... and we're moving. Latest guess for arrival is 13:57, but it changes every time I look. I'm going to have to haggle with LNER for a replacement for my 13:33 ticket.

Made it back - just an hour late in the end. And I'm due on the conference call in 45 minutes. Yikes.

Just time enough to recover from your trainlag. 😂

Andy at CPDN has recently been playing with virtualisation for proof of concept running OpenIFS tasks. Having started the process of setting this up as a VM, I now know that it is as he said, nont trivial!

Have I ever shared the analogy I use to teach novice users the difference between downloading and installing software?

It's like coming home from holiday.
First, the taxi driver dumps your suitcase on the garden path. (that's downloading)
Then, you unpack and distribute. The souvenirs go on the mantelpiece, the guide books on the bookshelf, the half-eaten British Rail sandwich in the bin, the dirty laundry into the washing machine, and the empty suitcase into the closet under the stairs. (that's installing)

Have I ever shared the analogy I use to teach novice users the difference between downloading and installing software?

It's like coming home from holiday.
First, the taxi driver dumps your suitcase on the garden path. (that's downloading)
Then, you unpack and distribute. The souvenirs go on the mantelpiece, the guide books on the bookshelf, the half-eaten British Rail sandwich in the bin, the dirty laundry into the washing machine, and the empty suitcase into the closet under the stairs. (that's installing)

I love your analogy ! I tip my hat to you.

Bill F

Quick everyone, join up on the Insider Program of Skinwalker Ranch.

For the speed junkies out there: CRG takes on an Olivetti 286-12MHz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYfipSXdFN8. Just look at the motherboard. 😍

Weird people those Scots: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/06/18/male-blood-donor-refused-say-pregnant-turned-away/

Leslie Sinclair, 66, who is a retired driver for an engineering company, is a committed donor who has given 125 pints of blood in the last five decades.

However, on his most recent trip to the Albert Halls clinic in Stirling, Scotland, he was barred from donating after he said it was unnecessary for him to answer a question on a form asking if he was pregnant as he is a man in his 60s, MailOnline report.

Staff at the clinic said they could not accept his blood unless he provided a response, arguing that it is not always clear if someone is pregnant and the policy is in place to "promote inclusiveness".

Someone with an IQ approaching zero from the high side.
Political (in)correctness gone crazy.

ROFLMAO. I would've said yes just to see their response. :-)

You aren't are you???


(Probably actually greeted by a blank look as the very sad and lonely grey cell tried to hide in a corner....)

:-)
No, but seeing your reply made me think of an incident close to 20 years ago.
After reversing onto a loading bay, told the FLT driver, just going to grab a coffee (didn't need me to unload, all pallets).
Walking across the yard to the staff canteen, got stopped by security.
"Where do you think you're going lad?"
"Grabbing a coffee"
Didn't go down too well, but to cut a long story short, he said sorry.
Walking back to my truck, he said he still didn't believe I was a truck driver as all the ones he saw were like pregnant ducks.
His face was a picture as I drove off site. :-)
Thankfully a better class of person is now in the profession even though there are still a few "pregnant ducks" about.

For a handful of sleepless nights for the mathematicians among us: The Riddle That Seems Impossible Even If You Know The Answer

The director of a prison offers 100 death row prisoners, who are numbered from 1 to 100, a last chance. A room contains a cupboard with 100 drawers. The director randomly puts one prisoner's number in each closed drawer. The prisoners enter the room, one after another. Each prisoner may open and look into 50 drawers in any order. The drawers are closed again afterwards. If, during this search, every prisoner finds his number in one of the drawers, all prisoners are pardoned. If just one prisoner does not find his number, all prisoners die. Before the first prisoner enters the room, the prisoners may discuss strategy — but may not communicate once the first prisoner enters to look in the drawers. What is the prisoners' best strategy?

0
All agree not to enter the room.

Having studied probability and statistics many years ago, the solution makes perfect sense and doesn't seem impossible at all.

My new pastime: Atomic Shrimp's Youtube channel. All you Brits will recognize brilliance immediately, especially after watching some of his scambait videos.

More things to keep you busy on rainy or overly hot days: https://maps.nls.uk/

I'm so glad I've been on prepayment for over 2 decades.
A bit more expensive but definitely worth it.
Direct Debit woes