HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: schumach@convex.com (Richard A. Schumacher)
Subject: Re: Non-Relflecting object
Organization: CONVEX Computer Corporation, Richardson, Tx., USA
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 22:52:48 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

Or, empty space. Once when it was necessary to have a very
dark background for some high-speed flash photography, we
waited until night and used an open window as the background.
It worked great. Of course, it's necessary that there be no
light sources or nearby objects (anything is a potential 
reflector) visible through the window; what constitutes a 
source or "nearby" will depend on your application.
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
From: mcampbel@cs.ucf.edu (Mike Campbell )
Subject: Re: Electric Field Question
Organization: University of Central Florida
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 14:22:31 GMT

rf@cl.cam.ac.uk (Robin Fairbairns) writes:


>No.  Nor yet in Scotland, Wales, or any part of Ireland (to the best
>of my knowledge).  Rationale (I've posted this once before, but it
>plainly didn't sink in):

>1) We don't get that much sun (we're a good bit further North than the
>   (even remotely) heavily-populated parts of N America, and we have
>   the gulf stream to contend with, which tends to give us moist
>   summers)
>2) Our roads tend to be rather narrow, so that people who drive with
>   an arm hanging out of the window lose their arm by interaction with
>   oncoming traffic rather than through cancer

Oh come on!  Surely the MIRRORS would be hit before the arms...  When we say
arms hanging out, we don't mean out parallel to the road!

There'd be a LOT of missing mirrors and door handles, (and fenders, and
bumpers) is this was even remotely significant.

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science,rec.arts.sf.science
From: treitel@gracie.IntelliCorp.COM (Richard Treitel)
Subject: Re: The Marching Morons (was Re: Cindy the Disco Queen)
Date: 23 Dec 92 23:17:08 GMT
Organization: preferably none

In article <pete.725064249@extro.ucc.su.OZ.AU>, pete@extro.ucc.su.OZ.AU (Peter Alexander Merel) writes:

 [stuff deleted]

|> However, I think you're missing the point.  The cultured hoard their culture
|> not by keeping secrets but by controlling the resources required to
|> promulgate their culture. 

Close enough.  Let's switch from Kornbluth (yes, I did read him) to
Vonnegut, not famous for his optimism, and specifically 'Player Piano.'  In
that book, an educated elite of managers and engineers coexisted smoothly
with a proletariat who were not actually morons, but might as well have
been: they were given no opportunity to do anything except the things that
machines could do for them.  The resulting society was prosperous and
(mostly) contented, though naturally Vonnegut created some rebels in it.
The elite occasionally used the masses as grunt labour or cannon fodder,
and provided them with a fair standard of living otherwise.

Also read, if you can find it (I can't), 'A Torrent of Faces' by James
Blish and Norman somebody-or-other.

My point is: what's *wrong* with having a lot of morons as long as there
are still some smart people around?  The problem, if there is one, is
correctable in a few generations anyway.

[Of course I can think of some things wrong with this.  Can you?]

Personally, I rather like Larry Niven's notion of "birthrights."  You get
an automatic right to have one child, and can obtain more in various ways.

			- Richard
From: ssammy@cs.strath.ac.uk (Paul Sammy 4th Year iE/CES)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Looking for Daniken sceptic
Date: 21 Dec 92 13:36:43 GMT
Distribution: alt
Organization: Information Engineering


Hello there.

I'm looking for a book that purports to reveal the
inconsistencies and downright lies that Eric Von Daniken
(allegedly) wrote in his "Gold of the Gods" series.

I know it exists (I've read it somewhere), but I'm not sure
of the title or the author.
I think its called "Gold of the Gods Revealed" or something
similar.

If possible I'd like a ISBN and a publisher, so I can order it.

Thanks in advance, Paul
--

   "woof, bloody woof"     | Internet: ssammy@cs.strath.ac.u
    -Gaspode The Wonder Dog| JANET   : ssammy@uk.ac.strath.cs
   (not an old girlfriend) |
Copy this line into your .signature to protect it against viruses! [version -9]
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
From: dannyb@panix.com (Daniel Burstein)
Subject: Re: Hot Water flow mystery.
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1992 06:33:59 GMT
Organization: Panix, NYC

regarding the questions about why the hot water from the tap would at firs
flow quite rapidly, then reduce in intensity, while the cold water didn't...
  
There are a number of things going on.

1) There may be different piping systems, particularly if the building has
undergone renovation.  While steel pipes have very little pressure related
expansion (at least with thepressures normally encountered), plastic
piping will have somewhat more.

2) There may be air in the system.  This will deifinitely compress under
pressure, thus giving extra push when a valve is first opened.

3) The water heater tank may have a bladder or similar expandable
container in it.

4) there may be an extra "booster" pump on the heated water line which
added a bit of pressure which gave an extra push when the water is first
turned on.

dannyb@panix.com
From: oahvenla@snakemail.hut.fi (Osma Ahvenlampi)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: Perceiving "Neon/Florescent" Colors
Date: 23 Dec 92 09:43:23 GMT
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Distribution: inet
	<hank.725096783@well.sf.ca.us>
NNTP-Posting-Host: lk-hp-4.hut.fi
In-reply-to: hank@well.sf.ca.us's message of Wed, 23 Dec 1992 07:46:23 GMT

In article <hank.725096783@well.sf.ca.us> hank@well.sf.ca.us (Hank Roberts) writes:

>I"ve read that these are pure pigments, rather than mixed colors.
>A microscope might reveal something.

Well, yes and no. If you mix two fluorescent colors, they're as mixed colors
as anything else. By themselves, they are 'pure', because they happen to
radiate the light in one wavelengh.. Read my previous post on the subject..
--
Osma Ahvenlampi  -  oahvenla@snakemail.hut.fi   * Workstation power for micro-
All my opinions are not necessarily really mine * computer price: Amiga := FUN
From: Brian.Milner@brunel.ac.uk (Brian D Milner)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: Non-Relflecting object
Date: 23 Dec 92 17:15:22 GMT
Organization: Brunel University, West London, UK


> Non-reflecting object: visual appearance? (Shaped like a 4x8 sheet 
of marine plywood.)

If held against a white sheet; a *black* 4x8 sheet of marine plywood.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|Brian Milner, The Computer Centre, Brunel University , West London, UK   |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|brian.milner@brunel.ac.uk | Failed films #27 -  The Sound of Mucus       |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
From: moroney@world.std.com (Michael Moroney)
Subject: Re: More Monty Hall
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 23:53:42 GMT

worden@bouncer.nsc.com (Dennis Worden) writes:


>|> The fact that the door which used to be closed is now known to be a loser
>|> is new information.  Specifically, if I guessed a goat (probability 2/3),
>|> then he's now shown me where the winner is.

>The fact that you now have an open door with a goat behind it does not
>change the fact that you have 2 door and 1 prize.  The opening of the
>third door only tells you that the prize is not behind that door, it does
>not add any information as to where the prize really is.

It most certainly does!  If you initially guessed wrong (2/3s chance) which
door Monty opens tells exactly where the prize is, it's the door he didn't
open!  The other 1/3 of the time you initially picked correctly and the prize
is behind your door.  So it boils down to, 2/3 chance the prize is behind
the door no one picked, 1/3 chance the prize is behind the door you initially
picked.

BTW, the game where the contestant does not make an initial pick so
Monty starts things off by revealing a goat is not the same, as which door
the contestant picks *determines* which door Monty picks, unless the
contestant initially picks correctly.

-Mike
From: juola@bruno.cs.colorado.edu (Patrick Juola)
Subject: Re: More Monty Hall
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 23:02:41 GMT

In article <1992Dec21.214559.22343@berlioz.nsc.com> worden@bouncer.nsc.com (Dennis Worden) writes:
>
>
>Now reword the situation a little:
>After Monty opens the door with the goat behind it, he then asks you to
>choose between the remaining two doors, one with the prize, and the other
>with the goat.  You have a 50% chance of picking the correct one (remember,
>the third door does not exist in the wording).  You have a 50% chance
>of picking the correct door here.  You have the same information as before,
>the only change is that instead of asking you to "switch", you are asked
>to "pick from start".  Either way, you have two doors in front of you,
>and one prize.  

Doesn't follow.  It's still "new" information, and you still have a 67%
chance of winning if you pick the door that you didn't pick at first.



>Monty hasn't given you new information, he has given you a new
>question.  At the point where he asks you if you want to switch, the fact
>that you had a 33% chance previously doesn't affect you new decision; two
>doors, one prize.

The fact that the door which used to be closed is now known to be a loser
is new information.  Specifically, if I guessed a goat (probability 2/3),
then he's now shown me where the winner is.

	- kitten
From: duquet@astro.phy.ulaval.ca (Jean-Remi Duquet)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: Two high tides (Was: Full moon and tides)
Date: 23 Dec 92 16:38:59 GMT
Organization: Universite Laval, Ste-Foy, Qc, Canada

In article <scottj-221292163050@iamac-1.dml.georgetown.edu> scottj@magic.dml.georgetown.edu (John L. Scott) writes:
>In article <1h50c7INNees@news.aero.org>, shag@aero.org (Robert M.
>Unverzagt) wrote:
>> 
>> In article <scottj-211292091243@iamac-1.dml.georgetown.edu> scottj@magic.dml.georgetown.edu (John L. Scott) writes:
>>> The high tide facing the moon is, of course, explained by the gravitational
>>> pull of the moon.  However, there have been at least two explanations for
>>> the high tide on the opposite side of the earth:
>>> 
>>>    A.  The moon stretches the earth
>>>    B.  Centrifugal pseudo-force
>>> 
>>> So... which is it, A, B, both, or neither?
>>> 
>> [ explanation deleted ]
>>
>Thanks for the reply.  I got "stretches the earth" from somebody else's
>post.  I took it to mean that the earth's shape was actually deformed to
>the point that it had a noticeable effect of the oceans.  I was skeptical
>of that idea.
>
>So, are you saying that the moon pulls the earth away from the water on the
>far side?  That certainly sounds reasonable to me.
>
>--John L. Scott

Maybe I can add something to this discussion. This explanation, while 
technically correct, applies mostly to solid bodies. For example, a solid
satellite comig close to a massive planet will be disrupted by the differential
force between the center and the close and far sides of the satellite.

However, this effect is small and can't explain the tides by itself. 
The principal effect is, strangely, the force perpendicular to the axis
between the two bodies. If you compute the effective (vectorial) force
on the surface of the ocean (i.e. the gravitational pull from the moon
minus the force that keeps the Earth-Moon system together), you will notice 
that this force is oriented outward when you are along E-M axis, inward
when you are perpendicular to it, and parallel to the surface of the earth 
when at 45 degrees.

This last force is directed toward E-M axis and can easily move the water
since it is not opposed to the Earth's gravity. This effect is supposed
to be the main cause of the observed tidal bulge.

(for a simple mathematical derivation, see Zeilik and Smith, 
"an introduction to astronomy and astrophysics")

-----
Jean-Remi Duquet
Physics dept.
Universite Laval
Quebec
From: fnord@panix.com (Cliff Heller)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: More Monty Hall
Date: 23 Dec 92 16:08:28 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Right Bleedin' Church of Libertine Obfuscatology

In <1992Dec22.221610.6009@panix.com> carlf@panix.com (Carl Fink) writes:

>In <1992Dec22.185741.9823@berlioz.nsc.com> worden@bouncer.nsc.com (Dennis Worden) writes:
>  (I know in advance this is likely a waste of time)

It is, but what fun, eh?

>  Let's examine all possible cases, okay?  There are three doors, 
>which we will designate alpha, beta, and gamma.  The prize is behind
>door gamma, so there are three cases, namely, you pick alpha, you 
>pick beta, you pick gamma.

>   Case alpha:  you have not picked the prize.  Monty reveals the
>goat behind beta.  If you switch, you pick gamma and win.

>  Case beta:  you have not picked the prize.  Monty reveals the goat
>behind alpha.  If you switch, you win.
> 
>  Case gamma:  you have picked the prize.  Monty reveals either the
>goat behind alpha or the one behind beta.  If you switch, you lose.

Clear example, however the logically impaired divide case gamma into two
cases, depending on the door that Monty reveals, and it reduces to 50/50.

But keep hammering at it.  Notice how they never agree to put money on it.

-- 
    / \      Reverend fnord                 | "King Kong died for your sins!"
   /   \     fnord@panix.com                | 
  / <0> \                                   | "Don't just eat a hamburger, 
 /_______\   Church of Obfuscatology, Inc.  |  eat the HELL out of it!"
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
From: mcampbel@cs.ucf.edu (Mike Campbell )
Subject: Re: Hot Water flow mystery.
Organization: University of Central Florida
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 17:00:31 GMT

Robert.T.Warfield@dartmouth.edu (Robert T. Warfield) writes:

>> Funny, I always assumed that the hot water was making parts of the tap
>> expand and altering the gap that was available for the water to come
>> through.
>> 
>> Boyd.

>  If it were just due to water pressure, hou come the cold water tap
>doesn't do the same thing?

Good point.  I think it's the expansion due to temperature.  In fact, I
can pull up on the handle of the hot water faucet, (as if I'm trying to
pull off the 'knob'), and shut the flow off completely.
From: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU (Carl J Lydick)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: Two high tides (Was: Full moon and tides)
Date: 24 Dec 1992 19:08:12 GMT
Organization: HST Wide Field/Planetary Camera
Distribution: world
Reply-To: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol1.gps.caltech.edu

In article <1992Dec23.163859.16008@cerberus.ulaval.ca>, duquet@astro.phy.ulaval.ca (Jean-Remi Duquet) writes:
>Maybe I can add something to this discussion. This explanation, while 
>technically correct, applies mostly to solid bodies. For example, a solid
>satellite comig close to a massive planet will be disrupted by the differential
>force between the center and the close and far sides of the satellite.
>
>However, this effect is small and can't explain the tides by itself. 

Er, yes, it does.

>The principal effect is, strangely, the force perpendicular to the axis
>between the two bodies. If you compute the effective (vectorial) force
>on the surface of the ocean (i.e. the gravitational pull from the moon
>minus the force that keeps the Earth-Moon system together), you will notice 
>that this force is oriented outward when you are along E-M axis, inward
>when you are perpendicular to it, and parallel to the surface of the earth 
>when at 45 degrees.

Water being a fluid, though, is incapable of passing compressional forces along
the surface, so the effect of the compressional force you're talking about is
only a second-order effect at the locus of a high tide.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: msb@sq.sq.com (Mark Brader)
Subject: Re: mean failure time vs power-to-weight ratio (was: Re: Sig file)
Organization: SoftQuad Inc., Toronto, Canada
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 92 10:07:45 GMT

> > > Right -- higher power-to-weight decreases mean time to failure.
> > Oh dear; does this mean that we should start to worry about the sun?
> Good point -- what's the power-to-mass ratio of the sun, anyway?

4e26 W / 2e30 kg = .0002 W/kg.  That should be good for a while or two.
("Oh, thank God, I thought you said five *million* years!")
-- 
Mark Brader, SoftQuad Inc., Toronto	"As long as that blue light is on, the
utzoo!sq!msb, msb@sq.com		 computer is safe."    -- Hot Millions

This article is in the public domain.
From: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU (Carl J Lydick)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: Non-Relflecting object
Date: 26 Dec 1992 20:29:04 GMT
Organization: HST Wide Field/Planetary Camera
Distribution: world
Reply-To: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol1.gps.caltech.edu

In article <mcampbel.725383855@eola.cs.ucf.edu>, mcampbel@cs.ucf.edu (Mike Campbell ) writes:
=carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU (Carl J Lydick) writes:
=
=>In article <schumach.725151168@convex.convex.com>, schumach@convex.com (Richard A. Schumacher) writes:
=>>Or, empty space. Once when it was necessary to have a very
=>>dark background for some high-speed flash photography, we
=>>waited until night and used an open window as the background.
=>>It worked great. Of course, it's necessary that there be no
=>>light sources or nearby objects (anything is a potential 
=>>reflector) visible through the window; what constitutes a 
=>>source or "nearby" will depend on your application.
=
=>I'm afraid that "empty space" is anything but.  Were your claim even close to
=>accurate, there'd be a lot of astronomers out of business.
=
=Why?

Well, the original question dealt with what a perfectly black object would look
like.  Now, though for a photographer the view out an open window might look
"black," to an astronomer (remember, these guys deal with exposures on the
order of HOURS), there's LOTS of light out there.  Hell, even for combat troops
with passive night-vision goggles, there's lots of light out there.

And that's not even considering the infrared.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
From: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU (Carl J Lydick)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: Non-Relflecting object
Date: 26 Dec 1992 04:52:45 GMT
Organization: HST Wide Field/Planetary Camera
Distribution: world
Reply-To: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol1.gps.caltech.edu

In article <schumach.725151168@convex.convex.com>, schumach@convex.com (Richard A. Schumacher) writes:
>Or, empty space. Once when it was necessary to have a very
>dark background for some high-speed flash photography, we
>waited until night and used an open window as the background.
>It worked great. Of course, it's necessary that there be no
>light sources or nearby objects (anything is a potential 
>reflector) visible through the window; what constitutes a 
>source or "nearby" will depend on your application.

I'm afraid that "empty space" is anything but.  Were your claim even close to
accurate, there'd be a lot of astronomers out of business.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
From: csa09@seq1.keele.ac.uk (Paul Singleton)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: Perceiving "Neon/Florescent" Colors
Date: 22 Dec 92 18:44:01 GMT
Organization: Keele University, England

From article <28843@oasys.dt.navy.mil>, by wrd@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Wm. Race Dowling):
> In article <1h5ehoINN707@cronkite.Central.Sun.COM> pstryjew@colsun.Central.Sun.COM writes:

> >How does the human eye perceive "Neon/Florescent" color (i.e. hot pink, blaze
> >orange, the Crayola Florescent Crayons)?  
> >
> >I assume it has something to do with absorption of UV light, but where in the
> >spectrum do they reside?  Are they hiding in the "visible" spectrum?  How are
> >the dyes made, I can't make them with additive mixing of the three primaries.

There is nothing unusual in the way the eye perceives these colours.  The
colours can be made by mixing red, green and blue light, but apparently
not by selective absorbtion of white light by dyes on paper.  Not sure why.
----
  __   __    Paul Singleton (Mr)           JANET: paul@uk.ac.keele.cs
 |__) (__    Computer Science Dept.        other: paul@cs.keele.ac.uk
 |  .  __).  Keele University, Newcastle,    tel: +44 (0)782 621111 x7355
             Staffs ST5 5BG, ENGLAND         fax: +44 (0)782 713082
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.science
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: Car Batteries die in the Winter - Why?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1992 23:38:06 GMT

baylor@NEBULA.SSD.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM writes:
: >
: That's why they make 10W40 oil. It's supposed to have a more constant
: viscosity over a wide range of temperature than a "single weight" oil.
: 
: More annoying: I just realized that this probably means my smoke
: detector will ALWAYS give off the "my battery is low" beep in the
: wee hours of the morning. !@#$%%$^$&&*!!

It shouldn't. The current draw on the battery is very low. Even at low
temperatures, the battery should easily be able to supply enough power.
If not, then either your battery is getting marginal, or your detector
is defective.

Bill
From: hank@well.sf.ca.us (Hank Roberts)
Subject: Re: Perceiving "Neon/Florescent" Colors
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 07:46:23 GMT


I"ve read that these are pure pigments, rather than mixed colors.
A microscope might reveal something.