HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: hod@amazon.chem.columbia.edu (Hod Greeley)
Subject: Re: oversampling (was Re: using green marker on CDs)
Organization: Center for Biomolecular Simulation, Department of Chemistry,
	Columbia University
	<1992Sep24.134507.13987@odin.diku.dk>
	<1992Sep28.080332.18366@news.columbia.edu>
	<HOD.92Sep28161508@cucbs.chem.columbia.edu>
	<mmaster.2ac79753-e@parnasus.dell.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 22:57:52 GMT

In article <mmaster.2ac79753-e@parnasus.dell.com> mmaster@parnasus.dell.com (Michael Masterson) writes:

   >This is a tangential question, but if the error rate is so low, what
   >purpose does oversampling serve?  Is this more industry hype?  If,
   >say, an 8x pass over the data is required to achieve this level of
   >accuracy, that would suggest to me that the error rate must be much
   >higher than you claim.  Am I missing something?  If the rate of
   >uncorrectable errors is as low as you suggest, it would seem
   >superfluous.  Is oversampling not what I think it is?

   in order, no, yes, no, right.

   Oversampling raises the base frequency of the sampling to a much
   higher level than it was before, so that more gradual filters can be
   used to ensure that no out of band digital noise gets mixed in with
   the analog signal.  if you only sample once, then you have to use very
   steep filters, and they're rougher on the end signal than the more
   gently sloped filters that are possible with oversampling.

What you're talking about is just raising the sampling frequency, not
what I think of as oversampling.  No matter what you do with a CD, you
can't change the original sampling rate, so you can't help out your
filters by increasing the bandwith.  What I thought the purpose of
oversampling was, was to take multiple passes at the data and then
presumably average over the values.  That way, if you got an undetected
error on say 2 passes in an 8x system, the averaging would give you a
better value, and better overall quality than if you relied on a
single pass and got errors 1/4 of the time (same error rate per pass
at the data).  The post that I replied to originally suggested that
the error rate was incredibly low, so even though I can see why
oversampling might be useful, that analysis of the error rate made it
sound superfluous.

   due to the physical layout of the cd, it'd not be possible to do what
   you're suggesting, unless, maybe, you had eight laser pickups and a
   lot of memory to buffer the data.

How about just spinning the disk 8x faster?  :)

   Michael Masterson                                   mmaster@parnasus.dell.com

Hod
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
From: frank@rover.uchicago.edu (Frank - Hardware Hacker - Borger)
Subject: Re: Phony SCIFI on TV and in Movies
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Reply-To: frank@rover.uchicago.edu
Organization: Joint Center for Radiation Therapy
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 15:11:00 GMT

In article <37172@uflorida.cis.ufl.edu>, jma@reef.cis.ufl.edu (John 'Vlad' Adams) writes...
>I would create a phaser beam with visible spectrum to aid the human
>in spotting a hit on the target.

	One old army axiom goes, "Tracer bullets work BOTH ways."

   Frank R. Borger - Physicist    __       Internet:  Frank@rover.uchicago.edu
Michael Reese - Univ. of Chicago |___      Phone : 312-791-8075 fax : 567-7455
  Center for Radiation Therapy   | |_) _   America is a large, friendly dog in
                                   | \|_)  a very small room. Every time it wags
    "Birthplace of Softball"          |_)  its tail, it knocs over a chair.
					   Arnold Toynbee
From: lasner@watsun.cc.columbia.edu (Charles Lasner)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: using green marker on CDs
Date: 28 Sep 92 08:27:34 GMT
Reply-To: lasner@watsun.cc.columbia.edu (Charles Lasner)
Organization: Columbia University

In article <Bv5529.HJF@gabriel.keele.ac.uk> csa09@seq1.keele.ac.uk (Paul Singleton) writes:
>
>If comparison of bit patterns shown no difference, but blind (or should
>that be double blind?) tests show that some listener can consistently spot
>the greened disc, then we should devise hypotheses to account for this, 
>and then test them.  We should *not* dismiss the evidence because it
>conflicts with our prejucides.  Here's the sort of (tenuous) hypothesis
>I have in mind:  green ink doesn't reduce error rate but reduces spurious
>servo activity (perhaps by reducing internal scattering), hence reduces
>load on PSU, giving better regulated supply to the D-A converter.  Now I
>don't much care how unlikely that sounds: we can easily test (and probably
>reject) it by scientific experiment.  I am really not interested in the
>green ink effect except inasmuch as it tests our faith in scientific
>method.  If there are audible differences which we cannot measure with
>mechanical equipment, then we have to use listening panels.  This can
>still be done within conventional scientific method.  I am extremely
>curious to know what mechanisms underlie the subtle claimed differences
>in sound from hifi equipment.  I wish more reviewers were too.  I'm sure
>the manufacturers know more than they let on.

But what about the units where the D-A and digital units are totally
separate?

Moreover, the voltages the D-A sections run on are different power-supplies
from the logic, etc. circuits responsible for the positioning, etc.  If
the power-supplies are as wimpy as you suggest, then all sorts of other
problems would appear, such as audio quality suffering caused by brownouts,
etc on the power-line.  Considering the minimal requirement to make a low-
powered excellently regulated supply, I can't buy your theory, unless this
is only applicable to garbage units.


In any case, this has nothing to do with green ink.  Just get a better
drive/power supply.  Moreover, we are hearing from non-audio users claimig
that they are getting less errors, which has little to do with your theory.
Were the root cause for their alleged improvement and yours occuring in
the same unit, it's impossible because they don't have a D-A to degrade!

cjl
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
From: slb22@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Seth L. Blumberg)
Subject: Re: Phony SCIFI on TV and in Movies
Summary: Phasers aren't electromagnetic energy, they're acoustic energy.
Keywords: laser phaser sound wave
Reply-To: slb22@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Seth L. Blumberg)
Organization: None (and if you don't believe me, I'll mail you a JPEG of my
      dorm room)
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 16:38:50 GMT

In article <1992Sep26.002843.18171@cs.yale.edu> rescorla@rtnmr.chem.yale.edu
   (Eric Rescorla) writes:
>I believe that vnelson was pointing out that laser are highly collinear,
>which means that you shouldn't be able to see them unless you see them
>hit something. However, any laser of reasonable power scatters enough
>off the dust in the air to make it quite visible. Vacuum of course,
>(in which we can also see the phasers) should not do this and one
>should not be able to see a laser in a vacuum.

Pardon me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the term "phaser" as currently used refer
to a projector of coherent *acoustical* energy? (Sort of the audio equivalent
of a laser, in other words.)  I have seen detailed instructions for building
these, using a simple high-voltage oscillator circuit and a few (dirt-cheap)
piezoelectric transducers....

Seth L. Blumberg          | "Once again, fear and superstition triumphed over
slb22@cunixb.columbia.edu |    science and technology."
On CI$: 76460,1666        |        -- Anton Braun Quist, quoting Ed Whitaker
   > No one I know shares my opinions, least of all Columbia University. <
From: koziarz@chinet.chi.il.us (Louis Koziarz)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: Diamonds in my floor wax
Date: 6 Oct 92 00:15:55 GMT
Organization: Chinet - Public Access UNIX

Isn't there a liquid that has the same diffractive index as Diamond?
I know there's one for glass.  Just drop it in, and if it seems to 'disappear',
you have that material...
-- 
Louis Koziarz
koziarz@chinet.chi.il.us
From: sma@waikato.ac.nz (Stephen Anderson)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: Metrication and "normal usage"
Date: 6 Oct 92 16:53:19 +1300
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

In article <1992Oct6.013817.27369@ulysses.att.com>, smb@ulysses.att.com 
(Steven Bellovin) writes:
> The Farenheight scale does have two minor advantages.  First, it has
> greater resolution without resorting to fractions -- each degree is
> 5/9 the size of a Celsius degree.  It makes it easier to talk about
> temperatures in round figures without loss of information.  Second, in
> many parts of the world, there's much less need to use negative numbers
> -- and when the weather folks do, it's as much to underline how cold it
> is...  (OK -- all the folks from Norway, Minnesota, etc. -- I said
> *many* parts of the world, including all I've ever lived in...)
Then again, at least the celcius scale has milestones that we can relate to,
i.e. when someone says that the temperature in negative something-or-other, we
can immediately say "Well it's this much below freezing."  The celcius scale
makes sense.  Why have freezing at 32?  we can sort of guess why 212 for
boiling (32 + 180), but why 32?


Stephen..
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: noise cancellation (was Re: using green marker on CDs)
From: jsteiner@anwsun.phya.utoledo.edu (jason 'Think!' steiner)
Date: 4 Oct 92 14:57:49 EST
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4

dcb@kopachuk.uucp (David Breneman) writes:
> george@beta.ee.ufl.edu (George L) writes:
> >
> >Instead, something that would listen to the environment, and  
> >generate another signal which would actually reduce the magnitude 
> >of the unwanted noise. Kind of like using odor-eaters in your 
> >tennis shoes as opposed to just dumping some cologne in them.
> 
> I heard that this system was built into the stereo of some high-
> priced car like a Lincoln or something.  When you turn on your 
> stereo, not only are you hearing the music, but you're cancelling 
> out the noise in the car at the same time.

Sporty's Pilot Catalogue sells a headset that does this. it cancels
cabin noise & feeds the audio through normally.

--
`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`
`,`     "Stark raving sane." -- Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead     `,`
`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,` jsteiner@anwsun.phya.utoledo.edu ,`,`,`
From: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU (Carl J Lydick)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: Diamonds in my floor wax
Date: 3 Oct 1992 19:38:30 GMT
Organization: HST Wide Field/Planetary Camera
Reply-To: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol1.gps.caltech.edu

In article <BvIt5w.AJp@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, ccuppern@s.psych.uiuc.edu (Cyndi Cuppernell) writes:
>How many different ways are there to distinguish a real diamond
>from a fake, acrylic or glass? -- 

There are quite a few.  The easiest, given that you know that the substance is
either diamond, acrylic, or glass is probably to check for it's placement on
Mohs' scale:  See if:
	1)  You can scratch glass with it; and
	2)  You can scratch it with glass.
If the answer to 1) is yes, and the answer to 2) is no, then if the only three
possibilities are diamond, acrylic, and glass, you've got a diamond (or an
unusually hard sort of glass).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: CARL@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL

Disclaimer:  Hey, I understand VAXen and VMS.  That's what I get paid for.  My
understanding of astronomy is purely at the amateur level (or below).  So
unless what I'm saying is directly related to VAX/VMS, don't hold me or my
organization responsible for it.  If it IS related to VAX/VMS, you can try to
hold me responsible for it, but my organization had nothing to do with it.
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
From: mmaster@parnasus.dell.com (Michael Masterson)
Subject: Re: using green marker on CDs
Organization: Dell Computer Co
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 15:08:27 GMT

tlg@uknet.ac.uk (Tim.Goodwin) writes:

>In article <BZS.92Sep25222359@ussr.std.com> bzs@ussr.std.com (Barry Shein)
>writes:
>>However, to play the devil's advocate, something I see missing in
>>these experiments which claim identical bit streams is timing. Timing
>>of the bits and how they hit the speakers can be very critical in the
>>quality of the sound perceived, even if the bits when taken as a whole
>>are indistinguishable.

>Yes, but the timing isn't derived from the disk.  The bits coming from
>the disk are shovelled into one end of a buffer, and clocked out of the
>other end.  If the buffer gets too full, the disk is slowed down; too
>empty and it's speeded up.

>[ It would be quite a feat to maintain accurate timing otherwise: music
>CDs use constant linear velocity; as I recall the speed varies from
>about 8 r/s at the centre of the disk to about 3 r/s at the edge.  (I
>believe CD-ROMs do use constant angular velocity, so that they can be
>sectored.) ]

Nope.  take one apart sometime and watch the disk.  if it wasn't the
same technology, you'd not be able to read CDs in cd-rom drives, and
store the raw data off of the CD.  

>I can't think of any straightforward way for the green marker to improve
>timing accuracy.

for that matter, if you physically slow down a cd as it's spinning,
guess what happens?  NOTHING... until you get it too slow for the
error correcting circuits to pull the music out, then the music
abruptly turns into noise.. it's like you said, bits get stuffed in,
then clocked out at the right speed... minor changes in disk speed
don't affect the sound.


cheers.

-- 
Operated by professionals, do not try at home, see your dealer for details.
Your mileage may vary. Call before digging. Best if eaten by date on package.
Apply only to affected area. Batteries not included. Member FDIC.
Michael Masterson                                   mmaster@parnasus.dell.com
From: chuck_adams@qmail.ssc.gov (Chuck Adams)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: FAQs for Sale
Date: 5 Oct 92 17:29:35 GMT
Organization: Superconducting Super Collider Laboratory

In article <26619@dog.ee.lbl.gov> twcaps@tennyson.lbl.gov (Terry Chan) writes:
>
>October 1, 1992
>
>      Official Usenet Alt.Folklore.Urban Frequently Posted Legends

>NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICIAL MOTTO OF A.F.U.
>  "It could have happened, so it must be true."
>  "Sheesh!"
>  "Sorry to inject some facts into this newsgroup..."
>  "It COULD have happened so it MUST have happened"
>  "Bula Vinaka"
>  "I read it on USENET so it must be true."
>  "You st*p*d f*ck*ng b*st*rds..."
>  "The way I heard it..."
>  "I read it in the paper..."
>  "I think it's stupid. We collect all these business cards, and it turns
>      out nobody wants them."
>  "Mumpsimus"
>  "Furrfu!"
>  "No Facts but..."
>  "And as for the voracity [sic] of the source, this is my GRANDMOTHER 
>      you're talking about."
>  "True story as far as anyone knows.  No particular reason why it should
>      be doubted."
>  "I can't vouch for the veracity of your story.  But there's enough stupidity
>      out there that I'll believe it."
>  "He might have.  That alone is enough to prove..."
>  "Are you saying that some soaps are not detergents but that no detergents 
>      are soaps?"  [Happy, Chuck Adams?  Sheesh!]
                     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You, sir have made my day.  And to think I thought the entire week was shot
when I came in this morning and found that another newsgroup near and dear to
my heart, alt.tasteless, was deleted from our server (politically sensitive, I
guess).

For our sysadmins:  >  "You st*p*d f*ck*ng b*st*rds..."

This quote is quite appropriate.


>  "Well, looking at my couch, I could see how this would happen"


                      Chuck Adams,  WB5WRR   (The Chuckster)
                 Not an official document of DOE, SSCL, URA or EG&G
             "I cut you three ways, man:  quick, deep and frequently"
                       Internet:  chuck_adams@qmail.ssc.gov
From: wilcox@vax.oxford.ac.uk
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: A helpful motorist
Date: 1 Oct 92 08:28:53 GMT
Organization: Oxford University VAX 6620

I thought I would amuse you by announcing that urban folklore is now newspaper
material in the UK. A FOAF told me that the Guardian is running weekly spots on
ULs in its Saturday Weekend magazine (which is also supposedly the only
non-glossy glossy magazine in existence, but that's by the by.) 

It seems that the first couple of weeks were pretty mundane: he described how 
the paper had reported the dog-finds-rabbit UL and another which I instantly 
filed in the WPBsection of my brain. But this last week's, it seems, was newer. 
At least I didn't remember it being reported in the AFU FAQ or discussed in the
newsgroup.

The paper's correspondent reported that a FOAF was driving in Paris and trying
to find a parking space. A very helpful Frenchman was giving him directions. 
"Zere iz a meter behind you". So the FOAFOTC slowly inched (centimetred?) his 
way backwards. When he had gone another six inches or so the Parisian said again
"Zere iz a meter behind you". This time TP'sC'sF'sF was beginning to get
suspicious. But he reckoned the native was doing his best to help him, so he
carried on inching backwards. 

A third time he heard "Zere iz a meter behind you." By this time he had had 
enough, so he put his foot flat to the floor and shot backwards. He did not 
get very far, because his car was stopped *CRUNCH* as he rammed backwards 
into one of the city of Paris's finest parking meters.

-- 

Stephen Wilcox             |   Remember what happened to the dinosaurs!
wilcox@maths.oxford.ac.uk  |    I did---and look what happened to me.
From: bobk@ESD.3Com.COM (Bob Konigsberg)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Oranjelo and the severed dog's head
Date: 1 Oct 92 14:42:42 GMT

That reminds me of the story of the backwoods couple that named their
daughter "Placenta".

bobk
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
From: snopes%club33@stlth.enet.dec.com (snopes)
Subject: Re: Mixed up translations
Organization: Just put everything on the floor; I can find it.
Date: 28 SEP 92 08:53:34    


In article <Bv5CD0.Bo4@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG>, 
  phil@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG (Phil Gustafson) writes...

>In the same vein, the camera Americans call a NYE-con is, in
>Japanese, a NEE-con.

Actually, I believe it's nee-CONE.

 - snopes

+--------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+
|                                |                                            |
| David P. Mikkelson             |  According to a recent study, sex has now  |
| Digital Equipment Corporation  |  replaced smoking as the leading cause of  |
| Culver City, CA  USA           |  statistics.                               |
|                                |                                            |
+--------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+
From: de@moscom.com (David Esan)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Flavored Condoms
Date: 1 Oct 92 18:52:50 GMT
Organization: Moscom Corp., Pittsford NY

In article <BvDBJt.IzE@news.cso.uiuc.edu> kkr42091@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (QUEEN ZENOBIA!) writes:
>Port Out Starboard Home refers to the rooms that are most wanted in a 
>cruise ship... luxury liner.... whatever they are called.
>at least that is what i have always been told.

That's two.

Fishing for newbies is pretty good this year.


-- 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -->     David Esan      de@moscom.com  
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xref: sparky alt.folklore.urban:24891 rec.arts.startrek.misc:10077
From: tjw@vms.cis.pitt.edu (TJ Wood)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban,rec.arts.startrek.misc
Subject: Re: Kirk VS Picard (was "Lost In Space" was better)
Date: 5 Oct 92 18:59:19 GMT
Followup-To: alt.folklore.urban
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

In article <25923@oasys.dt.navy.mil>, goldman@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Kenneth Goldman) writes:

> Sure, he beat up on some Klignons in the episode where Worf had to go
> home to try to save the family name.  Of course, they did outnumber
> him and eventually a little old lady had to help him.

Pound for pound, Kirk has kicked far more *ss than Picard.  Jean-Luc talks
his way out of situations.  He calls conferences.  He askes advice.

KIRK comes in peace and shoots to kill.

Terry "S.Teckin' across the Universe, On the S.S. Ent. Under Capt' Kirk" Wood
From: hawley@adobe.com (Steve Hawley)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Fine Art {was: A Goofy Question was Re: Flavored Condoms (was: Re: Stupid cop tricks)}
Date: 6 Oct 92 01:25:01 GMT
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated

joslin_paul@ae.ge.com (Paul Joslin) Writes:
>Okay, you asked for it:
>
>Today's pressing question is "What kind of animal is Goofy, anyway?"  If he
>is a dog, how come he wears pants and Pluto doesn't?  Is it because Goofy
>can talk, and Pluto can't?

I sent a letter to Disney asking what kind of animal was Goofy.  The answer:
a dog.  Initially the character was named Dippy Dawg, later Dippy the Goof
and finally Goofy.

Steve Hawley
hawley@adobe.com
-- 
"Did you know that a cow was *MURDERED* to make that jacket?"
"Yes.    I didn't think there were any witnesses, so I guess I'll have to kill
 you too." -Jake Johansen
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
From: kelly@myria.cs.umn.edu (Shaun P. Kelly)
Subject: Re: License Plates and Prisons
Organization: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, CSci dept.
 
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 20:15:20 GMT

>
>Furthermore, I wonder how true the cliche of prisoners manufacturing
>license plates still is, if it ever was.

Well, a couple of months back, when I requested personalized plates, I was
told by a clerk at the DMV that it'd be a bit of a wait, as the prisoners
had been a bit unruly and were being held in lockup currently.  

Of course, standard AFU discalimers apply...

>Ted "and then they all had Coronas after work" Frank
>-- 
>           .. . . .  .  .   .    .     .     .    .   .  .  . . . ..
>          ted frank | thf2@midway.uchicago.edu | standard disclaimers
>         the university of chicago law school, chicago, illinois 60637

-shaun (no sig?)
From: wells@athena.cs.uga.edu (Scott Wells)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Alligators in sewers
Date: 2 Oct 92 05:45:08 GMT
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens


Netlanders:

When I was a boy in New Orleans, about 10 years ago :), I remember
that one of the local radio announcers heard of a paper in Edinburgh
which declaired that there were killer 'gaters in the sewers of New
Orleans. The DJ obligingly got someone (though the power of
transatlantic telephone) from the paper on the phone to CONFIRM the
reprts and pleas to send help etc.

Made breakfast more interesting.

Scott Wells
From: SteveWall@aol.com (Steve Wall)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Is the electric chair an Edison publicity stunt?
Date: 6 Oct 92 21:26:12 GMT
Followup-To: alt.folklore.urban
Organization: Not if I can help it.

> 
> According to Panati, there has been, throughout history, the search for
> a "humane" way of putting criminals to death.  Each new invention was
> greeted with excitement that the goal had been attained, followed by
> disgust at finding out the truth (that it was really quite painful).
> 
> However, with lethal injection, the problem now appears to be solved.
> It appears that with lethal injection, you really do just "fade away".
> 
Ah, but what about all those anxious moments when they insert the IVs,
strap you down, etc?

My personal vision of humane execution is a pile-driver to the head.
Basically a guillotine (sp?) that goes splat instead of chop!  Talk about
instant brain death.  They could set it up in the roof of the inmate's
cell,
and then one night after he's lost all his appeals, lower the boom in his
sleep.

Steve Wall