| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370039 is a reply to message #369797] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 14:34   |
usenet
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On Sat, 30 Jun 2018 15:57:29 -0400, J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sat, 30 Jun 2018 10:54:22 -0700 (PDT), hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
>> On Saturday, June 30, 2018 at 4:08:09 AM UTC-4, Brian Reay wrote:
>>
>>> I still have the kit to do BW processing (it was something I taught our
>>> children) and some 35 mm cameras, including a couple of CRFs. I get the
>>> urge every now and them to load up a film etc but the whole process is
>>> just to tedious. Not so much the actual processing - that is quite
>>> quick- but getting the improvised darkroom ready etc.
>>
>> While Kodak no longer makes chemicals, other companies do, such as Ilford.
>> For instance:
>>
>> https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/Darkroom-Equipment/ci/ 4942/N/4288586562
>
> So? He didn't say he couldn't get chemicals, he said setting up the
> darkroom was a pain in the butt. Maybe you are (a) not a photographer
> or (b) some rich flake who can afford a permanent darkroom in his
> house, but for the rest of us we have to block off all light leaks in
> the room and then set up the enlarger and the trays and whatnot. The
> room has to have running water which means either the bathroom or the
> kitchen, and the bathroom usually doesn't have enough counter space so
> by default it's the kitchen. And once you're done you have to take it
> all down again.
Some people put spare bedrooms and/or bathrooms in their basement. Some people
have rec rooms with a wet bar. A close relative realized one of their childhood
dreams and built a darkroom in the basement. And they were neither rich nor a
flake.
People who regularly need to set up a temporary darkroom in their home will
quickly streamline the process. Someone who only occasionally develops and
prints film would very likely find it a PITA. And once you mix the solutions,
they have a limited shelf life.
Film photography was not necessarily an expensive endeavor. Like so many
activities however, it could certainly absorb as much money as one cared to
throw at it.
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370040 is a reply to message #369962] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 14:35 |
hancock4
Messages: 6746
Registered: December 2011
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On Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at 2:23:36 AM UTC-4, Charlie Gibbs wrote:
> Since we went to 10-digit dialing, I no longer use parentheses. Since
> in properly written text a parenthetical expression can be omitted
> (parentheses and all) and still be grammatically correct, it sort of
> made sense to write a phone number (npa)nxx-ssss so you could omit the
> area code in places were 7-digit dialing is available. If all 10 digits
> are mandatory, npa-nxx-ssss makes more sense.
You are correct. But out of force of habit, I still write
(311) 555-2368 rather than 311-555-2368. Young-uns like to write
311.555.2368 . I don't know where that format came from, but I
won't use it.
As an aside, my office is in a location which still has seven digit
dialing for local calls. However, if one dials the area code the
call still goes through.
When I first got a cell phone years ago (analog days), I could dial
a seven digit call. I don't think that works now.
As an aside, some of the key pioneer area codes which once covered
a large area have now shrunk down to a tiny space due to splits.
For example, 213 in Los Angeles and 201 in northern New Jersey.
Some years ago New Yorkers vied to keep a 212 area code and not
get one of the new ones, but now I don't think people care.
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370041 is a reply to message #370036] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 14:36 |
Michael Black
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Registered: February 2012
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On Tue, 3 Jul 2018, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
> (Also, Doris Day may have done a film where she was hired to
> work in data processing and made a mess of things. It might have
> even been the above.)
>
In "Glass Bottom Boat" she works for some research lab, and I have some
vague memory of a computer in there. She sometimes plays a mermaid for
her father's tour boat, but someone thinks she's a spy.
Michael
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370042 is a reply to message #369973] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 14:38 |
hancock4
Messages: 6746
Registered: December 2011
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On Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at 3:00:10 AM UTC-4, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
> Not having a street name or number is a good one - it applies to
> most of the rural addresses in Ireland.
I think in the US a lot of rural addresses or plain building names
were assigned a numerical street address to satisfy the computers
in the post office and emergency service.
For instance, many schools and office buildings were addressed
as "Smith & Elm Streets". Now they have "1254 Smith St" even
when the building takes up a city block.
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370043 is a reply to message #370030] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 14:41 |
Michael Black
Messages: 2799
Registered: February 2012
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On Tue, 3 Jul 2018, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
> However, I can't believe that a number of cities use the same
> street name repeatedly. For instance, the main street through
> a development will be called Smith Street, but the offshoot
> cul de sacs will be called Smith Place, Smith Plaza, Smith Court,
> etc. In Queens, NY, there are a few sections where there is
> 50th Street that intersects with 50th Avenue. To me, that is
> very confusing.
>
That's what postal codes are made for. Not so useful if out walking or
diving, but to get the mail there, there's enough definitiion to make sure
it doesn't go astray, though of course it does. The mail carrier still
has to make suer that the 16 on the envelope is for the house at 16 on
this street, rather than the next street over (this happens a fair number
of times recently).
I've filled out forms only to be told "that address doesn't exist", the
software checking a database, which indicates it's not a road like I
always have known it, but a "chemin".
Michael
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370046 is a reply to message #369994] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 15:00 |
Michael Black
Messages: 2799
Registered: February 2012
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On Tue, 3 Jul 2018, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
> On Tue, 3 Jul 2018 05:46:28 -0400
> Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> A "standard" is that when you write a name surname-first you use a comma.
>> "Lord, John Earl" is easy to parse. If someone can't be bothered to use a
>> comma they deserve anything they get back. OTOH, given a string of names
>> without punctuation it's largely impossible to parse.
>
> True enough but one thing we found on that project was that we got
> better results by ignoring commas and relying instead on the convention
> used by each data source. All too often the comma was in the wrong place or
> missing thus guaranteeing a misparse if you depended on it.
>
Forty years ago, and I admit that it was a long time ago, I subscribed to
a magazine, and it seemed to tkae a long time so I wrote them. And I made
the mistake of putting my ham callsign after my name. When the magazine
came, I got two issues per month for a year. One was to me, the other was
to "Michael VEZBUW" (I cant' remember if that was all caps. So they
changed "VE2BVW" to something sort of resembling a name. It couldn't be a
number in there, so they changed it to a Z, I haven't figured out why they
changed "V" to "U" but one sort of sounds like a name, the other doesn't
They didn't check files to see if I'd sent money for this account. They
didn't check the address to see if there was a magazine already headed
here. They didn't even check the rest of the name to see if there was
a match. They checked the name, no match, they "fixed" the name" and then
sent me a free subscription. My friend was happy to get the extra copy
each month.
Michael
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370049 is a reply to message #369980] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 15:16 |
Michael Black
Messages: 2799
Registered: February 2012
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On Tue, 3 Jul 2018, Quadibloc wrote:
> On Monday, July 2, 2018 at 6:20:21 AM UTC-6, Chris wrote:
>
>> Most of the early calculators did have led displays, as did digital
>> watches fwir, with lcd coming in much later.
>
> FCVO "early". Early electronic calculators - not pocket ones - often used Nixie
> tubes.
>
> When it comes to pocket calculators, some early ones used LED displays, while the
> cheaper early ones used vacuum fluorescent displays instead. LCD indeed came much
> later.
>
"Early calculators once the price became reasonable used LED displays".
But yes, "early" in this case meant pocket calculators. "Consumer"
calculators might also be acceptable.
Michael
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370050 is a reply to message #369974] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 15:23 |
Michael Black
Messages: 2799
Registered: February 2012
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On Tue, 3 Jul 2018, mausg@mail.com wrote:
> On 2018-07-02, Michael Black <mblack@pubnix.net> wrote:
>> On Mon, 2 Jul 2018, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
>>
>>> On Mon, 2 Jul 2018 11:35:32 -0700 (PDT)
>>> hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
>>>
>> and I can't put in a Canadian postal code, maybe deliberate, but we do
>> watch US tv. I would think they could figure out that someone hasn't
>> entered random characters and then check to see if it's a valid postal
>> code.
>>
>> A lot of forms require you to put your first name in a box, and your last
>> in another box. Maybe there's logic to that, but I figure someone just
>> doesn't want to parse things properly. Phone numbers have a standard
>> format, but a lot of places expect you to just put in the string of
>> numbers, no brackets around the area code, etc.
>>
>> If I nedd to type in a bank card or similar number, the forms often want
>> the numbers without spacing, while the spacing makes it easier to ensure
>> you've typed it right. Getting spaces out of the way shouldn't require
>> any real effort on the programmers part.
>>
>> Michael
>>
>
> I have got by quite well by entering `000000' as post code entry.
> We had no post codes in (.ie) until recently
>
That reminds me of doing soemthing like that at one point, I had to enter
a field, but it wasn't relevant, so I put in something bogus. And it was
"valid".
Of course, if I need a zip code to find out what local station carries a
given network, a bogus number in that field won't get me a result.
This reminds me of using lynx, the text only browser, for a long time.
And at some point I started getting a new error code when trying to use a
site. It seemed the server software was rejecting lynx. So I tried other
user agent headers, and they all worked fine. I think even a blank there
was fine, but the software very much rejected lynx.
A lot of this seems oversight, someone not realizing the world is bigger
than what they see, so they forget others might do things differently.
But rejecting a specific browser (which is different from rejecting all
browsers except a certain one or few) is incredibly discriminatory. "We
know about your browser, and we won't let you in.".
Michael
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370051 is a reply to message #369971] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 15:27 |
Michael Black
Messages: 2799
Registered: February 2012
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On Tue, 3 Jul 2018, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
> On Mon, 02 Jul 2018 21:56:06 -0400
> J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Mine works find as a phone and is a better camera than my old
>> Polaroid.
>
> Mine is a better camera than the real one in one important respect,
> it is always in my pocket when I need it rather than languishing in a
> drawer at home.
>
And you get the pictures back right away. All I ever had was a 35mm
viewfinder camera, and after a few years of using it, I gave up. I wan't
taking enough pictures to get good, I might want some photos but not want
to waste the rest of the roll of film so it would sit around, and then the
expense of developing. I take pictures of all kinds of odd things, simply
because it costs me nothing, and yes, I always carry my camera with me
now. I can film some odd cloud formations, and take a picture of that
cactus I just bought to record how small it is now. No need to copy down
some notes, just take a photo.
Michael
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370052 is a reply to message #369962] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 15:38 |
Michael Black
Messages: 2799
Registered: February 2012
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On Tue, 3 Jul 2018, Charlie Gibbs wrote:
> On 2018-07-02, Michael Black <mblack@pubnix.net> wrote:
>
>> I think I've still run into US webpages that don't do Canadian postal
>> codes. I know some of the US tv networks have a "find a local station"
>> and I can't put in a Canadian postal code, maybe deliberate, but we do
>> watch US tv. I would think they could figure out that someone hasn't
>> entered random characters and then check to see if it's a valid postal
>> code.
>
> I've found a number of U.S. self-serve gas stations whose pumps require
> you to enter your zip code. We Canadians are screwed, unless we remember
> whatever trick you can use (something involving just the numeric digits
> in your postal code plus some sort of filler, but I don't remember exactly).
> I'm always a bit nervous about buying gas in the States.
>
I don't drive. Is this becasue they need your zip code, or just a way of
keeping track of a customer? The one zip code I remember was "03458", I
think I've got that right, the zip code for 73 Magazine in Peterborough
Nh, which of course was also the original zip code for Byte.
>> A lot of forms require you to put your first name in a box, and your last
>> in another box. Maybe there's logic to that, but I figure someone just
>> doesn't want to parse things properly. Phone numbers have a standard
>> format, but a lot of places expect you to just put in the string of
>> numbers, no brackets around the area code, etc.
>
> Since we went to 10-digit dialing, I no longer use parentheses. Since
> in properly written text a parenthetical expression can be omitted
> (parentheses and all) and still be grammatically correct, it sort of
> made sense to write a phone number (npa)nxx-ssss so you could omit the
> area code in places were 7-digit dialing is available. If all 10 digits
> are mandatory, npa-nxx-ssss makes more sense.
>
>> If I nedd to type in a bank card or similar number, the forms often want
>> the numbers without spacing, while the spacing makes it easier to ensure
>> you've typed it right. Getting spaces out of the way shouldn't require
>> any real effort on the programmers part.
>
> This is one of my pet peeves.
>
Sometimes it takes some effort to figure out what I've done wrong. I
press enter, and sometimes it looks like nothing happened, until I notice
a "all * fields require data" and even then, it may take me a while to
figure out what I didn't do right.
I'm expecting some money from the government. So I've been checking the
CRA sit. I am really impressed with how they set that up. If you have a
bank account that you could access online, then that works to verify who
you are to the federal site. You have to have some other bits, but
"whatever was on line 40 of your income tax return", something very
unlikely to be available to others. Added security comes from phoing or
emailing the CRA, and they mail you back (to the address on your income
tax) a code. You don't need that code after the first time, it's just
another level of security.
It all just seems very well thought out, security without having to go
down in person, and no major hurdles to it.
Michael
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370055 is a reply to message #369604] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 15:48 |
Michael Black
Messages: 2799
Registered: February 2012
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On Tue, 3 Jul 2018, Huge wrote:
> On 2018-07-02, Michael Black <mblack@pubnix.net> wrote:
>
> [50 lines snipped]
>
>> If I nedd to type in a bank card or similar number, the forms often want
>> the numbers without spacing, while the spacing makes it easier to ensure
>> you've typed it right. Getting spaces out of the way shouldn't require
>> any real effort on the programmers part.
>
> s/ +//g;
>
I think the first time I saw an explanation of parsing was to get rid of
unwanted spaces in a BASIC interpereter or maybe an assembler. It's a so
very basic building block that I can't believe they can't be bothered
parsing out the spaces.
> This drives me crazy. Banks print stuff with spaces (or in the case of
> branch sort codes, dashes) and then the same banks won't accept those
> numbers formatted in the way they originally provided them. Grrrrrr.
>
If the spaces weren't there, you'd lose track of where you were. And then
that happens when you double check what you've typed in, you get lost
because the spaces aren't in what you've typed.
Michael
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370057 is a reply to message #369962] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 15:51 |
Mike Spencer
Messages: 1004
Registered: January 2012
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Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> writes:
> I've found a number of U.S. self-serve gas stations whose pumps require
> you to enter your zip code.
Good Lord, why? I'm inclined to think I'll never try to enter the US
again. The current policies at the border are a deterrent and
anywhere I'd want to go would be within the 100 mile
"constitution-free zone" as well. But zip code for gas? People with
no fixed address don't drive? Oh, well, maybe they don't have credit
cards, either? I've pumped gas for a living and can, if prodded with
a pointy stick, write programs for computers but operating a randonly
selected self-serve gas pump sometimes defeats me.
> We Canadians are screwed, unless we remember whatever trick you can
> use (something involving just the numeric digits in your postal code
> plus some sort of filler, but I don't remember exactly). I'm always
> a bit nervous about buying gas in the States.
The big Canadian Tire chain requires a phone number before they'll
accept a defective item for return. Used to be I (among others) would
just give them the store's own number that's prominently posted near
the service desk. Now desk personnel have been officially clued by
management and refuse to accept that number. Lesson is, I suppose, to
keep bogus phone number, US zipcode, CAN postal code, maybe SS/SI
number etc. on hand.
--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370058 is a reply to message #369959] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 15:53 |
Michael Black
Messages: 2799
Registered: February 2012
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On Tue, 3 Jul 2018, Richard Thiebaud wrote:
>> Phone numbers have a standard format, but a lot of places expect you to
>> just put in the string of numbers, no brackets around the area code, etc.
>>
>
> Phone numbers in the U.S. have a standard format. In other countries they
> don't.
>
>
Okay, I was wrong there. But a phone number for most of my life was a
'standard" format. Until about twenty years ago, the only time an area
code mattered was from someone out of town. That did change, I remember
having to reprogram my modem to always send the area code, but it's
relatively recent.
Some of what makes a standard is common use. That doesn't help people
elsewhere, but it can still be jarring when there's change. I've also
noticed that sites where I've had to enter a phone number have varied, one
I was just using expected you to enter ten digits, but they had the
decency to add the brackets and the dash as you were typing, which solves
the issue I brought this up for, that the brackets and the dashes help you
to make sure you've entered the number right. Maybe less so for a phone
number, but certainly those credit card or bank card numbers, nobody
memorizes those and they need the spaces to keep track of where they are.
Michael
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370059 is a reply to message #369952] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 15:56 |
Michael Black
Messages: 2799
Registered: February 2012
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On Mon, 2 Jul 2018, J. Clarke wrote:
> On Mon, 02 Jul 2018 13:20:19 +0100, Chris <xxx.syseng.yyy@gfsys.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>> On 07/01/18 23:37, J. Clarke wrote:
>>> On Sun, 01 Jul 2018 21:56:02 +0100, Chris<xxx.syseng.yyy@gfsys.co.uk>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 07/01/18 12:36, Brian Reay wrote:
>>>>
>>>> >
>>>> > When I used to spend a lot of time in the US on business, I often
>>>> > visited the local Sears. Their DIY section was a marvel compared to UK
>>>> > stores at the time.
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>> Bought my first HP calculator (25C) from Sears NY while working in the
>>>> states in 1977. I mean, HP calculators in a dept store ?. Half the price
>>>> of the same thing in the UK, but not the sort of thing you would find
>>>> at John Lewis or Selfridges...
>>>
>>> The first pocket calculator I ever saw I saw in May-Cohens in
>>> Jacksonville, Florida. IIRC it was about 500 bucks for a basic
>>> 4-function. I have a vague recollection that it was a Sharp but also
>>> that it had red LEDs which isn't consistent with any Sharp model of
>>> that era.
>>
>> Most of the early calculators did have led displays,
>
> True that but all the early Sharps I can find have green, not red.
>
Were green available that early? I can't remember. Red LEDs showed up at
a reasonable price, though maybe that had something to do with
readability. But I can't remember if I ahd orange LEDs before green, I
thought there was a pause, and I have a vague memory of orange LED
readouts but not of green, until much later (on a clock radio in the
eighties). I was buying surplus but circa 1974, there were some pretty
bad green and orange single LEDs around.
Michael
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370060 is a reply to message #370052] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 15:58 |
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Originally posted by: JimP
On Tue, 3 Jul 2018 15:38:19 -0400, Michael Black <mblack@pubnix.net>
wrote:
> On Tue, 3 Jul 2018, Charlie Gibbs wrote:
>
>> On 2018-07-02, Michael Black <mblack@pubnix.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I think I've still run into US webpages that don't do Canadian postal
>>> codes. I know some of the US tv networks have a "find a local station"
>>> and I can't put in a Canadian postal code, maybe deliberate, but we do
>>> watch US tv. I would think they could figure out that someone hasn't
>>> entered random characters and then check to see if it's a valid postal
>>> code.
>>
>> I've found a number of U.S. self-serve gas stations whose pumps require
>> you to enter your zip code. We Canadians are screwed, unless we remember
>> whatever trick you can use (something involving just the numeric digits
>> in your postal code plus some sort of filler, but I don't remember exactly).
>> I'm always a bit nervous about buying gas in the States.
>>
> I don't drive. Is this becasue they need your zip code, or just a way of
> keeping track of a customer? The one zip code I remember was "03458", I
> think I've got that right, the zip code for 73 Magazine in Peterborough
> Nh, which of course was also the original zip code for Byte.
Its supposedly a security thing, but an incredibly dumb one in my
opinion.
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370061 is a reply to message #369604] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 16:02 |
Michael Black
Messages: 2799
Registered: February 2012
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On Mon, 2 Jul 2018, Dave Garland wrote:
> On 7/2/2018 4:29 PM, Michael Black wrote:
>
>> A lot of forms require you to put your first name in a box, and your last
>> in another box. Maybe there's logic to that, but I figure someone just
>> doesn't want to parse things properly.
>
> Well yeah, but there are places where some people only have one name, or the
> full name is half a dozen words. The last name may or may not be a family
> name.
>
But if you have only one name, won't the site say 'you missed a field"?
If I'm entering a contest, can't the name just be as I typed it, not
broken down into bits to fit a database?
I can see some need for the separate boxes, but not all the time. If I'm
ginving them my name for a contest, or to send me some coupons, they
probably don't care which is my first or last name.
Even the boxes sometimes are "last name" and "first name" in that
sequence, which for a North American company seems backward, a place for
error on the part of the person typing in their name. Yes, allowing for
diversity matters, but there's also the expectation of the user, tamper
with that and it makes it harder for them.
Michael
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370063 is a reply to message #369963] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 16:05 |
Mike Spencer
Messages: 1004
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
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Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> writes:
> On 2018-07-02, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com <hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote:
>
>> On Sunday, July 1, 2018 at 12:30:04 PM UTC-4, JimP wrote:
>>
>>> The Japanese vending machines have blue lights under the cold cans,
>>> and red lights under the hot cans. When the air temperatire/seasons
>>> change, they increase/decrease the appropriate items available.
>>
>> NYC and Phila had a restaurant chain, Horn & Hardart, that provided
>> good quality food in vending machines known as the Automat. It
>> was generally fresh food, frequently reloaded by people in the back
>> of the machines. Very popular in its day.
>
> One of PDQ Bach's works unearthed by Peter Schickele was
> "Concerto for Horn and Hardart". He invented an obscure
> instrument called the "hardart" to make it all come together.
Ah, fond memories. On a 7th grade field trip to NYC, we noshed at the
Horne & Hardardt on 42nd near Grand Central. Now, AIUI, long gone.
Similar note: I ate at a Pixley & Ehlers numerous times when I was
hanging out in and around Chicago circa 1960. With a Greyhound
stopover in Chicago in '76, I strolled over to the location for lunch,
only to find a wrecking crew inside, busy tearing up the signature
wite tile floor and demolishing fixtures. Had lunch in new-model
sandwich bar next door. No tables, no class, no fun. RIP P&E.
--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370064 is a reply to message #369972] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 16:15 |
Mike Spencer
Messages: 1004
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
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Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> writes:
> One wonderful name parsing example I recall from the time I had to
> do it was:
>
> Lord John Earl.
>
> Title, forename and surname guesses please. In fact it was
>
> Surname: Lord
> Forenames: John Earl
>
> No title at all.
Sirje Smith. Neighbor, an Estoninan woman married to a Mr. Smith. [1]
Ended up in at least one database as "Sir J. Smith".
[1] Name changed. Not smith but another common Anglo name.
--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370065 is a reply to message #370059] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 16:35 |
Ahem A Rivet's Shot
Messages: 4946
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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On Tue, 3 Jul 2018 15:56:44 -0400
Michael Black <mblack@pubnix.net> wrote:
> On Mon, 2 Jul 2018, J. Clarke wrote:
>
>> True that but all the early Sharps I can find have green, not red.
>>
> Were green available that early? I can't remember. Red LEDs showed up
Early green displays were vacuum fluorescent displays, cheaper than
LEDs for a while but there were some medium nasty voltages behind them
which some took the extra expense to avoid. It wasn't long before the
falling LED prices killed them.
> at a reasonable price, though maybe that had something to do with
> readability. But I can't remember if I ahd orange LEDs before green, I
Red, yellow and green LEDs were all around in the 70s, but the
efficiency fell off with increasing frequency so for most purposes red was
the obvious choice. Blue LEDs were a long time coming and the inventors of
good ones landed a Nobel for their efforts.
--
Steve O'Hara-Smith | Directable Mirror Arrays
C:\>WIN | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins. | licences available see
You lose and Bill collects. | http://www.sohara.org/
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370069 is a reply to message #369994] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 17:45 |
Peter Flass
Messages: 8402
Registered: December 2011
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
> On Tue, 3 Jul 2018 05:46:28 -0400
> Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> A "standard" is that when you write a name surname-first you use a comma.
>> "Lord, John Earl" is easy to parse. If someone can't be bothered to use a
>> comma they deserve anything they get back. OTOH, given a string of names
>> without punctuation it's largely impossible to parse.
>
> True enough but one thing we found on that project was that we got
> better results by ignoring commas and relying instead on the convention
> used by each data source. All too often the comma was in the wrong place or
> missing thus guaranteeing a misparse if you depended on it.
>
> We had a similar experience with postcodes whether provided in the
> source data or added by a postcoding service - they were wrong often enough
> that a good address parser and matcher (also not a simple piece of code - I
> found it easiest to think of it as implementing a virtual postman) did a
> better job than trying to find the delivery point in a list of entries
> under the postcode.
>
When I worked for the New York State Legislature I found that the mailing
lists were extremely accurate in placing each address in the correct
legislative district. Forget zip codes, in some cases different floors of
an apartment building might be in different districts. In other cases
blocks might be split between didstricts, etc. when it's important to you,
you try to get it right.
--
Pete
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370070 is a reply to message #370028] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 17:45 |
Peter Flass
Messages: 8402
Registered: December 2011
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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<mausg@mail.com> wrote:
> On 2018-07-03, Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>> On 3 Jul 2018 13:13:11 GMT
>> mausg@mail.com wrote:
>>
>>> On 2018-07-03, Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>>>> On 3 Jul 2018 10:36:51 GMT
>>>> Bob Eager <news0007@eager.cx> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > NatWest?
>>
>> The first 6 digits identify the issuer, the last digit is a
>> checksum and there are allowed to be up to 12 digits between them (I've
>> never seen more than 9 and one of my cards has 8) for the account number.
>>
>> Yep I've written card handling software in my time.
>>
>>> so I used to hve problems in the UK wth CCs, the suspicious people the
>>> other end would say, Thats not an Ulster bank card, it a Natwest one,
>>> and refuse it.
>>
>> Just been playing a bit with binlist.net - 4319 31/2 are Ulster,
>> 4319 5/6/7 are RBS in Ireland 4319 44 is BOI, 4319 45/6 is RBS, 4319 47 is
>> AIB, 4319 48/9 are RBS.
>>
>> I'm starting to wonder how much of Irish banking RBS is involved
>> with.
>>
>
> The British have moved a large amount of RBS shares/debt recently. A bit
> reassuring. I am sitting here at the moment wondering if England is
> `the old enemy' or 'our nearest neighbour', I suppose it depends on
> who wins!
>
> (World Cup, to Leftpondians.)
>
>
Walking downtown today passed a sports bar with large crowd singing "God
Save the Queen" (loudly) and guy walking around in a kilt. Can I assume the
British are still in the mix?
--
Pete
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370071 is a reply to message #370030] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 17:45 |
Peter Flass
Messages: 8402
Registered: December 2011
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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<hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote:
> On Monday, July 2, 2018 at 3:30:23 PM UTC-4, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
>> On Mon, 2 Jul 2018 11:35:32 -0700 (PDT)
>> hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
>>
>>> While the programmers bear some blame for the above, the personnel
>>> department is the ultimate end user and they bear final responsibility.
>>> They are the ones who should've thoroughly tested the application before
>>> using it, and to have ensured that applicants of various backgrounds
>>> can fill it out.
>>
>> This very definitely - too many people think that acceptance
>> testing is a formality. If you're dealing with bespoke software designed
>> for a poorly understood and documented process (that's all of them) it is
>> an absolute necessity and should be done as early as possible.
>
> I had a few end-users who were very thorough acceptance testers.
> They were tough, but in the end it was a win-win for because
> they asked very good questions and checked for all sorts of
> possibilities.
>
>
>
>
>> At a PPOE I was part of a team building tools for another team
>> building online versions of journals, right at the start we told that team
>> that they had to perform acceptance testing because we were pretty sure it
>> did what we thought they wanted but only they could tell us if it was good
>> enough. Instant push back - No you have to deliver tested software.
>>
>> It took a while but we eventually got the point across that we
>> *couldn't* perform acceptance testing of our own work and expect to find
>> the places where we hadn't understood the requirements properly.
>>
>> After the first release revealed several such places the one who
>> had been most vehement in insisting that we did the testing took it upon
>> himself to organise the acceptance testing and set up a *superb* acceptance
>> testing regime that stayed for the seven year lifespan of the system.
>>
>>> I suspect a common screwup by US programmers is failing to allow
>>> for Canadian zip codes, even if they allowed for Canadian provinces.
>>
>> Yet another one is assuming that every address in the world has one
>> and making it a mandatory field. Until very recently there were no
>> postcodes (zipcodes or any other kind of address codes) in Ireland.
>
> Unfortunately, some mailing software now makes many assumptions
> and changes addresses to what it thinks they should be. The
> problem is that it's wrong. I regularly get mail intended for
> someone on a street with a name that sounds like mine (and I suspect
> vice versa).
>
> However, I can't believe that a number of cities use the same
> street name repeatedly. For instance, the main street through
> a development will be called Smith Street, but the offshoot
> cul de sacs will be called Smith Place, Smith Plaza, Smith Court,
> etc. In Queens, NY, there are a few sections where there is
> 50th Street that intersects with 50th Avenue. To me, that is
> very confusing.
>
Phoenix seems to do this a lot: 48th st, 48th place, 48th way, etc. Even
worse, a street will run ror a few miles and dead-end, only to pick up
again a bit later, so a number like 28050 Tumblewood St. tells you vey
little about where the house is located.
--
Pete
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370072 is a reply to message #370039] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 17:45 |
Peter Flass
Messages: 8402
Registered: December 2011
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Questor <usenet@only.tnx> wrote:
> On Sat, 30 Jun 2018 15:57:29 -0400, J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Sat, 30 Jun 2018 10:54:22 -0700 (PDT), hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
>>> On Saturday, June 30, 2018 at 4:08:09 AM UTC-4, Brian Reay wrote:
>>>
>>>> I still have the kit to do BW processing (it was something I taught our
>>>> children) and some 35 mm cameras, including a couple of CRFs. I get the
>>>> urge every now and them to load up a film etc but the whole process is
>>>> just to tedious. Not so much the actual processing - that is quite
>>>> quick- but getting the improvised darkroom ready etc.
>>>
>>> While Kodak no longer makes chemicals, other companies do, such as Ilford.
>>> For instance:
>>>
>>> https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/Darkroom-Equipment/ci/ 4942/N/4288586562
>>
>> So? He didn't say he couldn't get chemicals, he said setting up the
>> darkroom was a pain in the butt. Maybe you are (a) not a photographer
>> or (b) some rich flake who can afford a permanent darkroom in his
>> house, but for the rest of us we have to block off all light leaks in
>> the room and then set up the enlarger and the trays and whatnot. The
>> room has to have running water which means either the bathroom or the
>> kitchen, and the bathroom usually doesn't have enough counter space so
>> by default it's the kitchen. And once you're done you have to take it
>> all down again.
>
> Some people put spare bedrooms and/or bathrooms in their basement. Some people
> have rec rooms with a wet bar. A close relative realized one of their childhood
> dreams and built a darkroom in the basement. And they were neither rich nor a
> flake.
>
> People who regularly need to set up a temporary darkroom in their home will
> quickly streamline the process. Someone who only occasionally develops and
> prints film would very likely find it a PITA. And once you mix the solutions,
> they have a limited shelf life.
>
> Film photography was not necessarily an expensive endeavor. Like so many
> activities however, it could certainly absorb as much money as one cared to
> throw at it.
>
>
The Americans had a number of scenes withPhilip or Elizabeth setting ip
their secret basement darkroom and developing some stuff.
--
Pete
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370073 is a reply to message #370052] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 17:45 |
Peter Flass
Messages: 8402
Registered: December 2011
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Michael Black <mblack@pubnix.net> wrote:
> On Tue, 3 Jul 2018, Charlie Gibbs wrote:
>
>> On 2018-07-02, Michael Black <mblack@pubnix.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I think I've still run into US webpages that don't do Canadian postal
>>> codes. I know some of the US tv networks have a "find a local station"
>>> and I can't put in a Canadian postal code, maybe deliberate, but we do
>>> watch US tv. I would think they could figure out that someone hasn't
>>> entered random characters and then check to see if it's a valid postal
>>> code.
>>
>> I've found a number of U.S. self-serve gas stations whose pumps require
>> you to enter your zip code. We Canadians are screwed, unless we remember
>> whatever trick you can use (something involving just the numeric digits
>> in your postal code plus some sort of filler, but I don't remember exactly).
>> I'm always a bit nervous about buying gas in the States.
>>
> I don't drive. Is this becasue they need your zip code, or just a way of
> keeping track of a customer? The one zip code I remember was "03458", I
> think I've got that right, the zip code for 73 Magazine in Peterborough
> Nh, which of course was also the original zip code for Byte.
I thought it was a double check to prevent use of a stolen credit card.
--
Pete
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370076 is a reply to message #370070] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 18:05 |
mausg
Messages: 2483
Registered: May 2013
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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On 2018-07-03, Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
> <mausg@mail.com> wrote:
>> On 2018-07-03, Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>>> On 3 Jul 2018 13:13:11 GMT
>>> mausg@mail.com wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 2018-07-03, Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>>>> > On 3 Jul 2018 10:36:51 GMT
>>>> > Bob Eager <news0007@eager.cx> wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> NatWest?
>>>
>>> The first 6 digits identify the issuer, the last digit is a
>>> checksum and there are allowed to be up to 12 digits between them (I've
>>> never seen more than 9 and one of my cards has 8) for the account number.
>>>
>>> Yep I've written card handling software in my time.
>>>
>>>> so I used to hve problems in the UK wth CCs, the suspicious people the
>>>> other end would say, Thats not an Ulster bank card, it a Natwest one,
>>>> and refuse it.
>>>
>>> Just been playing a bit with binlist.net - 4319 31/2 are Ulster,
>>> 4319 5/6/7 are RBS in Ireland 4319 44 is BOI, 4319 45/6 is RBS, 4319 47 is
>>> AIB, 4319 48/9 are RBS.
>>>
>>> I'm starting to wonder how much of Irish banking RBS is involved
>>> with.
>>>
>>
>> The British have moved a large amount of RBS shares/debt recently. A bit
>> reassuring. I am sitting here at the moment wondering if England is
>> `the old enemy' or 'our nearest neighbour', I suppose it depends on
>> who wins!
>>
>> (World Cup, to Leftpondians.)
>>
>>
>
> Walking downtown today passed a sports bar with large crowd singing "God
> Save the Queen" (loudly) and guy walking around in a kilt. Can I assume the
> British are still in the mix?
>
Bad game, good result.
--
greymaus.ireland.ie
Will Rant for Food.
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370078 is a reply to message #369604] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 19:34 |
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Originally posted by: Bob Eager
On Tue, 03 Jul 2018 15:11:35 -0400, Andreas Kohlbach wrote:
> On 2 Jul 2018 21:11:21 GMT, Bob Eager wrote:
>>
>> On Mon, 02 Jul 2018 16:47:34 -0400, Andreas Kohlbach wrote:
>>
>>> On 2 Jul 2018 20:01:31 GMT, Bob Eager wrote:
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, 02 Jul 2018 15:43:34 -0400, Andreas Kohlbach wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > On 1 Jul 2018 22:55:35 GMT, Bob Eager wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I bought an IBM one in 1989, and it was in daily use. Still is -
>>>> >> I'm typing this on it!
>>>> >
>>>> > What OS are you running?
>>>>
>>>> The keyboard started out with DOS. Then OS/2. Now FreeBSD.
>>>>
>>>> But it's on a KVM that is also attached to a (rarely used) Windows
>>>> system.
>>>>
>>>> Why?
>>>
>>> Just curious.
>>>
>>> I wonder if you can run CPM-86 on it and get hold of a newsreader and
>>> gain internet access somehow.
>>
>> Eh? I'm talking about a keyboard...
>
> I understood you have a 1989 IBM PC running accessing the usenet.
> Nothing about any keyboard.
No, it's a 1989 keyboard connected to about the fifth machine I'd had
since then.
--
Using UNIX since v6 (1975)...
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370080 is a reply to message #370057] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 19:54 |
Dan Espen
Messages: 3867
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> writes:
> Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> writes:
>
>> I've found a number of U.S. self-serve gas stations whose pumps require
>> you to enter your zip code.
>
> Good Lord, why?
The ZIP code is required by credit card companies.
Pretty sure they only do it when the card is being
used away from your normal haunts.
Hard to be sure, I live in NJ so if I'm using self-serve
I'm out of state and I'm entering my ZIP.
It's a thin layer of extra security, if someone steals your card, they
need to know your ZIP code.
> I'm inclined to think I'll never try to enter the US
> again. The current policies at the border are a deterrent and
> anywhere I'd want to go would be within the 100 mile
> "constitution-free zone" as well. But zip code for gas? People with
> no fixed address don't drive?
I think you just dived off the deep end.
--
Dan Espen
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370085 is a reply to message #370072] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 20:58 |
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Originally posted by: J. Clarke
On Tue, 3 Jul 2018 17:45:05 -0400, Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> Questor <usenet@only.tnx> wrote:
>> On Sat, 30 Jun 2018 15:57:29 -0400, J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Sat, 30 Jun 2018 10:54:22 -0700 (PDT), hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
>>>> On Saturday, June 30, 2018 at 4:08:09 AM UTC-4, Brian Reay wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > I still have the kit to do BW processing (it was something I taught our
>>>> > children) and some 35 mm cameras, including a couple of CRFs. I get the
>>>> > urge every now and them to load up a film etc but the whole process is
>>>> > just to tedious. Not so much the actual processing - that is quite
>>>> > quick- but getting the improvised darkroom ready etc.
>>>>
>>>> While Kodak no longer makes chemicals, other companies do, such as Ilford.
>>>> For instance:
>>>>
>>>> https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/Darkroom-Equipment/ci/ 4942/N/4288586562
>>>
>>> So? He didn't say he couldn't get chemicals, he said setting up the
>>> darkroom was a pain in the butt. Maybe you are (a) not a photographer
>>> or (b) some rich flake who can afford a permanent darkroom in his
>>> house, but for the rest of us we have to block off all light leaks in
>>> the room and then set up the enlarger and the trays and whatnot. The
>>> room has to have running water which means either the bathroom or the
>>> kitchen, and the bathroom usually doesn't have enough counter space so
>>> by default it's the kitchen. And once you're done you have to take it
>>> all down again.
>>
>> Some people put spare bedrooms and/or bathrooms in their basement. Some people
>> have rec rooms with a wet bar. A close relative realized one of their childhood
>> dreams and built a darkroom in the basement. And they were neither rich nor a
>> flake.
Sure, it can be done if you _own_ the house and if it's big enough to
dedicate a space to the darkroom.
Digital is vastly more convenient.
>> People who regularly need to set up a temporary darkroom in their home will
>> quickly streamline the process. Someone who only occasionally develops and
>> prints film would very likely find it a PITA. And once you mix the solutions,
>> they have a limited shelf life.
There's only so much streamlining you can do, especially when there is
a spouse involved.
>> Film photography was not necessarily an expensive endeavor. Like so many
>> activities however, it could certainly absorb as much money as one cared to
>> throw at it.
>>
>>
>
> The Americans had a number of scenes withPhilip or Elizabeth setting ip
> their secret basement darkroom and developing some stuff.
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370086 is a reply to message #369969] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 21:09 |
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Originally posted by: J. Clarke
On 3 Jul 2018 06:58:36 GMT, mausg@mail.com wrote:
> On 2018-07-02, Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:
>> On 2018-07-02, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com <hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote:
>>> On Sunday, July 1, 2018 at 3:30:56 PM UTC-4, J. Clarke wrote:
>>>
>>>> >> Online job applications, I am convinced, are a test of determination.
>>>> >> They want people whose desire to work for them is sufficient to induce
>>>> >> them to figure out how to work around all the deficiencies in the
>>>> >> application.
>>>> >>
>>>> >
>>>> >Possible. An alternative explanation is that computer programmers are
>>>> >machine people where as the personal departments are full of people
>>>> >people who act like salesmen. The combination does not mix.
>>>>
>>>> Sorry, but things like being unable to accept a zip code that starts
>>>> with zero
>>
>> [23 lines snipped]
>>
>>> I suspect a common screwup by US programmers is failing to allow
>>> for Canadian zip codes, even if they allowed for Canadian provinces.
>>
>> Have you not seen the series of "Falsehoods programmers believe about ..."
>> web pages? I commend them to the house.
>>
>> https://github.com/kdeldycke/awesome-falsehood
>>
>> In particular, there are American programmers whose heads I would
>> cheerfully bang together for not realising that the rest of the planet
>> exists, and that there are people who have no ZIP code, whose postcode
>> is not numeric, whose 'phone numbers do not fit into the NANP, whose
>> house has no number, or that number is not integer, and on and on and
>> on.
>>
>
> Why confine the above to programmers..
>
> I remember a thing about a lot of US people thinking they need a
> passport to go to New Mexico..
You do, now, if you're going to fly.
I'm wondering when they're going to start putting checkpoints at the
state borders and requiring that you show a passport to leave the
state.
>
> PS, that was yesterday, might have changed by this PM
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370087 is a reply to message #369604] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 21:12 |
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Originally posted by: J. Clarke
On Tue, 3 Jul 2018 15:45:02 -0500, Dave Garland
<dave.garland@wizinfo.com> wrote:
> On 7/3/2018 1:07 PM, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
>> On Monday, July 2, 2018 at 4:37:43 PM UTC-4, Peter Flass wrote:
>>
>>>> As time went on, the remaining department stores gave up on a lot
>>>> of that staff. Several gave up on appliances and electronics, unable
>>>> to compete with the specialty big box stores.
>>
>>
>>> Penny's is now - since about a year - selling appliances. I have no idea
>>> how well they're doing.
>>
>> I think Sears still has appliances. Don't know about electronics.
>>
>> Indeed, I believe in the past, one of Sears' strengths was its hard
>> goods--appliances and hardware and auto, more so than fashion.
>>
>>
> In the past indeed. But the vulture capitalists have got the carcass
> almost picked clean now.
There's no vulture capital involved in Sears.
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370089 is a reply to message #369891] |
Tue, 03 July 2018 23:58 |
Alfred Falk
Messages: 195
Registered: June 2012
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
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Michael Black <mblack@pubnix.net> wrote in
news:alpine.LNX.2.20.1807021356110.28477@thrush:
> On Mon, 2 Jul 2018, Alfred Falk wrote:
>
>
>>
> I guess I'm lucky, in almost downtonw Montreal a lof of these
chain
> stores require a deliberate trip. When Ikea came to down
decades ago,
> it was nearby, a smaller version, but they've long moved to
the
> suburbs. There was no downtown Canadian Tire until about
1990, which
> is now long in the past, but it was a big thing at the time,
I'd barely
> gone into one until then. But Walmart was a deliberate trip,
and I
> think I avoided it for some time, no real reason. I did go in
a few
> times, and found it a real mess, things just dumped all over
the place.
> Yes, messy customers, but not enough staff to put things back.
So
> there was a big gap but recently I have gone in a bit, mostly
for some
> food items, but it's only when I happen to be nearby.
>
> When Mountain Equipment Coop came to town fifteen years ago,
they built
> from scratch, a nice ecologically sound building, but right in
the
> middle of a shopping area, the buidlings all separate but
something you
> deliberately drive to. An odd place for an outdoor store.
It's only a
> two hour walk, each way. I think they've realized the issue,
since now
> there is a "boutiqe" store kind of downtown, with a limited
number of
> items, and less outdoor than the market they are going after
these days
> kind of urban who wants their stuff.
Interesting. In Edmonton, MEC was on the edge of downtown in an
old Safeway supermarket, and were there for 25 years or more.
Now they have moved out to a "Power Center" of the sort you
describe.
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370090 is a reply to message #370021] |
Wed, 04 July 2018 00:18 |
Quadibloc
Messages: 4399
Registered: June 2012
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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On Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at 9:36:22 AM UTC-6, JimP wrote:
> I thought it was a joke until I found out it actially happened. A US
> high school teacher can get maps for free from the Department of
> Education in the US. You download ech one, and print out copies of
> each states and the map for the United States. One who lived in New
> Mexico was denied the downloads, she called to find out why and was
> informed she would have to go through her embassy with the United
> States to get them. She tried to tell the idiot that she and the
> school was in the United States. They didn't believe her.
> It did eventually get straightened out. No follow up on what happened
> to the moron at the Department of Education in Washington, D.C.
> Probably got a promotion.
Hey, maybe while that error was active, people living in Baja California could
have downloaded the maps!
John Savard
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370091 is a reply to message #370002] |
Wed, 04 July 2018 00:56 |
Charlie Gibbs
Messages: 5354
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
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On 2018-07-03, Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
> There are always outliers.If you can have a system that takes care of 90%
> you're doing good. We're not worried about having our websites accessed by
> Hottentots or Klingons. My guess is that most or all of Europe, all the
> Anericas, and large parts of Asia (China, Japan) have first names and
> family names, all expressible in some version of a Unicode Latin alphabet.
> I am aware of many of the points covered in the link, but Prince, were he
> still alive, would just have to adopt something other than a squiggly as a
> name, unless he could get Unicode to add it.
I suspect that TAFKA (The Artist Formerly Known As) Prince couldn't swing it.
Thus he reverted to his original name, becoming (TAFKA)^2 Prince.
--
/~\ cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid (Charlie Gibbs)
\ / I'm really at ac.dekanfrus if you read it the right way.
X Top-posted messages will probably be ignored. See RFC1855.
/ \ Fight low-contrast text in web pages! http://contrastrebellion.com
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370092 is a reply to message #370071] |
Wed, 04 July 2018 00:56 |
Charlie Gibbs
Messages: 5354
Registered: January 2012
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On 2018-07-03, Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Phoenix seems to do this a lot: 48th st, 48th place, 48th way, etc. Even
> worse, a street will run ror a few miles and dead-end, only to pick up
> again a bit later, so a number like 28050 Tumblewood St. tells you vey
> little about where the house is located.
Then there are cities like San Francisco, where house numbers start at
1 at the end of the street - no matter where that is - rather than fitting
into an overall grid. If two parallel streets a block apart don't start
in the same block, house numbers won't line up. This makes it hard for
a tourist to find his way around - you can't just say, "Well, I'm in the
1500 block X street and I'm looking for 15xx Y street," and you walk the
block to Y street and find yourself in the 2300 block. Grrr...
It could be worse, I suppose - like in London, where streets change their
names every few blocks and the house numbers start over each time...
--
/~\ cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid (Charlie Gibbs)
\ / I'm really at ac.dekanfrus if you read it the right way.
X Top-posted messages will probably be ignored. See RFC1855.
/ \ Fight low-contrast text in web pages! http://contrastrebellion.com
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370093 is a reply to message #370092] |
Wed, 04 July 2018 02:29 |
Ahem A Rivet's Shot
Messages: 4946
Registered: January 2012
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On 4 Jul 2018 04:56:53 GMT
Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> wrote:
> It could be worse, I suppose - like in London, where streets change their
> names every few blocks and the house numbers start over each time...
That's not just in London, that's most of Europe.
--
Steve O'Hara-Smith | Directable Mirror Arrays
C:\>WIN | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins. | licences available see
You lose and Bill collects. | http://www.sohara.org/
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370094 is a reply to message #370086] |
Wed, 04 July 2018 03:02 |
mausg
Messages: 2483
Registered: May 2013
Karma: 0
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On 2018-07-04, J Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 3 Jul 2018 06:58:36 GMT, mausg@mail.com wrote:
>
>> On 2018-07-02, Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:
>>> On 2018-07-02, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com <hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote:
>>>> On Sunday, July 1, 2018 at 3:30:56 PM UTC-4, J. Clarke wrote:
>>>>
>>> Have you not seen the series of "Falsehoods programmers believe about ..."
>>> web pages? I commend them to the house.
>>>
>>> https://github.com/kdeldycke/awesome-falsehood
>>>
>>> In particular, there are American programmers whose heads I would
>>> cheerfully bang together for not realising that the rest of the planet
>>> exists, and that there are people who have no ZIP code, whose postcode
>>> is not numeric, whose 'phone numbers do not fit into the NANP, whose
>>> house has no number, or that number is not integer, and on and on and
>>> on.
>>>
>>
>> Why confine the above to programmers..
>>
>> I remember a thing about a lot of US people thinking they need a
>> passport to go to New Mexico..
>
> You do, now, if you're going to fly.
>
> I'm wondering when they're going to start putting checkpoints at the
> state borders and requiring that you show a passport to leave the
> state.
As always, check with the Germans. They are proposing somethin like
`checking centres' at border crossings.
(Don't call such things `resting areas')
>>
>> PS, that was yesterday, might have changed by this PM
--
greymaus.ireland.ie
Will Rant for Food.
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370096 is a reply to message #369604] |
Wed, 04 July 2018 05:40 |
Peter Flass
Messages: 8402
Registered: December 2011
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Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:
> On 2018-07-03, Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> <mausg@mail.com> wrote:
>>> On 2018-07-03, Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>
> [26 lines snipped]
>
>>> The British have moved a large amount of RBS shares/debt recently. A bit
>>> reassuring. I am sitting here at the moment wondering if England is
>>> `the old enemy' or 'our nearest neighbour', I suppose it depends on
>>> who wins!
>>>
>>> (World Cup, to Leftpondians.)
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Walking downtown today passed a sports bar with large crowd singing "God
>> Save the Queen" (loudly) and guy walking around in a kilt. Can I assume the
>> British are still in the mix?
>
> I believe so. I've done quite well with my World Cup viewing this time around;
> I haven't seen a single moment of it.
>
>
Me either.
--
Pete
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370098 is a reply to message #369774] |
Wed, 04 July 2018 08:26 |
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Originally posted by: Bud Frede
Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> writes:
> On Sat, 30 Jun 2018 08:55:01 -0400
> Bud Frede <frede@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
>
>> Perhaps we should really be nostalgic for the days when we had more
>> privacy?
>
> Privacy isn't that hard just don't use the internet :) Works just
> as well with today's multi-gigahertz machines as it did with a 4MHz Z80.
I wasn't think of simply using the Internet. I was also thinking of how
so many more entities are collecting data about us now, and how readily
accessible that data can be.
Much of the privacy that we took for granted years ago no longer
exists. You can't even walk to the store in some areas without your
presence being noted by any number of systems.
You certainly can't go to a political or religious rally anymore and
expect to remain anonymous. You can't even stop to listen to someone on
a soapbox haranguing people in the park without the possibility that
your presence will be noted and recorded.
I've seen a number of demos of how good facial recognition is, and I've
heard of projects to use a person's gait or other characteristics to
identify them if their face isn't visible.
None of this is news, but it is becoming all-pervasive and I see many
possibilities for abuse.
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| Re: Computers, anyone? [message #370099 is a reply to message #370058] |
Wed, 04 July 2018 08:39 |
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Originally posted by: Bud Frede
Michael Black <mblack@pubnix.net> writes:
> On Tue, 3 Jul 2018, Richard Thiebaud wrote:
>
>>> Phone numbers have a standard format, but a lot of places expect
>>> you to just put in the string of numbers, no brackets around the
>>> area code, etc.
>>>
>>
>> Phone numbers in the U.S. have a standard format. In other countries
>> they don't.
>>
>>
> Okay, I was wrong there. But a phone number for most of my life was a
> 'standard" format. Until about twenty years ago, the only time an
> area code mattered was from someone out of town. That did change, I
> remember having to reprogram my modem to always send the area code,
> but it's relatively recent.
I have seen software recently that assumes that all phone numbers will
be of the format (212)555-1212
212-555-1212 or 212.555.1212 won't work, nor will phone numbers fr om
countries other than the US and Canada. (I'm probably wrong here by only
listing the US and Canada, but I'm not sure right now what other
countries use numbers that look like that.)
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