@crunchy-bar.bsky.social
British, resident in Denver for more than 30 years. 40 years in software development. Still loathe Thatcher. Not a neoliberal. Ex-NHS.
Crusader for the repair of Elevator 1Z at the Colorado Convention Center, broken since 2021
Crusader for the repair of Elevator 1Z at the Colorado Convention Center, broken since 2021
This was awesome. Saw this at the Denver art museum a little while ago
December 23, 2025 at 12:41 AM
This was awesome. Saw this at the Denver art museum a little while ago
Shades of Glasgow's ice cream wars
December 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Shades of Glasgow's ice cream wars
It's got a 5 1/2" floppy so probably early 80s. The specialist keypad suggests to me that it's a banking or airline system mainframe terminal. If not IBM then possibly a Burroughs (later Unisys) system. Unisys was a notorious rebadger, I supported at least 5 manufacturers systems via Unisys
December 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
It's got a 5 1/2" floppy so probably early 80s. The specialist keypad suggests to me that it's a banking or airline system mainframe terminal. If not IBM then possibly a Burroughs (later Unisys) system. Unisys was a notorious rebadger, I supported at least 5 manufacturers systems via Unisys
They looked pretty much the same except for old school lightbulbs. One of the reasons it could get pretty hot in an OR. This isn't really much of a revelation. I haven't been in an OR for 40 years and this was understood then.
December 21, 2025 at 12:49 AM
They looked pretty much the same except for old school lightbulbs. One of the reasons it could get pretty hot in an OR. This isn't really much of a revelation. I haven't been in an OR for 40 years and this was understood then.
Me reading this, "oh, but they made a mistake, sow (a female pig) does rhyme!" But then "oh, they meant sow (to scatter seeds) which doesn't".
December 20, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Me reading this, "oh, but they made a mistake, sow (a female pig) does rhyme!" But then "oh, they meant sow (to scatter seeds) which doesn't".
You only have to go back to my early childhood to see nature in action. I've had mumps and pertussis. My wife had measles and scarlet fever. Children died so often from disease that there was a simple one minute silence in class before we got on with our school work
December 19, 2025 at 3:41 PM
You only have to go back to my early childhood to see nature in action. I've had mumps and pertussis. My wife had measles and scarlet fever. Children died so often from disease that there was a simple one minute silence in class before we got on with our school work
I arrived in the USA at age 40 never having ever heard the words "tater tot".
December 16, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I arrived in the USA at age 40 never having ever heard the words "tater tot".
I'm not sure you understand how employer based coverage works. Fewer employees= higher costs
December 15, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I'm not sure you understand how employer based coverage works. Fewer employees= higher costs
It happened at the beginning of the Falklands war. We were planning for major casualties and there were few surgeons who had ever seen gunshot wounds. A number were packed off to New York to watch how it was done. I worked in a London ER for 3 years and never saw a single gunshot injury
December 15, 2025 at 3:30 PM
It happened at the beginning of the Falklands war. We were planning for major casualties and there were few surgeons who had ever seen gunshot wounds. A number were packed off to New York to watch how it was done. I worked in a London ER for 3 years and never saw a single gunshot injury
No it does not. At age 64, my health care plan through my employer cost $1700/month. At age 65, the exact same plan through Medicare advantage cost $180. Medicare/Medicare advantage has some problems, but overall cost control is not one of them.
December 15, 2025 at 3:15 PM
No it does not. At age 64, my health care plan through my employer cost $1700/month. At age 65, the exact same plan through Medicare advantage cost $180. Medicare/Medicare advantage has some problems, but overall cost control is not one of them.
Productivity increases in labor based industries generally point towards getting employees to do more work for the same money. Is that the goal?
December 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Productivity increases in labor based industries generally point towards getting employees to do more work for the same money. Is that the goal?
Interested to know what you mean by "improving productivity" in the NHS
December 15, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Interested to know what you mean by "improving productivity" in the NHS
A clarification, this is not for a tourist visa. This is for H1B visas, which is for a work and residence permit. Dependents including juveniles already have to declare things like criminal convictions.
December 12, 2025 at 1:24 AM
A clarification, this is not for a tourist visa. This is for H1B visas, which is for a work and residence permit. Dependents including juveniles already have to declare things like criminal convictions.
Next up, the Zeekr Y with a Morris Marina clutch!
December 11, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Next up, the Zeekr Y with a Morris Marina clutch!
I'm reminded of "oh, so you're a plumber, what on earth is that?"
December 8, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I'm reminded of "oh, so you're a plumber, what on earth is that?"
You don't want public pickle leakage though, do you. I'd call this acceptable for bus or train travel, but weak for sitting in front of the tele with a cup of tea
December 7, 2025 at 5:07 PM
You don't want public pickle leakage though, do you. I'd call this acceptable for bus or train travel, but weak for sitting in front of the tele with a cup of tea
Tyre in the US is tire
December 7, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Tyre in the US is tire
Any self respecting US state drop-down needs no more than 3 keystrokes to find any state. California=C, Colorado= CC or C(cursor down). Replacing that with an API call to an LLM seems mind boggling
December 7, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Any self respecting US state drop-down needs no more than 3 keystrokes to find any state. California=C, Colorado= CC or C(cursor down). Replacing that with an API call to an LLM seems mind boggling
Unfortunately one of the more ubiquitous consequences of offshoring development
December 7, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Unfortunately one of the more ubiquitous consequences of offshoring development
negotiate on an annual basis. I rented a home in France for many years and was protected from being arbitrarily evicted, but there was still substantial contract terms to protect the landlord from destructive tenants.
December 7, 2025 at 3:06 AM
negotiate on an annual basis. I rented a home in France for many years and was protected from being arbitrarily evicted, but there was still substantial contract terms to protect the landlord from destructive tenants.
Normalizing rentals as a normal way of living need a lot of supporting legislation missing from many countries systems, for example rent support if you lose your job, a good public housing system so that those who don't want to own at all can be guaranteed long term housing without having to
December 7, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Normalizing rentals as a normal way of living need a lot of supporting legislation missing from many countries systems, for example rent support if you lose your job, a good public housing system so that those who don't want to own at all can be guaranteed long term housing without having to
Indeed, and usage over a specific volume may cost a lot more per unit. This is very common now to try to get people to reduce usage
December 6, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Indeed, and usage over a specific volume may cost a lot more per unit. This is very common now to try to get people to reduce usage
*Normal use of the word "scientist" not included
December 6, 2025 at 1:57 PM
*Normal use of the word "scientist" not included
Ah Yes, I remember that article. Seems like measles was ubiquitous. I avoided it even though my sister had it. My wife picked it up at school and gave it to both of her younger siblings. There were 2 children in my year at secondary school with partial deafness from measles
December 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Ah Yes, I remember that article. Seems like measles was ubiquitous. I avoided it even though my sister had it. My wife picked it up at school and gave it to both of her younger siblings. There were 2 children in my year at secondary school with partial deafness from measles
I seem to remember Donald Rumsfeld sabotaging the same plan from the French decades earlier, the USA wanted Europe to defend itself, but on the USAs terms
December 5, 2025 at 4:08 PM
I seem to remember Donald Rumsfeld sabotaging the same plan from the French decades earlier, the USA wanted Europe to defend itself, but on the USAs terms