r0g wrote: > David Robinow wrote: >> On Sun, Jan 3, 2010 at 10:42 PM, Roy Smith <r...@panix.com> wrote: >>> In article <mailman.386.1262576043.28905.python-l...@python.org>, >>> David Robinow <drobi...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> On Sun, Jan 3, 2010 at 8:09 PM, Tim Roberts <t...@probo.com> wrote: >>>>> More than "not required", it was "not relevant". This led to one of the >>>>> most infamous programming blunders in the early days of the space program, >>>>> when one programmer accidentially typed a period instead of a comma >>>>> resulting in the loss of a satellite: >>>> Interesting story. Did you make it up? >>> It's a fairly well known story. >>> >>> http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/5.64.html#subj4.2 >> Sure. But the question is, "Who made it up?" >> http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Fortran >> >> Computer folklore has incorrectly attributed the loss of the Mariner 1 >> space probe to a syntax error in a Fortran program. For example, >> "Recall the first American space probe to Venus, reportedly lost >> because Fortran cannot recognize a missing comma in a DO statement…"[ > > > > Wow you're totally right! It was a missing UNDERSCORE not a DOT being > typed instead of a COMMA! We've been lied to ALL ALONG! What kind of > sickos would do this? Let's find this Tim character, flay him alive and > then go crown you the KING OF EVERYTHING for rescuing us from that > deadly nugget of misinformation! > > Honestly I might have believed those dot/comma LIES if it wasn't for > your noble selfless efforts to uncover the SHOCKING TRUTH. Imagine what > might have happened! The character in question being an UNDERSCORE > COMPLETELY CHANGES the meaning and point of the story. As for it being > LEFT OUT rather than TRANSPOSED, well, anyone can see how that TURNS THE > WHOLE STORY UPSIDE DOWN. > > Of course there are the naysayers who might claim absolute accuracy is > no big deal in stories that are essentially parables but they do not > understand the HARM that can come from not remembering really tiny, > almost inconsequential details. For what it's worth I DO NOT consider > you a tiresome pedant and I think your taunting, patronising style is > completely appropriate and proportional to Tim's sickening crimes > against fact. > > Roger.
Personally I think the overall tone of this group would have been marginally improved if you had summoned the self-restraint to simply not make this posting. Fortunately it's still an unmoderated group, so you can continue to be as hostile and snarky as you like. regards Steve -- Steve Holden +1 571 484 6266 +1 800 494 3119 PyCon is coming! Atlanta, Feb 2010 http://us.pycon.org/ Holden Web LLC http://www.holdenweb.com/ UPCOMING EVENTS: http://holdenweb.eventbrite.com/ -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
