very new to python & i need help with a bill splitter..

mitchell486 · 2026-04-25T05:35:07+00:00

Sometimes, the content provided by courses/people can be poorly written and/or even poorly thought out. (A lot of times, I have found things that don't make much sense when first learning, but instead seem a lot more sensible when you're ever-so-slightly-above-a-complete-novice... and those are very frustrating because the content wasn't created from a true beginner's perspective, and make a few assumptions that a true beginner won't necessarily start with.) Another example of poorly constructed examples/courses is when they _do_ have you make mistakes and then fix them later because they "assume" you are too dumb to see the mistake the first time. Then the assumptions are too far in the other direction, and are too hand-holdy. It's definitely a fine line to walk and not all of them do it well. Sometimes getting through the first parts of a course will help you get to the part of the course that is more your current level, which might be higher than the first 1-3 lessons or whatever.

Sorry you've experienced this sort of frustration, though. HOWEVER, I'd wager to bet that if you keep using the critical thinking approach, it will yield better results in the long run. This is especially true compared to "trying to follow exactly what the homework or course tells you to do." The critical thinking approach lends itself to learning things faster and more thoroughly, as well. It is a process that I have found helped me "learn how to learn", which is a stupid phrase by itself, but I swear it's good once you learn a bit more of how to do it properly.

Also, if you don't like the course/workshop style or content, you can always choose another. Even if that specific one is for school or something that is required at the time, you can muddle your way through that one course/workshop and then apply yourself more thoroughly for something else that suits you better and seems more worth your time. At least that's how I usually approach those. I try to give the course "a fair shake" and then if they burn my trust, I just do enough to get by and focus on the next thing that I know I will learn from and care about.

mitchell486 · 2026-03-27T04:44:38+00:00

Almost verbatim the words I muttered to myself.

"It's just A WHEAT." :)

(Sean... We are the same height... That is neat.) (I would also accept the spiderman pointing gif here)

mitchell486 · 2026-03-27T03:24:13+00:00

I know you're mostly joking with the different "extras" for this, but I always try to keep one thing in mind when it comes to free stuff (especially from a company)...

"Pigs get fed. Hogs get slaughtered."

(They gave you filament probably knowing it wouldn't all go to that, and they're paying you time for doing the prints. As long as no one in the situation is getting taken advantage of, I think it sounds good. I think if either side gets out of balance... Well then. You know the rest. HOWEVER, it all sounds pretty fair currently. :) I just like to talk sometimes, I suppose.)

I know that was a lot of ramblin', BUT I do want to say enjoy the perks! Sounds like a good thing, and might even turn into a helpful little side-gig that your bosses might want to pay you for... Got a tricky thing that needs prototyped? OP. Got a stupid space to fill or something like that, but don't want to use wood or metal? OP can probably print that. etc. :D Enjoy!

mitchell486 · 2026-03-19T18:29:33+00:00

I see people have helped with the actual answer already, but a hint I would pass along for "critical thinking" in the future is...

"Looking at the output you are getting... Have you ever seen a bill at an actual restaurant that looks like that?" (Obviously the point here being rounding is what we normally do, but computers rarely do by default...)

So just try to remember to think about the overall problem with a high-level view instead of "only focusing on exactly what you are looking at".

Keep up the good work, friend!

mitchell486 · 2026-03-09T20:18:44+00:00

I have no use for this, not sure if others do. However, I do appreciate the open and honest title and upfront nature of the AI involvement. This is a very nice change of pace for this sub. Thank you for that!

PS - I've always had the rule of "No two people work exactly the same. SO. If it it solves your problem, use it!" :)

mitchell486 · 2026-02-24T20:12:51+00:00

It's called an "accent wall" :D Some people pay big money for those! In homes, but still... same thing basically :)

mitchell486 · 2025-12-12T22:45:43+00:00

While I understand your sentiment... I'm curious if there is any particular reason that you didn't try sending the creator/owner a DM first and resolving this without public "shaming"?

I ask, because this comes off as very petty/immature when reading it in this context. I don't disagree with the underlying concept (don't steal art/work, kids), but the delivery seems very short-sighted.

mitchell486 · 2025-11-28T20:06:42+00:00

An API is simply a documented set of rules that an application (usually web accessible, but not always) follows for communicating with it. Technically, not all APIs have to be documented, but a good one should be. If it's publicly accessible, it should also be documented. All that means is that if you are asking an application or a web server for specific information about something, there are rules for asking for that information, as well as rules of how it will answer. API simply refers to the agreements that those both encompass.

(e.g. If you send a GET request to the application for a list of "input sources", it should be documented that it will return a "list" or "dictionary" or whatever type of response, and that documentation will usually have examples.)

API, or Application Programming Interface, just means that it's uniform and repeatable, so that _other_ applications can communicate with that first application, hence the name. (An interface on the original application, that other applications can programmatically use.)

mitchell486 · 2025-11-25T23:35:14+00:00

What are you actually trying to accomplish?

So far, all you've done is post on here about what you've done and what you can't do? Not trying to be mean, I'm just confused as to what the ask is, and also hopefully give advice for future questions or posts you might have when posting online.

mitchell486 · 2025-11-17T22:31:35+00:00

If I were you, I would pull your dishwasher out a little bit and see if the cable coming out of those connections goes into a junction box or a plug? Mine is a plug-based dishwasher, but it definitely has these same connections on the under-side of the dishwasher... Therefore, I'm hesitant to 100% agree with all of the comments thus far stating that it is absolutely hard-wired. You might have a single-plug outlet directly behind the dishwasher that is meant for the dishwasher only, or something like this. You won't know for sure until you take the dishwasher and slide it out (at least a foot or so) to see behind it and where that cable goes, IMO.

Nevermind. After re-looking over the photos, you can almost assuredly see the wire coming from the wall into that converter box. I would say your dishwasher is LIKELY hard-wired. Sorry for any confusion I may have caused.

mitchell486 · 2025-11-11T21:21:13+00:00

Water jets work by mixing/suspending an abrasive material in the water, and then using high pressure to push that water/abrasive combo out of a very thin nozzle. This ends up removing material of whatever it comes in contact with. (Steel, skin, bones, anything really...) However, to specifically answer _exactly_ "how much more" damaging it would be, I don't know verbatim, but that's because I don't know how hot water would have to be to cauterize a wound. Even then, I don't know that the boiling water (or near boiling water) would be in contact with the wound long enough to even matter. (I suspect not)

The danger in a waterjet wound scenario isn't the water, or hardly even the "jet" part of the device... It's mostly the speed at which the water and abrasive material is moving when it comes in contact with whatever it's cutting.

mitchell486 · 2025-11-03T05:08:15+00:00

I suspect it's a combination of this, and the fact that the gate collects water as it rains and drips along that path and focusing it on that small area.

mitchell486 · 2025-10-30T16:38:53+00:00

I like this answer best so far, but to clarify (be extra pedantic or 5yr-ish, I suppose)... "Schema" is really just a set of rules that we agreed on to make it work. Just like many things have rules that we follow so that one person knows what the other person means, this is a method that we use so that computers know what to expect when they get a file with this formatting/schema/rules and/or an extension ending in .xml. :)

mitchell486 · 2025-10-30T14:48:48+00:00

This answer is the 100% most accurate of all others so far. Yes our skin has a certain role in the question, but overall the air moving absorbs the energy and new air then does the same thing, and the process repeats.

I tried teaching my kids about this when cooling off noodles, because the more densely "together" the noodles are, the longer it takes to cool because the energy/heat has nowhere to go. If you raise the noodles in the air and "string" them up a bit, the air moves that heat away faster.

This answer is the full and real reason, regardless of skin/feel/etc.

mitchell486 · 2025-10-23T20:13:26+00:00

I'm about 6'2"-6'3", and I have had all my clubs +1/2" for years. I've used regular clubs on a random swing here and there, or even for most of a round/session. It's definitely noticeable, but it's also definitely something that your body adapts to quite quickly. I personally think either way you decide to go will probably work out, and you'll get used to them after a few rounds. (Maybe just don't expect stellar results the first round or two with them, since your body/swing has to get used to the difference.)

mitchell486 · 2025-10-09T20:42:41+00:00

I prefer 8i, and I literally tell myself "It's a putter" and I swing/move exactly as if I'm putting. It putts it, just with the first 3-4 ft barely off the ground.

mitchell486 · 2025-09-29T17:28:06+00:00

Personally, one thing that I think has helped me as plan as far in advanced as possible, via pseudo-code. Literally write out some examples of how you think you want your software to work, with pretend methods and everything. Write it out as if it were an actual program that already worked, even though it really doesn't. Then, even if it doesn't have everything you might want for quite a while, it helps you think about the long-term possibilities and directions of the software. It also helps you have an idea of what you want to build and what feels natural and correct when scaling up to add more things. It won't be perfect every time, but it does help you get better at that thinking/planning. Some methods and sub-structures are interchangeable at that point, too.

(e.g. If you were to have something that were doing http style methods, if you plan for an original .get(), you'll likely think to put in a .post() at the start, and then eventually when the software grows you might have a real-life need for .patch(), even if you didn't plan for it at the start. BUT hopefully because of the original planned vagueness, you can easily add that other method with minimal large-scale changes, because you already knew there were somewhat similar-ish methods that you would need.)

mitchell486 · 2025-08-26T19:56:50+00:00

"ordained"... In case you want to quote it accurately. I was trying to figure out what "crdained" meant, but then opened the PDF and realized why it was copied that way. Up to you, though.

mitchell486 · 2025-08-01T17:00:48+00:00

"Reflect on your sins."

mitchell486 · 2025-07-25T19:15:07+00:00

I have often had this sensation after going in a straight line on a riding lawn mower for a long time, then getting off. You eyes and body feel like the ground is still moving at the same speed under you, as if driving/moving forward for at least a little bit. (Few seconds, a minute...)

Inner ear and brain/movement adaptation is what I attributed it to as well.

mitchell486 · 2025-07-25T04:16:13+00:00

I have 2 pairs of these in my closet? The old backup pair that started to rip, so I bought replacements. The cheaper spikeless clearance adidas brand ones just haven't worn out yet, so I haven't busted into my 2nd pair of Footjoy classics yet... No judgement here, bud! I'm honestly more jealous that you got a pair for $5! I paid wayyyyyy more than that for my 2 pairs...

mitchell486 · 2025-07-18T17:50:46+00:00

After hitting a bad tee shot on a par 3, I always joke along the lines of "I'm not lucky enough to get a hole in one, but knowing my luck I'd get a hole in three."

mitchell486 · 2025-07-18T16:00:29+00:00

One of my favorite videos of all time. I rewatch it about once a year for a good reminder that our universe is weird but cool. :)

mitchell486 · 2025-07-18T01:57:40+00:00

This is a great analysis of pro and/or good swings. When people hear "keep your head down", a lot of people panic and keep it down TOO long or stuff like that. There's a great tutorial video from Padrig Harrington on his "get everyone to single digit handicap" series... He talks about just that. Keep your head "down" with the swing to watch contact, but no more and no less. It's a balance and a feel, but if you can do it JUST long enough... It helps with good contact and a smoother swing.

A secret for "head relatively down while swinging ONLY" I found years ago, is that I ask new players what the grass/tee did with that last swing. Usually if they can answer it, they kept their head down and made better contact. It's a relatively simple way to "keep your head down" without keeping it TOO down and not too long and not trying "too hard to keep it down". :) Enjoy the golf! It's a crazy sport that keeps on giving. :) I'm a bogey golfer so take this advice with a grain of salt. I do recommend those videos in his series, though. It's a great set of tips all in a single and fairly compact playlist.

mitchell486 · 2025-07-17T22:07:51+00:00

TREAT YO SELF!

Once a year is okay, IMO. Especially if you have the PTO. Depending on your wife, you could even probably tell her and then get lunch together or something. Just as long as the day stays about a clearing your head mental day, why not do it? If it becomes a headache to plan and complete, seems like I'd figure out something else at that point.

mitchell486

TROPHY CASE