Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]


Groups > comp.lang.python > #82842

Re: OFF TOPIC Snow Crash [was Re: Hello World]

From Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid>
Newsgroups comp.lang.python
Subject Re: OFF TOPIC Snow Crash [was Re: Hello World]
Date 2014-12-23 16:20 +0000
Organization PANIX Public Access Internet and UNIX, NYC
Message-ID <m7c4nq$m5r$1@reader1.panix.com> (permalink)
References (3 earlier) <0udf9a1m3n02rt06a5ib58mvifm7sdeg31@4ax.com> <5497e1d5$0$12978$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com> <roy-5247EA.08145622122014@news.panix.com> <mailman.17119.1419254621.18130.python-list@python.org> <5498cef5$0$12991$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com>

Show all headers | View raw


On 2014-12-23, Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> wrote:
> Chris Angelico wrote:
>
>> On Tue, Dec 23, 2014 at 12:15 AM, Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> wrote:
>>> If I really didn't trust something, I'd go to AWS and spin up one of
>>> their free-tier micro instances and run it there :-)
>> 
>> How do you know it won't create console output that stroboscopically
>> infects you with a virus through your eyes? Because that's *totally*
>> what would be done in the town of Eureka.
>
> Anybody in IT who hasn't read Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash" needs to hand
> in their Geek Card immediately.

I tried, but I got so tired of the author doing stuff like pointing
out that there were 65536 of something or other (and that it's a power
of TWO, kids!) that I gave up.  The annoying thing was that there was
no real technical reason why the quantity _needed_ to be a power of
two.  Too many of the technical details that you got constantly beat
over the head with were 

  1) not even remotely relevent to the story

  2) mostly an effort by the author to demonstrate that he had a
     junior-high level understanding of a 68K based Macintosh and knew
     lots of cool grown up tech-sounding words -- and even if had only
     a vague idea of what they meant, he could still impress the other
     13-year olds.

  3) just plain wrong

And even _with_ all the technical jibber-jabber, none of it explained
or justified the whole "writing a virus to infect the brain through
the optic nerve" thing which might just have well been magick and
witches.
  
-- 
Grant

Back to comp.lang.python | Previous | NextPrevious in thread | Next in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread


Thread

Hello World Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-12-20 23:57 +1100
  Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-21 00:11 +1100
  Re: Hello World Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2014-12-20 16:13 +0000
  Re: Hello World Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-12-20 08:50 -0800
  Re: Hello World Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2014-12-20 20:39 +0200
  Re: Hello World alister <alister.nospam.ware@ntlworld.com> - 2014-12-20 22:18 +0000
  Re: Hello World CM <cmpython@gmail.com> - 2014-12-20 21:14 -0800
    Re: Hello World Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-12-21 16:26 +1100
    Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-21 16:31 +1100
    Re: Hello World Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2014-12-21 01:31 -0500
      Re: Hello World wxjmfauth@gmail.com - 2014-12-21 00:07 -0800
    Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-21 17:44 +1100
      Re: Hello World CM <cmpython@gmail.com> - 2014-12-20 23:44 -0800
        Re: Hello World CM <cmpython@gmail.com> - 2014-12-20 23:45 -0800
          Re: Hello World Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-12-21 10:26 +0200
        Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-21 18:46 +1100
      Re: Hello World albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2015-01-08 12:43 +0000
        Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-01-08 23:53 +1100
          Re: Hello World albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2015-01-08 13:37 +0000
          Re: Hello World Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-01-08 16:06 +0200
            Re: Hello World alister <alister.nospam.ware@ntlworld.com> - 2015-01-08 14:21 +0000
              Re: Hello World Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-01-08 16:31 +0200
                Re: Hello World alister <alister.nospam.ware@ntlworld.com> - 2015-01-08 15:14 +0000
          Re: Hello World Michael Ströder <michael@stroeder.com> - 2015-01-08 15:11 +0100
          Re: Hello World albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2015-01-17 14:51 +0000
            Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-01-18 01:57 +1100
              Re: Hello World cl@isbd.net - 2015-01-17 15:18 +0000
            Re: Hello World Michael Torrie <torriem@gmail.com> - 2015-01-17 09:29 -0700
              Re: Hello World cl@isbd.net - 2015-01-17 16:47 +0000
                Re: Hello World albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2015-01-17 18:06 +0000
                Re: Hello World Michael Ströder <michael@stroeder.com> - 2015-01-17 19:47 +0100
                Re: Hello World Michael Torrie <torriem@gmail.com> - 2015-01-17 19:09 -0700
                Re: Hello World Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-01-18 13:37 +1100
                Re: Hello World Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2015-01-17 22:18 -0500
                Re: Hello World Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-01-18 14:45 +1100
                Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-01-18 18:45 +1100
                Re: Hello World Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2015-01-18 07:26 -0500
                Re: Hello World Tim Chase <python.list@tim.thechases.com> - 2015-01-17 21:50 -0600
                Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-01-18 18:44 +1100
                Re: Hello World Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-01-17 18:31 +0000
                Re: Hello World Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-01-18 10:46 +1100
                Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-01-18 11:04 +1100
                Re: Hello World Jason Friedman <jsf80238@gmail.com> - 2015-01-17 18:19 -0700
                Re: Hello World Michael Torrie <torriem@gmail.com> - 2015-01-17 19:13 -0700
                Re: Hello World Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-01-18 12:03 +0200
                Re: Hello World Michael Ströder <michael@stroeder.com> - 2015-01-18 14:34 +0100
                Re: Hello World Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-01-18 18:03 +0200
                Re: Hello World Michael Ströder <michael@stroeder.com> - 2015-01-18 19:39 +0100
                Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-01-18 21:10 +1100
                Re: Hello World Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-01-18 22:50 +0200
                Re: Hello World Michael Ströder <michael@stroeder.com> - 2015-01-18 14:32 +0100
                Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-01-18 21:00 +1100
                Re: Hello World Michael Ströder <michael@stroeder.com> - 2015-01-18 14:35 +0100
                Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-01-19 00:57 +1100
                Re: Hello World Michael Ströder <michael@stroeder.com> - 2015-01-18 16:48 +0100
                Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-01-19 04:08 +1100
                Re: Hello World Michael Ströder <michael@stroeder.com> - 2015-01-18 14:30 +0100
        Re: Hello World Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2015-01-08 19:02 +0200
          Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-01-09 04:11 +1100
            Re: Hello World albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2015-01-17 15:10 +0000
          Re: Hello World Michael Torrie <torriem@gmail.com> - 2015-01-08 10:53 -0700
            Re: Hello World Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2015-01-08 18:57 +0000
    Re: Hello World Devin Jeanpierre <jeanpierreda@gmail.com> - 2015-01-17 16:06 -0800
  Re: Hello World Tony the Tiger <tony@tiger.invalid> - 2014-12-21 19:22 +0000
    Re: Hello World Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-12-21 22:02 +0200
    Re: Hello World Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-12-22 09:51 +1100
      Re: Hello World Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-12-21 18:50 -0500
        Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-22 11:10 +1100
          Re: Hello World Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-12-21 19:12 -0500
            Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-22 11:36 +1100
          Re: Hello World mm0fmf <none@mailinator.com> - 2014-12-22 00:20 +0000
            Re: Hello World Tim Chase <python.list@tim.thechases.com> - 2014-12-21 18:47 -0600
            Re: Hello World Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2014-12-22 02:56 +0000
          Re: Hello World Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-12-22 10:52 +0200
            Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-22 20:01 +1100
        Re: Hello World Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2014-12-22 16:23 +0000
          Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-23 04:25 +1100
          Re: Hello World Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2014-12-22 18:51 +0000
          Re: Hello World MRAB <python@mrabarnett.plus.com> - 2014-12-22 19:05 +0000
          Re: Hello World Tim Chase <python.list@tim.thechases.com> - 2014-12-22 13:16 -0600
            Re: Hello World Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-12-22 19:55 -0500
              Re: Hello World sohcahtoa82@gmail.com - 2014-12-22 17:03 -0800
                Re: Hello World MRAB <python@mrabarnett.plus.com> - 2014-12-23 01:37 +0000
                Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-23 12:39 +1100
                Re: Hello World Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2014-12-23 02:36 +0000
                Re: Hello World Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2014-12-23 12:24 -0500
              Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-23 12:03 +1100
          Encryption - was Hello World Dave Angel <d@davea.name> - 2014-12-22 14:57 -0500
          Re: Encryption - was Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-23 09:29 +1100
          Re: Encryption - was Hello World Dave Angel <davea@davea.name> - 2014-12-22 18:22 -0500
      Re: Hello World Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-12-21 18:37 -0800
      Re: Hello World Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2014-12-22 08:21 +0200
        Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-22 17:33 +1100
          Re: Hello World Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2014-12-22 09:46 +0200
            Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-22 18:56 +1100
        Re: Hello World Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-12-22 20:18 +1100
          Re: Hello World Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-12-22 11:34 +0200
            Re: Hello World Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-12-22 19:38 -0800
          Re: Hello World Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-12-22 08:15 -0500
            Re: Hello World Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-12-23 00:23 +1100
              OFF TOPIC Snow Crash [was Re: Hello World] Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-12-23 13:09 +1100
                Re: OFF TOPIC Snow Crash [was Re: Hello World] Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2014-12-23 16:20 +0000
                Re: OFF TOPIC Snow Crash [was Re: Hello World] Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-12-23 08:41 -0800
                Re: OFF TOPIC Snow Crash [was Re: Hello World] Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-12-24 12:51 +1100
                Re: OFF TOPIC Snow Crash [was Re: Hello World] Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-12-24 14:18 +1100
                Re: OFF TOPIC Snow Crash [was Re: Hello World] alister <alister.nospam.ware@ntlworld.com> - 2014-12-24 11:50 +0000
                Re: OFF TOPIC Snow Crash [was Re: Hello World] alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2014-12-26 09:34 +1000
                Re: OFF TOPIC Snow Crash [was Re: Hello World] alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2014-12-26 09:27 +1000
                Re: OFF TOPIC Snow Crash [was Re: Hello World] Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-12-26 15:13 +1100
                Re: OFF TOPIC Snow Crash [was Re: Hello World] alister <alister.nospam.ware@ntlworld.com> - 2014-12-26 10:03 +0000
            Re: Hello World Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-12-22 15:26 +0200
              Re: Hello World Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-12-22 08:41 -0500
        Re: Hello World Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-12-22 08:13 -0500
          Re: Hello World Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-12-23 02:22 +1100
            Re: Hello World Jussi Piitulainen <jpiitula@ling.helsinki.fi> - 2014-12-22 17:36 +0200
              Re: Hello World Chris Warrick <kwpolska@gmail.com> - 2014-12-22 17:03 +0100
            Re: Hello World Skip Montanaro <skip.montanaro@gmail.com> - 2014-12-22 09:39 -0600
              Re: Hello World Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-12-23 03:54 +1100
            Re: Hello World Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2014-12-22 18:48 +0000
        Re: Hello World Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2014-12-22 16:26 +0000
    Re: Hello World Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2014-12-22 16:18 +0000
      Re: Hello World alister <alister.nospam.ware@ntlworld.com> - 2014-12-22 19:05 +0000

csiph-web