Hello, (Maybe I should put [Noise] into the subject, but then again the whole thread is, isn't it...) ...[About exploding phones]...
Sorta gives new meaning to the term "_Terminate_ and Stay Resident" program, doesn't it?!?
(Or "end of file.")
This isn't really news... Haven't you ever heard of the ASCII control character EOU? Quoting from the Jargon file: :EOU: /E-O-U/ n. The mnemonic of a mythical ASCII control character (End Of User) that would make an ASR-33 Teletype explode on receipt. This construction parodies the numerous obscure delimiter and control characters left in ASCII from the days when it was associated more with wire-service teletypes than computers (e.g., FS, GS, RS, US, EM, SUB, ETX, and esp. EOT). It is worth remembering that ASR-33s were big, noisy mechanical beasts with a lot of clattering parts; the notion that one might explode was nowhere near as ridiculous as it might seem to someone sitting in front of a {tube} or flatscreen today. This isn't worth signing and I'm tired... Jiri -- If you want an answer, please mail to <jirib@cs.monash.edu.au>. On sweeney, I may delete without reading! PGP 463A14D5 (but it's at home so it'll take a day or two) PGP EF0607F9 (but it's at uni so don't rely on it too much)