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I agree that the review is a really enjoyable read. On 12/14/11 10:33 PM, Gadi Evron wrote: > While I sympathize with the hobbyists on the list who do ham radio and > speak Morse code, and I am certain there are probably some odd systems > around the world who make regular use of it, I unfortunately agree that > as a language it is dead. > > Unlike other dead languages though, with some people here and there who > strive to keep dead languages alive - this language has a niche with > people who will keep it undead even a thousand years from now. Even if > only for tacky entertainment shows and some branches of the military. :) > > Some might compare ham radio hobbyists to Latin or ancient Greek studies > in academia - they would be wrong, but only in quantity. > > Anyway - I really enjoyed reading this review. You made it alive for me. > > Gadi. > > > On 12/14/11 2:19 AM, Rob, grandpa of Ryan, Trevor, Devon & Hannah wrote: >> BKGNOM.RVW 20111128 >> >> "Good Night Old Man", George Campbell, 2011, 978-9878319-0-3, C$19.95 >> %A George Campbell georg...@telus.net http://is.gd/x28QRz >> %C PO Box 57083 RPO Eastgate, Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 5L7 >> %D 2011 >> %G 978-9878319-0-3 >> %I Dream Write Publishing dreamwrit...@hotmail.com >> %O C$19.95 http://www.dreamwritepublishing.ca 780-445-0991 >> %O http://www.dreamwritepublishing.ca/retail/books/good-night-old-man >> %O Audience i+ Tech 2 Writing 3 (see revfaq.htm for explanation) >> %P 342 p. >> %T "Good Night Old Man" >> >> On page 114 the author asserts that even learning to use Morse code >> "bestowed on us instant acceptance into a society whose members >> regularly performed tasks too difficult for most others to even >> attempt." This statement will be instantly recognizable by anyone in >> any technical field. This is because in the beginning was the >> telegraph. And the telegraph begat teletype (and baudot code) and the >> telephone. And telephone company research labs (in large measure) >> begat computers. And teletype begat the Internet. And wireless >> telegraphy begat radio. And radio and the telephone and the Internet >> and computers begat 4G. (Or, at least, it will begat it once they get >> it right.) But it all started with the telegraph. >> >> As the author states, any communications textbook will mention the >> telegraph. Most will tell you Morse code began on May 24th, 1844. >> Some might mention that it isn't in use anymore. A few crypto books >> might let you know that commercial nomenklators were used not just for >> confidentiality, but to reduce word counts (and thus costs) when >> sending telegrams. (The odd data representation text might relay the >> trivium that Morse code is not a binary code of dots and dashes, but a >> trinary code of dots, dashes, and silence.) >> >> But they won't tell you anything about what it was like to be a >> telegrapher, to actually communicate, and help other people >> communicate with Morse code. How you got started, what the work was, >> and what your career might be like. This book does. >> >> I am not going to pretend to be objective with this review. George >> Campbell is my wife's (favourite) uncle. He's always liked telling >> stories, has a fund of stories to tell, and tells them well. For >> example, he was the first person in North America to know about the >> German surrender in Europe, since he was the (Royal Canadian Naval >> Volunteer Reserve) telegrapher who received the message from Europe >> and passed it on. Of course, the message was in code. But everyone >> knew it was coming, and he knew who the message was from, and who it >> was going to. You can learn a lot with simple traffic analysis. >> >> There are lots of good stories in the book. There are lots of funny >> stories in the book. If you know technology, it is intriguing to see >> the beginnings of all kinds of things we use today. Standard >> protocols, flow control, error correction, and data compression. Oh, >> and script kiddies, too. (Well, I don't know what else you would call >> people who don't understand what they are working with, but do know >> that if you follow *this* script, then *that* will happen.) It is >> fascinating to see all of this being developed in an informal fashion >> by people who are just trying to get on with their jobs. >> >> The title, "Good Night Old Man," comes from a code the telegraphers >> themselves used. "GN" (and a "call sign") was sent when the >> telegrapher signed off his station for the night. Morse code is no >> longer used commercially. Within a few years, the last of the >> "native" speakers will have died off. Morse will become a dead >> language, possibly studied by some hobbyists and academics, who can >> tease legibility out of a sample, or laboriously create a message in >> that form, but without anything like the facility achieved by those >> who had to use it day in and day out. >> >> This is a last chance to learn a part of history. >> >> copyright, Robert M. Slade 2011 BKGNOM.RVW 20111128 >> >> >> ====================== (quote inserted randomly by Pegasus Mailer) >> rsl...@vcn.bc.ca sl...@victoria.tc.ca rsl...@computercrime.org >> Ideas won't keep: something must be done about them >> - Alfred North Whitehead >> victoria.tc.ca/techrev/rms.htm http://www.infosecbc.org/links >> http://blogs.securiteam.com/index.php/archives/author/p1/ >> http://twitter.com/rslade >> _______________________________________________ >> Fun and Misc security discussion for OT posts. >> https://linuxbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/funsec >> Note: funsec is a public and open mailing list. >> > > _______________________________________________ Fun and Misc security discussion for OT posts. https://linuxbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/funsec Note: funsec is a public and open mailing list.
