Viewing profile — oldcynic

Credit cards definitely have check digits, pretty sure bank accounts don't, though I'm not certain. Common enough that there's been a fair bit in the media[0] regularly, ever since…

So do I. Made a few very close friends via LJ. All non technical oddly enough. Up til that point, people would type. If they were having a bad time they'd type A LOT. You couldn't …

They do. If I have someone's bank details I can transfer for free, instantly. (OK it sometimes takes a few minutes at weekends). There's two issues with ever using that for online …

You've also surely got loads of anecdotes on how not to do it and tales from the coalface from your years in industry. I'm sure you can sprinkle some of those into the classes to g…

Great! Glad to help. There's a lot of audio drama on the Beeb, also on R3 (the classical music station) that far fewer know of, and R4 Extra the internet channel. Good luck, and ha…

Not at all. A little glibness aside, I do think we should have replaced many things with better or less polluting alternatives far, far earlier than we do. The market is the wrong …

Snark aside, it's important. There probably should be someone adequately numerate on every jury. Most juries will have around half, perhaps more, who've done nothing at all mathema…

Do not underestimate the ability of juries to be swayed by impressive sounding claims. Nor their ability to be swayed, and dismiss clear mitigations, by one dominant or eloquent in…

They'll probably wonder why all the fragments they find seem to indicate we preferred damaging technologies over benign. Then like archaeologists everywhere will conclude it was of…

1. Is this something you'd be interested in listening to? Very much. I voraciously consume Radio 4, radio plays and audiobooks, and a few podcasts. Tried episode 2 at lunch - ooh i…

When I know I'm asking an SO sort of question I can !so directly. The whole ! system transforms ease of use - I miss them elsewhere! TL;DR I mostly find what I need quicker with le…

I dislike the "last month", "last six months" way of doing ranges oh so much. Where are the 2 years or older, 4 years or older options at the other end of the scale or let me speci…

Well I must be using it wrong. Very wrong. I find it better than Google for code / technical searches, and all things work related I find it better than Google for historic or old …

We just listened to ep #1 over dinner. Great production quality, I was surprised. We both enjoyed it and sat to the end before going to do other stuff, will definitely be checking …

Signage in store shows the price you pay at the till. The till receipt or invoice breaks down the VAT element for you, and most places even pick out what is zero rated or exempt sh…

No, it really doesn't get forgotten. Every receipt breaks out the VAT and rate. Food, books and children's clothes (and a few other things) are exempt (UK). All online purchases sh…

How did they forget when they went out to find and kill the real person?

UK got rid of farthings and halfpennies when they exceeded face value, and the £1 note decades ago. Pennies and 2p became copper plated steel for the same reason. Pre 92 bronze one…

Even on the equator traditional approaches are nicer than air con - not least because AC dries the air so uncomfortably. I'm the one who turns the hotel air con off, opens a window…

Fully agree - the media is full of the crisis of loneliness, rising suicide, depression, so of course mental health budgets are cut to the quick and wait lists rising again. Even t…

"For another, true multitasking would be possible under Windows, claimed Microsoft" I had forgotten how terrible the early versions of Windows looked compared to Lisa, Amiga and ev…

Well, if it was published it was deposited with the national library - British Library or Library of Congress. I think other nations have similar systems. Covered newspapers, magaz…

> I think we're talking past each other here Distinctly possible! > not referring to political parties and policy-making, but to the cultural zeitgeist ... the range of acceptable …