@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

NormanDunbar

@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot

He/Him. Retired Oracle DBA, Toad MVP, developer, husband, geek, not a dad, open source contributor. McLaren & Mercedes F1 fan.

I own a Huawei P20 phone with the Leica camera. I try to take at least 1 half decent photo every day if I can.

In 2020, Apress published my first book, 'Arduino Software Internals'. My second, 'Arduino Interrupts' was published in Dec 2023. I'm writing another as well as a 2nd edition of 'Internals' to document recent changes.

No longer on Twitter as https://mastodon.scot/@NormanDunbar.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

dgar, to random
@dgar@aus.social avatar

Before crowbars were invented, crows would drink at home.

The local crowbar was shut down because of all the murders.

Police are still investigating the caws.

NormanDunbar,
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

@stuartl @dgar Did you know?

A raven has 17 primary wing feathers which are also called pinion feathers. A crow only has 16. The difference between a raven and a crow is only a matter of a pinion.

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

What kind of high-school experience did you have? Were you in a clique? Were you popular, unpopular, the coolest kid in your Homeschool? Did you have a sweet jean jacket with patches, or maybe a leather vest? Were you an evil villain or a Mary Sue?

NormanDunbar,
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

@RickiTarr I was a wimp! Too poor to be "cool" or to follow fashion. Had to "Work hard and get qualifications or I wouldn't get a job".

Worked though. Left at 17 and aced an interview for a job that didn't exist until I asked, then they created the job for me. 🙂 (I wish there was a smug face emoji!!)

Worked hard all my working life, ended up running my own IT company with MrsD for years. Now retired and "quite" financially comfortable, thankfully. Until the UK government screws us over!

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

Okay, this might sound weird, but this is what I'm thinking of today. I'm assuming most of you know the idiom, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." I know it's about looking at the horse's teeth to check it's age and health, but in my heart I have an alternate history where it's about The Trojan Horse, which doesn't really even make much sense, but it's still living there rent free.

So, does anyone else do this, make up alternate histories for words or phrases? If you do, I'd love examples!

NormanDunbar,
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@RickiTarr Red sky at night, shepherd's delight. Red in the morning, shepherd's hut is on fire!

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

Did Flat Earthers just see a map and get confused?

NormanDunbar,
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

@RickiTarr Flat Earthers have nothing to fear but sphere itself!

NormanDunbar, (edited ) to random
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So the Tories have finally cancelled HS2 in the North. I have to admit I didn't predict that. I did, however, predict HS2 would never get to Leeds.

I have always said that any project that involves London, should be built from the other end, not starting at London. That way, the project would always get built to ensure London gets the benefit.

Starting at London simply means that London gets the benefit regardless of when it gets cancelled.

NormanDunbar, to random
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

Evil fucking bastards!

BBC News - Parliament passes Rwanda bill after months of wrangling - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-68872723

NormanDunbar, to random
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Remember, it's bad luck to be superstitious.

NormanDunbar, to weirdfolks
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

I used to be afraid of speed bumps in the road. Thankfully, now, I'm slowly getting over them.

@weirdfolks @dgar

NormanDunbar, to random
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

Waiter! This wine taste rubbery!
Yes sir, it was a Goodyear.

NormanDunbar, to random
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Remember, every corpse on Mount Everest was once a highly motivated person.

NormanDunbar, to random
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This scandal in the UK. I'm a retired DBA, I had access to everything in every database under my control.

I'm puzzled that anyone in IT would believe that "there's no way Fujitsu staff can access the individual post office accounts; or change values".

This is complete garbage! Any DBA looking after the database can do what they like with the data, and if they wished, cover their tracks too!

It beggars belief that anyone would believe otherwise!

NormanDunbar, to random
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

Good morning fellow Mastos and hello to a wet and misty Friday. I will be walking Wesley and doing some work on my second edition of my first book, Arduino Software Internals. The request from Apress for a second edition came yesterday, unexpectedly.

Whatever you are doing today, do it well and have fun.

Today's random photo is from a couple of days ago while walking Wesley. It's the Leeds Liverpool canal near Rodley -- again!.

NormanDunbar, (edited ) to random
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"Mother Superior! There's a case of syphilus in the convent!"

"Thank heavens for that! I'm fed up of Beaujolais."

NormanDunbar, to random
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If you think your job is pointless, remember, there are people in Germany fitting indicators to BMWs.

NormanDunbar, to random
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Excuse me Mr Shopkeeper Sir, do you have any helicopter flavoured crisps? I'm sorry, no, we only have plain.

NormanDunbar, to random
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Dear BBC News.

The king has been diagnosed with an illness. He has not died! We don't need everyone who works for the BBC telling us the same thing over and over!

Other stuff that is news worthy happened today, get on with it!

FFS!

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

I'm at a restaurant, and this lady had the waiter bring out the chef, and explain a good amount of the menu in detail.

This was not for food allergy reasons, the menu has extensive explanations of each item, with allergen warnings, and what is vegan and vegetarian.

NormanDunbar,
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@RickiTarr @elverkonge Sounds like someone wanting to appear important.

My stepdad was an Italian chef who owned a restaurant. A party came in and ordered, with wine. Head of the party tasted wine and sent it back saying it was off. Enrico tasted it, nothing wrong. Filled back up with tap water and recorked. Went out as a replacement. Man tried it and deemed it good.

On leaving, Enrico stopped them & explained what he had done. Told man never to try to be clever when he obviously wasn't! 😁

DoubleTreble, to random
@DoubleTreble@cupoftea.social avatar

@cupofteasocial


Gooooood Morning Mastodon 💖💖
An early night last night, feeling ready for the day!
Sending love and hugs to everyone 🤗🤗🤗🤗
Whatever your plans I hope everything goes well for you 💕

NormanDunbar,
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

@DoubleTreble @skyfire747 @MaJ1 Talking of hugs, when I was a spotty teenager with no clue about what to do with women, I bought a book titled "How to Hug". When I got it home, it turned out to be Volume 5 of Encyclopedia Britanica.

NormanDunbar, to random
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

Good morning fellow Mastos and hello to the weekend! It is Saturday isn't it? Just having a coffee then heading out with Wesley for a wee. Not that I need one, but Wesley might! 🙂 I hope you all have a great weekend, starting today. Have fun. Have laughs. Stay safe

Today's random photo is from earlier this month. It's a Grey Heron on the Leeds Canal with a nice reflection.

NormanDunbar, (edited ) to random
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

Boiled eggs. How do you eat yours?

NormanDunbar, to random
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Good afternoon fellow Mastos and hello to Sunday afternoon. Did anyone miss me this morning? No? I thought not! 😉

Hope you're all having a great Sunday. Mines been a bit energetic wandering the shores of East Yorkshire with MrsD. It's lovely and sunny but there's a bitingly cold wind out there.

Today's random photo is from yesterday and is titled "I saw this and thought of @Steampunk_Prof ".

NormanDunbar, to random
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

Good morning fellow Mastos and hello Saturday. It's a lovely day here in Buckpool, Morayshire. Too hot already for this Ginger Jock!

I'm sat with a coffee on the beach, watching the dolphins swim past! (Well, I was when I typed this but forgot to send it!)

Have a belter of a day, stay out of the sun if you are as pale as me! Have fun. Stay safe.

Today's random photo is another one of those big bracket fungus!

NormanDunbar, to random
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

The remote control for the TV where we are staying tonight worked long enough to turn the TV on, and no longer

There are no channel changing or volume control buttons on this JVC. Not even a power button!

What to do?

Found "TV remote" app on my phone, programmed it for this JVC and all is well again.

Will buy a couple of AAA batteries tomorrow.

NormanDunbar,
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

@Wen @JackTheCat I used to have an app called TV Begone. It would send out the codes for all makes of TV or I could select the particular make. Most wonderful app!

I always wanted to use it in a pub when England were about to score in a football game, but being a state registered coward prevented me. That and a probable early death! 😐

EDIT: The autocorrupt is strong today!

NormanDunbar, to animals
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

Good morning fellow Mastos and hello to a soaking Sunday. It is currently raining, has been all night, and will be all day too. Oh joy! At least with all this rain we won't need hosepipe bans! What's that? The news announced hosepipe bans already? WTH!

Enjoy your Sunday folks, probably best to stay in! Stay dry and safe.

Today's photo is "Malaki". He's an Afghan Hound pup. Those legs are real, he has phenomenal paws! He's one of Wesley's pooch pals.

NormanDunbar,
@NormanDunbar@mastodon.scot avatar

@simon_brooke Morning Simon. I'm currently in exile in Leeds and have been since 1996. Just sold our house though and are moving back to Scotland "soon". Probably to the Moray coast, or similar.

Enjoy the weather. Everything down here is boggy and soggy. Has been for months. Farmers are losing/unable to plant crops. 😟

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