Posts by Sweeper

Just because you failed doesn't mean you weren't right

Re: Wow!!

Ich auch. But I am also now German, so that counters it.

Want to keep working in shorts and flipflops way after this is all over? It could be time to rethink your career moves

Re: Not only Brits!

Plus if you only have a UK passport you would now be limited to spending a maximum of 90 days in every 180 in the EU. Plus working is not allowed for visitors.

Grab a towel and pour yourself a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster because The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is 42

Re: Remember the Philosophers

Both of the "him".

Yes, with his "I don't really have any clue what this is all about" tone of voice. Brilliant.

Re: A code

In one of my earlier jobs back in the nineties myself and a guy who designed CHP plants using Lotus 123 (Excel at the time couldn't handle the vast number of rows he needed) used to spend a lot of time in the tiny kitchen conversing in THHGTTG code whilst making coffee. Everyone else just rolled their eyes as we rolled of goodly chunks of an episode.

Time travel

The very first episode - "Keep the change." "From a fiver?" A fiver for 6 pints, now that does take me back to when a pint was around 30p.

Nothing weird about Lintilla.

SEP is still a phrase I use a lot, and over the decades it still needs to be explained, but when the acronym is made clear, almost everyone nods their head.

The Radio Series and Only the Radio Series

I listened to the first radio series when I was a brand new undergrad who had just discovered Radio 4 on Monday evening at 6.30pm. THHGTTG hit all the right notes, and in all the right order. The actors had great delivery and the whole package was funny and clever at once. Having listened to the series on the Radio, on Tape (both self-recorded and purchased) and CD I can still find new things to chuckle about on the tenth rerun. The first two series were great and series 3 to 5 were not bad either. And it is clear just how big an impact THHGTTG has made when the latest Ben Aaronovitch book starts of with "The Serious Cybernetic Corportation" and then wangles in various other elements. Still worth listening to even now that I live in another universe (Germany and the EU).

Ever dream of being an astronaut? Now’s your chance. NASA wants new people for the Moon and Mars

Too Old, Too Foreign and a Medical write off

Rats, far too old, wrong nationalities (neither of mine are US) and a type 1 diabetic. Guess I am out. Otherwise I would be perfect.

Boris celebrates taking back control of Brexit Britain's immigration – with unlimited immigration program

Re: I thought we'd had enough of experts?

Ah, this is a new use of the words "hard currency" with which I was previously unfamiliar, to slightly paraphrase Arthur Dent. As someone paid in Sterling but living in Germany I can tell you that the UK currency is anything but hard. And if there is no constructive deal at the end of this year I strongly suspect that the current firming up that Sterling has experienced in the last few months will evaporate faster than an Alexander promise.

AI of the needle: Here's how neural networks could detect nighttime low blood-sugar levels using your heart beat

Re: A bit out of date

Libre is available on Prescription, and hence free, to type 1 diabetics in the UK on the NHS as long as one of several conditions are met.

As a type 1 Diabetic since the early seventies I have to say that the concept that low blood sugar leads to low heart rates is almost entirely inaccurate. In fact, when I was diagnosed having a higher than normal pulse rate was one of the symptoms we were told to watch out for with low blood sugar levels.

iRobot just banked a fat profit. And it knows how to make more: Sharing maps of your homes

Old tech still works, albeit mostly under duress.

We have a bespoke AI house cleaning device, admittedly produced in very limited numbers. Me. Doesn't store any data and certainly cannot send it anywhere. It is even stated that it isn't very good at cleaning, only adequate like these robots. Just ask my wife.

These diabetes pumps obey unencrypted radio commands – which is, frankly, f*%king stupid

Pumps have many challenges, security is certainly one.

The security side of things is one reason I have never even considered a pump, even after over forty years of multiple insulin injections daily. But it's a shame you haven't a picture of an insulin pump.

Chilling evidence emerges of Kilocat weapon

Re: Spot the Ian M. Banks Reference

It's too picky for Friday evening, but it should be the Great Iain M. Banks. With added 'i'.

HP slaps dress code on R&D geeks: Bin that T-shirt, put on this tie

Ties can stand out, at least if you are in a job where few wear them

As an IT analyst the standard dress code is 'business casual'. That's why I always turn up wearing a tie, granted my ties tend to be somewhat distinctive rather than bland and just part of the uniform. Indeed, my ties, usually somewhat loud or sporting cartoon characters tend to give me some visibility.

When I was doing a job that demanded a suit and tie I always felt annoyed. Now I don't have to I rather like being different simply by wearing one when I am out and about. At my home office desk it's strictly jeans and t shirt. So Tweed Jacket and tie or jeans and t-shirt. I have never gotten the hang of 'business casual.

Sir Terry remembered: Dickens' fire, Tolkien's imagination, and the wit of Wodehouse

Sir Terry is easily my favourite author and always will be. I reread every book in a year back in 2008. It's time to start again. Maybe we should have a mass Terry Pratchett / Reg Reader day somewhere.

Get a job in Germany – where most activities are precursors to drinking

Londoner near Duesseldorf

I came to Germany about 17 years ago when I met my now wife. As an IT Analyst I travel a lot (and will be over in London tomorrow for couple of days to some Regcasts) and get to see many places with a disconnected eye. Germany, in particular Nord-Rhein Westfalia, is a good place to live and work. Houses, food and especially Beer are much, much cheaper than London. That said it is nearly impossible to get hold of good Cheddar or heavy beers. Real bacon is also hard to find. But the people are very welcoming, just like the East End of London was when I was growing up.

Weekend reads: Colorless Tsukuru, Kool Korea and strange encounters with IKEA wardrobes

Re: Murakami does chic-lit

Hard to pick a favourite, but A Wild Sheep Chase and 1Q84, parts 1/2 would be there or thereabouts for me.

I prefer Murakami when his novels are weird, odd, anything but linear, and leave you unable to summarise the storyline in nothing less than a month. Then they are almost impossible to put down. I will pick up Colourless later this week when I get over to London. Interestingly, the German translation has been available since December last year.