meta user
network profile
| bio | website | silanna.com |
|---|---|---|
| location | Sydney, Australia | |
| age | 57 | |
| visits | member for | 1 year, 11 months |
| seen | Aug 7 '11 at 13:17 | |
| stats | profile views | 96 |
I began programming as an Electrical Engineer in the microelectronics industry more than 30 years ago.
I have always used very specialised automatic test equipment, which gives me an unusual perspective on how to solve software problems (usually by myself without recourse to libraries and frameworks). This is definitely not mainstream, but I don't create commercial software: my user-base is my fellow employees.
My contributions to SO probably seem other-worldly, but the programming environments I've used have never been Windows-based and only vaguely Unix-like.
HOWEVER — In late February 2010, I was admitted to hospital with a suspected stroke. Tests showed it wasn't a stroke, it is Multiple Sclerosis. Thus begins an inevitable slide into disability.
While I'm now back at work, hopefully for a few more years, I think the effort of engaging in SO (after a lull of over 12 months) might be too much for me. Besides, I can't type as fast as I used to and my neurologist made ominous predictions about loss of mental faculties...
So, I can participate in SE sites as a test that my brain continues to work. I apologise in advance if some of my contributions seem strange and even more other-worldly. Please bear with me.
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Mar 17 |
awarded | Notable Question |
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Oct 25 |
awarded | Notable Question |
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Aug 20 |
awarded | Necromancer |
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Jun 8 |
awarded | Popular Question |
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May 29 |
awarded | Yearling |
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Mar 19 |
awarded | Popular Question |
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Jan 18 |
awarded | Nice Answer |
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Jul 25 |
comment |
Where did the phrase “diddly-squat” come from? I think, if it's common in the UK, it must have been borrowed from the US. |
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Jul 25 |
awarded | Citizen Patrol |
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Jul 25 |
comment |
“This thing will hang me up if I live to be.” A little more context, please. |
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Jul 25 |
answered | What does “God is subtle, but He is not malicious” mean? |
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Jul 24 |
answered | What does this mean: “Avoid oral calcium, dairy products, shark cartilage & exercise during the medication.” |
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Jul 24 |
comment |
What is the opposite of “Could you talk a little louder”? I usually ask my kids "Am I thinking too loud for you?" |
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Jul 23 |
revised |
What's the difference between “swollen” and “inflamed”? more specific detail |
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Jul 23 |
comment |
What's the difference between “swollen” and “inflamed”? True, I should add that to my answer. |
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Jul 23 |
answered | What's the difference between “swollen” and “inflamed”? |
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Jul 23 |
comment |
Which article would be correct in this instance? Ah, this is what you meant by expanded version -- I see. But I stand by the idea that the pronunciation of the acronym is what decides the article. An abbreviation like LCD is another matter because it's unpronounceable as an English word, therefore not an acronym. |
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Jul 23 |
comment |
Which article would be correct in this instance? But an acronym really means a pronounceable abbreviation, so that pronunciation should determine the article used. For example, it should be 'a laser'. I think people would be more likely to complain if you said 'an L A S E R'. |
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Jul 22 |
revised |
Why do you survive 'by the skin of your teeth'? more specific detail |
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Jul 22 |
answered | Why do you survive 'by the skin of your teeth'? |
