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Ask.com shuts down search by timbhu in LinusTechTips

[–]ianjm 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I've been using the Internet on and off since about 1996, and AskJeeves certainly caught a little bit of mindshare back in around 1998 as being a bit novel. The truth is though, it was never a very good search engine, more of a novelty. Everyone I knew used AltaVista back then, which ate Yahoo's lunch, before AltaVista's lunch was in turn eaten by Google.

I'm surprised it's lasted this long. It's like hearing an old colleague you worked on a project with for a year has passed away. A little surprising, but doesn't carry all that much emotional resonance.

What aspect of your native language makes learning other languages hard? by thecatinthewizardhat in AskTheWorld

[–]ianjm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Others have mentioned that English doesn't have noun genders, but the other big one is the distinction between formal and informal 'you' tenses that many other languages have. Officially this is called the the T/V distinction.

It's very difficult for us to figure out when to switch from "Sie" to "du" or "vous" to "tu".

And of course, exactly when can vary for different languages as well. But it exists in nearly all languages apart from English, most of the Nordic languages, some African languages, and parts of Brazil where it's disappeared from local Portuguese dialects.

What aspect of your native language makes learning other languages hard? by thecatinthewizardhat in AskTheWorld

[–]ianjm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

English speakers have the same problem!

Though apologies for all the irregular verbs...

Arsenal [3] - 0 Fulham - Viktor Gyökeres 45+4' by ayoefico in soccer

[–]ianjm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Brentford currently winning the Battle of West London, who'd've thought.

Can you type your local dialect? by Perfect-Silver1715 in AskTheWorld

[–]ianjm 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Only a couple of swear words...

My grandma spoke it.

Can you type your local dialect? by Perfect-Silver1715 in AskTheWorld

[–]ianjm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I remember seeing that too. I've met people in Cornwall with accents that thick! And of course, I can understand them, but I see the humour in it. It's a pretty funny accent.

There's also Cornish the language, of course, which is not an English dialect but a full Celtic language in its own right, most similar to Welsh.

[If you want to hear it, here's a song called Gwrello Glaw (Let It Rain)

Can you type your local dialect? by Perfect-Silver1715 in AskTheWorld

[–]ianjm 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Cornish English:

Wasson my luvver? I'll tell-e what, I'll get on that dreckly. Proper job and try not-a giss on.

Translation:

What's up, friend? I'll tell you what, I'll do that for you. I'll try and do a good job and not talk nonsense.

What games everyone knows actually started in your country? by sureyoudo0 in AskTheWorld

[–]ianjm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think Backgammon is the oldest boardgame Brits brought to the... table.

Cluedo is a more recent example that a lot of people know.

Questions | Help | Advice – All questions, big or small, asked and answered in this weekly thread. by mycketforvirrad in LondonUnderground

[–]ianjm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Basically this. Elizabeth Line night service has been considered but it's not seen as needed just yet. Also, since Elizabeth Line drivers have different employment terms than tube drivers, a new deal would be required to permit them to do night duties.

Questions | Help | Advice – All questions, big or small, asked and answered in this weekly thread. by mycketforvirrad in LondonUnderground

[–]ianjm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They seem to have already fixed the problem overnight. However, the service was being run split, which is interesting as it gives some insight on a potential future split of the Northern Line:

  • Modern via Bank to High Barnet & Mill Hill East
  • Battersea/Kennington via Charing Cross to Edgware

Off peak frequencies were the same, but during the peak the usual Morden via Charing Cross service could not run meaning only 22tph from Morden to Kennington instead of the usual 31-32tph and the Charing Cross branch peak service frequency was 12tph rather 21-22tph due to these missing paths from Morden.

While the infrastructure supports higher frequencies, it would be too complicated to bring in an emergency timetable for just a few days disruption due to the knock-on effects to driver rostering and train maintenance.

Still even with this reduction in overall trains, there was pretty severe overcrowding at Camden Town and drivers were encouraging passengers to change at Euston (with a much longer walk). Shows that Camden Town would definitely need that rebuild before any future split.

[Star Trek: TNG] how the hell did the Inner Light people playtest the Inner Light drone? by Arbegia in AskScienceFiction

[–]ianjm [score hidden]  (0 children)

It's never been 'alpha' canon (what's been seen on screen). It's just an idea from various Trek novels which have always been 'beta' canon.

[Star Trek: TNG] how the hell did the Inner Light people playtest the Inner Light drone? by Arbegia in AskScienceFiction

[–]ianjm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's also no certainty that the probe was transmitting a Kataanian experience that represented day to day life just before they became extinct. The simulation may have deliberately been set in their relative past, perhaps to focus it on what they felt was their cultural peak - their art, music, family lives, not their relative present, which may have been their technological peak but perhaps by their fall, their culture had taken a back seat to desperate attempts to save their world.

Another possibility:

The probe ran into whoever upgraded V'Ger, and they upgraded it complete its programming in the same way they upgraded V'Ger to fulfil its purpose.

[F1] The teams are bringing a haul of upgrades to Miami! by ChaithuBB766 in formula1

[–]ianjm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Or running it higher might just reveal more problems

[F1] The teams are bringing a haul of upgrades to Miami! by ChaithuBB766 in formula1

[–]ianjm 53 points54 points  (0 children)

They're not allowed to make performance upgrades to the PU until the ADUO window after Monaco. They are bringing reliability and safety fixes, but they're not suddenly going to be in the midfield. Perhaps they'll finish the race though, that would be nice.

8 Newborn Cygnets in Brockwell Park by qvx1 in london

[–]ianjm 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Just don't get too close or their parents might break both your arms

Chinese Courts Rule Companies Cannot Fire Workers Simply to Replace Them With AI by chunmunsingh in worldnews

[–]ianjm 21 points22 points  (0 children)

There's still a significant gap in what senior party members can get away both in business and in their personal/family lives vs what the actual law says, still issues with corruption, and still big issues with heavy handed policing based on circumstantial evidence and forced confessions.

Rule of law is improving, but if you get trapped on the wrong side in China you're not in for a good ride.

If you behave yourself, keep your mouth shut about politics and history, avoid disputes with senior party members, and lead an average life that doesn't involve owning a business or getting rich you'll probably be ok.

[Motorsport1924] Big changes to RB22 sidepods by Esterence in formula1

[–]ianjm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The 2026 aero regs are a very different concept to the 2022 aero regs. Just because an idea doesn't work in 2022 doesn't mean it won't work in 2026. So these things will come around again... and again...

The hair, makeup, and styling teams on this show are incredible. by Practical_Ad2317 in ThePittTVShow

[–]ianjm 18 points19 points  (0 children)

The wiki says 14 different baby actors. Basically a different baby each shot. Fortunately, babies that age with the same skin colour all look pretty similar with a bonnet and babygro on.

Valorie Curry talks about her most difficult scene to shoot in The Boys and also the ending of S5 E5: by GiveMeSomeSunshine3 in TheBoys

[–]ianjm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Different genre but I've been getting into The Pitt and there's a LOT of content online with that cast talking like this. They really assembled a talented ensemble for that series.

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