Linux-Advocacy Digest #748, Volume #34 Thu, 24 May 01 07:13:04 EDT
Contents:
Re: Just when Linux starts getting good, Microsoft buries it in the dust! ("Glitch")
Re: Just when Linux starts getting good, Microsoft buries it in the dust! ("Ayende
Rahien")
Re: Blame it all on Microsoft (Rob Warnock)
Re: Just when Linux starts getting good, Microsoft buries it in the dust! ("David
Brown")
Re: Intermediate user who left Windows for Linux (Ed Allen)
Re: Just when Linux starts getting good, Microsoft buries it in the dust! ("David
Brown")
Re: Justice Department LOVES Microsoft! (Rick)
Re: Just when Linux starts getting good, Microsoft buries it in the dust! ("Ayende
Rahien")
Re: Why Linux Is no threat to Windows domination of the desktop ("Rich Soyack")
Re: Why Linux Is no threat to Windows domination of the desktop ("Rich Soyack")
Re: Win2k Sp2 Worked perfectly ("Weevil")
Re: Just when Linux starts getting good, Microsoft buries it in the dust! ("green")
Re: Linux beats Win2K (again) ("David Brown")
Re: Linux beats Win2K (again) ("David Brown")
Re: ouch! (Richard Thrippleton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Glitch" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Just when Linux starts getting good, Microsoft buries it in the dust!
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 03:00:10 -0400
>
>> I have written applications for both Windows and Linux, I don't think
>> that C/C++ is any easier or difficult on either platform. I must admit
>> that the MS Visual IDE is *nice* especially the debugger, but NOTHING
>> that can't be overcome with judicious use of logging.
>
> IOW, you have to do extra work...
having to do ur work over again b/c the app crashed isn't fun either and
should *not* happen but it does.
>
> Ms Access is not a competer against MySQL. While Access can be used as
a
you mean competitor right? or maybe computer? lol
>
> The difference is that GUI is more natural, it allows trial & error
> learning, which is much better ingrained into us than mere reading the
> docs.
>
unfortunately most Windows users are too scared to do any trial and error with
*anything*. That's why they are stupid. They don't ever try anything on
their own. They always want someone else to do it and only do enough so
the problem gets fixed. Trial and error learning goes along the ines of
exploring your environment or asking the questions why or how something
works. Most users of Windows don't have that type of personality and
therefore won't ever venture into the realm of trial and
errror/exploring.
Linux users on the other hand *do* have that type of personality.
Having that personality in and of itself I don't think makes you smarter,
but the effects of that personality do (ie. you try new things to see
what happens and whether the consequence is good or bad you still learned
something) The curious stick their finger into a wall socket and get
fried. If you live you obviously learned not to do it again.
>> Also if you want to self educate yourself that Linux provides FAR MORE
>> OPPORTUNITY by way of community and documentation for an individuals
> ability
>> to *LEARN* contrast this to windows documentation and community which
>> is woeful, charging for MSDN is a disgrace.
>
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/ is avialable to anyone, for free.
>
what's teh site that you only get access to if you pass one of the MCSE
exams to become an MCP? Only MCPs have access to the site; i'm just not
sure which one it is.
------------------------------
From: "Ayende Rahien" <don'[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
alt.destroy.microsoft,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy,comp.os.ms-windows.advocacy
Subject: Re: Just when Linux starts getting good, Microsoft buries it in the dust!
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 11:57:30 +0200
"JS \ PL" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> Microsoft doesn't "say" they will have it. They HAVE it!
> And it seems to work pretty good for my big 5 (five) users. All five can
be
> logged on, with programs open, and switching between users is very quick.
> It's not a matter of saving a list of programs to be opened when that user
> logs back in. The programs are open just as you left them. That word
> document you have open is STILL open with the cursor still blinking right
> where you left it. Half installed programs are STILL half installed when
you
> return. The only thing I've found is that a half played mp3 (in Winamp) is
> closed down when a user switch takes place. But who knows, maybe Media
> Player (tm) will automatically pause in the final version. :-)
I don't know about WinAmp, but switching users while playing with WMP8 keeps
playing if you switch users, and keep playing until another user log on.
If you return to the user, the song that it last played is stopped, not
paused.
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Rob Warnock)
Crossposted-To: comp.theory,comp.arch,comp.object
Subject: Re: Blame it all on Microsoft
Date: 24 May 2001 09:22:35 GMT
Leonard Fehskens <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
+---------------
| Jerry Coffin at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
| >I'm not sure what I was thinking there -- you talked about the PDP-
| >10, and I replied about the PDP-8. In any case, I'm pretty sure the
| >PDP-10 didn't predate the PDP-8, so the same basic idea applies...
|
| No, but the PDP-6, which essentially defined the -10's architecture,
| may have. I don't know if the LDB, DPB, ILDB, IDPB and IBP instructions
| were supported by the -6 or were new on the -10.
+---------------
IIRC, the variable-byte instructions were available as an option
on the PDP-6, and became standard equipment on the PDP-10.
+---------------
| Since many alphanumeric applications could get by with 50 characters
| (26 single case alphabetics, 10 numerics, and 14 punctuation and
| "carriage control" characters), "radix50" was a common encoding on the
| early PDP machines.
+---------------
As someone else pointed out, it was 50 *octal* (40 decimal), and
was used mainly for compressing 6-character file names into 32 bits
(or 3-char extensions into 16 bits).
-Rob
=====
Rob Warnock, 31-2-510 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
SGI Network Engineering <URL:http://reality.sgi.com/rpw3/>
1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy. Phone: 650-933-1673
Mountain View, CA 94043 PP-ASEL-IA
------------------------------
From: "David Brown" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
alt.destroy.microsoft,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy,comp.os.ms-windows.advocacy
Subject: Re: Just when Linux starts getting good, Microsoft buries it in the dust!
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 11:42:03 +0200
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote in message ...
>On Thu, 24 May 2001 00:40:10 GMT, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Charlie
>Ebert) wrote:
>
>
>>THEY HAVE INTELLIMOUSE!!!
>>
>>OH LORDY LORDY LORDY!!! WE DOOMED NOW!
>
>Yep...
>
>And you are stuck with an OS that supports less than half of it's
>features....
>
>Typical Linsux
>
The features of my Intellimouse are a ball, three buttons and a wheel.
Mandrake supports all of these - without needing to download or install
extra drivers. What other features does your Intellimouse have?
------------------------------
Subject: Re: Intermediate user who left Windows for Linux
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Ed Allen)
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 10:01:04 GMT
In article <4n%O6.27642$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
Techno Barbie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>Terry Porter wrote:
>> MS have always been a bit ritcheous, starting with Bill Gates comments
>> re 'piracy' with his first product, many years ago.
>
>Yeah, I read that recently in a book called Hardrive. I believe it had to
>do with piracy on the Asian market???
>
I think what he is referring to is the full page ad Gates took out
in Byte and maybe other magazines.
A copy is here:
http://www.blinkenlights.com/classiccmp/gateswhine.html
--
Microsoft Motto: Illegal we do immediately.
Unconstitutional takes a little longer.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Linux -- The Unix defragmentation tool.
------------------------------
From: "David Brown" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
alt.destroy.microsoft,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy,comp.os.ms-windows.advocacy
Subject: Re: Just when Linux starts getting good, Microsoft buries it in the dust!
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 11:53:48 +0200
T. Max Devlin wrote in message
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
>>>
>>> >> > And get this - Applications even stay open and are there (still
>>> >> > open) when returning to that user.
>>> >>
>>> >> And to GNOME 1.0.
>>> >
>>> >Really? How do you exit GNOME as one use, log on as another,
>>> >then log back in as the first and have all apps still running?
>>>
>>> What do you mean "still"? Why would you want to exit GNOME just to log
>>> on as another user?
>>
>>I find myself going back and forth to root quite often. It's nice to know
>>there is a way to keep open programs up without having to re-open them.
>
>??? I find myself wondering if you are being purposefully stupid or
>accidentally ignorant; you don't need to "log out" to use the root
>account; no need to even *think* about closing programs or re-opening
>them. Have you NEVER used Unix?
>
I don't think he has used anything much beyond Win9x. Even with NT 4, there
is an "su" utility in the resource kit (you know, the CD with essential
utilities that should have been part of NT itself, along with the manual
that should have come with such expensive software). Its not great, and it
has limits (since NT/W2K/XP is not really a multi-user OS), but it helps a
lot.
>>Except with XP there isn't a need to save the session. It just does it.
>
>I suppose that means the fucking OS will decided when its going to do
>it, and we're supposed to trust that MS will "get it right"? You can't
>even turn the damn thing off reliably.
>
This is going to be real fun when the reason you want to log out is to close
all programs after some bad app has hung the system, or leaked all the
memory - XP will helpfully save the session so that it can restart the bad
app again and again... (Ring to MS support - "have you tried re-installing
the OS?" Then ring Product Activation - "This software has already been
activated - please purchase a new licence"). For the overly sensitive
flamers - I know I'm exagerating.
The feature is also going to cause real fun in multi-user environments, such
as libraries or schools - how well is XP going to run on its claimed minimum
memory (128M, IIRC) when there are half a dozen sessions hanging on in the
background, each with its own copy of Word, IE, etc. ?
------------------------------
From: Rick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,comp.os.ms-windows.advocacy
Subject: Re: Justice Department LOVES Microsoft!
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 06:14:49 -0400
Quantum Leaper wrote:
>
> "Rick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> > Quantum Leaper wrote:
> > >
> > > "Rick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> > > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> > > > Daniel Johnson wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > "Rick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> > > > > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> > > > > > Daniel Johnson wrote:
> > > > > [snip]
> > > > > > > > > Other software *did* exist. IBM would sell
> > > > > > > > > you genuine DOS, not to mention DR-DOS.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Pricing. The CP/M offered by IBM has hugely overpriced, as you
> > > have
> > > > > been
> > > > > > > > told.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > CP/M was a Digital Research project.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Duh.
> > > > > > I repeat:
> > > > > > Pricing. The CP/M offered by IBM has hugely overpriced, as you
> have
> > > been
> > > > > > told.
> > > > >
> > > > > A pretty silly thing for Digitial Research
> > > > > to do, I'm sure you'll agree.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > DR didnt do it, dolt, IBM did.
> > > >
> > > What was the price IBM price of CP/M compared to the price IBM charged
> it
> > > customers?
> >
> > What?
>
> One more try... How much did DR charge IBM for CP/M? How much did IBM
> charge its customers for CP/M? Sorry if I was unclear...
Thanks. As I said in different reply, Im not sure how much Digital was
charging m$, and I cant find mt reference on the price IBM was charging.
I believe it was around $200-250. I remember that the reference stated
Kildall wass very upset over the pricing.
--
Rick
------------------------------
From: "Ayende Rahien" <don'[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Just when Linux starts getting good, Microsoft buries it in the dust!
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 13:18:06 +0200
"Glitch" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> >
> >> I have written applications for both Windows and Linux, I don't think
> >> that C/C++ is any easier or difficult on either platform. I must admit
> >> that the MS Visual IDE is *nice* especially the debugger, but NOTHING
> >> that can't be overcome with judicious use of logging.
> >
> > IOW, you have to do extra work...
>
> having to do ur work over again b/c the app crashed isn't fun either and
> should *not* happen but it does.
>
> >
> > Ms Access is not a competer against MySQL. While Access can be used as
> a
>
> you mean competitor right? or maybe computer? lol
The first, spelling in my posts is optional :-D
Anyway, any comparision between Access & MySQL is useless. For nearly all
database work, I would take MySQL (unless I just did the design on Access,
and later scaled to MS-SQL), for reports, MySQL is not very useful.
> > The difference is that GUI is more natural, it allows trial & error
> > learning, which is much better ingrained into us than mere reading the
> > docs.
> >
>
> unfortunately most Windows users are too scared to do any trial and error
with
> *anything*. That's why they are stupid. They don't ever try anything on
> their own. They always want someone else to do it and only do enough so
> the problem gets fixed. Trial and error learning goes along the ines of
> exploring your environment or asking the questions why or how something
> works. Most users of Windows don't have that type of personality and
> therefore won't ever venture into the realm of trial and
> errror/exploring.
I wouldn't say so.
The problem is that the ones that you *meet* are the ones that are like
that.
Hell, I know of someone that *reinstalled* the OS just because he accidently
activated the history side bar on IE, and didn't know how to turn that off.
OTOH, I know of a windows 95 installation that has been in continious use
since it's been RTMed.
Trial and error is the way that is most natural for us to learn.
And I disagree with you about the quality of users, it's just the users that
get *noticed* are usualy the ones that are stupid.
> Linux users on the other hand *do* have that type of personality.
> Having that personality in and of itself I don't think makes you smarter,
> but the effects of that personality do (ie. you try new things to see
> what happens and whether the consequence is good or bad you still learned
> something) The curious stick their finger into a wall socket and get
> fried. If you live you obviously learned not to do it again.
Key parse, "if you live".
There are a *lot* of failsafe mechanisms in there to keep you from dying.
I don't think that I *can* get seriously electrecuted in my home, even if I
shove a screwdriver into an electricy socket on bare-foot on wet floor.
Expend this analogy a little bit, and you'll see what I mean.
> >> Also if you want to self educate yourself that Linux provides FAR MORE
> >> OPPORTUNITY by way of community and documentation for an individuals
> > ability
> >> to *LEARN* contrast this to windows documentation and community which
> >> is woeful, charging for MSDN is a disgrace.
> >
> > http://msdn.microsoft.com/ is avialable to anyone, for free.
> >
>
> what's teh site that you only get access to if you pass one of the MCSE
> exams to become an MCP? Only MCPs have access to the site; i'm just not
> sure which one it is.
Don't know.
Are you sure it isn't MSDN subscription stuff? I wasn't aware that there was
some sort of privileges for being MCP?
BTW, MCP is less than MCSE.
------------------------------
From: "Rich Soyack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: soc.men,soc.singles,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
Subject: Re: Why Linux Is no threat to Windows domination of the desktop
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 10:26:53 GMT
"Ian Davey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> In article <X4TO6.1195$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Rich Soyack"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> >
> >>
> >> http://newssearch.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/KSEnglish.
> >
> >Nothing was on this site when I tried accessing it.
>
> I gave you the direct URL to the search term, it gave tons of hits.
>
> >> exe?
> >>
>
>method=mainQuery&ATNMYFIELD_Headline=&db0=English&xoptions=sortboth&numresu
l
> >ts
> >> =1000&BATCHHITS=25&querythreshold=50&query=homophobic
> >>
> >> In the UK you can't get much more mainstream than the BBC.
> >
> >Again, when I was in The Netherlands I watched BBC and don't remember
> >hearing it. By the way,
> >isn't BBC an organ of the Liberal Government?
>
> The BBC is independant of the government, and has existed under liberal
and
> conservative governments alike.
When did teh BBC become independent of the Government?
The following is from the BBC site:
BBC Financing:
The BBC relies on two main sources for its funding, the television receiving
licence fee, and the Grant-in-Aid for the BBC World Service.
The licence fee has been in operation since the BBC was formed and has been
endorsed by successive Governments since 1922. The fee is paid by people
wishing to receive television signals and the fee is set by the Government.
Clause 12 of the Licence and Agreement forbids the BBC to obtain revenue by
the broadcasting of advertisements or from commercial sponsorship of
programmes, thus there are no advertisements at all on the BBC. Radio or
television.
"No we don't show commercials whatsoever. We are prohibited by our Charter
and the Licence Agreement which is linked to the Charter, from showing any
advertisements or anything like that. It's this mechanism which guarantees
our independence you see" (Moss, Personal Interview, June 1991).
Sounds like its not indepent of the government unless something has changed.
Also, the current government is Liberal so the current BBC seems to be an
organ of the Liberal Government.
Rich Soyack
------------------------------
From: "Rich Soyack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: soc.men,soc.singles,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
Subject: Re: Why Linux Is no threat to Windows domination of the desktop
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 10:30:26 GMT
"Ian Davey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> In article <X4TO6.1195$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Rich Soyack"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >> >> >How about hatred of homosexuals?
> >> >>
> >> >> That's a perfect example of why homophobe is used to describe
someone
> >who
> >> >> hates homosexuals. There's no other word for it.
> >> >
> >> >What's wrong with that phrase?
> >>
> >> It's not concise enough.
> >
> >And "homophobe" is not correct usage of the word.
>
> It's a common enough usage for people to understand it's meaning, and it's
> certainly how it is used over here. Otherwise terms like "homophobic
> violence" wouldn't make any sense, when used to describe frequent
> physical attacks on gays by homophobes.
And to some being called a homophobe means to disagree with homosexuals.
People
have been called homophobes simply for disagreeing.
>
> >> You'll even find
> >> it used in the mainstream media and news organisations, here you go:
> >
> >When I worked in The Netherlands last year I read English newspapers and
I
> >don't remember seeing it in common usage.
> >
> >>
> >> http://newssearch.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/KSEnglish.
> >
> >Nothing was on this site when I tried accessing it.
>
> It was a direct link to the search results, where there were lots of
hits...
> You should find similar results on the webpages of the independant
> broadcasters over here.
Again, I just tried this link and a blank page came up.
>
> >> exe?
> >>
>
>method=mainQuery&ATNMYFIELD_Headline=&db0=English&xoptions=sortboth&numresu
l
> >ts
> >> =1000&BATCHHITS=25&querythreshold=50&query=homophobic
> >>
> >> In the UK you can't get much more mainstream than the BBC.
> >
> >Again, when I was in The Netherlands I watched BBC and don't remember
> >hearing it. By the way,
> >isn't BBC an organ of the Liberal Government?
>
> The BBC is independant of the government, always has been, whether under
> liberal or conservative governments. You can guarantee the opposition
parties
> would kick up a big stink if it were any other way. It's there as a public
> service broadcaster and as such, belongs to the people.
Its funded by the government but independent of the government?
Interesting.
Rich Soyack
------------------------------
From: "Weevil" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Win2k Sp2 Worked perfectly
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 10:33:11 GMT
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> On Thu, 24 May 2001 00:58:56 GMT,
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] () wrote:
>
> >On Thu, 24 May 2001 00:53:49 GMT, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
> >>I installed SP2 under Win2k and it worked perfectly, just like SP1
> >>did. Contrast this to the Mandrake update CD I was sent in the mail
> >>thaty destroyed my entire system.
> >>
> >>Sorry but Linux still sucks and Windows ROCKS!!!!!
> >
> >Fuck off and die troll. Win2k is pathetic for it's 40 year old file
system and
> >the cpu and memory requirement of a super computer just to not run like a
dog.
> >
> >You may like having an OS with 30 million lines of brand new bug ridden
code,
> >but I prefer something a little more mature.
> >
> >You and MS deserve each other.
>
> I don't care if it has 30 trillion lines of buig infested code as long
> as it works for ME.
>
> I clicked on setup.exe, it saved my current config and installed SP@
> and it all worked perfectly.
>
> Compare this to Mandrakes update CD which destroyed a perfectly
> working system....
>
Perfectly working system? You had a perfectly working Linux system? Wow.
Funny you never mentioned it until you could do so in a derogatory context.
Not that I think this was intentional or anything. :)
--
Weevil
"The obvious mathematical breakthrough [for breaking encryption schemes]
would be development of an easy way to factor large prime numbers."
-- Bill Gates
------------------------------
From: "green" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
alt.destroy.microsoft,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy,comp.os.ms-windows.advocacy
Subject: Re: Just when Linux starts getting good, Microsoft buries it in the dust!
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 20:38:10 +1000
"Chronos Tachyon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in
message news:RyZO6.9067$[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> On Wed 23 May 2001 07:35, green wrote:
>
> > um just a question
> >
> > how would I set up linux to work like (not using winframe or citrix
> > metaframe) to keep a users programs running even though they logout so
> > they resume where they left off but have the option to close the session
> > (close programs if they aren't coming back)
> >
> > just a link would be fine. (setting up xterminal servers)
> >
> > thanks
> > bye.
> >
>
> Something like screen(1) would work great for terminal programs, and with
> some juggling VNC can do the same for X apps. I assume you mean "program
> is exactly as I left it" and not just the usual state management stuff,
> correct?
>
yes I mean as the user left it. not have each program reload and restore
users session.
even store it to disk (memory image like a suspend to disk) and resume if
they log on again
would be good to conserve memory.
I considered vnc but the clients won't be running a x client only the server
so vnc would run on the server computer as a client and a server so that's
no good.
the only way I can think of is having xdm (or kdm gdm) accept several x
connections, but it doesn't allow for logging of but leaving the users
programs running or in suspend state.
------------------------------
From: "David Brown" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy,sci.physics
Subject: Re: Linux beats Win2K (again)
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 12:47:32 +0200
T. Max Devlin wrote in message ...
>You could help me out, here, by trying to explain how physicists
>consider the 'frequency of a photon'. I'm not sure if the term actually
>translates at all.
>
If it makes it easier, you can think of a "photon" as being a wave pulse.
Trying to imagine photons as little marbles of different colours will
probably get you nowhere. I think it is probably easiest to imagine a long,
streched slinky on a smooth floor, fastened at the far end, and you holding
the near end. If you wave your hand back and forth, you produce a wave that
then travels off along the spring. That is like a photon of light. It is a
wave, and it is also a discrete packet - you cannot produce bits of a wave
in this manner (ok, you can actually produce half a wave, so maybe our
"photon" should be half a wave - we are simplifying things slightly here).
You can easily make two waves - that is like two photons. By moving your
hand faster, you get a higher frequency wave with a shorter wavelength, or
you can move your hand slower for a slower wavelength. But the waves travel
along the spring and the same speed, regardless of the frequency.
On major effect of the different frequencies is that higher frequency
photons have greater energy than lower frequency ones. This is why gamma
rays can go through most substances, including thin metal, whereas visible
light can be blocked by a piece of cardboard. It is not the complete story,
however - radio waves can go through walls that would block visible light
waves, for instance. But it also explains why higher frequencies take more
effort to produce - you can make visible light with a small torch, but you
need a big machine to make x-rays, and nucleur reactions to make gamma rays.
Someone mentioned in another post that higher frequency light is more like
particles, and lower frequency light (such as radio waves) is more like
waves. In a sense this is true - although all light acts like both, lower
frequency radio waves are more affected by wave-related characteristics like
difraction (they bend round corners - that is partly why you can pick up LW
radio channels over a longer distance than VHF radio channels), while higher
energy light waves are more often treated as particles (such as counting the
gamma ray photons comming out of a nucleur reaction).
------------------------------
From: "David Brown" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy,sci.physics
Subject: Re: Linux beats Win2K (again)
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 12:47:33 +0200
T. Max Devlin wrote in message ...
>
>Know this, sir. I do not give a rip how educated you are, or how
>bloated your head has become, or what kind of accomplished scientist you
>may be. I am *never* completely wrong. I am frequently entirely
>mistaken. You, however, can be completely confused, and I can be
>completely insulted by your attempts to blame it on me. If you will
>refrain from telling me I am 'wrong', I will try to refrain from
>presuming I am not mistaken.
>
I hate to break the news to you, T. Max, but in this group we use English as
a means of communication. In some groups (alt.english.usage, or
sci.lang.english, or alt.philosophy), people might discuss nuances of
particular words. But here, as in the real world, common words mean what
everyone agrees they mean. "Mistaken" and "wrong" are close enough to be
effectively the same - people use them interchangably to provide a little
variety of language. Thus, if someone says "Max, you're completly wrong" or
"Max, you're totatly mistaken", they mean the same thing. Maybe we can
start another thread about the differences between these terms (linguistic
threads can often be more interesting than yet another MS/Linux basher, even
if they are OT). But here we are discussing physics - you can't make your
arguements stand by complaining about other people's choice of language.
>
>>When physicists and other people use the term "light", they are
>>referring to the stuff that gives you a sun burn, not just to explain
>>some math.
>
>I thought that was "ultraviolet light". I thought physicists recognized
>the need for precision. I thought when physicists use the term 'light'
>they are talking about 'photons', and when they were talking about 'emr'
>they usually were discussing 'waves'. I though physicists understood
>that not all light causes sun burn, but only waves of a certain
>frequency.
He meant that when physicists talk about "light", they are talking about the
physical phenominum, not just some equation on a bit of paper. And "light"
and "EMR" are the same things - they are both photons and waves.
>
>You could help me out, here, by trying to explain how physicists
>consider the 'frequency of a photon'. I'm not sure if the term actually
>translates at all.
>
This is a useful and helpful question - I've answered it in a seperate post,
to avoid mixing informative posts with the usual silly ramblings (both mine
and yours).
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Richard Thrippleton)
Subject: Re: ouch!
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 11:56:38 +0000
In article <4ulO6.108$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, tony roth wrote:
>My friend (name to be withheld since he's a real freak hacker) found a nice
>little bug in a very very popular OSS package he was quite grateful for the
>open source code since he did not have to do any reverse engineering.
I doubt this very much; "freak hacker" = "script kiddy" . He might
be 1337 on irc, but I doubt he could understand C code, much less some
obscure security implementation. I don't think we have anything 2 ph33r.
Richard
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