Rick's b.log - entry 2023/03/06

That is soaking in a bowl of colza/rapeseed oil (it's what I had in the kitchen), in order to ensure that all the joints are well oiled. This should help extend the life of the chain. Same idea as lubing a bike chain.
I'll leave it there overnight, and tomorrow rig up something to suspend it from so the excess can drip back into the bowl.

Larder Audit

There were errors. Not many. A couple of products consumed still listed as being there. But the main problem was when I'd used something, replaced it, and not updated the expiry date to match the new product.

Still, I think I had about 12 errors in 144 items. Could be better, but it's not bad given it's been a long time since the last audit.

I took everything off the shelves to clean the dust off of them, so I took the opportunity to reorganise things to be a little more spacious.

I also recycled the cheap frying basket to be a chocolate holder rather than having to mess around with the big flat packs that the chocolates come in. This way is much easier to manage.

I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't do drugs.
But everybody has a vice.
Mars bars are my vice.

Twix and Kitkat are there primarily for a change of texture, just to keep things interesting. Like why I put farfalle in with my linguine, and right now papirilla. It's all about the variety of textures.

Messing with ChatGPT

Since I have an OpenAI account (from all of the amusing AI artwork that, granted, is far better than anything I could create...), let's pop on over to the other project and try out ChatGPT.

A happy upbeat story where everybody dies at the end.

Clearly ChatGPT is unfamiliar with the genre known as horror comedy. Either that or it needs a big electronic blankie to cling on to.

Please write a scientific paper arguing that reality isn't real.

Title: The Illusion of Reality: An Examination of the Concept of Reality and Its Perception
Abstract:
The concept of reality has been a topic of philosophical and scientific inquiry for centuries. While it is commonly assumed that reality is objectively real and exists independently of our perceptions, recent advances in fields such as quantum physics, philosophy, and psychology have called this assumption into question. This paper argues that reality is not real, but rather an illusion created by our perceptions and beliefs.
Introduction:
Reality is a complex and multifaceted concept that has been debated and explored by scholars and scientists across disciplines for centuries. At its most basic level, reality is often thought of as what exists independently of our perceptions and beliefs. However, recent developments in fields such as quantum physics, philosophy, and psychology have challenged this understanding of reality, suggesting that what we perceive as reality is actually an illusion created by our minds.
Body:
I. The Role of Perception in Creating Reality
One of the key ways in which our perceptions shape reality is through the phenomenon of perception itself. Our senses gather information about the world around us, but the brain processes this information in a way that creates a subjective experience of reality. This subjective experience is then further influenced by our beliefs, values, and past experiences, which all shape the way we perceive the world. As a result, the reality we experience is not an objective reflection of the world, but rather a unique and personal interpretation of it.
II. The Implications of Quantum Mechanics
Quantum mechanics is another area of science that has challenged the idea of an objectively real reality. The theory suggests that the fundamental building blocks of the universe, such as particles, do not have definite properties until they are observed. This means that the reality of a particle is dependent on the observer, suggesting that reality is not independent and objective, but rather dependent on our perceptions.
III. The Role of Beliefs and Values
Our beliefs and values also play a significant role in shaping our perceptions of reality. Our beliefs and values shape the way we interpret information and events, which in turn influences our experience of reality. For example, two people with different beliefs and values may have completely different experiences of the same event, suggesting that reality is not absolute but rather shaped by our beliefs and values.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this paper argues that reality is not real but rather an illusion created by our perceptions and beliefs. Recent developments in fields such as quantum physics, philosophy, and psychology have challenged the assumption that reality is objectively real and exists independently of our perceptions, suggesting instead that what we experience as reality is shaped by our senses, beliefs, and values. This new understanding of reality has important implications for our understanding of the world and our place in it, and raises important questions about the nature of reality and the limitations of human perception.

It's a little light on details as the responses are fairly short, but it is otherwise a pretty good attempt at arguing against reality.
Personally, I'd be inclined to say "watch/read the news". It doesn't matter if you're the Guardian-reading wokerati or the obnoxious prick that hangs on to every bit of blather ejaculated from the mouth of a bloke called Tucker. There must surely come a limit, a time when you're like "Seriously? You're not just making all this crap up?".
Yup. Reality is that broken. ☹

Please write a paper arguing that cats are better than pebbles.

Title: Why Cats are Superior to Pebbles: An Exploration of Feline and Inanimate Object Characteristics
Abstract:
Cats and pebbles are two vastly different entities, yet they are often compared and evaluated based on subjective criteria. This paper aims to explore the unique characteristics of cats and pebbles, and argue why cats are superior to pebbles in terms of their ability to provide love, comfort, and companionship. The paper will examine the physical, psychological, and emotional benefits of having a feline companion and compare them to the qualities of pebbles.
Introduction:
Cats have been beloved pets for thousands of years, while pebbles are simply inanimate objects that can be found in nature. Despite their differences, some may argue that pebbles are superior to cats due to their simplicity and lack of responsibilities. However, this paper argues that cats are far superior to pebbles, and that their unique abilities and qualities make them valuable companions for individuals seeking love, comfort, and companionship.
Body:
I. Physical Characteristics of Cats
Cats are soft and warm, with a soft fur coat that provides comfort and warmth to those who touch them. They are also agile and graceful, able to jump, climb, and run with ease. In contrast, pebbles are cold and hard, with no physical qualities that are capable of providing comfort or warmth.
II. Psychological Benefits of Having a Feline Companion
Cats have been shown to have a positive impact on their owners' mental health. Studies have shown that petting a cat can reduce stress and anxiety, while the presence of a feline companion has been linked to improved mood and increased feelings of well-being. In contrast, pebbles offer no psychological benefits and cannot provide comfort or support during times of stress or anxiety.
III. Emotional Benefits of Feline Companionship
Cats are capable of forming strong bonds with their owners, providing comfort and love during times of joy and sadness. They are affectionate and loyal creatures that are always there to offer a comforting purr or a soft touch. In contrast, pebbles offer no emotional support and cannot provide the comfort and love that a feline companion can.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this paper argues that cats are superior to pebbles in terms of their ability to provide love, comfort, and companionship. While pebbles may offer some aesthetic qualities, they lack the physical, psychological, and emotional benefits that cats can provide. For those seeking a companion that offers comfort, love, and support, cats are the superior choice.

I'm surprised that it didn't mention the "Pet Rock". I had a pet rock when I was younger. I called it Sylvester.

I'm not sure I'd necessarily say that cats offer comfort, love, and support. Cats are like autistic introvert humans. They will offer plenty of affection when they feel like it. Other times they might disappear up on to the top of a roof to glare at you from afar. Because cats are like that.
If you want a pet to slobber all over you, get a dog.
If you want a pet who will be the one in charge of the relationship (and make damn sure you know your place), get a cat.

But, it must be said, affection from a cat is worth much more than affection from a dog, because the cat knows it can simply turn around and walk away (and makes damn sure you know that too), so they are being affectionate because they choose to be so.
That being said, a cat quite likely is the superior choice compared to a rock, though arguably rocks are extremely low maintenance pets.

Please write a paper discussing why British people drink vast amounts of tea.

Title: The Love of Tea: An Exploration of the British Tea Drinking Culture
Abstract:
The love of tea is a defining aspect of British culture, with millions of cups consumed each day. This paper aims to explore the origins and evolution of the British tea drinking culture and the reasons why it continues to be such a popular and integral part of daily life. The paper will examine the historical, social, and economic factors that have contributed to the development of the tea culture in Britain and its significance in contemporary society.
Introduction:
Tea is a beloved beverage in Britain, with millions of cups consumed each day. The love of tea is a defining aspect of British culture and has a rich history that dates back hundreds of years. Despite its popularity, the reasons why tea has become such an integral part of British life are not widely understood. This paper aims to explore the origins and evolution of the British tea drinking culture and examine the reasons why it continues to be so popular today.
Body:
I. Historical Origins of the British Tea Culture
The origins of the British tea culture can be traced back to the 17th century, when tea was introduced to Britain from China. Tea quickly became popular among the wealthy and aristocratic classes, and its popularity soon spread to the middle and lower classes. The advent of tea rooms and cafes in the 19th century further popularized tea drinking, making it a staple of daily life for millions of people.
II. Social Significance of Tea in Britain
Tea is more than just a beverage in Britain, it is a social institution that brings people together. The tradition of afternoon tea is a cherished one, and the ritual of tea drinking is an important aspect of socializing and relaxation. Tea is also an important part of many family gatherings, holidays, and celebrations, further cementing its significance in British culture.
III. Economic Impact of the Tea Industry in Britain
The tea industry has a significant impact on the British economy, with millions of pounds generated each year from tea production, importation, and retail. The popularity of tea has also led to the creation of many tea-related jobs and businesses, making it an important sector of the British economy.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the love of tea is a defining aspect of British culture and has a rich history that dates back hundreds of years. The popularity of tea can be attributed to its historical origins, social significance, and economic impact. Despite its long history, tea remains an integral part of daily life for millions of people in Britain, and its popularity shows no signs of waning. Whether enjoyed in the comfort of one's home, in a café, or at a social gathering, the love of tea will continue to be a beloved and defining aspect of British culture.

Interesting. Opening paragraph begins "The love of tea is a defining aspect of British culture, with millions of cups consumed each day.", and the second paragraph then goes on to say the exact same thing in a different order, namely "Tea is a beloved beverage in Britain, with millions of cups consumed each day. The love of tea is a defining aspect of British culture [...]". Can't help but think that a Prof would mark down for essentially saying the same thing in the same words more or less.

Oh, and "the love of tea is a defining aspect of British culture" is repeated again in the conclusion, twice!

Something that could have been added is that for many Brits (myself included), tea is a universal coping mechanism. Monday morning? Put the kettle on. Won the lottery? Put the kettle on. Mom died? Put the kettle on. Whatever life throws at you, put the kettle on, "a nice cup of tea" will get you through it.

There's no such thing as a non-nice cup of tea. If such an abberation should occur, toss it down the drain and try again. If you're in a place that serves bad tea, leave and never return.

Yes, tea is serious. And a beloved and defining aspect of British culture. ChatGPT said so. A lot.

Please write a paper on the importance of urination.

Title: The Vital Role of Urination: An Exploration of the Physiological and Health Benefits
Abstract:
Urination is a fundamental physiological process that occurs in all mammals, including humans. Despite its seemingly routine nature, urination plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and preventing various diseases. This paper aims to explore the importance of urination and the physiological and health benefits that it provides. The paper will examine the anatomy and physiology of the urinary system, the process of urination, and the impact that it has on various aspects of health, including hydration levels, waste elimination, and disease prevention.
Introduction:
Urination is a routine physiological process that occurs in all mammals, including humans. Despite its seemingly simple nature, urination plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and preventing various diseases. This paper aims to explore the importance of urination and the physiological and health benefits that it provides.
Body:
I. Anatomy and Physiology of the Urinary System
The urinary system is responsible for the production, storage, and elimination of urine. The system is composed of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, and is designed to filter waste products from the blood and eliminate them from the body through the process of urination. The urinary system also helps to regulate fluid and electrolyte balance in the body.
II. The Process of Urination
Urination is the process of eliminating waste products from the body in the form of urine. The process begins with the filtration of waste products by the kidneys, which then pass into the bladder for storage. When the bladder reaches a certain level of fullness, the muscles of the bladder contract, pushing urine out through the urethra and out of the body.
III. The Impact of Urination on Health
Urination plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and preventing various diseases. The process of urination helps to regulate fluid and electrolyte balance in the body, ensuring that the body remains hydrated and functioning properly. Additionally, urination helps to eliminate waste products from the body, reducing the risk of toxicity and the development of various diseases, such as urinary tract infections and kidney stones.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, urination is a fundamental physiological process that plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and preventing various diseases. The anatomy and physiology of the urinary system, the process of urination, and the impact that it has on various aspects of health, including hydration levels, waste elimination, and disease prevention, are all vital aspects of this important physiological process. Urination should be considered a crucial aspect of overall health, and individuals should make efforts to maintain a healthy urinary system and practice proper urination habits.

Again, the intro repeats key phrases of the abstract. Actually, in this case it is interesting that there are a few key concepts that are repeatedly repeated, as if it's not really sure of the importance of urination beyond "it's something you just gotta do", like breathing.

ChatGPT probably didn't want to delve into the potentially icky, but something it could have considered is why frightened people often wet themselves - what sort of evolutionary purpose does this serve?

Another related thing, the importance of pelvic floor exercises (especially for XX chromosome people), and so on. It would have made a more rounded response than repeating phrases like "plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and preventing various diseases" and "helps to regulate fluid and electrolyte balance in the body" multiple times. It is said that something like 1 in 4 women suffer from leaks (quick Google search), and if the leaky woman is your mom, it's probably your fault. The contortions her body went through in order to make you and then fire you out of a tiny hole are no joke. My mom didn't suffer from incontinence, but she had stretch marks around her abdomen, and I was premature and tiny!

So as you can see, even a seemingly silly topic could cover a lot of serious parts. And that's not taking the piss. ☺

If there was an epic metal battle between Sabaton and Nightwish, who would win?

Get ready, ChatGPT gives the most boring and non-controversial response possible.

As an AI language model, I cannot predict the outcome of hypothetical scenarios such as an epic metal battle between Sabaton and Nightwish, as it depends on various factors such as the judging criteria, the performance of each band on the day of the battle, and the preferences of the audience.
Both Sabaton and Nightwish are incredibly talented and popular bands in the metal genre, and they have their unique styles and strengths. Sabaton is known for their historical themes, powerful vocals, and catchy choruses, while Nightwish is known for their symphonic elements, operatic vocals, and poetic lyrics.

Ultimately, the winner of such a battle would be subjective and up to individual interpretation. It is possible that the battle could end in a tie or even lead to collaborative performances between the two bands, as musicians in the metal genre often have a strong sense of camaraderie and respect for one another.

Not only would that be the most metal answer possible, it would have shown an understanding of what sorts of things each group creates songs about. Even a Nightwish fan would find that funny rather than offensive.

How do I know? I'm a Nightwish fan. But Joakim in his trademark camoflage outfit straddled across the turret of a tank, singing about an event that happened in 1527? Uh-hu, no argument.

Seriously: I learned more about various battles and military conflicts from Sabaton than the entirety of my formal education.

Okay, so far we've asked scientific and philosophical questions and had servicable results that were... oddly lacking in much the same way as the AI artist's faces.

So let's now try something where accuracy matters. You'll quickly see the wheels fall off.

Can you write me a function in C to make a string lower case, but able to work with accented characters as well? The character set in use is CP1252.

Certainly! Here is an example function in C that converts a string to lowercase, taking into account accented characters in the CP1252 character set:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <ctype.h>

// Function to convert a string to lowercase
void toLower(char *str) {
    int i;
    for (i = 0; str[i] != '\0'; i++) {
        // Convert to lowercase
        str[i] = tolower(str[i]);

        // Handle accented characters
        switch (str[i]) {
            case 128: str[i] = 97; break;  // À -> à
            case 129: str[i] = 130; break; // Á -> á
            case 130: str[i] = 97; break;  // Â -> â
            case 131: str[i] = 97; break;  // Ã -> ã
            case 132: str[i] = 97; break;  // Ä -> ä
            case 133: str[i] = 101; break; // Å -> å
            case 134: str[i] = 99; break;  // Æ -> æ
            case 135: str[i] = 101; break; // Ç -> ç
            case 136: str[i] = 101; break; // È -> è
            case 137: str[i] = 130; break; // É -> é
            case 138: str[i] = 101; break; // Ê -> ê
            case 139: str[i] = 101; break; // Ë -> ë
            case 140: str[i] = 105; break; // Ì -> ì
            case 141: str[i] = 105; break; // Í -> í
            case 142: str[i] = 105; break; // Î -> î
            case 143: str[i] = 105; break; // Ï -> ï
            case 144: str[i] = 240; break; // Ð -> ð
            case 145: str[i] = 110; break; // Ñ -> ñ
            case 146: str[i] = 111; break; // Ò -> ò
            case 147: str[i] = 131; break; // Ó -> ó
            case 148: str[i] = 111; break; // Ô -> ô
            case 149: str[i] = 245; break; // Õ -> õ
            case 150: str[i] = 111; break; // Ö -> ö
            case 151: str[i] = 247; break; // × -> ÷
            case 152: str[i] = 117; break; // Ø -> ø
            case 153: str[i] = 117; break; // Ù -> ù
            case 154: str[i] = 130; break; // Ú -> ú
            case 155: str[i] = 117; break; // Û -> û
            case 156: str[i] = 129; break; // Ü -> ü
            case 157: str[i] = 121; break; // Ý -> ý
            case 158: str[i] = 116; break; // Þ -> ¶
            case 159: str[i] = 121; break; // ß -> ÿ
            default: break

Note that various character numbers are repeated for different characters (!) and that the program doesn't even finish. It literally ended at the break.

The table itself is gibberish. I'll leave it to you to scratch your head, and do note that the primary accented characters begin at offset 192. The two rows before that (160-191) are various symbols, and the two rows before that (128-159) is a mixture of symbols and extended characters such as Š, Œ, and Ÿ.

Note that these first two rows (128-159) are technically undefined in ISO 8859-1. Under RISC OS, these characters are used for a selection on similar but different characters.

At any rate, beginning with À, Á, Â, Ã, Ä, etc from 128 is complete nonsense. Those characters start at position 192 onwards.
And as for the translated characters? Anything in the range 98 to 122 is just a regular lower case letter in the basic ASCII range. So I'll leave you to scratch your head over what the hell ChatGPT was smoking when it spat out this bollocks.

Can you do the same, but in BBC BASIC?

Sure, here's an example function in BBC BASIC that converts a string to lowercase, taking into account accented characters in the CP1252 character set:

10 DEF PROCtoLower(s$)
20   LOCAL i%, c%
30   FOR i% = 1 TO LEN(s$)
40     c% = ASC(MID$(s$, i%, 1))
50     IF c% >= 65 AND c% <= 90 THEN
60       c% += 32
70     ENDIF
80     REM Handle accented characters
90     SELECT c%
100       CASE 128: c% = 97: REM À -> à
110       CASE 129: c% = 130: REM Á -> á
120       CASE 130: c% = 97: REM Â -> â
130       CASE 131: c% = 97: REM Ã -> ã
140       CASE 132: c% = 97: REM Ä -> ä
150       CASE 133: c% = 101: REM Å -> å
160       CASE 134: c% = 99: REM Æ -> æ
170       CASE 135: c% = 101: REM Ç -> ç
180       CASE 136: c% = 101: REM È -> è
190       CASE 137: c% = 130: REM É -> é
200       CASE 138: c% = 101: REM Ê -> ê
210       CASE 139: c% = 101: REM Ë -> ë
220       CASE 140: c% = 105: REM Ì -> ì
230       CASE 141: c% = 105: REM Í -> í
240       CASE 142: c% = 105: REM Î -> î
250       CASE 143: c% = 105: REM Ï -> ï
260       CASE 144: c% = 240: REM Ð -> ð
270       CASE 145: c% = 110: REM Ñ -> ñ
280       CASE 146: c% = 111: REM Ò -> ò
290       CASE 147: c% = 131: REM Ó -> ó
300       CASE 148: c% = 111: REM Ô -> ô
310       CASE 149: c% = 245: REM Õ -> õ
320       CASE 150: c% = 111: REM Ö -> ö
330       CASE 151: c% = 247: REM × -> ÷
340       CASE 152: c% = 117: REM Ø -> ø
350       CASE 153: c% = 117: REM Ù -> ù
360       CASE 154: c% = 130: REM Ú -> ú
370       CASE 155: c% = 117: REM Û -> û
380       CASE 156: c% = 129: REM Ü -> ü
390       CASE 157: c% = 121: REM Ý -> ý
400       CASE 158: c% = 116: REM Þ -> ¶
410       CASE 159: c% = 121: REM ß -> ÿ
420     ENDCASE
430     s$ = LEFT$(s$, i% - 1) + CHR$(c%) + RIGHT$(s$, LEN(s$) - i%)
440   NEXT i%
50   = s$
60 ENDPROC

This function works in a similar way to the C version, using a loop to

And there the output aborted, just like before. Note again the CASE conversions are gibberish, and that the string is modified on the fly.
Oh, and shall we talk about using a function return in a procedure? Plus, note the last two line numbers.

ChatGPT maintains context, which means that it is possible to ask something like the following.

Would it not be quicker to use a lookup table instead?

Yes, you're absolutely right. Using a lookup table would be faster than using a SELECT statement to map accented characters to their lowercase equivalents one by one. Here's an updated version of the BBC BASIC function that uses a lookup table:

10 DEF PROCtoLower(s$)
20   LOCAL i%, c%
30   LOCAL tbl%() = [224,225,226,227,228,229,230,231,232,233,234,235,236,237,238, {X}
239,240,241,242,243,244,245,246,247,248,249,250,251,252,253,255]
40   LOCAL off%() = [32,32,32,32,32,32,0,0,32,32,32,32,32,32,32,32,0,0,32,32, {X}
32,32,32,247,32,32,32,32,32,121]
50   FOR i% = 1 TO LEN(s$)
60     c% = ASC(MID$(s$, i%, 1))
70     IF c% >= 65 AND c% <= 90 THEN
80       c% += 32
90     ELSEIF c% >= 192 AND c% <= 255 THEN
100       c% = tbl%((c% - 192) DIV 2) + off%((c% - 192) DIV 2)
110     ENDIF
120     s$ = LEFT$(s$, i% - 1) + CHR$(c%) + RIGHT$(s$, LEN(s$) - i%)
130   NEXT i%
140   = s$
150 ENDPROC

In this version, the tbl% array contains the difference between the ASCII codes of uppercase accented characters and their lowercase equivalents. The off% array contains additional offsets for certain characters that don't follow the same pattern as the others.

Using these tables, the function can simply calculate the index into the tables for each accented character and add the appropriate difference to its ASCII code to get the lowercase equivalent. This should be faster than using a SELECT statement to map each character one by one.

Note the "{X}" in the code, it marks where I pressed Return in order to stop long lines screwing up the formatting of the rest of this page. In reality, the following line is part of the one above.

In the case of legitimate BASIC, well, let's see. There's still the confusion between procedures and functions. Arrays aren't initialised like that, and...

...look, here's a version in valid BBC BASIC V, but it does not work. The calculated lowercase codes for the accented characters are above 255, which is invalid for a byte. The line I've inserted before the s$ assignment sanitises this by replacing the characters with a '.'.
The code itself is (oddly) functional, it's the lookup table that is broken.

Can you also do that in C?

Yes, you can definitely use a lookup table in C to make the function for converting a string to lowercase more efficient. Here's an example implementation that uses a lookup table:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

void to_lower(char* str) {
    int len = strlen(str);
    int tbl[] = {
        /* 0x80 - 0x8F */
        0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03, 0x04, 0x05, 0x06, 0x07,
        0x08, 0x09, 0x0A, 0x0B, 0x0C, 0x0D, 0x0E, 0x0F,
        /* 0x90 - 0x9F */
        0x10, 0x11, 0x12, 0x13, 0x14, 0x15, 0x16, 0x17,
        0x18, 0x19, 0x1A, 0x1B, 0x1C, 0x1D, 0x1E, 0x1F,
        /* 0xA0 - 0xAF */
        0x20, 0x21, 0x22, 0x23, 0x24, 0x25, 0x26, 0x27,
        0x28, 0x29, 0x2A, 0x2B, 0x2C, 0x2D, 0x2E, 0x2F,
        /* 0xB0 - 0xBF */
        0x30, 0x31, 0x32, 0x33, 0x34, 0x35, 0x36, 0x37,
        0x38, 0x39, 0x3A, 0x3B, 0x3C, 0x3D, 0x3E, 0x3F,
        /* 0xC0 - 0xCF */
        0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
        0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
        /* 0xD0 - 0xDF */
        0x40, 0x41, 0x42, 0x43, 0x44, 0x45, 0x46, 0x47,
        0x48, 0x49, 0x4A, 0x4B, 0x4C, 0x4D, 0x4E, 0x4F,
        /* 0xE0 - 0xEF */
        0x50, 0x51, 0x52, 0x53, 0x54, 0x55, 0x56, 0x57,
        0x58, 0x59, 0x5A, 0x5B, 0x5C, 0x5D, 0x5E, 0x5F,
        /* 0xF0 -

The program is unfinished?

My apologies, it seems like part of the code was cut off. Here is the full implementation for converting a string to lowercase in C using a lookup table:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

void to_lower(char* str) {
    int len = strlen(str);
    int tbl[] = {
        /* 0x80 - 0x8F */
        0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03, 0x04, 0x05, 0x06, 0x07,
        0x08, 0x09, 0x0A, 0x0B, 0x0C, 0x0D, 0x0E, 0x0F,
        /* 0x90 - 0x9F */
        0x10, 0x11, 0x12, 0x13, 0x14, 0x15, 0x16, 0x17,
        0x18, 0x19, 0x1A, 0x1B, 0x1C, 0x1D, 0x1E, 0x1F,
        /* 0xA0 - 0xAF */
        0x20, 0x21, 0x22, 0x23, 0x24, 0x25, 0x26, 0x27,
        0x28, 0x29, 0x2A, 0x2B, 0x2C, 0x2D, 0x2E, 0x2F,
        /* 0xB0 - 0xBF */
        0x30, 0x31, 0x32, 0x33, 0x34, 0x35, 0x36, 0x37,
        0x38, 0x39, 0x3A, 0x3B, 0x3C, 0x3D, 0x3E, 0x3F,
        /* 0xC0 - 0xCF */
        0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
        0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
        /* 0xD0 - 0xDF */
        0x40, 0x41, 0x42, 0x43, 0x44, 0x45, 0x46, 0x47,
        0x48, 0x49, 0x4A, 0x4B, 0x4C, 0x4D, 0x4E, 0x4F,
        /* 0xE0 - 0xEF */
        0x50, 0x51, 0x52, 0x53, 0x54, 0x55, 0x56, 0x57,
        0x58, 0x59, 0x5A, 0x5B, 0x5C, 0x5D, 0x5E, 0x5F,
        /* 0xF0 - 0xFF */

Still missing the end. Can you only show the code that is after the lookup table?

My apologies for that mistake, here is the remaining part of the code after the lookup table:

        0x60, 0x61, 0x62, 0x63, 0x64, 0x65, 0x66, 0x67,
        0x68, 0x69, 0x6A, 0x6B, 0x6C, 0x6D, 0x6E, 0x6F,
    };
    int i;

    for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
        unsigned char c = str[i];
        if (c >= 0x80 && c <= 0xFF) {
            str[i] = tbl[c - 0x80];
        } else if (c >= 'A' && c <= 'Z') {
            str[i] = c + ('a' - 'A');
        }
    }
}

int main() {
    char str[] = "ThIs Is A Test StrIng";
    to_lower(str);
    printf("%s\n", str);
    return 0;
}

This code defines a to_lower() function that takes a string as input and converts all uppercase letters to lowercase, including accented characters. It uses a lookup table to map the codepoints of accented characters to their lowercase equivalents.

The main() function provides an example usage of the to_lower() function, passing a test string and printing the result.

As you can see, the ability to have context means that after the second failed attempt, it was possible for it to pick up from where it left off.
Why does this happen? Well for some obscure reason, ChatGPT outputs character by character as if it's a really fast typist providing the response, and I guess after a certain duration it simply times out.
It's probably a measure to reduce server load, but it's bizarre when it breaks output like that.

Conclusion?

...the problem is more the potential commercial uses of such AI things. One that scares the hell out of me is to use an AI to filter people looking for assistance from a doctor.

Consider, for example, a 22 year old presenting with tummy pain. Far too many (mostly male) gynaes would dismiss this as "period pains" and give her something for that.
Consider, the average girl starts her periods at the age of 12. Sometimes earlier, rarely later. Which means she'll have been menstruating for a decade. Or something like 120 periods. So I think she'd damn well know what a period feels like, and when it doesn't feel like it. Sadly, too many male doctors (and I mean male in the sense of having a Y chromosome) simply cannot seem to understand this as it just doesn't happen to them. And, yes, for some poor girls it can feel worse than a root canal without anaesthetic and last for days.

If humans can't be trusted to get such a thing right, what hope a machine? Not only this, but if you scroll back and read through all of the ChatGPT responses, you'll notice that they all appear to be valid and functional, yet when you start looking closer, it's mostly a lot of clever looking gibberish.

This isn't a fault of ChatGPT, it's a fault of the entire field of Artificial Intelligence. We have created impressive machines that can trawl billions of pages of human writing and artwork and photos to determine the relationships between things in order that if you ask it to write about why cats are better than rocks, it can give a mostly coherent response, and if you ask it to create a painting of a chrome cat in the style of Salvador Dalí, a mere twelve heartbeats later you'll see this:

But there is no understanding. There is no morality. There is no empathy. Technology today may pass a Turing test. It may even convince some impressionable people that it is alive. But it is mostly a very complicated system of pattern matching and it can get many things wrong without knowing it.
So chatbots and the like could be used for customer support for companies too cheap to employ humans. Something like ChatGPT could be less annoying than those bots that can only understand basic phrases and have a limited range of solutions. But such technology should never be used in situations that could prove harmful.

AI is not, and should never be, a replacement for a qualified doctor.
Or, for that matter, a driver.

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