Posts by Glen 1
980 publicly visible posts • joined 17 Jun 2009
Dutch spies helped Britain's GCHQ break Argentine crypto during Falklands War
Beer gut-ted: As many as '70 million pints' spoiled during coronavirus pandemic must be destroyed in Britain
Monday 18th May 2020 17:38 GMT
Re: "Nasty little nationalist."
"Bit of a contradiction there. Drag or inspire"
Inspire hope for the *future*. The 'can't even drag' is the *current Tory reality*.
One might look forward to an optimistic future of an adequately funded NHS, Schools, etc, but the English keep voting Tory. Not even Ken Clark centrist Tory, but borderline goose stepping "hostile environment" for poor people people with an accent immigrants.
Not to say that Labour govs produce a utopia, but good lord, it would be better than *this*. Even *Nick effing Clegg* understood the need for social housing.
"Who cares about the economic future"
Something something Brexit. If the economy is gonna be a shitshow for a decade, might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb. Especially if the endgame is to wrestle control of the national budget from Eton and Harrow. At least with Oxbridge they pay lip service to the idea you have to be clever to get in, not just rich.
Sunday 17th May 2020 21:36 GMT
"Nasty little nationalist."
"Nasty little nationalist."
*Precisely* the sentiments a lot of us British folk have about the blind jingoistic flag waving "We won the war" "Furriners go home" little Englander types. When you have your delusions of grandeur, stop pretending you mean for all of us. Hell you can't even drag the North of *England* out of poverty, let alone guide us to "sunlit uplands".
We have the "nasty little nationalist"s standing in front of Union or St George's Flags - having successfully convinced half the country that our problems were caused by the big bad EU. As if we had no control over the decision making process.
When the whole fucking point of remembrance sunday was so we "never forget" the horrors of war, we have rabble rousing gobshites complaining that international treaties mean giving away control, ready to send in the gunboats of colonial times past. Add in a reference to Churchill (but not a quote - after all, he was all *for* a United States of Europe, even if the UK was not to be a part of it), and you've won Daily Mail Bingo. What's that? Don't look behind the curtain of the trade deal with the US?
"Anybody but the English. Racist."
That's what I mean about delusions of grandeur - thinking of the English as a race. Another chap had the same sort of idea. He was Austrian, if I recall...
It's not so much "anybody but the English" but "anybody that takes them seriously... so not the English, but perhaps the EU". The first indy ref showed how selling an optimistic vision of the future can help people aspire to be greater than on their own - ie with the English, Welsh and Northern Irish, and within the EU. It turns out England and Wales disagreed - ironic given that the UK had approximately the same voting power in the EU than Scotland has in the UK.
The country has only gotten even worse since the EU referendum. Between No-deal-by-design and the mishandling of the Covid crisis. Buried reports into election interference. No magic money tree - oh wait - here it is. I could go on...
Scotland has voted consistently left leaning for as long as I can remember. How many of those voters feel like their vote is wasted? Even if the MP you vote for gets in? Scotland basically gave up on Scottish Labour once it was perceived as an English branch office.
It is not an stupid opinion to want to be shot of England. We have shown ourselves to be untrustworthy bullies. Even if breaking from the UK causes economic hardship to Scotland, it's not stupid to think it would be worth it - even if its just to get out from under the thumb of the "Nasty little Nationalist"s - or their slightly less scummy cousins - "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells".
Saturday 16th May 2020 16:14 GMT
Re: Note
Speaking as a English/Wesh person:
It's funny how much the little Englanders don't realise most of the fishing waters and more importantly the oil fields are *Scottish*.
That will be an interesting conversation come the indy negotiations.
I agree with the previous reply. I'm more aligned to Europe than I would ever be to the "English empire".
Russia admits, yup, the Americans are right: One of our rocket's tanks just disintegrated in Earth's orbit
Multi-part Android spyware lurked on Google Play Store for 4 years, posing as a bunch of legit-looking apps
Friday 15th May 2020 21:08 GMT
Re: So...
Or perhaps a slightly more accurate analogy:
Everyone is running XP with minimal anti-virus.
Some folks are using external firewalls like face masks
Some folks are air gapping completely by staying at home.
and some folks are having fucking LAN parties complaining that the other two groups are pussies.
Friday 15th May 2020 20:52 GMT
Re: So...
"Hey. LOCK DOWNS DO NOT WORK. There. I said it."
Ugh OK I'll take the bait. It depends on what you mean by "work". If you mean "reduce the loss of life" then yes, they do. As evidenced by anyone paying attention. You'd have to be PRETTY FUCKING STUPID (or a young child) not to grasp the reasons why that is. Pick a country. South Korea, New Zealand, China. Even in the UK the delayed lockdown has now passed the peak of the first wave. Unless you think the reduction in daily deaths is unrelated?
Hey, if you know better than the epidemiologists, then perhaps you went into the wrong career. Perhaps you could teach those climatologists a thing or two while you're at it. PMSL
People breaking lockdown make them... not work. Half assing the enforcement make them more likely to be broken. People have understood basic quarantine measures since the plague, but apparently Bob knows better.
That'd be fine, if you were only going to kill yourself, and others who think like you, but unfortunately, many of the people you are endangering don't have a choice. Some professions are *required* for society to continue to function. There is some wiggle room as to which ones those are. Hint: hairdressers are not on that list.
Then we have those lacking a basic grasp of the concept of how communicable diseases spread. I don't know about in the states, but in the UK the whole "coughs and sneezes spread diseases" thing was pretty well drummed into children with *competent* parents before they got to secondary school.
So why do we have people arguing technicalities when you know damn well what the social distancing rules are there for? If every break in the transmission chain is saving a life, every person *deliberately* breaking those rules by coughing and spitting on police/health workers should be locked up... and potentially tried for attempted murder.
Frontline police and health workers not having masks or other PPE is *different* competency issue.
Edit:
You coin a metaphor that Bob might listen to. Y'all are out there running Windows XP with minimal anti-virus, while the people running Linux listening to competent experts in their field are staying at home.
You can't have it both ways: Anti-coronavirus masks may thwart our creepy face-recog cameras, London cops admit
Friday 15th May 2020 18:46 GMT
Re: So the technology is imperfect?
We already willingly carry around said chips with no problems. Even keep the battery charged, too.
With 5G cell cites being smaller, the granularity of said tracking data will improve (or get worse, depending on your point of view).
The thing that makes it easy though, is the people who *don't* willingly carry these devices. Or carry devices not registered to them, or that have only ever been used once. In terms of "person of interest", they light up on the gestapo's screens like a christmas tree.
From pair to p-AI-r programming: Kite floats paid-for spin of its GitHub-trained code autocomplete assistant
Thursday 14th May 2020 17:52 GMT
Re: First....
"I see 100 copy/pasted...."
There is the well known rule of three.... Which this or similar software *would be able to pick up on*, and thus pass your code review on that measure.
"Don't EVER write the same code over and over."
Soo, by your logic we can only open 1 file, or only have 1 AJAX request, etc.
I get your point about novel stuff requiring more brain cells, but yet another chart for management with tweaked parameters is not it. Yet another first person shooter is not novel. Yet another RTS is not novel. Yet another text editor is not novel - trying to deny that these tasks are not "programming" comes across as outright snobbery.
How many careers have been spent entirely re-inventing the wheel re-implementing duplicate features in a competitors product?
Sidenote: Do you *really* remember and understand how to do stuff, if you're only allowed to do it once?
Wednesday 13th May 2020 22:55 GMT
Re: First....
If that isn't programming, then taking it to its extreme, there will only be a handful of programmers left in the world. There will just be artists and mathematicians - and lets face it - most software is not exactly using 'new' mathematics.
The 'hard' stuff isn't being done in bog standard line-of-business software shops. or web dev shops. or phone apps.
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Spacecraft with graphene sails powered by starlight and lasers
Uncle Sam courting Intel, TSMC to build advanced chip fabs on home soil – report
Tuesday 12th May 2020 17:07 GMT
Re: Missed Opportunity
China is big enough and has the population and natural resources to be a superpower in its own right once it has teched up - without any economic flexing. The west didn't 'give' them money, we bought stuff. Companies set up there because it is/was cheaper, worshiping at the altar of profit.
The Chinese understand that economically intertwining economies makes it... disadvantageous for the US to rattle sabres *too* hard. At least until China thinks it could confront the US outright. They have their own space program, does anyone doubt they could put a nuke anywhere on the planet should they feel so inclined?
Look at the trade delegation the UK was going to send to China. Cancelled when it was announced we were going to send our carrier to join the US's 'freedom of navigation' sabre rattling exercise.
Briny liquid may be more common on Mars than once thought, unlikely to support life as we know it
Wanna be a developer? Your coworkers want to learn Go and like to watch, er, Friends and Big Bang Theory
Xiaomi what you're working with: Chinese mobe-flinger proffers two Redmi Note phablets for UK market
Friday 1st May 2020 18:23 GMT
Re: This is more than a little disturbing...
"lot of bloatware and has advertising throughout most of the included apps"
I have a Mi A2 lite.
With the stock software, I haven't noticed any bloatware or ads. (or removed it when first purchased and then forgot). It comes under the "Android One" umbrella, most recent patch 1/3/20 (March this year)
The default install for new Xiaomi kit might have changed since I bought it though. *shrug*
As Brit cyber-spies drop 'whitelist' and 'blacklist', tech boss says: If you’re thinking about getting in touch saying this is political correctness gone mad, don’t bother
Browse mode: We're not goofing off on the Sidebar of Shame and online shopping sites, says UK's Ministry of Defence
Forget tabs – the new war is commas versus spaces: Web heads urged by browser devs to embrace modern CSS
Monday 27th April 2020 20:30 GMT
Re: View from the inside
"Your commas are still valid, and I predict it's going to stay that way until the heat death of the universe."
from TFA:
"lab(), lch(), and color(), don't work with commas"
Sooo not valid.
I'm don't do a lot of front end work, but...
IMHO, you shouldn't be calling *functions* in static markup. Helper macros are *maybe* OK, but Its like putting code in a config file.
If you *are* going to call functions/macros in your CSS, they should be consistent with the overwhelmingly de facto language used on the front end. The one that is going to be used to manipulate the markup once it's in the DOM.
Otherwise its inconsistency for inconsistency's sake.
Why should the UK pensions watchdog be able to spy on your internet activities? Same reason as the Environment Agency and many more
Monday 27th April 2020 18:47 GMT
Re: @Whitter
"If a schizophrenic insists the world is a particular way because of their medical condition do you agree with them and demand society do so? Or is it a medical condition where we want to help them with their condition?"
That's called religion. If they have evidence, it's called science.
Insisting *the world* is a particular way (with or without evidence), is different from insisting *you are treated* a particular way. Some folk don't like parsnips. I'm not about to send them to "conversion therapy" to convince them they are wrong.
Refusing to call someone by their preferred pronoun is such a petty thing. It's like objecting to BAME people asking to be being treated the same as white folk. There shouldn't *be* a difference, yet here we are.
Monday 27th April 2020 18:25 GMT
Re: @Whitter
"Actually that is my point. You don't have to listen, so there is no need for enforcing PC speech."
It depends on the power dynamic. Being the racist/homophobic/wants-control-of-women's-bodys uncle in the corner that people can laugh off doesn't matter. People can chose to not use his businesses as a result. In fact, it's quite handy that they sign post themselves so they can be avoided. *cough*Wetherspoons*cough*
That uncle being the chief of police is a problem. That uncle running for public office is a problem.
When such people are *WRITING/ENACTING THE FUCKING LAWS* thats a *MASSIVE* problem. As you don't get a choice not to listen to laws.
"no need for enforcing PC speech"
You say you have no issue with enforcing harassment laws, Yet @ing people with non "PC speech" is precisely that. As for not @ing and just using it in conversation, see above.
Monday 27th April 2020 18:02 GMT
Re: @Whitter
"it doesn't make me a woman"
It doesn't make you female, but with good enough "remodelling", how would anyone tell the difference? Heteronormative behavior can be learned. Or are you of the opinion that women who can't have children (for whatever reason) are not real women? People who have lived most of their lives as women are still not be considered as such by prejudiced... *ahem* people.
As for the nationality vs race thing. 40% of UK doctors are BAME (that's the current PC term in the UK for "non white"). Yet still, there are shouts of "I don't want no furrun doctor" from racists, even if the person was born an raised here. It's *no* different to "I don't want no man in the ladies toilets" when referring to a transwoman.
The irony is the Eastern european migrants - that were such a contentious issue during the EU referendum. They and their children will pass as english born and bred once they pick up the local accents.
Nationality is a just question of paperwork, gender should be also (and *IS*, in the UK since 2005)
Monday 27th April 2020 17:31 GMT
Re: @Whitter
"We are talking about a medical mental condition 'gender dysphoria' and dysphoria medical conditions also lead to trans species, race, age and then the idea of 60+ genders etc."
I already answered the 60+ gender part. I answer to the others: If it's not hurting anyone else, what's the problem?
"men and women think differently"
People want different things. A lot of time there is an overlap. (Eg Gay man vs straight women), and that informs our actions. It doesn't imply one is more capable than the other. Wanting different things doesn't imply that those wants are more or less valid than anyone elses. Thus stuff like maternity leave.
"we all pick and choose throughout history from each other"
except not from different genders, according to you.
You compare gender to race, then say that cultural appropriation (ie the main reason identifying as another race is problematic) is bullshit spouted by prejudiced folk... If only you could take that next logical step and apply it to gender. If not, perhaps you should, as you say, "shut up and get lost"
"at their own cost unless there can be some proven medical need"
The "medical need" is that their brain is fine, but their body is wrong. Suffering is a medical need. If there was a surgical solution to PTSD, would you class *that* as a medical need? Is there a "medical need" for antidepressants? (sarc) FFS. Just because there are no/few physical symptoms, doesn't mean it's not real. See also: Body Integrity Disphoria. Especially the Prognosis section
As for funding, that is very much country specific. I know in Canada, there are insurance providers that cover "The final Op", but not the intermediate feminising/masculinizing surgeries. That's not "their own cost" but it *is* covered.
Saturday 25th April 2020 20:07 GMT
Re: @Whitter
"Is a scientifically and factually identified person with gender dysphoria another gender because their mental disorder tells them so?"
I should point out (as you no doubt have had this conversation before) gender is distinct from biological sex. The "many genders" come from not wanting to label themselves with other people's narrow definitions. What do they call themselves? Whatever the hell they want, what difference does it make? They are still human beings, despite what more conservative folks think. It's like asking a pair of chopsticks which one is the fork? If you have to ask, you don't understand enough to ask the question.
I find it amusing that gender dysphoria is classed as a mental illness (as homosexuality used to be), but believing the voices in someone else's head is called "freedom of religion".
As for the "Identify as race, age, height" question. Its a legit question.
At least with gender dysphoria there are cases where brain scans come back closer to an opposite gender baseline. Can you make a similar case for race, height etc?
There is also the question of cultural appropriation vs assimilation. Are people from mixed race backgrounds *permitted* to choose which culture they identify with more? Or do they just have to live with whatever *you* (as a proxy for society) label them based on their complexion?
Sidenote: People who "identify" as a different hair colour, or eye colour can already do stuff about it thanks to technology, and no one gives a shit. Hell, people get cosmetic surgery, and some people feel its a symbol of status. *shrug*
Gender reassignment surgery should carry no more stigma than a boob job.
Friday 24th April 2020 16:51 GMT
Re: @Whitter
"believe they should be free to say it"
Possibly, if your opinion means jack shit - as armchair warriors such as ourselves. People can curate their own echo chamber as they see fit (look at twitter as an example). Just because you're free to say it doesn't mean people have to listen.
However, when it's your job to protect people, (teachers, police, etc) you don't shouldn't get to pick and choose which people. To say otherwise is a return to Jim Crow and its equivalents. If the opposite of Jim Crow is PC, then civilised folk should at least aspire to be a little more PC.
Sidenote: Messaging folk directly (@ing them) with slurs/rape/death threats isn't free speech. It's harassment.
Friday 24th April 2020 11:56 GMT
Re: @Whitter
I would need to know more about the case you were referring to.
Don't get me wrong, there is such a thing as taking offence where none is intended.
However, saying things like "Trans women are not women" comes under a similar heading as "Black/Asian people can never be British". It's a shame more racist folk aren't locked up.
Elevating cost-cutting to a whole new level with million-dollar bar bills
IBM Watson GPU cloud cluster Brexits from London to Frankfurt – because GDPR
Europe publishes draft rules for coronavirus contact-tracing app development, on a relaxed schedule
Monday 20th April 2020 21:37 GMT
When I say 'Inner City', I don't mean the city centre.
I mean the houses just outside (as in the inner bit, not the centre) That in the UK at least would have been tenements built to house factory workers.
Unless you think those living (possibly renting) in High Crime areas, with low quality housing are secretly rich?
Sunday 19th April 2020 00:09 GMT
Counterpoint: The cheapest housing is in inner city areas where the population is densest. (high crime, low quality housing) In many cases people live there because it's all they can afford.
In rural areas, the house prices are pushed up by rich folk buying retirement properties or second homes. I would love to live somewhere more sparse (and still commutable to work), but can't afford it.
Sunday 19th April 2020 00:00 GMT
Re: another nanny state idiocy
"everybody involved has to get RE-ELECTED"
Same goes for the *elected* MEPs. The commissioners are appointed, but they are appointed by the *elected* heads of state, and then ratified by the *elected* European Parliament.
Sidenote: I always find it amusing that Nigel Farage has *never* been a UK MP, despite standing multiple times. He has been an M*E*P, largely down to the fairer voting system used during the European Elections.
What's the word i'm looking for, like goldy and bronzy...
