the meeting.
Make him a sign that says 'NO' to bring. Or better yet a t-shirt. Then
he won't forget to display it. The important thing is to have the 'NO'
represented.
Also you can read about the proceedings in the minutes on the intranet.
Probably.

>>>>>>> Sometimes people write 10 pages of code to do something when all
>>>>>>> they need is the coalesce function.
>>>>>> Isn't that more an unwillingness to RT(F)M?
>>>>> No one does that.
>>>> I always did. And it served me well on many occasions. More people
>>>> should RTM.
>>>
>>> You lost the F!
>> If one RTM before it becomes am urgent necessity there is no F
>> involved. 
>>
> Which never happens.
You think I'm the only one to ever read a manual?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Delegation is work, though. Particularly if you have staff.
>>>>>
>>>>> It's a delicate balanacing act.
>>>>
>>>> Another reason why wearing heels to work is a bad idea?
>>>>
>>> I definitely wobble less in flat shoes.
>>
>> One of several reasons why I never wore high heels to work.
>>
> 
> Heels are my way of elevating myself aove the frey.
> Plus I'm 5'5".
Okay, shorty...

-- 
BeH

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