@ShiroKuro Congratulations!!! Glad you did well.

Though the woman raised what I think is a valid point: She said the procedure “done in an overpriced private clinic can cost anywhere between £2,000 and £4,000. Having read the committee’s meeting notes from September 2017 and others, I found that female sterilisation costs around £1,000.” She continued: “The average price for the contraceptive pill today is £22.04. If the NHS was to fund this for a woman for 20 years, the total spent would be £5,289.60.”

Compliment is an art form as is complaint. For me, I don't speak to my phone. I only type. I don't like the ubiquitous automated phone systems much, either. I've been known to repeat, "agent," fourteen times before I get one. I can't get out of answering some yes or no questions,giving my name and date of birth, and sometimes verifying my identity by repeating back some random, bland sentence. Maybe it's too much to ask for, but, at my age, I'm doing my best to avoid AI. I don't understand it. I'm not sure I want to..., either. I'm convinced, in my ignorance or lack of it, that, at least, the term-- "artificial intelligence" is misleading. I don't believe, as a philosophical matter that intelligence can exist without consciousness. I flat don't believe machines have that. But that's just me. I have enough to think about with the complexities of a modern Android phone and it's endless software updates. I hope to buy a computer, a printer, , a subscription for printing (?), a subscription for Word (?), Internet access, of course, and maybe cable. I'll have my hands full. I have the most beautiful writing desk with claw feet. It's vintage, solid hard wood, tongue in groove, a pencil draw, three drawers down each side, the bottom right draw, in fact, is double height, disguised to look like two drawers. It even has sold hard wood covering the back. It was a gift. I'm going to research it but my guess is that it was mass produced in New England in the '40's or '50's. It belonged to a wealthy man who moved to Florida from New Hampshire. I've always liked it. I was offered it once but said no because I didn't have the space. I was offered it again recently and, of course, I said yes. I'm not letting go of it for love or money. It only needs a good polish, and I insist on doing myself, after it's in its new home. I'l have a long work table; I hope 60" and sold wood (not wood veneer glued to solid wood), and I'll need a chair. I plan to buy my Pixel 10 XL and keeping my current phone. Of course, I'm hoping they introduce the 11 and the price falls. But, this is the one thing I've always allowed myself. Not clothes, not vacations, nothing really, one nice car and one nice watch (these once)... electronics. I might be sleeping on a futon mattress on the floor and coordinating good, inexpensive recipes (well, that's a given) but my office/ study will be the indulgence I'll have first when I can afford it. But it's still a "want" and I have plenty of "needs." I'm not ignoring AI; I'm just giving it as little of my time and energy as possible. I apologize in advance for ignoring the specifics of the OP. This is my MO. It's a survival strategy for me personally. I have more to learn and more decisions to make right now than there usable hours in a day. 🤪

@Axtremus I remember this, from back when my kids also found it amusing.

@jon-nyc Have you read The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón? Novel set in Barcelona, 1945. Murder, madness, doomed love… My friend said it was a must-read. I enjoyed it, but maybe not as much as she did.

@Daniel said: @bernard Wasn't it Citizens United (the irony and sarcasm can't be lost on many) that declared corporations are people and can give whatever they want to candidates? Not quite. There are still campaign law limits that cap the amount any person (corporate or natural) can give to a candidate. But they can spend an unlimited amount supporting that candidate via their own messaging or other efforts.

Love old coins.

Good for you. I love Walmart+. I couldn't live without it.

We have sink holes. I never heard of one taking anyone's house personally but it happens.

@bernard Speaking about the global trade in oil, as I said in a different thread, our gas at the pump rose from $3.50 to iirc $4.75 in the last two weeks. They'd better do away with pennies if I'm not going to be worried about pennies. Jeez.

When I was learning Bach's First Contrapunctus from the Art of Fugue, I listened to various recordings - and after I had it in my hands, I started playing the piece while listening to recordings. It was illuminating - and helpful. I learned how different artists phrased and accented the piece - and tempo variations that I didn't fully appreciate while listening to them perform the work. It was VERY helpful. My teacher who chaired the piano department at the American Conservatory liked for us to listen to performances and recordings of works we're working on. The best it can do is give on some ideas. As for "imitating" a master, that would require having their technique. On the other hand, one of my favorite pieces is Albeniz's "Evocation". I play it more luxuriously than any recording I've ever heard. Decades ago, I played it for a pro classical pianist - and she told me she loved what I did with it. Nice thing about not having to perform for a competition - is one can occasionally break the rules a bit. More recently, I learned "Standchen" by Schubert/Liszt. I fell in love with the way that Khatia Buniatshvili plays it. Still, I again have played along while listening to her through headphones - and gotten some ideas. No one will confuse my performance with hers - but I have stolen some of her ideas. work.

I do get Tangle but haven’t been reading it recently. I did read this - thanks for posting it.

I received a message from the Universe. It said, "You need to be silent now. The time for words has passed, and the time for action had arrived." Who am I to disagree? ; So, from today, I will occasionally send private messages. Be well, everyone!