Re: In other news

On 04.10.2023 16.13, Merlyne wrote:
> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]: 
> 
>> On 26.09.2023 14.11, Merlyne wrote:
>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>
>>>> On 23.09.2023 23.14, Merlyne wrote:
>> [---]
> [****]
[^^^]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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'...
>>> Still. There might be a hearing. Or a charge in 20 years when the
>>> player is suddenly traumatized by a repressed memory.
>> There have been very little opportunity to repress any memory in this
>> particular case.
>>
> You don't know.
I read the news. I'm confident in my statement.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>> I didn't want to point out the difficulty in making a snowman in non-
>>> winter months. WORSE.TEAM-BUILDING EXERCISE.EVER.
>> I dunno. It challenges the participants' ingenuity... Also if it's hot
>> a good deal of co-operation is required.
>>
> Good luck finding snow in July.
*opens freezer* *forms ball from sediments*
> I'll be at the pub if anyone needs me.
Oh, there you are... *throws*

>>>>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>> Or the trauma when they find out that the beloved mascot is no more.
>>> Anyays, I never brought the toy home so I got to spend my weekends
>>> doing fun things like laundry and watching tv.
>> You aren't really very good at that whole team spirit thing, are you?
>>
> Besides the fact that my parents raise me to be an individual, I really 
> can't get into lame party games and things of that nature.
But.. It's designed to demonstrate that things work better if you cooperate.

>>>>>>> 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...
>>> Makes sense. They treat us like we are retarded 6 yr olds.
>> To be fair the 'talking stick' (or ball, whatever) is an ancient
>> method of keeping order in assemblies - predating the mute-button by
>> many centuries.
>>
> I'm in favour of it.
> Of course the way things are these days, using the 'mute' button on 
> someone would be viewed as a microaggression and would require everyone 
> to attend a meeting about how microagressions are wrong.
Talking over each other is also a microagression. You are going to need
more meetings.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>> I'll try that. He will think I'm joking and laugh.
>> As long as he doesn't laugh during the meeting. You don't want the
>> other participants to think it's a joke.
>>
> He laughs at meetings when I go off on a rant.
> But then a lot of people do. 
Mute them.

>>>> Also you can read about the proceedings in the minutes on the
>>>> intranet. Probably.
>>> Not usually.
>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> 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?
>>>>
>>> Yes. Or least when it's not urgent.
>> Tsk-tsk. What is the world coming to...
> How about you read the manuals and then give me an executive summary 
> about them?
You mean as in teamwork? Co-operating for better efficiency like you
learned at the seminar?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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...
>>>>
>>> Isn't that USian slang for GF?
>> Not that I've heard/read. I believe it's slang for a short person.
>>
> 
> shorty or short�ie [ shawr-tee ]
> 
> noun,plural short�ies.
> a person of less than average stature (sometimes used as a disparaging 
> and offensive term of address).
> 
> a garment designed to be of short length, as a hospital bed jacket.
> 
> Also shaw�ty  [shaw-tee] .Slang.
> 
> a girl or woman:
> We watched the shorties on the dance floor, all lookin' so fine.
> 
> a girlfriend or sweetheart:
> Me and my shorty went to that new club over on Ninth last night; what a 
> scene!
> 
> adjective
> noting a garment designed to be of short length:
> a shorty nightgown; shorty pajamas.

I can't keep up with all the slang the young people use these days.

>>> Also, I'm average height for caucasian women.
>> The average height for women in DK is 167cm (5'5.75").
>> I know this because the news told me - the height requirement for
>> joining the royal guard has recently been removed because it
>> discriminated against women. The requirement for women was higher than
>> average height while the requirement for men was lower that average
>> men's height.
>>
>> These are the important decisions that occupy the high command.
>>
> 
> So I'm average height for a woman in DK. I'll blend in nicely when 
> visiting your water feature, stele and pile of guano.

Sure. I was hoping for a lot of japanese tourists, though. They are more
likely to buy my tacky plastic souvenirs.

> They changed the requirements for fire-fighters here so that more women 
> could join. I can hardly wait to be rescued from a burning building by a 
> 96 lb woman.
Well, maybe if you stopped playing with fire you wouldn't need rescuing
all the time.

-- 
BeH

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