What’s on your mind?

[Scepticalscribe]

I’m curious about the numbers in the titles. They seem interesting, except for the funny dog ones on April Fools’ Day. I know it’s about Intel processors and past PowerPC processors’ evolution, but what’s the history behind of it?

This is a tech forum, and thus, they decided to use processors (denoting the power of respective computing chips) to signify the number of posts (defined as "designations", and considered by some to be "ranks") that a user has posted.

One could use any such designation, or system: One such system (that was described to me) used a ""grading", or "ranking" system that would have been known to those who were intimately familiar with - or, who may have studied - Republican, or Imperial, Rome.

Academic ranks, or military ranks (or, the ranks of the Russian Imperial Civil Service that was meticulously described in the works of Anton Chekhov, - the Chinese Imperial Civil Service under the Qing Dynasty - the entrance exams were incredibly competitive - was also justly famed) were (or are, or have been) were all quite exquisitely defined ranking systems.

 

[Clix Pix]

I’m curious about the numbers in the titles. They seem interesting, except for the funny dog ones on April Fools’ Day. I know it’s about Intel processors and past PowerPC processors’ evolution, but what’s the history behind of it?

Spring break is a good time to rest between winter and summer break, the longest breaks. We understand the new year is a way to start anew, but I agree with you about spring. I love photographing blooming flowers on trees, in bushes, and even California poppies!

The earthquake from San Diego shook LA and beyond. It shook a bit in LA, but a fellow poster from the Apple Watch forums who lives in San Diego said it was very strong. It swished pools, aquariums, and even shelves.

Most of California’s earthquakes originate from the mountains near the San Andreas fault line.

It's certainly understandable that you would be curious about the numbers in the user titles, the history behind them and when or how someone moves from one level to another..... But that is not answering the question that I asked. Although right now it probably doesn't sound or feel like this to you, I'm actually trying to nudge you into exploring things more deeply, perhaps help you with developing insight into how you function and interact with others as well as how you can best work with your own unique specific interpersonal and intellectual strengths. All of this will benefit you not just now but over the next several months and years as you continue to mature and determine how you want to move forward with your life.

Since as you have mentioned in other posts, you apparently were able to participate in some sort of United States NASA workshop or program for teenagers/young adults, this suggests that you are intelligent and a good student. Good qualities to have, both now and, yes, in the future as time goes on when it comes to contributing to this world in whatever way you choose within both your eventual personal and professional career lives.

Why not at this point in time take a little time over the next little while to also use that intelligence to explore just why you are interested in the whole ranking system on MR? In the long run, what difference is it going to make in your life in the next or two or possibly beyond that, "x" number of years, even if you were to at some time in the future somehow achieve the absolute top ranking? What would be the goal? The gains? Why? What happens after that?

There's a whole lot going on beyond the somewhat cloistered environment of Apple, its products and MacRumors....... I hope that you really see that your own future lies beyond this and that already it is the time to be looking ahead, focusing on the next many possibilities inherent in the upcoming years of your own life and career. In five years from now, who is going to care about what some Apple device or accessory someone was using, as by then it'll have long since become old history. What's more important to you? Right now? What will be in five or ten years?

Just some suggestions for you that doing some thoughtful delving into this and gleaning some insights which might also apply to other situations in your future might prove to be very useful not just now but over time, as in your life you continue moving forward as you seriously consider how you want to make a difference in this world....

 

[rm5]

I see the same thing with other forms of social media. What’s the gain in having 1000 followers on a platform? Nothing! Maybe besides YouTube, because there are monetary benefits to be had at 1000 subscribers.

Instead, the things I work to increase are personal, real-life friendships and professional connections (sometimes a person is both). That way I am more likely to be satisfied in real life down the road. I also work to become more skilled at stuff - and yes, an increasingly diverse number of things.

If there’s one thing being a professional musician for almost a decade has taught me (I know, making me sound old when I’m really not) is that doing THOSE things - meeting new people, being open to new things, becoming proficient on multiple instruments, and being able to perform in a diverse range of styles - makes ALL the difference.

Speaking of which, I played bass today for the first time in awhile which was tremendous fun! A real, upright bass, too. That’s on my bucket list of instruments to buy—I just have an electric bass guitar at home.

EDIT: Do this but also admit to (and work to improve) your weaknesses, too. For instance, in a jazz context, my touch on the piano when playing ballads could use a lot of work - and I’m actively practicing that and working with my piano professor on it. And while I can walk good bass lines on both piano and bass, I can’t yet improvise (don’t have the topography of the fretboard down nearly as well as that of the keyboard). Those are just two of MANY things. But important to acknowledge - maybe not in your bio on your website, but in other places. Hell, people even like to see me practice on Instagram. Which despite utterly hating the platform, I still find myself on it, either because people say they miss me, or because I need to facilitate legitimate communication through DMs.

 

[rm5]

Additionally, there’s something very difficult about learning a new thing after already being very skilled in another for a long time. This is a bit unrelated to the topic, but I just feel it’s very important. You don’t want to (or at least I don’t) subject yourself to being a beginner all over again. But here’s the truth—you’ll always be a beginner in some way or another. So with that said, here’s how I approach it to not feel discouraged:

1. If it’s a thing that can be explicitly taught, I will look for someone to learn from. This makes me feel less alone and more motivated to keep going.
2. If something that is best learned through a series of classes, I will do that. This way I am usually with a group of people and can learn with them. I feel this is extremely important.
3. I will find a way to put the skill into practice. Either literally by practicing an instrument, or by say, writing a paper, or completing additional work on my own.
4. I find an outlet to use that skill, when I am comfortable doing so. Sometimes a teacher will provide that outlet, or sometimes I have to go find it.

Also, recognize where your limit is! I think of this (and these four things) especially in regard to video and audio post production. I’ve done it before, but I don’t feel at home with it and despite doing some pretty high level projects, I still feel like an utter beginner. However, with those high level projects, I felt I was either under qualified or just barely qualified, to be honest. The people who hired me didn’t think so, but I did. Idk how many of you will get my analogy, but it makes sense to me - it’s like I was trying to play complex bebop jazz improvisations before I learned the technique of the instrument. That’s the closest comparison. So lately I’ve begun to employ these four things. Only time will tell obviously, but I hope they work!

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

And, on a completely different note.
I may have mentioned that we have a federal election coming up.
To accompany our elections, we have Democracy Sausages, a now sacred tradition, that if not adhered to, Democracy Would Fall!!!

Masterfoods have now come out with the perfect accompaniment -- Democracy Sauce

We take our elections seriously here...

 

[it wasnt me]

I find that I quickly lose interest in new projects. A while ago I wrote a "better" YouTube downloader - it worked reasonably well and then I put it away because I didn't really want to use it myself (yt-dlp does everything I want). My latest project is a "better" Wallabag/Pocket, which I also use myself in everyday life - it works reasonably well and I don't really want to develop it any further myself, although I do see room for improvement in some areas.

Sometimes the ADHD in autism wants out, I guess.

 

[Apple fanboy]

And, on a completely different note.
I may have mentioned that we have a federal election coming up.
To accompany our elections, we have Democracy Sausages, a now sacred tradition, that if not adhered to, Democracy Would Fall!!!

Masterfoods have now come out with the perfect accompaniment -- Democracy Sauce

View attachment 2502203

We take our elections seriously here...

That’s brilliant! I wonder how many more people would vote in the UK if they had sausages at the polling station!
Instead of a sticker saying I’ve voted, you could proudly wear the ketchup on your t-shirt.

 

[decafjava]

And, on a completely different note.
I may have mentioned that we have a federal election coming up.
To accompany our elections, we have Democracy Sausages, a now sacred tradition, that if not adhered to, Democracy Would Fall!!!

Masterfoods have now come out with the perfect accompaniment -- Democracy Sauce

View attachment 2502203

We take our elections seriously here...

Bravo Australia, in Canada we could have pancakes with maple syrup. Here in Switzerland we also like sausage usually with mustard, or a serving of raclette cheese melted on potatoes. In Greece a gyros of course.

 

[decafjava]

Regarding titles I agree with the consensus here, except the dog ones were kind of fun but only for a day or two.

 

[decafjava]

And, on a completely different note.
I may have mentioned that we have a federal election coming up.
To accompany our elections, we have Democracy Sausages, a now sacred tradition, that if not adhered to, Democracy Would Fall!!!

Masterfoods have now come out with the perfect accompaniment -- Democracy Sauce

View attachment 2502203

We take our elections seriously here...

Looked up the link and was mildly disappointed they aren't free but voting is mandatory anyway - still the money goes to charity so it's a good thing.


What about vegetarians/vegans though? Are they not allowed to vote?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Looked up the link and was mildly disappointed they aren't free but voting is mandatory anyway - still the money goes to charity so it's a good thing.


What about vegetarians/vegans though? Are they not allowed to vote?

I have heard of the culinary horror that is (are) vegan sausages; personally, even if free, I would decline them if they were offered to me, irrespective of whether this were to take place, inside or outside, a polling station.

However, on the topic of the provision of "celebratory food" - and cultivating a sort of party atmosphere - around polling stations on e-day, I feel that I ought to point out - in my experience - that this practice is pretty widespread.

Actually, in my time as an international election observer, (around thirty elections across three continents over the best part of the last 30 years) I have seen this practice - sometimes occurring with genuine enthusiasm, a sort of "encourage the voters to show up" in places as different - and as far apart - as Kyrgyzstan and Belarus.

 

[Apple fanboy]

If I’m registered for a postal vote do they ship a hotdog to me for election day?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

If I’m registered for a postal vote do they ship a hotdog to me for election day?

In the elections I observed in the Balkans in the late 1990s, almost invariably they - the polling station staff - offered us (okay, we were international observers) slivovitz, or beer, or wine (which we declined, politely, not least because it might have impaired our ability, or capacity, to actually closely observe what was going on).

These days, they usually offer you coffee (invariably excellent), or tea.

 

[decafjava]

In the elections I observed in the Balkans in the late 1990s, almost invariably they - the polling station staff - offered us (okay, we were international observers) slivovitz, or beer, or wine (which we declined, politely, not least because it might have impaired our ability, or capacity, to actually closely observe what was going on).

These days, they usually offer you coffee (invariably excellent), or tea.

Probably the idea. Like Apple Fanboy, my voting lately has been all by correspondence which is handy. I agree about vegan sausage, maybe a falafel or something like that for our non-meat eating friends.

 

[Expos of 1969]

I have heard of the culinary horror that is (are) vegan sausages; personally, even if free, I would decline them if they were offered to me, irrespective of whether this were to take place, inside or outside, a polling station.

However, on the topic of the provision of "celebratory food" - and cultivating a sort of party atmosphere - around polling stations on e-day, I feel that I ought to point out - in my experience - that this practice is pretty widespread.

Actually, in my time as an international election observer, (around thirty elections across three continents over the best part of the last 30 years) I have seen this practice - sometimes occurring with genuine enthusiasm, a sort of "encourage the voters to show up" in places as different - and as far apart - as Kyrgyzstan and Belarus.

Here in Finland we just had municipal elections on Sunday. No sausages or hotdogs. But on the two weekends prior to voting day representatives from the various parties set up tables and booths inside and outside shopping malls. Outside there are often sausages offered from a barbecue and hearty pea soup from big cauldrons.

 

[Expos of 1969]

The system used can result in odd results...

"Quite comical" â Candidate secures seat on Finnish town's council with just two votes

Finland's d'Hondt proportional representation voting system can see a candidate get elected on the back of their party receiving a large number of votes.

yle.fi

 

[Expos of 1969]

More problems with the system used. The woman running for mayor of Helsinki from the SDP received about 18,000 votes and the guy from the NCP received about 10,000. Yet he will likely get the position.

Left-wing landslide poses dilemma for NCP mayor of Helsinki

The next mayor of Helsinki, Daniel Sazonov (NCP), will have to find ways to work with a left-green majority in the city council.

yle.fi

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Looked up the link and was mildly disappointed they aren't free but voting is mandatory anyway - still the money goes to charity so it's a good thing.


What about vegetarians/vegans though? Are they not allowed to vote?

I thought so too, till I looked up the rules. You have to turn up at a voting booth and get your name ticked off. After that, you can --

• Vote as normal
• Vote as normal, but write scatalogical comments or draw pornographic cartoons about politicians, so long as they are on the back
• Take your ballot papers (a little one for the lower house and a large one for the upper house) and put them in the appropriate boxes blank

That last option wastes your vote, but hey, so long as you are ticked off, you're good.

Vegetarians/vegans are allowed to vote, and they have a range of cup cakes (with fluorescent icing) and cookies to choose from.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I thought so too, till I looked up the rules. You have to turn up at a voting booth and get your name ticked off. After that, you can --

• Vote as normal
• Vote as normal, but write scatalogical comments or draw pornographic cartoons about politicians, so long as they are on the back
• Take your ballot papers (a little one for the lower house and a large one for the upper house) and put them in the appropriate boxes blank

That last option wastes your vote, but hey, so long as you are ticked off, you're good.

Vegetarians/vegans are allowed to vote, and they have a range of cup cakes (with fluorescent icing) and cookies to choose from.

Now you’re just victimising the gluten intolerant voters. What can they get on polling day? 😝

 

[rm5]

There is a limit to how much stuff I can handle. I think I have reached, if not exceeded, that limit. I had 6 hours of rehearsals this afternoon/evening, and I’m at a point where I have no energy left to do everything else I need to do.

Last term, I nearly passed out due to so much stress, and I think this term has already shaped up to be equally chaotic, despite my best efforts to make it NOT like that. I tried, and people kept asking me to do things - which I felt obligated to say “yes” to, because if I’d said no to any of this, they’d be stuck with no one to play in their ensemble or on their recital. But it puts me in a very difficult position where I have too much going on, and I end up falling behind in classes.

So, clearly, doing nothing about this doesn’t work, which was made evident last term when I almost passed out during a test. But I literally don’t know what to do at this point. We’re already well past the class/ensemble drop date, and it’s too late to back out of recitals.

 

[Apple fanboy]

There is a limit to how much stuff I can handle. I think I have reached, if not exceeded, that limit. I had 6 hours of rehearsals this afternoon/evening, and I’m at a point where I have no energy left to do everything else I need to do.

Last term, I nearly passed out due to so much stress, and I think this term has already shaped up to be equally chaotic, despite my best efforts to make it NOT like that. I tried, and people kept asking me to do things - which I felt obligated to say “yes” to, because if I’d said no to any of this, they’d be stuck with no one to play in their ensemble or on their recital. But it puts me in a very difficult position where I have too much going on, and I end up falling behind in classes.

So, clearly, doing nothing about this doesn’t work, which was made evident last term when I almost passed out during a test. But I literally don’t know what to do at this point. We’re already well past the class/ensemble drop date, and it’s too late to back out of recitals.

Choose what you want to do. Learn to say no. This is an important life skill that will serve you well in life.

In the world of work my boss tries to pile on more stuff. For years I would just say yes. Then work every evening and weekend to get it done (for free). Now I tell him I don’t have the time to look at this or that and if he wants me to do it I’ll need to drop something else.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Choose what you want to do. Learn to say no. This is an important life skill that will serve you well in life.

In the world of work my boss tries to pile on more stuff. For years I would just say yes. Then work every evening and weekend to get it done (for free). Now I tell him I don’t have the time to look at this or that and if he wants me to do it I’ll need to drop something else.

I am glad to see you finally saw the light and decided to be firm. A couple of years ago I asked why you chose to work so many unpaid extra hours on your own free time and you gave a few dubious reasons. In an emergency no problem, but it was a daily thing for you. Once a boss sees that the employee does that, he rubs his hands and thinks, OK I know what kind of guy Bob is so I can continue to take advantage of his good nature and/or fear and hopefully he will not collapse and take long term sick leave. Stick with your new found resolve.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I am glad to see you finally saw the light and decided to be firm. A couple of years ago I asked why you chose to work so many unpaid extra hours on your own free time and you gave a few dubious reasons. In an emergency no problem, but it was a daily thing for you. Once a boss sees that the employee does that, he rubs his hands and thinks, OK I know what kind of guy Bob is so I can continue to take advantage of his good nature and/or fear and hopefully he will not collapse and take long term sick leave. Stick with your new found resolve.

Yes it was daily for a good few years. Truth is there is always work to do. I could work 24/7 and never run out of stuff.
The hours just crept up over time. When a new job came up my boss would give it to me because he knew it would get done (and usually done well).
I don’t like not doing things well, and there are a few aspects of my job where I know I’m not giving enough time or focus. But that’s on the firm not me. If I’ve got 50 hours work (or more) to do in a 40 hour week that’s their failing not mine.
There was another work factor that facilitated the change as well, but I’ll not go into that here.

Also I probably used work as a distraction over the loss of my daughter. Kept my mind occupied. Now nearly 10 years on (where did that go?), it’s different.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Now you’re just victimising the gluten intolerant voters. What can they get on polling day? 😝

Must.Not.Rise.To.The.Bait.And.Say.That.Intolerance.Is.Not.Tolerated...

However, there is a wide range of snacky things available for purchase to suit the most delicate of tummies.

Including Chocolate Crackles -- Rice bubbles, coated with a mixture of Cocoa and Copha. Rice is good for you. Cocoa, if you call it Cacao, is good for you. And Copha is made from Coconut Oil, which is good for you.

If you are lucky, depending on the polling booth, you can get both Democracy Sausage, and drip Democracy Sauce on your shirt, then get sticky cocoa from the Chocolate Crackles all over your fingers, which you then transfer to your steering wheel when you drive home.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Must.Not.Rise.To.The.Bait.And.Say.That.Intolerance.Is.Not.Tolerated...

However, there is a wide range of snacky things available for purchase to suit the most delicate of tummies.

Including Chocolate Crackles -- Rice bubbles, coated with a mixture of Cocoa and Copha. Rice is good for you. Cocoa, if you call it Cacao, is good for you. And Copha is made from Coconut Oil, which is good for you.

If you are lucky, depending on the polling booth, you can get both Democracy Sausage, and drip Democracy Sauce on your shirt, then get sticky cocoa from the Chocolate Crackles all over your fingers, which you then transfer to your steering wheel when you drive home.

Fortunately our village hall is where our voting takes place so it’s just a 5 minute walk. I have a strict no food in the car policy!

Now even though I’ve not long had breakfast I’m feeling hungry! I’ll see if Mrs AFB will make me some Chocolate crackles.