GammaGlobulin

Obviously, it's almost impossible to do any detailed editing work, or original writing, just by utilizing speech-recognition software. As you say, for any serious academic work, fast touch-typing is surely a must.

And, Freddie, You have such great T I T S & A S S !

I really do not know how to put this delicately, without punning, but: Freddie Mercury, during his too-short life, provide so much pleasure to so many millions, and for FREE! And not only in the bathhouses, but he provided pleasure anywhere and everywhere he could find it. Years ago, I sent Freddie's Vacuum song to my old (80+) friend in NYC, a Linguistics Prof at Columbia. He loved it. Freddie, in my opinion, was not cheap. He was FREE! I have watched the Vacuum Song, over and over, maybe a million times, during the past many years. Each and every time, I find myself tickled PINK, all over again. Truly, I love this guy. But, as you can see, I think he needed some dental work, because I detect a bit of receding gums here. Love you, Freddie. Rock On. Nobody will ever be able to replace you.

Dear Fellow TV Typists, Recently, as recently as this morning, there has been some discussion concerning computer keyboards and the effect, if any, that different types of keyboards might have on typing speed. BUT, this is not the subject of our discussion on this OP. We are ONLY concerned, here, with the questions: How Fast Can You Type, and, Does it Matter Now? So then.... AA. Does touch typing matter these days, given that we now have access to great voice-recognition software such as DRAGON? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_NaturallySpeaking) BB. What is your touch-typing speed, anyway? As for me, I am a very slow touch-typist, maybe about 55 to 65 WPM, on a good day. I first learned touch typing when I was not yet sweet sixteen. At that time, even before I could type, I had my eye on an electric Olympia, EXACTLY the same as this: This is an office model, 'ELECTRIC SGE 40/33', and not particularly light weight, probably about 60 pounds or more, basically half my weight at that age. This thing probably also cost 50 pounds, sterling, in 1965. Also, this is an Olympia, which is a German manufacturer. Back in the day, having your own German OFFICE typewriter in your bedroom was rather cool. NOBODY had one. Nobody. At the time, and at such a tender age, I could manage almost 40 WPM, after a bit of practice. CC. But is it important to know how to touch type these days? Maybe NOT! As you can see here, these CalTech students look just too bored to do much touch typing. DD. Well then what about the Chinese (or dedicated Asian) students? This college student is just so cute the way she explains her strategy for touch typing SUPER FAST: Very Frankly speaking, this video TRULY did bring a tear to my eye. Why? I think it was her optimism and her belief in the GOODNESS of our world, which is TOTALLY a false belief. I also believe that it is only through young talented people such as she that we might find hope for the future in this world of our own making. EE. But WHO is the guy who LOOKS LIKE the fastest typist in the world? This is the guy! Anybody with a beard, typing so fast...just looks strange. Still, he’s cool, too! FF. What is the best strategy, for old geezers, to either learn touch typing, or improve their touch typing skills? Unfortunately, the best DOS-based typing tutor program that ever existed has now disappeared from this world. I know because I have looked for it. So now, you might need to use a web-based typing tutor. All the newer iterations are JUNK compared to the simple and effective DOS typing-tutor program originally purchasable for about USD10.00, in 1990. Also, most guys on this forum probably don’t even know what DOS is, and so no LOSS! Anyway, if any of you SEPTUAGENARIANS plan on soon entering the IT sector, then you best brush up on your touch typing skills, is my advice. Just from my experience interacting with the geriatric guys on this forum, it is highly likely that MOST of these guys can’t tell an OPEN BRACE from a CLOSED BRACKET. And, neither do they know a CARET from a CARROT from a CARAT, unless they found one between their legs, all shriveled up, for some reason. So then, my hat’s off to you guys who are my age! FF. Do YOU Know a great FREE Typing-Tutor Software that can be downloaded to a PC? If so, then please list your suggestions. Thank you. Regards, Gambling Goblin

Thank you! I really enjoyed reading your comment, just because I thought there was nobody left in this world, but me, who had used this console. Here is my observation about the WangAn keyboard... The keys were UNIQUE due to the slightly deeper concavity of each key. This concavity provided important tactile feedback which helped the typist maintain proper finger orientation while typing. I first used the WangAn keyboard in Taiwan, sometime around 1988, plus or minus one year. ==== I do not say that the WangAn computer was not slow. And, in 1988, while in Taiwan, I probably did not notice that the CRT was not as good as it should have been.

Freddie Mercury was so CHEAP. And Freddie was so GOOD. Even Logitech will never be able to compete with his CHEAPNESS and GOODNESS. And, ... Another one bites the dust... RIP, Dear Freddie He bit the dust, far too young.

Thank you. Please photograph your keyboard, and show it here, just as did I. We are always looking for the next reinvention of the wheel. By the way... I doubt you have ever tried typing on a Wang Laboratories console. If you had, then you would know what I'm talking about. If the heat sensitive touch screen is as good as you say... Then...please quote the evidence which proves what you say... Give us the numbers, please.... In terms of WPM in a typing contest... Tks!

Truth be told, I have used up quite a few Logitech keyboards of this kind... When just one of the TACT SWITCHES goes fluey, the entire keyboard is useless. BUT...these keyboards are extremely cheap. AND... I still consider them VERY RELIABLE. I will just continue to buy them. I LOVE them, in fact. Cheap and OK, but NOT GREAT. And so, if I had to write a song about my KEYBOARD OF CHOICE, then I would sing it, ... sort of like this: CHEAP and GOOD like QUEEN so cheap so good Rock ON!

No harm intended, I assure you. The only reason I asked this question is because.... HP used to produce calculators, almost exclusively, for calculation based on RPN. And, THIS is the reason I ALWAYS purchased HP calculators, just because those guys used RPN. THEN, more recently, past three decades, maybe, HP caved. And now, HP is not different from TI, in this respect. Anyway, scientific calculators are already provided as free apps for your phone. If you have an android phone, then you might look at this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.efalk.rpncalc&hl=en&gl=US&pli=1 But don't install it unless it looks good to you. There is, as I recall, a better calculator app that allows you to switch back and forth from RPN to Algebraic mode. In my opinion, HP calculators are great. And, RPN is the fastest for complex calculations.

I have a respectful question, Big Bird. What do you know about the present-day reputation of Rudyard Kipling in Singapore? The only reason I ask is because I just want to know your view concerning the white man's burden. Would you say that we must still endure and bear this heavy burden, at any cost?

These days, do you prefer Reverse Polish Notation (RPN)?

In 1967, I had an ultra-long slide rule made of fine wood and ivory, maybe 18 inches in length. This slide rule originally belonged to my grandfather who was a chemical engineer. (One thing I soon learned is that a very long slide rule is NOT more accurate than a standard slide rule. Also, I had several very small slide rules.) The LARGEST slide rule I have ever seen was the slide rule used for teaching purposes, probably about 7 feet long and 1 foot wide, attached to the wall of our classroom. Thank you for the memory!

Speaking of glass: I still disagree with you that glass does not act, in some circumstances, and in some ways, as a supercooled fluid. You stated, rigidly, that glass is an amorphous solid, and that glass does not exhibit many of the same properties of a supercooled liquid. OK. Let it pass. Because, I was speaking, as you recall, about the grinding of glass, and NOT about the behavior of antique, colored window glass on some ancient church. As for computing in Australia, I cannot say much, because there is really probably not much to say. But let me say this: In 1973, I was here... And, in my day, we had no need to fool with PAPER TAPE. We had girls running around changing vacuum tubes, instead. The vacuum tubes would burn out quickly, and there were THOUSANDS of them. On some days, the girls would work a double shift just changing their vacuum tubes. As I recall, the room that held ENIAC was located at the front-right corner of this building you see. It was a HUGE room, if I recall correctly. And, in fact, this room remained vacant until I left Moore's in 1973/74, just a dusty black room, people seldom entered. At the time, this building seemed dumpy and dusty and run-down, even. Those were the days before computing became such a moneymaker. At that time, learning assembly language was a bit strange. Those were the days before hexadecimal became so popular, as it is now. Most computing we did was batch processing using the trusty IBM cards. And, I wonder just how many IBM cards were ever used before computing finally changed??? One Trillion? All that I can say is that those IBM Punch Card Machines were PERFECTLY built and a true engineering marvel. Those IBM keyboards were a pleasure to use, compared to what I am now typing on, produced by Logitech, just cheap disposable plastic, and of a quality not even fit to hold Ramen Noodles. Also, if one were lucky, it was sometimes possible to get a date with the girls who changed the vacuum tubes on our computers at The Moore School. You just needed to offer them a cooling fan, and then they would be willing to talk to you. Those girls really got overheated changing vacuum tubes inside the computer.

Hmmm... If you truly are a on-finger typist... Then,... have I got a NOTE4 to sell you! I am surprised that you never even tried your hand using a DEC-10 computer console... Where I was, in 1973, these were a dime a dozen. At that time, in Philly, there was a lot of main-frame sharing going on between institutions, as I recall. You must now be a spring chicken if your first computer experience was on a home computer. The Amstrad home computer was not released until about the early 1980's. That was the time when John Travolta was doing....

Friends, Have you ever considered just how many tact switches have bitten the dust, solely due to your millions of comments on social media? I know that I have. Here is an image of a tact switch, just in case you might not know. Can you even imagine the amount of abuse this tiny thing endures, day after day, as you post away? Truly, it’s surprising that these little tact switches last as long as they do. I still recall when the VERY BEST tact switches were used on mainframe computer consoles. I especially loved the WANG LABORATORIES COMPUTER console keyboards for their mini-computers. That was a long time ago. But you could type super fast, and super accurately, on a WANG AN (王安) console, as I recall. Actually, the best keyboard I ever used was the IBM Keypunch Machine keyboard.. The above is what I used to use, anytime I wanted to communicate with the IBM 360/370. Such a beautiful piece of equipment. And, no doubt, many of you still remember sitting down in front of it, from time to time, while debugging your Fortran. It was no joke that those keyboards never broke. Ergonomically speaking, my all-time favorite keyboard is still the WangAn (王安) console keyboard, which increased my typing speed by at least 10 percent. So anyway, how many keyboards have you destroyed on this forum? And, what is your favorite keyboard for typing on TV? Tactfully yours, Regards, Glob Note: If you know what it feels like to type on an IBM 360/370 console, then you are an antique, as well.

I cannot believe I neglected to attach this article promised in my previous comment concerning the effect of GAMMA irradiation on the viability of resistant bacteria from THAILAND. So, sorry. Here it is,... and now attached. EFFECT OF GAMMA IRRADIATION ON VIABILITY OF RESISTANT BACTERIA.pdf

I watched this video. The first question which came to mind was: How might vinegar affect frogs, knowing you are a frog lover. One of the BEST ways, I think, to treat drinking water for pathogens WITHOUT damage to frogs and other wildlife might be to pass water through a glass tube while being irradiated by ultra-strong UV radiation (how many lumens, I am not sure). We all know that frogs are dying, and this is a terrible thing. Of course, I think your video about killing germs might better have been posted on the other Vinegar-related topic in the Community Pub about Hard Water where we can talk about killing Germs and Pathogens in our water using GAMMA rays. Or, here is a great solution for killing germs in water using nothing but sunlight: This diagram above seems to be designed to produce hot water for energy production. However, personally, I think this might be best for producing pathogen-free water, instead. What are your thoughts? I love frogs. Especially the poison dart frog. And, who does not?

Speaking of strawberries, papayas and fresh produce which might or might not be contaminated with E. coli: a. Personally, which is totally understandable, I advocate bombardment of all fresh produce with GAMMA rays. And, GAMMA ray irradiation is already here today, and here to stay. b. The only problem with this approach, seemingly, is that some strains of E. coli can become resistant to GAMMA radiation treatment using Cobalt-60 as the source of GAMMA rays. c. Even though you might not realize it, here in Thailand, GAMMA rays are being used to attack bacteria in chicken. d. Here is an image of a GAMMA chamber machine in Thailand: e. "Many types of food can be contaminated with antimicrobial resistant bacteria (ARB). Gamma irradiation is one of the applications for food decontamination. The aim of this study was to determine the effectof Gamma rayson resistant bacteria in forms of bacterial suspension and contaminated bacteria in chicken meat samples. Resistant strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Kedougou isolated from chicken meat was used in this study. The outcome demonstrated that all bacteria cells in suspension and chicken meat samples were eradicated at 1 and 5 kGy, respectively." (Please see attached PDF article) f. It seems to me that if Food Irradiation strategies could be used more widely, using GAMMA irradiation, then foodborne gastrointestinal infections would decrease. And then, this might help the guys from China to realize that the water in Thailand is NOT half bad. In fact, it's quite GOOD compared to many other places, especially China. g. Anytime I think of Cobalt-60, I am reminded of the COBALT BOMB! Back in the day, everybody who was anybody knew about the COBALT BOMB. If you were born when I was, then you will recall the COBALT BOMB. If you were not, then pls refer to this Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_bomb

I have often heard from my Chinese friends that they worry about drinking the water in Thailand, simply because they mistakenly become concerned that their gastrointestinal upset might be caused by the water. In my opinion, this is rarely the case. From my experience, it is NOT the water that causes the runs, but rather the eating of contaminated food, especially improperly stored or cooked food, and often fruits and vegetables eaten uncooked. When I first came to Thailand, I suffered a devastating case of Tijuana Trots which rivaled even my worst case while traveling through Tabasco, Mexico on my way to Belize. Was this caused by the water? NO! I had eaten a papaya which had been contaminated due to its broken peel. I suffered for days, making countless trips to the loo. And then, on another occasion, my university friend gave me some strawberries. And, again, I suffered the same fate of multiple visits to the loo. Those two experiences occurred almost ten years ago. Since then, I have learned my lesson, and I have not experienced any similar illness during the past nine years. And this is the reason I can say, for sure, that ... It's NOT the water, baby, that's causing your cramps. (Sorry. Did I just say water baby?) So, don't take my advice, by any means, but just let me say that I will never eat strawberries, ever again. Fresh strawberries, ideally, should be washed before ingestion, or, otherwise, indigestion is almost sure to follow. It's not as if I have anything AGAINST strawberries, per se. Years ago, living in Taiwan, we used to visit the strawberry fields in ChungLi and JingMei, and never a problem ( https://youtu.be/10LSq_J5ol4) or so it seemed at the time.

Concerning Pete, mentioned in the OP, who IS he REALLY? Pete is a fairly-driven, young and motivated college man with a cozy hearth, and a bonny young Thai wife, who, together with his bride, returned to Ireland this year to improve themselves financially, and to better the chances for a first-class education for their, as yet, unborn children. At least, in Ireland, the children will learn to read. According to Pete, while in Thailand, he had been pining away for a few pints of Guinness. And, this is what happens when a Dubliner, after many dry years in Thailand, is ultimately, and lovingly, reunited with his pint: Pete may look a bit too young to drink Guinness, but, at the very least, he obviously has a good head on his shoulders. (Please hear me, Pete. Although I am unable to be with you now, I am still with you in spirits.)

Now, just following along ON-TOPIC, if I may, and hearkening back to my friend PETE mentioned in this OP, and his love of Guinness, what must it be like for a Dubliner in Thailand, so far from home, to search in vain, in Asia, for the PERFECT Pint of Guinness? Such a futile quest reminds me of Hemingway’s failed search for his perfect paragraph (sentence), a hunt which ended only after he blew his brains out, but NOT in a car, like what happened in the Lennon song, “A Day In The Life.” Some may not know that Hemingway used his favorite pigeon hunting gun! Imagine that! The pigeon hunter became the pigeon! “When Ernest Hemingway took his own life on July 2, 1961, it was reported in Life magazine that he had done so with a “double-barreled shotgun.” Further reports specified the gun was a Boss that he had purchased from Abercrombie & Fitch, and for years this has been widely accepted as fact. But a fascinating new book, Hemingway’s Guns, by Silvio Calabi, Steve Helsley, and Roger Sanger (Shooting Sportsman Books), makes the case that Hemingway never owned a Boss, and that the suicide gun was actually made by W. & C. Scott & Son. It was Hemingway’s pigeon gun, a long-barreled side-by-side that traveled with him from shooting competitions in Cuba to duck hunts in Italy to a safari in East Africa. By all accounts it was a favorite.” (https://gardenandgun.com/articles/hemingways-suicide-gun/) Some of you youngsters may not be so familiar with the Beatles tune, A Day In The Life, which is a song once very-well known. Let me first post the UTUBE link here before going on to discuss the search for the Perfect Pint of Guinness: Poor Lennon. Such a total waste. I once had PLENTY of Guns, 44 Magnums, like Dirty Harry, etc., and even an elephant gun, a Weatherby .460 magnum rifle. But JUST for fun. Guns are loved most by those who have not progressed to true adulthood. I sold my guns when I advanced five years past puberty. I was never a gun nut. After all, from my experience, after one has a few guns in one's house, then what is one to do with all dem guns? Basically, you just keep your guns in the closet, and then, periodically, you take them out and caress them, after caressing yourself, five times. I mean.. Gun ownership is ... RIDICULOUS! Such a waste. Buy books, not guns, is my new motto.

Never been asked that question? Obviously, you've been hanging out in the wrong pubs.

Remaining On Topic here, I would like to make just one more comment singing the praises of LaTeX, and also provide a link to an easy ONLINE resource where anybody can practice using LaTeX without downloading the LaTeX software to ones Linux computer. First off, LaTeX is amazing because, UNLIKE some lousy text editor such as MS-Word, LaTeX gives the author FULL control to say whatever might come into his/her head. Second, why do I mention LaTeX on this forum? Well, simply because, in my opinion, there are many guys here who are MY age who might benefit by learning new skills, and skills which are NOT basket weaving. My thinking is that there are DEFINITELY a few old geezers here who might like to try learning to use LaTeX, which is a skill, just like MS-Word is a skill, and that by doing so, this might keep their minds more agile. Here on this TV Forum, there exists a very diverse group possessing a wide range of interests. I HIGHLY recommend LaTeX learning for any guy that loves the printed word, and who loves to compose stuff on a computer in a beautiful publish-ready quality. Truly, My Friends.... LaTeX is like a Miracle, and it's free. ====== I don't know the best online site to get started with LaTeX, but here are just one to get you started: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overleaf Just go to this Wikipedia page, and find the Overleaf website. ====== If you have an Apple or Windows computer, then maybe go here to download LaTeX for your computer, and begin: https://www.latex-project.org/get/ ======== For really OLD geezers who have a Linux computer...then... You already know about LaTeX because you just need to look in your Linux Distro and you will find it, as if you have not already found it, years ago. Try LaTeX. Experiment with it. You can spend HOURS/DAYS just fooling around with it. LaTeX is so VERSITILE, and its versatility is the very thing that makes it complex. Learn something new, why not? By comparison to LaTeX, MS-Word is garbage.

Val Kilmer is a Val, IMHO. Or, he used to be, several decades ago.