HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: hdavies@rx.xerox.com (Hugh J.E. Davies)
Subject: Re: Milton Keynes - was Re: NORTHAMPTON POL
Reply-To: hdavies@rx.xerox.com
Organization: Rank Xerox Ltd.
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 14:35:21 GMT

In article 19805@csd.uwe.ac.uk, s_curtis@csd.uwe.ac.uk (Steve Curtis) writes:
>In article <1992Dec9.091418.13118@edscom.demon.co.uk> ian@edscom.demon.co.uk (Ian Green) writes:
>>Bernie Jones (bemj1@cl.cam.ac.uk) wrote:
>>: I was always an anti-MK person, due to media hype, but the other day I
>>: actually had to go there, and was really pleasantly surprised.......
>
>>[rest deleted]
>
>>Good!!!  I wouldn't have minded if you had still hated the place after having
>>been here - provided you experienced the place *before* passing comment.
>>After living here a while you tend to get quite defensive about the place -
>>especially when people who have never been here slag it off.  I'd be the 
>>first to admit that it's far from perfect but at least know what you're flaming 
>>before applying the match.
>
>I agree, I live in Northampton up the road, and much prefer Milton Keynes !
>People always say 'MK - horrible place' you say "but have you ever been there?'
>'No' they reply, 'heard it was horrible though !' - Whats the point ?
>
>BTW - what was the discussion on Northampton Poly, I've only just subscribed
>to this group - forgive me. Is Nene college turning into a poly ? 
>
>Also, does anyone know if MK poly has a JANET connection ?
>
>Steve.
>-- 
>Email: (JANET) : s_curtis@uwe.csd            
>       (Inet)  : s_curtis@csd.uwe.ac.uk    


I *have* been to MK, on numerous occasions. I think it's a ghastly shithole. I've heard it described as the largest open prison in Europe - and I agree.
---


Regards,

Hugh.
------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't speak for Xerox, nor they for me.

Rank Xerox European Systems Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Herts., UK.
Mail to; Huge.wgc1@rx.xerox.com, whatever it says in the header.
From: eanv20@castle.ed.ac.uk (John Woods)
Newsgroups: uk.misc
Subject: Re: Mailing lists from hell
Date: 14 Dec 92 13:16:42 GMT
Organization: Edinburgh University


>>Anyone got any suggestions?

 Well, no, not very helpful, but I think I'm right in saying these
 companies are breaking the law. A stern official letter mentioning the
 words 'solicitor', court', and 'you law-breaking b*st*rd of a company'
 normally brings a letter of apology, but if it doesn't my advice is to
 go down to your local CAB (who will probably advise you get a solicitor
 to write a letter, but they might have some cheaper ideas). If you're
 feeling brave you could even try recouping the cost of postage, your
 time, etc. from the companies! Hope you get it sorted!

Post the 0800 numbers to the net & several of us will instruct our
modems to 'phone them constantly with appropriate faxes.  If they don't
have faxes, they'll just get unpleasant sounds.  Each call brings them
nearer bankruptcy.  I'm sure several others would be willing to help
in a situation like this.  

Best Wishes

				... John Woods


-- 
 /******* cut here ******* John Woods ******* cut here ********
 * Philosophy: Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit (Virgil) *
 * Disclaimer: Every statement in this file is possibly !true *
 ******** cut here ******* John Woods ******* cut here *******/
Newsgroups: uk.misc
From: leveret@warren.demon.co.uk (Nick Leverton)
Subject: Re: opticians
Reply-To: leveret@warren.demon.co.uk
Distribution: world
X-Mailer: cppnews $Revision: 1.20 $
Organization: Indexed; Access: Random.
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 15:15:37 +0000

In article <1992Dec16.172325@axion.bt.co.uk> AMcBride@axion.bt.co.uk writes:
>Can anyone tell me anything about different types of
>optician?  In particular, what does the term
>opthalmic mean?  Are some types more qualified than
>others?

No one more qualified than me seems to have answered yet so, solely on
the strength of having done a three-month contract for a national chain
of opticians, I'll venture the following, which is deduced from that
optician's working practices:

Ophthalmic (note the spelling!) opticians are the most highly qualified.
They are trained to examine your eyes and your sight for medical
problems, as well as to take measurements for any correction that is
needed and to issue prescriptions for spectacles.

Dispensing opticians can take the measurements and issue prescriptions.

Optometrists can take the measurements.

Optical Assistants make sure the ear-pieces are bent to the right length :-)

In a large practice you may well be examined by two or three different people
at different stages in order to make best use of the OO's valuable time.

I welcome correction ...

Nick.
From: snail@lsl.co.uk
Newsgroups: uk.misc
Subject: Re: Transport subsidies - Was: Car Parking
Date: 18 Dec 92 19:13:24 GMT
Distribution: uk
Organization: Laser-Scan Ltd., Cambridge

In article <29701@castle.ed.ac.uk>, fofp@castle.ed.ac.uk (M Holmes) writes:
> As I've said, I'm not an anarchist and I think the government should be
> there to protect people's rights through police, army and a justice
> system.
> 
> I accept that anarchists would disagree and I'd advocate that they be
> allowed to contract out. What that'd mean though is that they'd have no
> official protection from fraud, theft, or assault. I'd personallt regard
> that as dangerous and I suspect few would in fact contract out.

Ah yes, but the twist is, if they contract out of the justice system, surely
they are allowed to act outside the law too. As such they can dish out whatever
form of justice they feel is OK (on someone who has also contracted out), which
includes fraud, murder, rape etc. Thats OK, they both chose it (well I
disagree), but what if you get a transgression between a justice advocate and
an justice contract-out person. What happens then? Surely the two cannot
co-exist?
-- 
snail@lsl.co.uk      

"Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless
 means to side with the powerful, not to be Neutral."
                                                     Quote by Freire.
                                                     Poster by OXFAM.
From: mathew <mathew@mantis.co.uk>
Newsgroups: uk.misc
Subject: Re: Record shops (LPs)
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 17:16:47 GMT
Distribution: uk
Organization: Mantis Consultants, Cambridge. UK.

steve@acorn.co.uk (Steve "daffy" Hunt) writes:
> mathew (mathew@mantis.co.uk) wrote:
> : I bought an album on CD for #10.99.  Previously, I had bought it on tape fo
> : #5.99, worn the tape out through repeated listening, bought it on LP for
> : #6.99, and worn the LP out through repeated listening.  Which was cheaper,
> : the LP and tape or the CD?
> 
> Irrelevant!  It's a question of freedom of choice, not relative cost!

You're free to buy LPs from anyone who will sell them to you.  Anyone
who wishes to is free to sell you LPs.  What more do you want?  An LP
tax to pay to get shops to stock LPs they can't sell?

Costs came in because someone suggested that the high price for CDs
was the reason why record companies favoured them.  I just pointed out
that record companies got more out of me when I could only buy
records.


mathew
-- 
Lung cancer and arteriosclerosis.
For people who like to smoke.
Newsgroups: uk.misc
From: joe@jshark.inet-uk.co.uk (Joe Sharkey)
Subject: Re: Record shops (LPs)
Organization: Independent Network (UK)
Distribution: uk
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 00:15:26 GMT

In article <32mVVB16w165w@mantis.co.uk> mathew <mathew@mantis.co.uk> writes:
>jrg@doc.ic.ac.uk (James Grinter) writes:
>
>LP master tapes have pre-emphasis, which means that bits of the frequency
>spectrum have been boosted to compensate for the effects of translating the
>sound to wiggles on a bit of plastic and back.

Don't, don't, don't!

All tape has bits boosted/cut because of media limitations. LPs also - `RIAA'
and all that.

The tape masters have *tape* compensation, 'cos they're on tape.  They don't
have pre-RIAA as well.

>                                                This is entirely unnecessary
>for CD (and makes 'em sound nasty).

The *original* tape "master tracks" are frequency-shaped - they *must* be.
*But* it is (should be) transparent.

Maybe the `orignal' masters were just pretty bad?

>One classic example is Talking Heads' "Speaking in Tongues".  Not only did
>they use a master tape with pre-emphasis, they used one which had several
>tracks missing.  They've only just re-released the proper version.  (I've
>been waiting somewhat impatiently...)

TH are not too bad - but I'll now only offer 50p/LP!

>mathew

joe.
-- 
Joe Sharkey     joe@jshark.inet-uk.co.uk    ...!uunet!ibmpcug!jshark!joe
150 Hatfield Rd, St Albans, Herts AL1 4JA, UK     Got a real domain name
(+44) 71 629 5932          Mail or News (v32/v32bis): info@inet-uk.co.uk
-- 
Joe Sharkey     joe@jshark.inet-uk.co.uk    ...!uunet!ibmpcug!jshark!joe
150 Hatfield Rd, St Albans, Herts AL1 4JA, UK     Got a real domain name
(+44) 71 629 5932          Mail or News (v32/v32bis): info@inet-uk.co.uk
From: snail@lsl.co.uk
Newsgroups: uk.misc
Subject: Re: Transport subsidies - Was: Car Parking
Date: 15 Dec 92 12:10:24 GMT
Organization: Laser-Scan Ltd., Cambridge

In article <29521@castle.ed.ac.uk>, fofp@castle.ed.ac.uk (M Holmes) writes:
> pho@mserv1.dl.ac.uk (P.Owens,C20,3492) writes:
> ~~Either the getting there is worth the payment of the fee or not. If it
> ~~is, they'll go, if it sin't they won't. Imprisonment is where you are
> ~~forced to stay there whether you want to or not.
> 
> ~So, if I buy up all the land surounding your house and then charge a
> ~1000000000000000000000 pound toll to cross it. Then you're not imprisonned in
> ~your own home but free to pay.
> 
> The Psychotic Monopolist Idea again. Where this kind of system operates,
> I understand that land is sold with rights of way included in the deeds.
> 
> Even supposing it wasn't, I think the possibility of this happening
> would encourage the owner to buy a right of way in competition with the
> prospective Psychotic Monopolist. If it'd really cost them that much
> otherwise, then it'd obviously pay them to do so.

Missed the point again. What if the owner doesn't have any money (after their
ordinary activities, whatever they may be (in your case spending 200 a month
in the pub)) to go around buying up whatever land they need in order to get a
right of way?

Another senario of course (very paranoid, this one, I admit) would be to allow
free exit from the house across the land, but to charge a fortune to get
back. Then the person can't use their property and could be forced into 
selling it at a unrealistically low price, since no one could use it. Of course
the land owner of the surrounding land is going to be the prime purchaser in
such a situation. Money is power.

If you think Psychotic Monopolists don't exist, you are wrong. They exist in
the shape of landlords, corporations and the like. Just they restrict their
intentions to what they think is prudent, which is usually based on money.
Give them access to more money, and then there intentions expand.
-- 
snail@lsl.co.uk      

muso/unix joke: "which debugger do you use?"
                "I use dbx..."
                "Oh really, we use Dolby C..."
Motorola inside.
From: mathew <mathew@mantis.co.uk>
Newsgroups: uk.misc
Subject: Re: Transport subsidies - Was: Car Parking
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 92 13:29:02 GMT
Distribution: uk
Organization: Mantis Consultants, Cambridge. UK.

pho@mserv1.dl.ac.uk (P.Owens,C20,3492) writes:
> fofp@castle.ed.ac.uk (M Holmes) writes:
> >So? Since the people that travle will be paying the tolls directly, they
> >won't be charge for the tax thus saved. It balances out except that you
> >also save on the government bureacracy involved in the forcible
> >collection of the tax.
> 
> If your going to start talking about efficiency now then it must
> be cheaper for the government bureacracy to collect a pound in
> taxes than it is to collect a pound from a toll booth.

Similarly, it's much more efficient for Robert Maxwell to provide a pension
scheme for all his employees than to have them all take out their own
independent schemes.

And it must be more efficient to have the government of the Soviet Union
distribute all goods via a single national chain of GUM stores than have lots
of independent competing stores using different distribution methods.


mathew
-- 
Lung cancer and arteriosclerosis.
For people who like to smoke.
From: igb@fulcrum.co.uk (Ian G Batten)
Newsgroups: uk.misc
Subject: Re: Record shops (LPs)
Date: 18 Dec 92 15:41:31 GMT
Distribution: uk
Organization: Fulcrum Communications

In article <1739@lucifer.UUCP> rob@liciren.li.co.uk (Rob Clive) writes:
> Don't think so.  Ever heard of Serial Copy Management?  The record
> industry *insisted* that copy protection hardware be built into every
> DCC.  After all, if you've got one gold mine (CD) why spoil the chances
> of another one (DCC).  So all those blank DCC tapes people buy will
> *really* be for recording bird song :-)

No.  Firstly, SCMS explicitly allows the first generation CD-whatever
transfer in the analogue domain.  You can't then copy the digital copy
in the digital domain.

But it's not an issue, really, because you CAN copy the copy in the
analogue domain.  SCMS only affects digital copying.  OK, so there's a
degradation caused by re-quantising.  But given the large numbers of
people who duplicate tapes in double-speed dubbing decks, I think that
the quantisation problems aren't really going to worry them.

I've compared digital and analogue domain transfers of CD onto DAT tape,
and the difference isn't that obvious.   Most people wouldn't care.
I don't think DCC will be any different.


Summary: SCMS only affects second-generation and beyond DIGITAL
transfers.  How many mass-market people (a) have a digital output (b)
have a TOSlink cable (c) would care?

ian
From: paj@uk.co.gec-mrc (Paul Johnson)
Newsgroups: uk.misc
Subject: Re: Libertarian philosophy
Date: 18 Dec 92 14:30:52 GMT
Reply-To: paj@uk.co.gec-mrc (Paul Johnson)
Organization: GEC-Marconi Research Centre, Great Baddow, UK

I don't understand the libertarian whining about taxes.

Anyone who objects to paying UK taxes can legally avoid paying them in
a very simple manner.

Go and live somewhere else.

Taxes can be seen as a contract between the government and an
individual.  If you want to live in the UK then you pay UK taxes and
get certain benefits in return.  While it is questionable whether you
freely entered into this contract (if you were born here), you are
certainly free to terminate it at any time.  Just emigrate.

Personally, I find my current tax payments to be reasonable value for
money.

Paul.

-- 
Paul Johnson (paj@gec-mrc.co.uk).	    | Tel: +44 245 73331 ext 3245
--------------------------------------------+----------------------------------
These ideas and others like them can be had | GEC-Marconi Research is not
for $0.02 each from any reputable idealist. | responsible for my opinions
From: fofp@castle.ed.ac.uk (M Holmes)
Newsgroups: uk.misc
Subject: Re: Health care (READ/NEWRe: Transport subsidies - Was: Car Parking
Date: 18 Dec 92 14:10:05 GMT
Distribution: uk
Organization: Edinburgh University

wilcox@vax.oxford.ac.uk writes:
>> 
>Look at it this way. In the year 2050 (to take an arbitrary date) the
>government of the day abolishes the national health service. By that stage I
>will be a pensioner, and I will probably not be a well-off pensioner. For a
>start I will have to ask someone for money which until then I would have got as
>a right.

If we get the government out of the economy again then all the assets
that it already has in the economy can be sold and distributed to us,
the shareholders. After that, it's up to you to invest it wisely. It
should be hard to beat the government though.

>> Let's not skew the argument here. If enough were raised voluntarily,
>> then there'd be no need to force anyone to pay taxes. Remember that in
>> the current majoritarian system, there are already more than half who
>> are willing to pay, so the problem isn't as large as you imply.
>> 
>*IF* enough were raised voluntarily. You suggest that already more than half
>are willing to pay (a dubious suggestion, BTW).

If you support the curent majoritarian system and believe that less than
half advocate contributing then there is not majority support. That
means that *no* tax money should be being spent on this project.

>That still leaves potentially 
>a large number who aren't willing to pay. Since we don't raise enough in taxes
>as it is 

If you really believe that we ought to contribute more in taxes then set
an example and send them a cheque. What's stopping you?

>(or rather don't once certain optional extras, like ridiculously
>over-powerful `defence' forces have been included), this minority who wouldn't
>pay would be responsible for enormous cuts in public health.

Unless the charities were more efficient than government at getting
money to the recipients. Then less people could pay while the recipients
still recieve more money.

Also, if there were efficiency savings through this, the money would
feed back into the economy and there'd be less poor to deal with.

>>>Some element of compulsion is necessary in a civilised society.
>> 
>> I think we must have different definitions of "civilised" too. Let's
>> start at the beginning. How about you describe: "dictatorship".
>> "democracy" and "tyranny of the majority". If we can distinguish these
>> cases we might proceed a little with this debate.

> Tyranny of the majority: A tyranny is a dictatorship (qv). The majority is more
>than 50% of the population. So tyranny of the majority should mean dicatorship
>by millions of people. In fact it is an emotive term used by certain extreme
>libertarians to persuade people that the country they are now living in is not
>as fair and as free as it first seemed. 

Such as when 51% think a project is worth pursuing and purloin the
property of the dissenting 49% to pursue it. It seems we still disagree
on the concept of fairness.

>Stephen Wilcox

FoFP
From: sb380@city.ac.uk (HOLT A D)
Subject: Re: Transport subsidies - Was: Car Parking
Organization: The City University
Date: 16 Dec 92 09:01:54 GMT

pho@mserv1.dl.ac.uk (P.Owens,C20,3492) writes:
>	(Should toll road owners have access to the police national computer?)
What police national computer in the sort of society being discussed? - and
without government control, what identification on vehicles?

Andy

Andy Holt // Computer Unit // City University // London EC1V 0HB
From: cc@dcs.ed.ac.uk (Chris Cooke)
Newsgroups: uk.misc
Subject: Re: Record shops (LPs)
Date: 16 Dec 92 15:56:12 GMT
Distribution: uk
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

In article <ciNVVB18w165w@mantis.co.uk> mathew@mantis.co.uk (mathew) writes:

   Oh, come on.  You seriously expect me to believe that there's some vast
   conspiracy to deprive you of the chance to buy vinyl records?  And that every
   record manufacturer, from huge corporates like EMI to tiny independents like
   Mute, has secretly signed some blood covenant to force you to buy CDs?  What
   next, orbital mind-control lasers?

   Face it -- nobody sells LPs because nobody buys them. 

Just thought I'd add my voice to the debate - I'm another disgruntled
would-be record buyer who has to settle for second best (i.e. CDs).
--
	-- Chris. 	cc@dcs.ed.ac.uk   (on Janet, cc@uk.ac.ed.dcs)
From: smee@bristol.ac.uk (Paul Smee)
Newsgroups: uk.misc
Subject: Re: Record shops (LPs)
Date: 17 Dec 92 09:56:16 GMT
Reply-To: P.Smee@bristol.ac.uk (Paul Smee)
Distribution: uk
Organization: University of Bristol

In article <JRG.92Dec14162857@owl.doc.ic.ac.uk> jrg@doc.ic.ac.uk (James Grinter) writes:
>This reminds me of something I have often puzzled over. Perhaps the
>answer is so easy that I'm missing something, anyway - heregoes...
>
>We're told, that the latest players are always getting better and
>reading and playing the data from the CD more accurately. Does this
>give the possibility that the data on the disc, when it was recorded,
>could be incorrect too? Or are they saying that the recording
>equipment has always been perfect, but we've only just fixed the
>players?

The recording equipment has probably been getting better as well.
However, the recording equipment (assuming a good recording company and
studio) has always been miles ahead of the home-playback equipment.
This was always true for LPs as well.  But then it ought to be better,
it tends to cost several orders of magnitude more.  The 'trick' is in
getting the better technology into players at a home-equipment sort of
price.

Now, there were 'musical' problems with a lot of early CDs, but I don't
believe they were specifically due to the digital technology as such.
Rather, it appears that the record companies originally thought that
anyone who could recording-engineer a good vinyl LP could do the same
with CD.  Tain't true.  Master tapes being made for CDs need a
different style at the mixing console.  I attribute most of the
apparent improvement in newer CDs to the fact that recording engineers
have now learned the new style of mixing which the new medium needs.

-- 
Paul Smee, Computing Service, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UD, UK
 P.Smee@bristol.ac.uk - ..!uunet!uknet!bsmail!p.smee - Tel +44 272 303132
Newsgroups: uk.misc
From: icpa@iat.holonet.net (Tony Rodriguez)
Subject: International Software Assignments
Organization: HoloNet National Internet Access BBS: 510-704-1058/modem
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 20:00:05 GMT

	The International Computer Professional Association is a member 
supported organization for experienced software professionals who want to
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in the US and abroad, members can find contract and permanent software jobs
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Sincerely 

Tony Rodriguez

Director ICPA


International Computer Professional Association
2261 Market Street, Suite 309
San Francisco, CA 94114
USA

Tel: (415) 695 - 7618
Fax: (415) 252 - 5769

email icpa@holonet.net
From: dnd@ee.man.ac.uk (Darryl Davis (RA))
Newsgroups: uk.misc
Subject: Re: Mailing lists from hell -= a suggestion
Date: 15 Dec 92 18:23:45 GMT
Reply-To: dnd@spec0.ee.man.ac.uk (Darryl Davis (RA))
Organization: Dept Electrical and Electronic Eng, Manchester University, UK

You  go round to offices,
and with a lrage (6 lb+) lump hammer
proceeed to dismantle it, starting with their PC!

dr doom the optimist
--
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
   Dr. Darryl Davis                	>
   Multi-Media Laboratory		>
   Department of Electrical Engineering >   E-mail    	: dnd@spec0.man.ac.uk
   The University of Manchester     	>             
   Brunswick St                      	>   Phone     	: (+44)-61-275-4561
   Manchester M13 9PL               	>   FAX 	: (+44)-61-275-4512
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From: igb@fulcrum.co.uk (Ian G Batten)
Newsgroups: uk.misc
Subject: Re: Record shops (LPs)
Date: 18 Dec 92 16:24:18 GMT
Distribution: uk
Organization: Fulcrum Communications

In article <1992Dec18.093325.2730@memex.co.uk> peter@memex.co.uk (Peter Ilieve) writes:
> >Um, well, except the phase error is going to be a consistent time delay
> >of 1/22000 second (approx) in one channel.  You can compensate for that
> >by sitting 1/2 inch closer to the speaker which is 'behind'.
> 
> I believe the BBC had trouble with this phase error though.
> They still have to care about producing a mono signal, but if you just add
> the two stereo channels together all the high frequencies disappear.

Talking of which, what's happened to ``Q Sound'', as used on the recent
Madonna compilation and the latest Roger Waters album?  That messes
about with phase to create a grotesque (my opinion) stereo effect.  The
mono compatibility of that is about zero.  I wonder if radio stations
refusing to play recordings made with it affected its success :-)

ian