Re: In other news

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

> 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*
> 
Ow!
Why'd you pelt me with a giant ice ball?

I guess you don't have a frost-free freezer then.

>>>>>>>> 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. 
> 
Some things work well, some things don't.
I think I can decide when I need help.

>>>>>>>> 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.
> 
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I remember when microaggressions were about racist or sexist things...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
> 
Why? I like the attention.

>>>>> 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?
> 
I learnt nothing at the seminar.
I snuck out at the bathroom break.

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

You should.

>>>> 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.
> 

I'm getting a vibe that you don't want me to visit :(

So you need to launch an advertising blitz in Japan.

>> 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.
> 
The leprechaun tells me to burn things.