Donald, I am sorry for being short and I sincerely apologize Duck. I am under tremendous stress right now that has alot to do with people thinking less of me due to my sex being female. [hope that word is not banned.] It had nothing to do with you. I was wrong. I hope you accept my apology. It just hit me wrong or I wouldn't have said all that. It was just the timing. You seem to be a kind man with your funny responses and I overstepped the bounds of politeness. But my personal situation is not the blame. I am. Sincerely, Jenn >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of >Donald B Johnson jr >Sent: Friday, August 03, 2001 12:30 PM >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Re: Friday Funnie #2, Couldn't let this one go by!! [7:14809] > > >If you read through that post and thought that it was "serious" I mean not >even counting the subject line. That scares me. >I guess its no operating heavy equipment for you haa Jenn > > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Jennifer Cribbs" >To: >Sent: Friday, August 03, 2001 11:01 AM >Subject: RE: Friday Funnie #2, Couldn't let this one go by!! [7:14809] > > >> Is this serious? >> >> I was under the impression that Ada Lovelace invented the binary counting >> system. I was also under the impression that John Atanasoff came up with >> the brilliant coding system that expressed everything in terms of two >> numbers for the methodology of measuring the current or lack of current >in >> regards to computers way back in the 40's. >> >> Before that everyone kept trying to incorporate the base10 system in >> computers, which was a major headache and unsuccessfull, but that was in >the >> vacuum tube days. >> >> hmmm. Surely Microsoft doesn't think they can do this..Maybe this is a >joke >> however and I am just too d*** serious. >> >> Jenn >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of >> Natasha >> Sent: Friday, August 03, 2001 10:19 AM >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Subject: OT: Friday Funnie #2, Couldn't let this one go by!! [7:14809] >> >> >> REDMOND, WA--In what CEO Bill Gates called "an unfortunate but >> necessary step to protect our intellectual property from theft and >> exploitation by >> competitors," the Microsoft Corporation patented the numbers one and >> zero Monday. >> >> With the patent, Microsoft's rivals are prohibited from manufacturing >> or selling products containing zeroes and ones--the mathematical >> building blocks of all >> computer languages and programs--unless a royalty fee of 10 cents per >> digit used is paid >> to the software giant. >> >> >> "Microsoft has been using the binary system of ones and zeroes ever >> since its inception in 1975," Gates told reporters. "For years, in the >> interest of the >> overall health of the computer industry, we permitted the free and >> unfettered use of our proprietary >> numeric systems. However, changing marketplace conditions and the >> increasingly >> predatory practices of certain competitors now leave us with no choice >> but to seek >> compensation for the use of our numerals." >> >> A number of major Silicon Valley players, including Apple Computer, >> Netscape and Sun Microsystems, said they will challenge the Microsoft >> patent as >> monopolistic and anti-competitive, claiming that the 10-cent-per-digit >> licensing fee >> would bankrupt them instantly. >> >> "While, technically, Java is a complex system of algorithms used to >> create a platform-independent programming environment, it is, at its >> core, just >> a string of trillions of ones and zeroes," said Sun Microsystems CEO >> Scott McNealy, whose >> company created the Java programming environment used in many Internet >> applications. >> "The licensing fees we'd have to pay Microsoft every day would be >> approximately >> 327,000 times the total net worth of this company." >> >> "If this patent holds up in federal court, Apple will have no choice >> but to convert to analog," said Apple interim CEO Steve Jobs, "and I >> have serious doubts whether >> this company would be able to remain competitive selling pedal-operated >> computers >> running software off vinyl LPs." >> >> As a result of the Microsoft patent, many other companies have begun >> radically revising their product lines: Database manufacturer Oracle has >> embarked on a >> crash program to develop "an abacus for the next millennium." Cisco, >> whose >> communications and networking systems are also subject to Microsoft >> licensing fees, is >> working with top animal trainers on a chimpanzee-based >> message-transmission system. >> Hewlett-Packard is developing a revolutionary new steam-powered printer. >> >> Despite the swarm of protest, Gates is standing his ground, >> maintaining that ones and zeroes are the undisputed property of >> Microsoft. >> >> >> >> Above: Gates explains the new patent to Apple Computer's board of >> directors. "We will vigorously enforce our patents of these numbers, as >> they are >> legally ours," Gates said. "Among Microsoft's vast historical archives >> are Sanskrit >> cuneiform tablets from 1800 B.C. clearly showing ones and a symbol known >> as 'sunya,' or nothing. >> We also own: papyrus scrolls written by Pythagoras himself in which he >> explains the >> idea of singular notation, or 'one'; early tracts by Mohammed ibn Musa >> al Kwarizimi >> explaining the concept of al-sifr, or 'the cipher'; original >> mathematical manuscripts by >> Heisenberg, Einstein and Planck; and a signed first-edition copy of >> Jean-Paul Sartre's Being >> And Nothingness. Should the need arise, Microsoft will have no >> difficulty proving to >> the Justice Department or anyone else that we own the rights to these >> numbers." >> >> Added Gates: "My salary also has lots of zeroes. I'm the richest man >> in the world." >> >> According to experts, the full ramifications of Microsoft's patenting >> of one and zero have yet to be realized. >> >> "Because all integers and natural numbers derive from one and zero, >> Microsoft may, by extension, lay claim to ownership of all mathematics >> and logic >> systems, including Euclidean geometry, pulleys and levers, gravity, and >> the basic >> Newtonian principles of motion, as well as the concepts of existence and >> nonexistence," Yale >> University theoretical mathematics professor J. Edmund Lattimore said. >> "In other words, >> pretty much everything." >> >> Lattimore said that the only mathematical constructs of which >> Microsoft may not be able to claim ownership are infinity and >> transcendental numbers like pi. >> Microsoft lawyers are expected to file liens on infinity and pi this >> week. >> >> Microsoft has not yet announced whether it will charge a user fee to >> individuals who wish to engage in such mathematically rooted motions as >> walking, stretching >> and smiling. >> >> In an address beamed live to billions of people around the globe >> Monday, Gates expressed confidence that his company's latest move will, >> ultimately, >> benefit all humankind. >> >> "Think of this as a partnership," Gates said. "Like the ones and >> zeroes of the binary code itself, we must all work together to make the >> promise of the computer >> revolution a reality. >> >> As the world's richest, most powerful software company, Microsoft is >> number one. And you, the millions of consumers who use our products, are >> the zeroes." >> -- >> Natasha Flazynski >> CCNA, MCSE >> http://www.ciscobot.com >> My Cisco information site. >> http://www.botbuilders.com >> Artificial Intelligence and Linux development >> ------------------------------------------------ Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=14925&t=14925 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
