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On 06/10/2011 11:52 PM, Jim Henderson wrote:
> I rather have a shopping list.:)
>
> And for something like a running total, round numbers are "good enough".
>
I do and it is. But knowing what to round and in what direction requires
a little effort.
> But one of the trends in learning in general is that people tend to not
> try to remember facts because they can be looked up so easily. This is
> analogous to people not being able to do basic arithmetic because of the
> ubiquity of technology that makes it unnecessary.
>
And is that a good trend? If you don't exercise your memory then you run
the risk of not being able to use it when you need it. It is all very
well being able to look things up but if you can't remember what it is
that you want to know.
Another case is in social interaction. It gives a poor impression if you
can't remember who the current prime minister or president is but say
just a minute while I Google that.
> I'm not saying it's a particularly good thing, but it's the way people
> tend to behave.
They also like to sit on a couch and eat potatoes. ;-)
--
Regards
Stephen
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On 06/10/2011 11:52 PM, Jim Henderson wrote:
>> In Windoze:
>> >
>> > Start> type calc [enter]
> In Linux:
>
> In the already running terminal window (on my system, I always have one
> running), "bc".
Better than short cuts on the desktop IMO.
But then it (unreasonably) pisses me off watching some other people use
their computers. Their slow deliberate use of the mouse and context menu
makes me want to shove them aside and drive myself. Lord! I'm getting to
be a crusty old man. :-)
--
Regards
Stephen
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>> But one of the trends in learning in general is that people tend to not
>> try to remember facts because they can be looked up so easily. This is
>> analogous to people not being able to do basic arithmetic because of the
>> ubiquity of technology that makes it unnecessary.
>
> And is that a good trend?
I doubt it.
> If you don't exercise your memory then you run
> the risk of not being able to use it when you need it. It is all very
> well being able to look things up but if you can't remember what it is
> that you want to know.
For some reason, every single time I'm in a car, I think up an endless
list of things I want to look up. And then when I get to my computer, I
can't remember any of it. Apparently I'm stupid.
> Another case is in social interaction. It gives a poor impression if you
> can't remember who the current prime minister or president is but say
> just a minute while I Google that.
In other news: I have absolutely no idea who is in charge of this
country at the moment. Then again, given the minimal impact it has had
on my life, I suppose that might be why.
>> I'm not saying it's a particularly good thing, but it's the way people
>> tend to behave.
>
> They also like to sit on a couch and eat potatoes. ;-)
"Hey Andrew, aren't you going to come and watch Strictly Come Dancing
with me?"
"Erm, no. I'm going to go out with my friends and ACTUALLY DANCE. Not
sit on a couch and merely WATCH people dance. :-P But hey, you enjoy
your evening."
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> But then it (unreasonably) pisses me off watching some other people use
> their computers. Their slow deliberate use of the mouse and context menu
> makes me want to shove them aside and drive myself. Lord! I'm getting to
> be a crusty old man. :-)
No, that was already annoying me 20 years ago...
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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Is this the end of the world as we know it?
Date: 7 Oct 2011 05:25:58
Message: <4e8ec5a6@news.povray.org>
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On 06/10/2011 11:54 PM, Jim Henderson wrote:
>> Ye’r not biased by any chance?
> Oh, yes, I'm biased, and I don't try to hide it.:)
>
I know, I know. :-)
>> > Actually I can’t be bothered to learn another OS and like Andrew I’ve
>> > got lots of s/ware that works on Windoze.
> Whereas I can't be bothered to use Windows for the vast majority of what
> I use a computer for these days, and I don't have a collection of Windows
> software holding me back.<gd&rvvvf>
>
That is another point. I need the M$ Office Suite for work and
complained bitterly when they changed to Office 2007. Which reminds me
of the faux quote attributed to Petronius Arbiter.
"We trained hard... but it seemed that every time we were beginning to
form up into teams we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life
that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful
method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing
confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization."
> But my point above was that if you're citing "numlock doesn't behave the
> way I'm used to" as "another reason to give Linux a miss", it's not
> really that great of a reason.;)
It is no reason at all, at all. :-D
--
Regards
Stephen
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On 07/10/2011 9:11 AM, Invisible wrote:
> On 06/10/2011 11:32 PM, Stephen wrote:
>
>> Actually I can’t be bothered to learn another OS and like Andrew I’ve
>> got lots of s/ware that works on Windoze.
>
> It's worth learning just to see how it does stuff different. (At least,
> if you're curious about stuff like I am.) Whether it's worth /using/ is
> another matter entirely...
That is a good point. But I've reached a point where I feel that
computers and their software are no longer devices that need to be
studied, understood and mastered but used as tools. My life and
interests have changed over time.
--
Regards
Stephen
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On 07/10/2011 9:47 AM, Invisible wrote:
>> But then it (unreasonably) pisses me off watching some other people use
>> their computers. Their slow deliberate use of the mouse and context menu
>> makes me want to shove them aside and drive myself. Lord! I'm getting to
>> be a crusty old man. :-)
>
> No, that was already annoying me 20 years ago...
I'm just getting round to saying it out loud.
--
Regards
Stephen
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From: Invisible
Subject: Re: Is this the end of the world as we know it?
Date: 7 Oct 2011 05:57:25
Message: <4e8ecd05@news.povray.org>
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> That is another point. I need the M$ Office Suite for work and
> complained bitterly when they changed to Office 2007. Which reminds me
> of the faux quote attributed to Petronius Arbiter.
I've just spent all week replacing Office 2003 with Office 2010 on all
of our PCs. Now nobody can find any of the buttons! :-D
Oh, they're all still there. They're just in different locations.
Because, let's face it, MS has been selling essentially the same office
suite for 20 years now. They have to do *something* to make it appear
that the expensive new version is actually different to the previous ones...
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>>> Actually I can’t be bothered to learn another OS and like Andrew I’ve
>>> got lots of s/ware that works on Windoze.
>>
>> It's worth learning just to see how it does stuff different. (At least,
>> if you're curious about stuff like I am.) Whether it's worth /using/ is
>> another matter entirely...
>
> That is a good point. But I've reached a point where I feel that
> computers and their software are no longer devices that need to be
> studied, understood and mastered but used as tools. My life and
> interests have changed over time.
Fair enough.
As I'm fond of saying, "life is all about priorities".
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On 07/10/2011 9:45 AM, Invisible wrote:
>
> For some reason, every single time I'm in a car, I think up an endless
> list of things I want to look up. And then when I get to my computer, I
> can't remember any of it.
It was either a lie or not important.
The internet is a wonderful way of wasting time. Last night my wife
asked me what the phrase “The Orange Squeeze” meant wrt William and Mary
(1689 to 1702). I spent the rest of the evening listing to folk music.
Starting with The Skye Boat Song then the Mingulay Boat Song going on to
the Chieftains and ending up with Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor. A
trip down memory lane although I had never heard of the Red Hot Chilli
Pipers before.
> Apparently I'm stupid.
Yes you are. Now are you happy? :-P
>
> In other news: I have absolutely no idea who is in charge of this
> country at the moment. Then again, given the minimal impact it has had
> on my life, I suppose that might be why.
>
You might just be wrong on it having no impact on your life.
>>
>> They also like to sit on a couch and eat potatoes. ;-)
>
> "Hey Andrew, aren't you going to come and watch Strictly Come Dancing
> with me?"
>
N.B. Others. Andrew not Andy.
> "Erm, no. I'm going to go out with my friends and ACTUALLY DANCE. Not
> sit on a couch and merely WATCH people dance. :-P But hey, you enjoy
> your evening."
Good for you.
--
Regards
Stephen
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