LIST
FILE ON
MARGIN IS 126 
STATUS: ALL ALLOWED
NUMBER OF LINES: 629 
1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask....
2 *********************** REMOVED: 15 SEP 83 ***************************
3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System)  Mike Day System operator
4 ************************************************************
5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION PLACED ON
6                     THIS SYSTEM.
7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privatly owned
8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public.
9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system.
10 It is intended that the system be normally used for messages and
11 advertisments by the users. As the system is privatly owned, I retain the
12 right to remove any and all messages which I may find offensive
13 to me. Additionally because of the limited size of the system, it will be
14 periodically purged of older messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved)
15 The saved information will be cycled to drive 'B' while the information on
16 drive 'B' will be archived, and a fresh disk will be installed in drive 'A'.
17 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out
18 of the enter mode. The message is automaticly stored.
19 If after entering the message you find you made a mistake,
20 use the replace command to replace the line.
21 To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up.
22 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system.
23 ========================================
24 
25 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26  MIKEY, first of all, you were correct,I was speaking ONLY of women
27 who have been RAPED. Many men have also been RAPED..not only homosexuals but
28 a surprising number of heterosexuals as well.
29 Now to your definition // By the ORS,163.305. the felony of Rape is 
30 decided by many factors.  The most common condition is that of which you 
31 spoke concerning permission.
32 The terminology in the Oregon Revised Statue is "Forcible Compulsion." I 
33 will refrain from the entire definition unless you request it.
34 Our work as I indicated earlier, is to assist women in deterring Rape in 
35 many fashions.  There has been a successin the Portland area in this 
36 endeavor.
37 
38                     Charlotte
39 
40 DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~
41 
42 Returning zero for a number divided by
43 zero would yeild very eroneous results
44 unless unless you subscribe to TRON's
45 theory that zero is infinite.
46 
47 Well, on to more important things, does anyone out there know how to
48 make makizushi?  I cannot seem to master the art of rolling the damn
49 things..........HELP
50                Sushi-holic,
51                Dirty Ol' Man
52 
53 DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~
55 
56 NO, PIONEER, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW AUTOPILOTS WORK.  IT IS TRUE THAT FOR 
57 LANDING THE PLANES RESPOND TO EXTERNAL SIGNALS, BUT THE 747 AND MANY MODERN PLANES HAVE INERTIAL GUIDANCE SYSTEMS THAT ARE
58 INDEPENDANT OF EXTERNALS.  OVER A 2000 MILE FLIGHT, THESE THINGS ARE ACCURATE TO LESS THAN 1 MILE.
59 	OF COURSE, AS YOU SAID, IF THE WRONG COORDINATES WERE LOCKED INTO THE SYSTEM, THE PLANE WOULD (NATURALLY) GO ASTRAY.
60 	AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE 747 HAS THE ORDINARY COMPLEMENT OF 3 IN THE COCKPIT: PILOT, COPILOT, AND NAVIGATOR.
61 INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE 747 HAS LESS NEED FOR CREW THAN SMALLER, OLDER PLANES.  IN FACT, I AM TOLD THAT THE 727 CAN TAKE 
62 OFF, FLY, AND LAND WITHOUT HUMAN INTERVENTION.  (I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THIS, HOWEVER)
63 %Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%Z%
64 WELL NOW!
65     ONE REASON BRIGHT PEOPLE GET SUCH BIG EGO'S IS THAT DUE TO THE DISTRIBUTION
66 OF THESE PEOPLE MOST OF THEM DON'T RUN ACROSS EACH OTHER VERY OFTEN UNTILL
67 THEY ARE OLDER, WHEN THEY MIGHT JOIN A CHESS CLUB, WORK FOR A HIGH TECH COM-
68 PANY, GET RICH, OR WHATEVER. AT THAT POINT THEY BEGIN A PROCESS OF LEARNING
69 GOOD MANNERS AND SOCIAL SKILLS THAT OTHER PEOPLE GO THROUGH MUCH EARLIER.
70     THIS CONTRIBUTES TO THE 'NERD EFFECT' THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO SIGN
71 COMMITMENT PAPERS FOR PEOPLE LIKE THE UNSIGNED BOOB WHO HAS BEEN HAUNTING
72 THIS SYSTEM OF LATE. IF 'UNSIGNED' IS STILL YOUNG ENOUGH, WHICH I SUSPECT HE
73 IS, RESOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM WILL COME WITH TIME, HOPEFULLY. EVEN
74 HARDENED CRIMINALS MELLOW OUT UNLESS THEY MAKE IT TO THE TOP, MOST OF THE
75 TIME. INSTINCT TELLS ME THAT 'UNSIGNED' ISN'T GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP
76 IN THE NEAR FUTURE. PEOPLE WHO AUTOMATICALLY REJECT OTHER PEOPLE'S IDEAS
77 USUALLY DON'T.
78     GETTING OUT AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION MAY PARADOXICALLY
79 NOT BE NOTICED AT FIRST BY AN INIVIDUAL LIKE THIS, BECAUSE AUTOMATIC REJEC-
80 TION OF OTHER PEOPLE'S IDEAS MAY HAVE SET IN. SO USED TO SMOWING EVERYONE
81 IN SIGHT WITH FAST-TALKING B.S, OUR 'GENIUS' MAKES A FOOL OF HIM/HER SELF
82 IN THE PRESENCE OF PEERS (OR MAYBE SUPERIORS)
83     DEAR MIKEY- IBM HAS JUST CHANGED SOME OF THEIR SOFTWARE TO SET RESULTS
84 EQUAL TO ZERO ON A DIVIDE BY ZERO INSTEAD OF ISSUING AN ERROR. I AGREE THAT
85 THIS IS USEFUL. AGREEING THAT PARRALLEL LINES CONVERGE IS USEFUL IN PHOTO-
86 GRAPHY TOO. MATHEMATICAL RESEARCHERS HAVE MADE MUCH PROGRESS OVER THE 
87 YEARS BY CONCENTRATING ON SUCH CONUNDRUMS, CREATING SYSTEMS WHERE THE
88 NON-COMMONSENSICAL IS TRUE. IMAGINARY NUMBERS HAD THE STATUS OF A JOKE
89 TO NON-CREATIVE TYPE MATHEMATICIANS AT ONE POINT TOO.
90     DEAR UNSIGNED - LOOK IT UP IN YOUR CRC, DUMMY - IT'S A TRIVIAL PROBLEM
91 (THAT'S THE CHEM RUBBER BOOK,YOU KNOW?). OH, BY THE WAY, LIMITS AND REAL
92 NUMBER CONCEPTS DON'T REQUIRE CALCULUS - CONSULT YOUR ARCHIMEDES.
93     DEAR DOCTOR - KEEP IT UP. YOUR INQUIRY IS IN THE BEST TRADITION
94 OF THEORECTICAL SCIENCE. UNSIGNED HAS THE SOUL OF A SHOE CLERK.
95 ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))BATPOOP, THE MAGNIFICENT++++++++++++++
96 
97 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
98 RE: THE FLIGHT 007 QUESTION, I KNOW THAT ALL AIRLINES REFUSE TO ALLOW PASSENGERS TO USE CALCULATORS OR PORTABLE 
99 COMPUTERS ON AIRPLANES DUE TO THEIR BAD TENDENCY TO EMIT R.F. INTERFERRENCE.  DO THESE EMISSIONS AFFECT THE FLIGHT
100 CONTROLS, AND COULD SOMEONE USING A P.C. OR CALCULATOR CAUSE  A  PROBLEM  LIKE  THIS?  HMMMM???
101 
102 [][][][][][][][][][][][]PAM.[][][][][][]
103 ^^-^^^-^^^^^-^^^^^^^-^^^^^^^^^^^-^^^^^^^^^^^^^-^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^-^^-^^^-^^^^^
104 Batpoop: A thousand thanks.  I was starting to feel rather lonely.
105 
106 To defend myself for the last time:  I did not bring up black holes.  My
107 response to the first inquiry was to refer queries to an article of Scientific
108 American.  The only thing I claim as my own is the set of unreal numbers.
109 
110 PAM: 747's use a triple set of inertial guidance devices.  These are 
111 supposedly unaffected <sp?> by radio frequency interference.  So I don't
112 think that would be a factor.
113 
114 I have a few questions of my own:
115 
116 1. Was 007's actual flight path shorter than the one they were supposed to be
117    on?
118 2. It is not that uncommon, however very against company rules and results in
119    termination if discovered, for pilots to sleep while on long oversea 
120    flights.  Could one or more of the pilots been asleep?
121 3. Does anybody know the procedure used for flying that route?  Especially,
122    when flying by (or over?) Japan, do they switch to VOR navigation?  If so,
123    then the RFI theory may need to be looked into.
124 
125 BYE                                                                THE DOCTOR
126 ^^-^^^-^^^^^-^^^^^^^-^^^^^^^^^^^-^^^^^^^^^^^^^-^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^-^^-^^^-^^^^^
127 
128 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
129 AH, DOC, THAT ANSWERS SOME OF IT.  AS TO "AFFECT" VERSUS "EFFECT",  AFFECT  IS  WHAT I WOULD DO TO SOMETHING, EFFECT IS
130 WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.  EXAMPLE, " I  HAVE  AFFECTED IT, AND THE EFFECT IS OBVIOUS."COMPRENDE?
131 
132 [][][][][][][][][][][][][]PAM.[][][][][]
133 
134   For Sale
135 Vic-20 Modem Datasette Superexpander
136  All for $165.00
137 Call
138 l
139 
140 For For Sale: Vic 20,modem,datasette,superexpander
141 All for $165.00
142 For more info Call
143 Mike Roland 227-0631
144 ****************************************
145 
146 
147 	Well, Batpoop, you've done it again.  Unfortunately, your assumptions about me are only true if you are correct that
148 I am wrong in my information.  If I am correct and you are wrong, then the tables are turned.
149 	I do not 'automatically reject' other people's ideas.  I only reject those ideas which are wrong, illogical, 
150 internally inconsistent, or incredible.  In fact, I also recognize that people often have the right ideas but very wrong
151 reasons.
152 	A most enjoyable activity of mine is to be able to discuss (intelligently) a scientific subject with a person
153 (or persons) who are sufficiently qualified to express original thought.  I spent a few years at a place where people were 
154 selected for their interest in science and technology, and I found that to be close to heaven on earth:  At last, I was
155 among my peers.  Perhaps not surprising, each person was able to contribute to practically any discussion that went
156 on, even if it was not their primary field.  
157 	I remember no conversation where anyone overstepped his qualifications, and no-one tried to impress the others with 
158 his knowledge, since each was comfortable with his own position.  We could all accept the fact that the EE was better
159 able to convolve a time-domain signal, the biologist was best in designing a DNA synthesis reaction, the CS was more
160 experienced in explaining a program dealing in artificial intelligence, the mathematician was better integrating a 
161 trancendental function, and the organic chemist knew better than anyone how to analyze a binary mixture.
162 	Each knew, however, that he was outclassed by each of the others in their respective fields; More importantly, he
163 knew that each knew enough about the other fields to be able to detect bullshit and doubletalk.  You couldn't even
164 begin to pull the wool over their eyes, and you didn't try.
165 	But now, in the REAL WORLD, experts are few and far between.  A person can recite  parrotted material and pass himself off 
166 as, if not an expert, a cognoscenti in a particular area.  He can express poorly grounded opinions secure in the knowledge
167 that nobody around knows enough about the particular  field to be able to detectit.  And if anyone does come around that
168 points this out, he can use personal attacks to restore his position of respectability in the group.   Since no
169 commonly-respected expert will likely come around to expose him, that person  is generally safe from embarrassment.
170 	I will not present myself as an expert in any particular field, though I probably qualify in a few.  That's because
171 I have found that the more one learns on any subject, the more one recognizes how little he really knows about the rest
172 of the world.  The more I learn, the less I feel I know.
173 	But please return the favor and tone down your technical discussions.  While you may prefer playing with your
174 toroidal black holes and such, you might as well be talking about magic.  If you really want to even the score, we
175 could have a heated discussion on one of the following topics:
176 	1.	1983 Fashion on Alpha Centauri.
177 	2.	The sex life of electrons, protons, and neutrons.
178 	3.	The world 25 minutes BEFORE the big bang.
179 	4.	Interstellar golf tournaments
180 
181 	I freely admit knowing absolutely nothing about the preceeding topics, and I'm sure you will too.  This means
182 that we're equally qualified to discuss them, so we can debate them till the cows come home without fear of being proven
183 wrong.
184 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Signed<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
185 AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT....
186 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
187  signed:
188    another (and well earned!) BRAVO!
189 
190  PAM:
191    a hullo, -------can we talk?
192 
193  signed (addendum):
194    i seem to remember Kinsey interviewing a few thousand adolescent
195  sub-atomic particles, it seems that current sexual mores among atomic
196  domains has remained unchanged through the past 20 ns, yet disruption
197  of the nuclear family (groan!) will probably lead to degenerate sexual
198  perversions becoming prevelent within the next 1 or 2 ms; lots of that
199  kinky mu-pion stuff!
200 
201  Dave:
202    any comments regarding above and Violence in America ?
203 
204                                                 in a humorus vein,
205                                                      Aaron
206 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
207 HEY, ENOUGH ABOUT THIS SPACE-CADET STUFF.  WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS A GOOD
208 HOT TOPIC, RIGHT?  WELL, LEBANON IS STARING US RIGHT IN THE FACE!  HERE WE
209 HAVE A THOUSAND OR MORE MARINES STUCK OVER THERE, GETTING RAINED ON WITH
210 LEAD AND STEEL, AND WE SIT HERE FLAPPING OUR JAWS (EXCUSE ME, FINGERS) ABOUT
211 BUCK ROGERS.
212 SHOULD WE BE IN LEBANON?  SHOULD THE SYRIANS BE IN LEBANON? SHOULD THE 
213 ISRAELIS BE IN LEBANON?  SHOULD THE LEBANESE BE IN LEBANON? SHOULD THE
214 CEDARS BE IN LEBANON?  WHY AM I ASKING THESE STUPID QUESTIONS? AND
215 WHO ASKED YOU, ANYWAY?
216 WELL, WHADDA YA SAY?  ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO BE AN EXPERT ON LEBANON IS TO
217 READ THE PAPERS, WATCH THE 6 O'CLOCK NEWS, AND BE ABLE TO POINT TO BEIRUT
218 ON A MAP.
219                                                 HAFEZ AL ASSAD
220 [_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]-[_]
221 DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~
222 
223 Signed:  Well put!  It is sometimes entertaining to watch people make
224 fools of themselves, but it does get tiresome.  I am totally in favor of
225 the freedom of expression afforded on BWMS but the bullshit does get a littl
226 thick sometimes.  Perhaps as these persons become more aware that their
227 comments are recognized for what they are, they will tend to stick to subj-
228 jects in which they are more knowledgeable.  I have found that the key to
229 successful bullshitting is infrequency.  When exercised with extreme caution
230 and only in the event of an emergency (such as when you get pulled over forr
231 a traffic violation), it is often successful, but when it becomes a
232 routine, the listener (reader) will generally catch on eventually re-
233 gardless of his/her knowledge of the subject.
234 
235 Hafez:  Yes, we should definitely be in Lebanon.  After all, military ex-
236 pansionism is the American way, is it not?
237 
238           NOTE:
239    The above is an opinion of an unqualified individual.  I do not
240 read newspapers (its depressing), my TV is broken, and I didn't realize 
241 Lebanon was on the map  (unless, of course, you were speaking of Lebanon
242 Oregon).
243 
244 Mikey, a better way of dealing with division by zero in basic is through
245 error control; in other words, the ability to transfer to a particular
246 line in the event of an error, rather than printing an error message.  I
247 have found this capability very useful but I am not sure what other PC's
248 support this other than TI.
249                 Dirty Ol' Man
250 
251 DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~
252 
253 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++k
254 I hope you 126 character liners realize that my hardware only allows me to
255 read the first 80 of them, and the rest is gone. I suppose that is OK, tho
256 as most of what is here is only 2/3 real anyway. 
257 Division by zero: in calculus we went to great lengths to define it, usually
258 as "undefined", and the 0/0 was pointed out as ambiguous and could be
259 anything: this is how the proofs that 1=2 work.
260 As to flight 7; the people who knew what happened are dead, I suspect we will
261 never know why, don't let this stop us from imagining reasons.
262 In Lebanon the people who have a hereditary right to the land are being\
263 pushed out and oppressed. Of course this has happened about 1000 times, so
264 some 1000 different groups have hereditary rights tot the land. blow it off
265 the map before they do.
266 ////////////////////////////////////////////////BAD\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
267 DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~
268 
269 Having an MSSS (Master of Science in Subatomic Sexuality), I would be 
270 happy to render my services as an authority on the subject.  First, I
271 think a general description of the terminology is important.
272 
273 PROTON--He is the "head" of the atomhold and is most often found
274 sitting around the atom looking at perverted electron magazines.
275 
276 ELECTRON--She is typically running around the atom seeing to the needs
277 of the proton (except one).  Although she often complains of a head ache,
278 such is not always the case, as is evidenced by the neutrinos which
279 are constantly running in and out of the atom.
280 
281 NEUTRINO--Analogous to bambino.
282 
283 NEUTRON--He is not quite as picky as to the company he keeps, but he
284 preferth to hang around with the boyth.   In the event that he can't find
285 any "boyth" to hang around with, he will often just go off by himself
286 and get his quarks off.
287 
288 NEXT LESSON:  "The Cosmic Orgy"
289               a treatice on nuclear fission.
290 
291          
292                  Dirty Ol' Man
293 
294 DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~
295 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
296  BAD: join the 80 col. club; would you agree that MA 76 is a good number
297 for us 80's to use? (rational: 3 digits+1 space + 76 char =80)....
298 
299  crucial that we talk, do you have my p# on file someplace?
300 
301  
302  DOM:
303   clear thinkers club memebership card being sent to you; endorsement
304  for a relativly (groan!) good sense of humor included....
305 
306                                                          aaron
307 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
308 Aaron:  My singular response to you for your DB comment on my absurdity com-
309 prises these two lines.  I won't enter into comic dialog.     Dave
310 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
311 Doctor: I'll look for the black hole info.
312 Signed: My sources for MY comments about black holes range from
313 Scientific American to several books on the subject (by PHDs). I
314 DON'T claim to understand all of the math, but I DO know that 
315 such things as toroidal black holes ARE possible according to
316 many of the theories (mostly the theories that allow "naked"
317 singularities). Besides, if Hawking's work on the quantum physics
318 of black holes is correct, ANYTHING can happen! I realize that
319 you won't take MY word for it, so why don't you check out Hawking's
320 "The Breakdown of Physics in the Region of Space-Time Singularities".
321 In this he says (regarding quantum decay of black holes) "they
322 emit all possible configurations with equal probability." Think
323 THAT over for awhile! The apparent cosequences of this are probably
324 quite distressing to people with rigid thought patterns.
325 ___________________________Leonard_________________________
326 I totally disagree with all of your theories on subatomic sexuality.  I 
327 talked to an electron just the other day and she said she never got enough!
328 I invited her to my orbital, and we oscillated all night!
329 ----------------------
330 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
331  it seems you already have,Dave                                Aaron
332 
333 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
334 SIGNED:  I THINK THAT YOU MISS THE POINT OF THOSE THAT ARE OFFENDED BY YOU.  ITS NOT THAT THEY DON'T LIKE TO BE PROVED
335 WRONG, AS YOU MADE NO ATTEMPT TO PROVE  OR DISPROVE ANYTHING.  ITS THAT, INSTEAD OF SPELLING OUT EXACTLY WHAT YOU FOUND
336 INCORRECT, YOU LOWERED YOURSELF TO THE  PERSONAL INSULT AND INVECTIVE THAT YOU  MENTIONED IN YOUR LAST MESSAGE.  IF YOU
337 KNOW THE ANSWER, OR KNOW WHERE SOMEONE  MADE A LOGICAL OR FACTUAL ERROR, TELL US INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT HOW GREAT YOU
338 ARE.  THAT DOES NOTHING FOR ILLUMINATING THE DARKNESS OF  THE MIND,  SINCE  IT  SUPPLIES NO INFORMATION, AND IT DOES
339 INFURIATE PEOPLE.  SO PLEASE, NEXT TIME YOU SEE SOMETHING YOU DISAGREE WITH, LET US KNOW WHY AND WHAT INFORMATION  YOU
340 HAVE THAT SHOWS WHY. ARGUMENTS FOLLOWING THE LINE OF "NYAA, NYAA, YOU'RE JUST A MORON!!!" AREN'T TERRIBLY HELPFUL.
341      AARON, I HAVE BEEN RUDE. SOME TIME AGO YOU EXTENDED ME A PROPER WELCOME
345 AND I DIDN'T RESPOND.  I ASK YOUR PARDON AND WISH TO SAY                                                              
346 ***************************************
347 *                                     *
348 *              THANK YOU              *
349 *                                     *
350 *               SO MUCH               *
351 *                                     *
352 *            OH, KIND SIR!            *
353 *                                     *
354 ***************************************
355                                                                                                                         
356 I ACCEPT!  THAT IS, IF YOU  DON'T  MIND TALKING TO SOMEONE ONLY SEMI-LITERATE IN COMPUTER JARGON.                     
357                                         
358 [][][][][][][][][][][][][]PAM.[][][][][]
359 DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~
360 
361 TO whomever that was in lines 326--328:
362     Obviously, you have mistaken a neutron for an electron..............
363     .......you thilly boy!
364 
365 Incidentally, while obtaining my MSSS, my minor was in microtheology.  Per-
366 haps I can also offer some information of general interest in that area.
367 For example, were you aware that there is a growing cult of amoebae who wor-
368 ship a ball of lint?  Its true!  In belly buttons around the world, re-
369 spectable bacteria are being forced out by these "wee beasties" who first
370 take over, then begin to cultivate viruses and establish navel academies
371 to promote the divine word of their leader.  Although the little fuzz ball
372 never speaks, his followers insist that he communicates spiritual mes-
373 sages to them telepathically (presumably in GERMan).
374 
375                   Dirty Ol' Man
376 
377 DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~
378 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
379 - Well, I should have known that anyone who insults people in the first place -
380 - wasn't going to take a civil reply. I can safely say that I tried my best,  -
381 - though.                                                                     -
382 -    I don't have much to say about Lebanon - somehow it just doesn't belong  -
383 - on the BackWater Inn, though it has seen so much. (Fantasy, Science, Crud,  -
384 - etc...)                                                                     -
385 -    Think I'll just lay off 'til something interesting shows up......Pioneer -
386 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
387 I THINK SEX BETWEEN UNMARRIED SUBATOMIC PARTICLES SHOULD BE BANNED!  CAN'T THEY
388 LEARN TO WAIT ONE PICOSECOND LIKE THE REST?
389 ..............................................................................
390 i have a confession to make............(un)signed, aka aaron
391 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
392 WELL NOW!
393     BY SHEER AND UTTER COINCIDENCE, ONE OF THE ENGINEERS FOR THE GUIDANCE
394 SYSTEM ON THAT 747 WAS AT MY HOUSE THE OTHER NIGHT. ACCORDING TO HIM, IT'S
395 A GARBAGE IN GARBAGE OUT SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO A PILOT ON CABLE TV SATURDAY,
396 AMERICAN PILOTS CHECK THE NUMBERS PUNCHED IN 5 TIMES, BUT HE DIDN'T THINK
397 "THIRD WORLD" PILOTS DID THAT AND ALSO ALLUDED TO THE DICTATORIAL CAPTAIN
398 THEORY TO EXPLAIN WHY SUCH A MISTAKE COULD OCCUR. ACCORDING TO THIS GUY,
399 PLANES OVER THE PACIFIC ARE TYPICALLY OUT OF RADIO CONTACT FOR HOURS AND
400 COMPLETELY DEPEND ON THE ONBOARD NAVIGATION SYSTEM AT NIGHT WITH REGULARITY.
401     AS I UNDERSTAND IT, MOST OF THE NUCLEAR STUFF THE USSR CAN HIT US WITH
402 IS ON THEIR EAST COAST(WONDER HOW MANY MINUTES AFTER LAUNCH WE HAVE HERE 
403 IN PORTLAND. LATELY IN WEAPONS CIRCLES A VERY HOT TOPIC HAS BEEN EMF( EMP?)
404 WHICH IS THE IDEA THAT A SINGLE NUCLEAR EXPLOSION COULD DESTROY ALL 
405 ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT WITHIN A RADIUS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES, THUS ELIMINATING
406 ANY DETERRENT THREAT IF ONE OR TWO BOMBS ARE SNEAKED INTO POSITION AND SET
407 OFF. BOTH SIDES ARE PRETTY PARANOID ABOUT THIS, THE RUSSIANS MORE SO THAN
408 OURSELVES. THIS PROBABLY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THEIR ACTIONS IN THIS
409 MATTER.
410    TO PAM - WISH WE COULD GET BACK TO AFFECT AND EFFECT INSTEAD OF USING
411 VARIATIONS ON "IMPACTED ON, IMPACT OF,ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT", ETC. THOSE
412 PHRASES REALLY MAKE ME GRIND MY MOLARS.
413    TO (UN)SIGNED - 1) YOUR DISCUSSION OF YOUR OWN DEBATING TACTICS IS PRETTY
414 ACCURATE IN THOSE SECTIONS THAT ARE LUCID IN YOUR LAST STATEMENT.
415                    2) ARE YOU SAYING THAT ONLY SPECIALISTS ARE QUALIFIED TO
416 DISCUSS A PARTICULAR FIELD? IF SO, SINCE YOU HAVE (I THINK) ADMITTED THAT
417 YOU ARE NOT A SPECIALIST THEN WHY DON'T YOU TELL US YOUR SPECIALTY SO
418 WE WILL KNOW WHEN TO LISTEN TO YOU. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU MEANT TO
419 SAY THAT YOU ARE 'PROBABLY' AN EXPERT IN SEVERAL SCIENCES, (WHEN DID YOU
420 WIN YOUR NOBEL PRIZE!?) HOW MANY PHD'S DO YOU HAVE. IF YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE
421 DEGREES AS QUALIFYING ONE FOR DISCUSSING A PARTICULAR SUBJECT (AS WELL YOU
422 MIGHT NOT), WHY DON'T YOU DISCUSS WITH US YOUR STANDARDS FOR DETERMINING
423 JUST WHEN SOMEONE IS A REAL EXPERT IN A FIELD AND TELL US HOW THESE
424 STANDARDS QUALIFY YOU AND NOT THE REST OF US (EXCEPT AARON-HO HO). ON
425 THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU ONLY MEANT THAT YOU ARE SMARTER THAN THE REST OF
426 US AND QUALIFIED TO SIT IN JUDGEMENT ON US, WHY DON'T YOU LIST SOME OF
427 YOUR MORE MONUMENTAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR US SO WE CAN BE PROPERLY IN AWE
428 OF YOU. YOUR LAST CONTRIBUTION WAS QUITE AMBIGUOUS ON THIS POINT. I CAN
429 WELL UNDERSTAND AFTER THE PERFORMANCE YOU JUST TURNED IN THAT YOU WOULD
430 LIKE TO DISCUSS THINGS THAT YOU'RE SURE NOBODY CAN CALL YOU ON.
431                    3) THE ATTEMPT TO TURN THE TABLES AND SUDDENLY BECOME
432 THE VOICE OF REASON HERE WAS A GOOD THOUGHT - WHY DON'T YOU TRY IT AGAIN
433 WHEN YOU LEARN WHAT THE VOICE OF REASON SOUNDS LIKE. I'M AFRAID YOU HAVE
434 FAILED MISERABLY THIS TIME - YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE BROUGHT UP "INTERNAL
435 CONTRADICTIONS" IN A NOTE SO FULL OF THEM.
436                    4) I AM AMAZED THAT YOU CONTINUE TO REMARK ABOUT
437 PEOPLES QUALIFICATIONS WITHOUT SUBSTANTIATION. HAVE YOU CHECKED THEIR QUALI-
438 FICATIONS? HAVE THEY CHECKED YOURS? WOULD THEY CARE EITHER WAY. LETS GET IT
439 ALL OUT IN THE OPEN. FIRST WE COULD DISCUSS WHETHER A PERSON SHOULD ONLY DISC
440 US THAT FIELD HE IS EXPERT IN. MAYBE WE COULD RESOLVE TO CUT OUT THE 
441 TONGUES OF EVERYONE WITHOUT PHD'S. SECOND, MAKE THOSE PEOPLE WITH PHD'S 
442 ONLY TALK TO OTHER PHD'S IN THE SAME FIELD, OTHERWISE SOMEONE WOULD BE
443 OUT OF THEIR FIELD. THEN LET'S CUT OUT THE TONGUES OF THE STUDENTS WHO
444 HAVEN'T YET GOTTEN THEIR PHD'S, LEST THEY QUESTION THEIR PROFESSORS TOO
445 SORELY. 
446                    5) YOU SEEM TO BE ALLEDGING THAT MANY OF THE TECHNICAL
447 STATEMENTS I HAVE MADE ARE NOT FACTUAL OR WORTHWHILE - LETS GET 
448 SPECIFIC. I THINK I CAN BEAR IT IF I TURN OUT TO BE WRONG ON SOMETHING.
449 SO LETS HEAR WHICH POINTS YOU WANT TO DISPUTE.
450                    6) YOU ALMOST OPENED UP WITH 'THERE YOU GO AGAIN'!
451 DID YOU FILCH MY BRIEFING BOOK? AND HOW COME IF YOU DID YOU'RE STILL
452 LOSING THE DEBATE? HAR HAR HAR HAR.
453                        yr hmbl.& obedt. svt,
454 )))))))))))))))))))))))))))BBATPOOP, THE MAGNIFICENT+++++++++++++++++++++++++
455 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
456 Why is it that I don't think that unsigned was Aaron, despite the remark
457 in line 390?  I know that Aaron has had some problems in the past with
458 people (if that word can be used for such sub-humans) using his name,
459 and the style didn't really seem to be his.  OK, Aaron, was that you, or 
460 is the Neanderthal back again?
461                                       
462                       /Elberich\       
463 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
464 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
465   yes, Elberich, pre-human seems to have struck again......maybe
466  wer'e in full moon or something.....thanks for the observation......
467 
468   OFFICIAL AND FOR THE RECORD(S):
469 
470      I am not un(signed), nor do I plan to become so in the near future.
471      
472      I am sure that un(signed) does not plan on becoming me, eithier.
473 
474   Pam:
475     thank YOU ! 
476       I keep the compu-drivel and various sub-tounges (electro-drivel, 
477   digi-drivel, and  telecomunicata-drivel) reserved for choice moments
478   such as bumping into Knuth in a public restroom. Note that I don't
479   even speak Knuth's sub tounge of algorithy-drivel. I think we will
480   get along fine........
481 
482       What shall we talk about?
483 
484                                               Aaron (I)
485 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
486 Why do I think we're ready for a new disk?
487 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
488 the best thing to do with this dribble is to press the break 
489 key and type OFF
490 
491 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 12 Sep 83 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
492   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   20:34   <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
493      She sits in an unnoticed corner, eyes all alight, chin cupped in
494 her hands, with a glass of liqueur forgotten beside her...instead of
495 sweet liquid, a merry chortle tickles her throat at the wild banter
496 betwix egos of the intellectual types, and she listens with affection:
497 laughing at the strut and ceremonious dress of the one who dares not
498 name himself...marveling at the insights displayed by a man whose name
499 alone reveals the ludicrousness of putting on airs--for what 'stately
500 grandeur' can be discovered in excreta?--and admiring the truce he's
501 managed to instituted between himself and his own ego, a balance Few
502 are able to strike when possessed of such intelligence...gaining ever
503 more respect for this female who needs no more embellishment than the
504 name of Pam...and curiously enough, the girl in the corner remains
505 content to merely listen, enjoy and learn.
506 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>     d     <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
507 AND NOW, AS SOMEONE SAID, FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
508 HOW MANY OTHERS HERE PAY FOR USE OF THE SOURCE, COMPUSERVE,ETC.
509 DOES IT SEEM LIKE TOO MUCH MONEY. DO YOU RESENT THE FACT THAT TAXPAYERS
510 PAY FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDIES AND THOUSANDS OF DATABASES 
511 PRODUCED BY GOVERNMENT AND THEN HAVE TO PAY 100 BUCKS AN HOUR TO
512 ACCESS THEM ON DIALOG. THIS EFFECTIVELY SHUTS ALL BUT THE POWERFUL
513 FROM THIS VALUABLE DATA. WE HAVE CBBS'S,RCPM'S, ETC BUT ARE THERE
514 ANY VOLUNTEER INFORMATION SERVICES ON A LARGER SCALE. WHAT KIND OF
515 CORPORATE BACKING MIGHT ONE GET FOR SUCH A PROJECT. WHAT KIND OF
516 EQUIPMENT WOULD DO THE JOB. COULD WE BORROW IT AT NIGHT, MAYBE.
517 THE COMMERCIAL OUTFITS ARE NOT PROVIDING THE KIND OF EDUCATIONAL 
518 AND DATA FACILITIES THEY I WOULD LIKE. WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK
519 ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))BATPOOP, THE MAGNIFICENT++++++++++++++++++
520 
521 DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~
522 
523 BATPOOP:  Good greif, where do you get your facts??  (from your high school
524 electronics teacher?)  The fact is that the source is generally $5.75
525 per hour at night, $7.75/hr evenings, and $20.75 during prime time.  I am
526 a Source user (at night) and find it well worth $5.75.  These prices may
527 have increased slightly recently, but certainly not to $100 .  I understand
528 Compuserve is even cheaper at night but more expensive during the day.
529 STC is great for practical and informational purposes (no I don't work
530 for them) but nothing can compare to BWMS for entertainment.
531 
532                 Dirty Ol' Man
533 
534 DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~
535 DOM: suggest you be more carfull in reading. Batpoop was speaking of the
536 $100/hr on dialog not compuserve et al.
537 It seems to have been a VERY busy day here. To those who responded to my
538 comment about division by zero, please note that I was not indicating 
539 if using a answer of zero was right or wrong by the current definition
540 that the mathmaticians have given it, rather I was speaking of a much
541 more important issue. What is the most practical and useful answer for
542 day to day use. Most notibly math within computer programs. Should we
543 require a bomb out error, or is it more practical to just return a value
544 of zero? This as I say is not to be based on what the current definition
545 has been given the condition, but what is most useful in real live use.
546 To: unsigned: While those who are 'qualified' in a particular area do
547 indeed tend to know far more about what they have defined that area to
548 be, I would like to point out that a rather significant number of major
549 advances are made by people who are not considered 'qualified' by the
550 'insiders' of a particular area. This is because they have not become
551 totally caught up in their work that they refuse to explore outlaying
552 areas because it is obviously worthless to consider. If you would like
553 an example, consider Tesla (the father of AC electricity) he was told 
554 a multitude of times that his ideas were all wet that DC was the only 
555 proper way to send electricity. One of these people was Thomas Edison.
556 But he was able to sufficiently prove his idea to Westinghouse that
557 He decided to take a chance. Need I say what the results were? I see no
558 point in discarding someones idea just because it is not the accepted
559 answer, who's to say the accepted answer is correct?
560 ******** CISTOP MIKEY ******** 13 SEPT 83 ******* 2:30 AM **********
561 Gad! what am I doing up at this late hour!
562 **********************************************************************:
563 P.S. I see that a guest has wandered in without my notice. Since I now
564 o so notice; Welcome once more to this fair Inn. I hope the banter has
565 not put you off too much..
566 *********************************************************************
567 Mike: somewhere I saw a better answer to division by zero. I think it was
568 on a honeywell, but i could be wrong. It returned the largest possible
569 number, which was also available under the name of 'infinity'. Another
570 possiblity is to test for /0 and jump to an error routine, but you have
571 to provide this routine. Returning 0 is not good, usually, because other
572 valid inputs do this, and /0 is seldom a valid procedure. If 0 is returned,
573 a prior test is still needed, to protect you from getting a 'valid' result
574 with garbage input. As I remember, the IBM PC gave a for a/0, and they
575 admitted it is a bug.(early version of IBM basic)
576 For further thought on strange but useful results read the current Dr. Dobbs
577 issue on Forth, an article on integer division noted the unusual results
578 from dividing a negative number by a positive (or vice versa), and how 
579 this is unsymmetrical with the more common +/+ case. The 1983 'standard'
580 forth recommends the so called bottom function, in which the result is
581 always the next smaller or next most negative integer, and the remainder
582 is always a positive fnumber. -5/3 = -2, remainder 1 (rather than =-1, 
583 remainder= -2) This question arises because integer division is not really
584 an intuitive process, and differs from normal arithmatic which is continuous
585 ////////////////////////////////BAD\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
586 set 
587 your
588 own 
589 margins
590 !!!!!!!
591 DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~
592 
593 Batpoop:  Pardon if I have misread your message, I will try again later
594 (when I'm awake).
595 
596 BAD:  Very good explanation of div by zero problem on PC's.  I failed to 
597 mention that returning maxint or minint is also appropriate (and
598 practical).  I'm still curious, though; which PC's on the market
599 support error control (besides TI).  Doesn't IBM?  I still prefer this
600 approach where possible because if
601 0/0 gives an intermediate result,
602 (of maxint) then further calculations may, in some cases, bring the final
603 result into a range that it cannot be distinguished from data which is not
604 the result of an overflow.  
605 ACCIDENT: "0/0" above should have been "anything/0"
606 Error control also has other applications.  Suppose, for example,
607 that for one reason or another memory oerflows during the execution of a
608 program; I believe the typical response of a PC is to issue a nasty little
609 error message, and in most cases halt program execution.  With ec active,
610 though, it is possible to transfer to your own subroutine which "performs"
611 garbage collection or stores some of the data on disk or whatever to make
612 more memory space available, then returns to the main program to con-
613 tinue execution.
614 
615                   Dirty Ol' Man
616 
617 DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~DOM~
618 TO: Et al         RE:x/0
619     Actually I would be most happy if people who write the high level
620 langauges would give a little more thought to error conditions when
621 they write stuff so that I don't have to.(I could have sworn that that
622 was the purpose of a high level langauge to remove the burden of that
623 sort of hassle off the programmer!) But in exchange for not properly
624 handling the errors, I would be quite happy to just have the value 
625 returned as something useful instead of falling into shuddering fits
626 when it happens. I suggested the return zero value as I found that 
627 this seemed to be what I wanted as an answer 99.9% of the time. I am
628 fully aware of the mathmatically incorect implications of this, but I
629 don't consider the current method to be any more valid. *** CISTOP MIKEY ***

