Early Risers.

[grandadbob]

Evenin' each,

Hospital visited and pre assessment completed successfully. Seen on time and various things checked, BP, blood test, MRSA swabs, ECG etc and umpteen questions asked and answered.  It was discovered that I did in fact have a heart (The Boss has claimed the opposite for years) and that I was reasonably "normal" as far as she could see and that barring mishaps (and strikes) the procedure should take place as scheduled at the end of the month...said he hopefully.  

Pizza and salad tonight and no wine , I'm having a few alcohol free days this month, not completely dry January, just slightly damp.

The Boss is watching a soap and she's not happy that there's not much viewing to interest her tonight so I'll be parking myself in front of the big TV to watch some rugby.  She has turned down my invitation to accompany me to the match!  I believe a jigsaw will shortly be attacked (puzzle not power tool..at least I hope it's not the latter,  now that would be scary.  😨

Farewell for now.

 

Edited January 5 by grandadbob

[monkeysarefun]

9 hours ago, Hroth said:

You'd think they'd be more careful....

 

 

Well obviously its the UK's fault for not labelling it clearly enough..

 

Lets compare  -    Here we have the Brown Snake, the  Tiger Snake, the  Red-belly black Snake, that newly discovered Blue Bellied Black Snake,  the Sea Snake...etc 

 

That bloke would have been wandering along in the rain when some local would probably have  said something along the lines of "Ooh aar, thar be an adder you are about to step on, no what I mean, Loverly Jubberly.." or similar  and the Australian would have just said  "What the *#^&@*s an adder?

 

Edited January 5 by monkeysarefun

[monkeysarefun]

9 hours ago, Grizz said:

This morning I’ll mostly be eating….microwaved melted cheese and beetroot sandwiches. 
 

 

 

Honourary Australian!  

 

We all grew up stained purple here. Its not a proper  hamburger, or a proper salad sandwich (ie Vegetarian hamburger) if it doesn't have beetroot in it.

Edited January 5 by monkeysarefun

[PupCam]

2 hours ago, pH said:

Completely agree. There’s also the problem that some users, especially if they are the ones paying for maintenance, can’t understand that it is statistically inevitable that there will be bugs in any system containing more than 10 lines of code. I’ve had one such user make the accusation that we deliberately included bugs in any new code we wrote for the system in order to provide ourselves with a source of future income.

 

The developers of every single bit of software I've ever seen  didn't need to deliberately include any bugs (or "features" as we preferred to call them), there were always enough naturally and not helped by "moving goal post" requirements.

 

2 hours ago, pH said:

The “10 lines of code” came from an article I read claiming that 1 line of code in 10 was in error. That doesn’t mean it will cause the program to fall over but that, in some particular circumstance, it will not do correctly what it was intended to do. Working on maintenance of a system containing several hundred thousand lines of code, that could be quite a depressing thought.

 

I believe from my training many years ago that at one point someone proved that anything more complex than 10 lines of code could not be formerly proven to be correct in every circumstance.   I think the actual number is open to discussion because it depends on so many factors e.g. were they talking about high level code, assembler or machine code,  what were the target processor(s), what resources, were they shared, stand-alone or multi-processors, asynchronous or synchronous,  compiler / linker errors, memory (mis) management, what operating systems (how's your Windows 11 working right now then?), coding errors, operational errors, incorrect exception handling etc etc almost ad infinitum but the underlying principle of the original statement is clear.     And anyone that says " I guarantee that this huge, highly complicated, networked , multi-user, real-time, software is PERFECT (i.e. 100.0% correct with no errors)" is, as I said, IMVHO an idiot!

 

I note on the BBC TV news this evening that the screening of the series has provoked more victims of this scandal to come forward.      Let us hope that all of the victims (that are still with us) get a fair chunk of recompense* although whatever they get it will never be enough to eradicate the heartache, distress and hardship.   In addition, let's hope that every innocent person's good name (alive or dead) is cleared* and  I suppose it's way too much to hope for that those culpable pay a suitable price* and find out just how hard life can be.

 

I must watch Part 4   (before anyone decides that the programme should be removed from public view .....  )     

 

* Now I'm being a naive, stupidly optimistic idiot!

 

UPDATE

 

I note that various petitions have been started to at least have the CBE stripped from the ex-CEO of the PO.   I couldn't possibly comment on this forum as to  whether I feel that would be a valid thing to do or post a link to any of them (you decide).  

 

Edited January 5 by PupCam
Added update

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon/evening all from Estuary-Land. Something woke Arthur Itis up when I came back from Tess Coes this afternoon. I stretched out on the bed to make myself comfortable and fell asleep for an hour or so. Dinner will be a bit late as a result, lets see what the use by date lottery turns up. 

[Coombe Barton]

... Boar’s Head Carol time. The modern take on this is pigs in blankets. ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/01/05/sounds-of-the-season-2023-34-people-in-hospital-with-flu-and-covid-up/

[TheQ]

Evening Awl,

Five Celsius  on the way to the MRC, temperatures dropping lower than that now.

Three road sections still flooded across.

Three houses and one Methodist chapel still have flashy lights up.

Three turned up tonight at the MRC and one of those left very early,

Two of us did some planned work and left 1/2 hour earlier than normal as it was getting cold.

One cold Q is trying to get warm, his lower extremities are particularly chilled.

One muggachoccy gone

Awl. Goodnight.

 

[PhilJ W]

The Nurofen has done its job and seen Arthur Itis off. 

[monkeysarefun]

7 hours ago, PupCam said:

Having spent a good deal of  time developing software systems in my career, albeit on a smaller scale, anyone who claims a system of software (especially one of such magnitude) is perfect and infallible is IMVHO either an idiot or a liar.

 

 

We've just finished an awesome saga here called "The Robodebt Scandal"

 

Basically, the previous government rolled out a new software system that they touted as  the answer to the problem of those people claiming benefits while also working. It compared records from the Tax Department  with those from the Department Of Social Security.  Those discovered to be in breach were automatically sent out a debt notification, hence the "Robodebt" nickname. These debts ranged from the hundreds, to the many thousands of dollars.

 

Community concerns about the systems accuracy, fairness and legality were brushed aside by the government  who spruiked  its infallibility and who's stated sole aim was to identify and prosecute  welfare cheats.

 

The amount of debt notifications spiralled upwards, peaking at over 20,000 per week  to a total of around 800,000. THis compared to the previous system that had relied on human investigators to discover a breach then investigate it further, in that system the weekly numbers were well under 100. The government bragged of  saving over a billion dollars  of "taxpayers money" and the minister in charge, (who later became PM) titled himself  "a strong welfare cop on the beat”, and announced plans to expand it to invalid pensioners and old-age pension claimants. 

 

Those that the system uncovered were sent debt notifications, with a date to pay the stated amount. If they wanted to question it the onus was on them to prove their innocence, reversing the previous system which relied on the department having to prove guilt. This requirement meant many people needed to access financial records going back 7 years, which many of those, being in and out of the welfare system and/or loften living unsettled or chaotic lives, did not have.

 

Many  people paid, despite  questioning the decision,  in order to just  put an end to it. Many took out loans, often high-interest payday loans. Others lost their homes and possessions. Some committed suicide. 

 

 Those that questioned the ruling however, often received "amended" notifications for amounts considerably less than the original figure. There was no explanation or evidence for why the figure was lowered. This enticed many to pay the lower figure because it seemed far more attractive, even though they were still arguing  their initial guilt. This only added to suspicion of the system, giving it an air of a shakedown or  fishing attempt.

 

Then community legal centres took cases to court and started winning them. In fact not even having to win them because the government, rather then defend themselves in court, would back down and cancel the debt.

 

Around this time it was revealed that  the mechanism that the software used had been faulty all along.   Simply put, in order for it to compare yearly taxable income with social security payments,  the  system annualised the social security payments,  then applied that to the programme. So a social security recipient who had worked for 6 months then legitimately claimed social security for the remaining 6 months had that six months of social security payments averaged out across the whole year so it registered to the system that for 6 months they were working AND claiming benefits, even though they had only actually claimed for the six months that they hadnt been working. That this fundamental error in the initial design of the programme was not noticed by all those involved  is pretty breathtaking if you think about it!

 

Then in 2019 after investigation of the system by the Commonwealth Ombudsman,  the system was declared illegal due to its implementation breaking the legislation that the Department of Social Security was set up under.  Compensation was paid to those who had paid debts, which totalled 1.2 billion dollars, and a further 268 million in still unpaid debts were cancelled. 

 

In 2022 the incoming Labor government announced a Royal Commission into the whole scandal. From that,  the government accepted all 56 recommendations,   further compensation  has been recommended, as well as possible charges against those who were most involved in setting up the system despite receiving  legal advice as to its legality. 

 

Senior personnel behind the unlawful robodebt scheme will be referred for civil and criminal prosecution and the  royal commissioner highlighted the “dishonesty and collusion” behind the program.

 

On top of the compensation payouts, taxpayers  also had to fund the former government ministers legal bills relating  to their appearance at the commision, which added another 2.5 million dollars  to the cost.

 

SO, if your government announces its rolling out a great new bit of kit that automatically finds those who have been rorting the welfare system, chances are they were stopped in the street by a couple of blokes in a ute who said "Hey, do yous blokes want to buy some cheap software?".

Edited January 5 by monkeysarefun

[Hroth]

On the 12th Day of Christmas

All the decs came down

And the place was as dull as dull can be....

 

@Coombe Barton  The version of the Boars Head Carol I remember the most is, of course, by Steeleye Span.

 

 

Edited January 5 by Hroth

[Coombe Barton]

And now as a pirate - which fits because some of my ancestors came from Penzance.

 

[PhilJ W]

[PhilJ W]

1 minute ago, Coombe Barton said:

And now as a pirate - which fits because some of my ancestors came from Penzance.

 

One of my ancestors was hung for piracy, c. 1560 at Wapping.

[monkeysarefun]

10 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

One of my ancestors was hung for piracy, c. 1560 at Wapping.

 

 

Did he illegally download "Greatest Hits Of The Lutherans" or similar?

[Hroth]

14 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

One of my ancestors was hung for piracy, c. 1560 at Wapping.

 

Didn't he give Lizzy 1 enough of a cut from his depredations against the Spanish?

 

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

Sheila has had her first evening out of bed today, so that’s a milestone on her road to recovery reached. We also had a chat with Vickie this evening, we normally speak on a Wednesday evening, but postponed it due to Sheila only having just come home. Yesterday I got a date for my bone scan, Friday 12 January, at 1pm. I need to arrive 15 minutes early for my injection. I’ve then got 3 hours to kill before the scan itself. The scan can then take up to 45 minutes, so I’m going to be there for at least 4 hours, probably more. 
 

Goodnight all 

[45568]

15 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

 

 

 

No way mate! I've NEVER heard it here, it is always Chrissie.

 

Chrissie dinner, Chrissie present, Chrissie card, Chrissie holiday.......

Chrissie Amphlett....MMMMMMMMMM

 

Cheers from WestOz,

Peter C.

[Erichill16]

Evening All,

With mil on top form it’s been a challenging day and yes I have had telesales on the phone today but fortunately no ‘ourselves’ or ‘yourselves’. It was interesting though, you want to open an account, UK based team, you want to complain, we’ll let’s just say ‘non Uk’ based.

After tea a couple of downbeat messages arrived.

Old lady across the road has been taken into hospital with a suspected DVT.

Friend at the MRC, the one my age with dementia, has had his mum pass away.

Mums sent a picture of her flat in the centre of Newark. The Trent has burst its banks and Mum has water lapping up the front of her flat. Fortunately the living room floor is about two feet above ground level, there being a couple of steps up to her flat. Nevertheless a not a pleasant situation for an 85 year old. Mum  also informed me that sisters car needs a new gearbox at £3k, ouch!

I thought I was has a bad day, puts things into perspective.
A bit of good news, Syd seems a bit happier and he and Hovis had a good run around the garden together.

Goodnight.

 

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, Hroth said:

 

Didn't he give Lizzy 1 enough of a cut from his depredations against the Spanish?

 

Quite possible.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Gwiwer]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

I also saw that and thought of a certain other ER 

[Gwiwer]

23 minutes ago, 45568 said:

15 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

Chrissie dinner, Chrissie present, Chrissie card, Chrissie holiday.......

Chrissie Amphlett...

Chrissie dinner, Chrissie card, Chrissie hols but Christmas present, Chrimbo when used alone and Christine McVie 

[Erichill16]

6 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

Chrissie dinner, Chrissie card, Chrissie hols but Christmas present, Chrimbo when used alone and Christine McVie 

You missed out Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders. 
She actually has the same birthday as me, another piece of useless information brought to you in association with Old Speckled Hen.

[Coombe Barton]

2 hours ago, Hroth said:

The version of the Boars Head Carol I remember the most is, of course, by Steeleye Span.

Just discovered this one - a recent publication - 

 

 

Edited January 6 by Coombe Barton
TYpoman

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, 45568 said:

Chrissie Amphlett....MMMMMMMMMM

 

Cheers from WestOz,

Peter C.

 

 

Awww yeah!

 

 

 On every  OZ teenage boys wall in the 80's!

 

 

Edited January 6 by monkeysarefun