• xkcd: Biology Department

    From Lynn McGuire@3:633/10 to All on Fri Sep 12 16:14:07 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: lynnmcguire5@gmail.com

    xkcd: Biology Department
    https://www.xkcd.com/3140/

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times. I
    don't believe it. I think that there are way more insects by mass than
    humans.

    “Insect biomass: Insects are incredibly numerous, with an estimated
    10,000 trillion (10^19) insects on Earth. Their individual weights vary
    widely, but an average insect might weigh around 3 milligrams (0.003
    grams). Multiplying this by the number of insects gives a global insect
    biomass of approximately 300 million metric tons (10^19 insects × 0.003
    grams ≈ 3 × 10^14 grams = 300 million tons).”

    “Human biomass: The global human population is around 8 billion.
    Assuming an average human weight of 70 kilograms (70,000 grams), the
    total human biomass is about 560 million metric tons (8 billion × 70 kg
    = 5.6 × 10^11 kg = 560 million tons).”

    “Comparison: Insect biomass (300 million tons) is roughly half that of
    human biomass (560 million tons). So, the ratio of insect mass to human
    mass is approximately 0.54:1.”

    Explained at:
    https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3140:_Biology_Department

    Lynn

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
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  • From Christian Weisgerber@3:633/10 to Lynn McGuire on Sat Sep 13 01:13:18 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: naddy@mips.inka.de

    On 2025-09-12, Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    “Insect biomass: Insects are incredibly numerous, with an estimated
    10,000 trillion (10^19) insects on Earth. Their individual weights vary widely, but an average insect might weigh around 3 milligrams (0.003
    grams). Multiplying this by the number of insects gives a global insect biomass of approximately 300 million metric tons (10^19 insects × 0.003 grams ≈ 3 × 10^14 grams = 300 million tons).”

    10^19 × 0.003 is 3 × 10^16.

    --
    Christian "naddy" Weisgerber naddy@mips.inka.de

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  • From Bobbie Sellers@3:633/10 to Lynn McGuire on Fri Sep 12 18:44:40 2025
    From: bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com

    On 9/12/25 14:14, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    xkcd: Biology Department
       https://www.xkcd.com/3140/

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times.  I
    don't believe it.  I think that there are way more insects by mass than humans.

    “Insect biomass: Insects are incredibly numerous, with an estimated
    10,000 trillion (10^19) insects on Earth. Their individual weights vary widely, but an average insect might weigh around 3 milligrams (0.003
    grams). Multiplying this by the number of insects gives a global insect biomass of approximately 300 million metric tons (10^19 insects × 0.003 grams ≈ 3 × 10^14 grams = 300 million tons).”

    “Human biomass: The global human population is around 8 billion.
    Assuming an average human weight of 70 kilograms (70,000 grams), the
    total human biomass is about 560 million metric tons (8 billion × 70 kg
    = 5.6 × 10^11 kg = 560 million tons).”

    “Comparison: Insect biomass (300 million tons) is roughly half that of human biomass (560 million tons). So, the ratio of insect mass to human
    mass is approximately 0.54:1.”

    Explained at:
       https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3140:_Biology_Department

    Lynn


    Now figure in the mammals, fishes in the seas and don't neglect the arthopods and non-verterbral lives in the sea. Do it today while some
    are still extant beause soon
    enough global warming will make a nice fish and sea weed stew. With
    chunks of seal,
    dolphin and whales.
    It won't be good for long though then we will have a killing stink.

    bliss

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
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  • From Lynn McGuire@3:633/10 to Christian Weisgerber on Fri Sep 12 22:38:15 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: lynnmcguire5@gmail.com

    On 9/12/2025 8:13 PM, Christian Weisgerber wrote:
    On 2025-09-12, Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    “Insect biomass: Insects are incredibly numerous, with an estimated
    10,000 trillion (10^19) insects on Earth. Their individual weights vary
    widely, but an average insect might weigh around 3 milligrams (0.003
    grams). Multiplying this by the number of insects gives a global insect
    biomass of approximately 300 million metric tons (10^19 insects × 0.003
    grams ≈ 3 × 10^14 grams = 300 million tons).”

    10^19 × 0.003 is 3 × 10^16.

    Grok really screwed up. 10,000 trillion is 10^16.

    Lynn

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
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  • From Lynn McGuire@3:633/10 to Bobbie Sellers on Fri Sep 12 22:38:45 2025
    From: lynnmcguire5@gmail.com

    On 9/12/2025 8:44 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:


    On 9/12/25 14:14, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    xkcd: Biology Department
        https://www.xkcd.com/3140/

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times.  I
    don't believe it.  I think that there are way more insects by mass
    than humans.

    “Insect biomass: Insects are incredibly numerous, with an estimated
    10,000 trillion (10^19) insects on Earth. Their individual weights
    vary widely, but an average insect might weigh around 3 milligrams
    (0.003 grams). Multiplying this by the number of insects gives a
    global insect biomass of approximately 300 million metric tons (10^19
    insects × 0.003 grams ≈ 3 × 10^14 grams = 300 million tons).”

    “Human biomass: The global human population is around 8 billion.
    Assuming an average human weight of 70 kilograms (70,000 grams), the
    total human biomass is about 560 million metric tons (8 billion × 70
    kg = 5.6 × 10^11 kg = 560 million tons).”

    “Comparison: Insect biomass (300 million tons) is roughly half that of
    human biomass (560 million tons). So, the ratio of insect mass to
    human mass is approximately 0.54:1.”

    Explained at:
        https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3140:_Biology_Department >>
    Lynn


        Now figure in the mammals, fishes in the seas and don't neglect the arthopods and non-verterbral lives in the sea.  Do it today while some
    are still extant beause soon
    enough global warming will make a nice fish and sea weed stew. With
    chunks of seal,
    dolphin and whales.
        It won't be good for long though then we will have a killing stink.

        bliss

    Predictions are really hard, especially about the future.

    Lynn

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
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  • From Bobbie Sellers@3:633/10 to Lynn McGuire on Fri Sep 12 21:16:06 2025
    From: bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com

    On 9/12/25 20:38, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 9/12/2025 8:44 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:


    On 9/12/25 14:14, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    xkcd: Biology Department
        https://www.xkcd.com/3140/

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times.  I
    don't believe it.  I think that there are way more insects by mass
    than humans.

    “Insect biomass: Insects are incredibly numerous, with an estimated
    10,000 trillion (10^19) insects on Earth. Their individual weights
    vary widely, but an average insect might weigh around 3 milligrams
    (0.003 grams). Multiplying this by the number of insects gives a
    global insect biomass of approximately 300 million metric tons (10^19
    insects × 0.003 grams ≈ 3 × 10^14 grams = 300 million tons).”

    “Human biomass: The global human population is around 8 billion.
    Assuming an average human weight of 70 kilograms (70,000 grams), the
    total human biomass is about 560 million metric tons (8 billion × 70
    kg = 5.6 × 10^11 kg = 560 million tons).”

    “Comparison: Insect biomass (300 million tons) is roughly half that
    of human biomass (560 million tons). So, the ratio of insect mass to
    human mass is approximately 0.54:1.”

    Explained at:
        https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3140:_Biology_Department >>>
    Lynn


         Now figure in the mammals, fishes in the seas and don't neglect
    the arthopods and non-verterbral lives in the sea.  Do it today while
    some are still extant beause soon
    enough global warming will make a nice fish and sea weed stew. With
    chunks of seal,
    dolphin and whales.
         It won't be good for long though then we will have a killing stink.

         bliss

    Predictions are really hard, especially about the future.

    Lynn

    Oh some are pretty easy. Temperatures will keep rising unless we
    encounter a big dust cloud or conversily if we have a lot of small
    volcanic
    events that spew reflective chemicals into the upper atmosphere.

    Another sure one is nearly everyone now alive will not be in 120 years.
    I expect the Earth to roll around to face the sun on the North American
    Continent for quite some time to come.

    Many old plagues especially childhood diseases will be coming back
    because as I feared years ago when people do not see the effects of
    illness
    as we did with Polio when I was younger, of smallpox or of chickenpox
    which can turn into chronic herpes infections, messing up the nerves.
    Mumps can mess up the mail reproductive system if puberty has started.
    And Mr.Kennedy Jr. while he made sure his children have their shots he
    preaches against vaccination to the masses. He must want to get rid of
    those folks.

    Same with War when the disabled veterans are quite visiblie to the
    youth few have the same ambitions to go and be harmed.

    bliss



    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
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  • From Scott Dorsey@3:633/10 to lynnmcguire5@gmail.com on Sat Sep 13 10:27:16 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: kludge@panix.com

    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times. I
    don't believe it. I think that there are way more insects by mass than >humans.

    Indeed. Ride a motorcycle in the summer and your mouth will soon fill up. --scott


    --
    "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
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  • From Mark Jackson@3:633/10 to Lynn McGuire on Sat Sep 13 11:53:00 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: mjackson@alumni.caltech.edu

    On 9/12/2025 11:38 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    Grok really screwed up.  10,000 trillion is 10^16.

    Grok? I would urge you to instead use a trustworthy AI, but that's an oxymoron.

    --
    Mark Jackson - https://mark-jackson.online/
    Reductio ad absurdum fails when reality is absurd.
    - Randall Munroe

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
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  • From Lynn McGuire@3:633/10 to Scott Dorsey on Sat Sep 13 13:59:27 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: lynnmcguire5@gmail.com

    On 9/13/2025 9:27 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times. I
    don't believe it. I think that there are way more insects by mass than
    humans.

    Indeed. Ride a motorcycle in the summer and your mouth will soon fill up. --scott

    Been there done that. Gnats form clouds on roads and taste horrible.

    Lynn

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
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  • From Dimensional Traveler@3:633/10 to Lynn McGuire on Sat Sep 13 13:32:03 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: dtravel@sonic.net

    On 9/13/2025 11:59 AM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 9:27 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Lynn McGuire  <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times.  I
    don't believe it.  I think that there are way more insects by mass than >>> humans.

    Indeed.  Ride a motorcycle in the summer and your mouth will soon fill
    up.
    --scott

    Been there done that.  Gnats form clouds on roads and taste horrible.

    So don't wear a open face helmet.

    --
    I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
    dirty old man.

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Bobbie Sellers@3:633/10 to Scott Dorsey on Sat Sep 13 15:11:56 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com

    On 9/13/25 07:27, Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times. I
    don't believe it. I think that there are way more insects by mass than
    humans.

    Indeed. Ride a motorcycle in the summer and your mouth will soon fill up. --scott

    Indeed riding in Utah many years ago as I left the Idaho Naval Nuclear site and even with a half visor I got smacked in my lips by a heavy
    insect which died on contact.
    But windshields and full helmet vizors can help with that problem.

    bliss

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Bobbie Sellers@3:633/10 to Dimensional Traveler on Sat Sep 13 15:20:22 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com

    On 9/13/25 13:32, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 11:59 AM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 9:27 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Lynn McGuire  <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times.  I
    don't believe it.  I think that there are way more insects by mass than >>>> humans.

    Indeed.  Ride a motorcycle in the summer and your mouth will soon
    fill up.
    --scott

    Been there done that.  Gnats form clouds on roads and taste horrible.

    So don't wear a open face helmet.


    So you agree with RFK Jr. as to enforcing natural selection?
    I have worn Open Face helmet with high strength plastic face protectings, transparent, full and half face vizors. Not for the insects
    but for other stuff like rain, sleet and snow. For hail I found a freeway overpass to shelter under. Also wore full coverage helmets but weight
    became an issue. Googles wouldn't fix over my glasses very well.

    bliss

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Dimensional Traveler@3:633/10 to Bobbie Sellers on Sat Sep 13 18:08:32 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: dtravel@sonic.net

    On 9/13/2025 3:20 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:


    On 9/13/25 13:32, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 11:59 AM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 9:27 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Lynn McGuire  <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times.  I >>>>> don't believe it.  I think that there are way more insects by mass
    than
    humans.

    Indeed.  Ride a motorcycle in the summer and your mouth will soon
    fill up.
    --scott

    Been there done that.  Gnats form clouds on roads and taste horrible.

    So don't wear a open face helmet.


        So you agree with RFK Jr. as to enforcing natural selection?

    No and I'm insulted.

        I have worn Open Face helmet with high strength plastic face protectings, transparent, full and half face vizors. Not for the insects
    but for other stuff like rain, sleet and snow.  For hail I found a freeway overpass to shelter under.  Also wore full coverage helmets but weight became an issue.  Googles wouldn't fix over my glasses very well.

    I never had any problem wearing a full head-n-face helmet during my
    years as a rice-rocket jockey.

    --
    I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
    dirty old man.

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Bobbie Sellers@3:633/10 to Dimensional Traveler on Sat Sep 13 20:34:00 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com

    On 9/13/25 18:08, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 3:20 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:


    On 9/13/25 13:32, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 11:59 AM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 9:27 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Lynn McGuire  <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times.  I >>>>>> don't believe it.  I think that there are way more insects by mass >>>>>> than
    humans.

    Indeed.  Ride a motorcycle in the summer and your mouth will soon
    fill up.
    --scott

    Been there done that.  Gnats form clouds on roads and taste horrible. >>>>
    So don't wear a open face helmet.


         So you agree with RFK Jr. as to enforcing natural selection?

    No and I'm insulted.

         I have worn Open Face helmet with high strength plastic face
    protectings, transparent, full and half face vizors. Not for the insects
    but for other stuff like rain, sleet and snow.  For hail I found a
    freeway
    overpass to shelter under.  Also wore full coverage helmets but weight
    became an issue.  Googles wouldn't fix over my glasses very well.

    I never had any problem wearing a full head-n-face helmet during my
    years as a rice-rocket jockey.

    Good for you. Holding up my head is tiring these days. I went out for couple
    of errands & walked no more than 6 blocks. I stayed up long enought to
    fix a meal
    caught up on computer correspondence then washed my dishes before catching about 80 winks. Then a friend called with a household electrical
    problem. I got up
    after that.
    Waiting now for my supper to finish cooking.

    Keep the rubber side down is the most important rule of motorvehicle operation no matter how many wheels you have.

    bliss


    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Paul S Person@3:633/10 to mjackson@alumni.caltech.edu on Sun Sep 14 08:20:47 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: psperson@old.netcom.invalid

    On Sat, 13 Sep 2025 11:53:00 -0400, Mark Jackson
    <mjackson@alumni.caltech.edu> wrote:

    On 9/12/2025 11:38 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    Grok really screwed up. 10,000 trillion is 10^16.

    Grok? I would urge you to instead use a trustworthy AI, but that's an >oxymoron.

    Or at least check the results.

    Here "trust but veryify" is best reduced to just "verify". "Trust" is completely out of the question.

    Well, if you only use an AI for fun (to see how idiotic it is), I
    suppose the less likely to actually produce facts it is the better.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Bobbie Sellers@3:633/10 to Lynn McGuire on Tue Sep 16 14:19:35 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com

    On 9/16/25 12:44, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 10:34 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:


    On 9/13/25 18:08, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 3:20 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:


    On 9/13/25 13:32, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 11:59 AM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 9:27 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Lynn McGuire  <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times.  I >>>>>>>> don't believe it.  I think that there are way more insects by >>>>>>>> mass than
    humans.

    Indeed.  Ride a motorcycle in the summer and your mouth will soon >>>>>>> fill up.
    --scott

    Been there done that.  Gnats form clouds on roads and taste horrible. >>>>>>
    So don't wear a open face helmet.


         So you agree with RFK Jr. as to enforcing natural selection?

    No and I'm insulted.

         I have worn Open Face helmet with high strength plastic face >>>> protectings, transparent, full and half face vizors. Not for the
    insects
    but for other stuff like rain, sleet and snow.  For hail I found a
    freeway
    overpass to shelter under.  Also wore full coverage helmets but weight >>>> became an issue.  Googles wouldn't fix over my glasses very well.

    I never had any problem wearing a full head-n-face helmet during my
    years as a rice-rocket jockey.

         Good for you. Holding up my head is tiring these days.  I went
    out for couple
    of errands & walked no more than 6 blocks.  I stayed up long enought
    to fix a meal
    caught up on computer correspondence then washed my dishes before
    catching
    about 80 winks.  Then a friend called with a household electrical
    problem. I got up
    after that.
         Waiting now for my supper to finish cooking.

         Keep the rubber side down is the most important rule of motorvehicle
    operation no matter how many wheels you have.

         bliss

    I would say yes but keeping those four and eighteen wheeled objects from hitting you on your motorcycle is equally important.  Or, from turning
    left in front of you and presenting their broad side to you on a two
    lane road.

    Lynn


    It does not matter how many lanes you have if the truck is moving
    over to avoid the accident in front of it. i nearly wiped out myself by assuming too much on a dark night on a multilane freeway but the
    BMW-R75/5 brakes saved my then youthful butt. That was in the 1970s
    I believe.

    bliss - If I not gotten sick I would likely be dead from mc/auto problems

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Bobbie Sellers@3:633/10 to Lynn McGuire on Tue Sep 16 14:27:02 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com

    On 9/16/25 12:47, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 5:11 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:


    On 9/13/25 07:27, Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Lynn McGuire  <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times.  I
    don't believe it.  I think that there are way more insects by mass than >>>> humans.

    Indeed.  Ride a motorcycle in the summer and your mouth will soon
    fill up.
    --scott

         Indeed riding in Utah many years ago as I left the Idaho Naval
    Nuclear site and even with a half visor I got smacked in my lips by a
    heavy insect which died on contact.
    But windshields and full helmet vizors can help with that problem.

         bliss

    I had a windshield on my last bike.  It was hotter than all get out when
    the radiator fan on my 2003 Honda Valkyrie kicked on.
       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Valkyrie

    I miss that bike some days.  I was surprised that I never got a ticket
    on it as I would pop it up to 120 mph some days.

    Lynn

    I had windsheilds on most of my motorcycles but with the R75/5 I had
    a fairing, American-made of handlaid fiberglass with a handy pocket on each side and frame mounted. Tried for the same on my Yamaha 550 V-Twin but
    the fairing and its windshield were not as durable as the one on the BMW.

    bliss

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Dimensional Traveler@3:633/10 to Lynn McGuire on Tue Sep 16 15:22:47 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: dtravel@sonic.net

    On 9/16/2025 12:41 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 3:32 PM, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 11:59 AM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 9:27 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Lynn McGuire  <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times.  I >>>>> don't believe it.  I think that there are way more insects by mass
    than
    humans.

    Indeed.  Ride a motorcycle in the summer and your mouth will soon
    fill up.
    --scott

    Been there done that.  Gnats form clouds on roads and taste horrible.

    So don't wear a open face helmet.

    Now you tell me.  Where were you in the fall of 1979 ?

    Being smarter than just about every other student in my school.

    --
    I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
    dirty old man.

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Dimensional Traveler@3:633/10 to Bobbie Sellers on Tue Sep 16 15:27:21 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: dtravel@sonic.net

    On 9/16/2025 2:27 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:


    On 9/16/25 12:47, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 5:11 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:


    On 9/13/25 07:27, Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Lynn McGuire  <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times.  I >>>>> don't believe it.  I think that there are way more insects by mass
    than
    humans.

    Indeed.  Ride a motorcycle in the summer and your mouth will soon
    fill up.
    --scott

         Indeed riding in Utah many years ago as I left the Idaho Naval >>> Nuclear site and even with a half visor I got smacked in my lips by a
    heavy insect which died on contact.
    But windshields and full helmet vizors can help with that problem.

         bliss

    I had a windshield on my last bike.  It was hotter than all get out
    when the radiator fan on my 2003 Honda Valkyrie kicked on.
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Valkyrie

    I miss that bike some days.  I was surprised that I never got a ticket
    on it as I would pop it up to 120 mph some days.

    Lynn

        I had windsheilds on most of my motorcycles but with the R75/5 I had a fairing, American-made of handlaid fiberglass with a handy pocket on each side and frame mounted. Tried for the same on my Yamaha 550 V-Twin but
    the fairing and its windshield were not as durable as the one on the BMW.

    I never rode a BMW but I remember hearing (MANY years ago) about a new
    model they were making that had a problem with the engine oil draining
    into the pan overnight. The story goes that the BMW engineers
    investigated, experimented and eventually came up with this kind of
    elegant pre-heater oil pump system to resolve the problem. An American motorcycle engineer looked at it and asked why they didn't just put the kickstand on the other side so the oil wouldn't drain.

    :D


    --
    I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
    dirty old man.

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Dorsey@3:633/10 to lynnmcguire5@gmail.com on Tue Sep 16 19:53:19 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: kludge@panix.com

    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 10:53 AM, Mark Jackson wrote:
    On 9/12/2025 11:38 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    Grok really screwed up.  10,000 trillion is 10^16.

    Grok?  I would urge you to instead use a trustworthy AI, but that's an
    oxymoron.

    I would trust none of the AIs to write code for me. Especially in my
    ongoing project to convert my 850,000 lines of F77 code to C++ code.

    We do have f2c for that, which isn't wonderful but is non-horrible and
    non-AI.

    Why are you doing this, though? Are you looking for the added security
    and reliability of null-terminated strings and dynamically-allocated
    variables?
    --scott

    --
    "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Dorsey@3:633/10 to lynnmcguire5@gmail.com on Tue Sep 16 19:54:35 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: kludge@panix.com

    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 3:32 PM, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
    Been there done that.  Gnats form clouds on roads and taste horrible.

    So don't wear a open face helmet.

    Now you tell me. Where were you in the fall of 1979 ?

    In the fall of 1979 I was probably by the side of the road fixing a
    2-cycle Moto-Guzzi product. I didn't actually ride it much but I
    repaired it a lot.
    --scott
    --
    "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Jay Morris@3:633/10 to Lynn McGuire on Tue Sep 16 20:19:33 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: morrisj@epsilon3.me

    On 9/16/2025 2:44 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 10:34 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:


    On 9/13/25 18:08, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 3:20 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:


    On 9/13/25 13:32, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 11:59 AM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 9:27 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Lynn McGuire  <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    Grok tells me that humans outmass insects on Earth by two times.  I >>>>>>>> don't believe it.  I think that there are way more insects by >>>>>>>> mass than
    humans.

    Indeed.  Ride a motorcycle in the summer and your mouth will soon >>>>>>> fill up.
    --scott

    Been there done that.  Gnats form clouds on roads and taste horrible. >>>>>>
    So don't wear a open face helmet.


         So you agree with RFK Jr. as to enforcing natural selection?

    No and I'm insulted.

         I have worn Open Face helmet with high strength plastic face >>>> protectings, transparent, full and half face vizors. Not for the
    insects
    but for other stuff like rain, sleet and snow.  For hail I found a
    freeway
    overpass to shelter under.  Also wore full coverage helmets but weight >>>> became an issue.  Googles wouldn't fix over my glasses very well.

    I never had any problem wearing a full head-n-face helmet during my
    years as a rice-rocket jockey.

         Good for you. Holding up my head is tiring these days.  I went
    out for couple
    of errands & walked no more than 6 blocks.  I stayed up long enought
    to fix a meal
    caught up on computer correspondence then washed my dishes before
    catching
    about 80 winks.  Then a friend called with a household electrical
    problem. I got up
    after that.
         Waiting now for my supper to finish cooking.

         Keep the rubber side down is the most important rule of motorvehicle
    operation no matter how many wheels you have.

         bliss

    I would say yes but keeping those four and eighteen wheeled objects from hitting you on your motorcycle is equally important.  Or, from turning
    left in front of you and presenting their broad side to you on a two
    lane road.

    Lynn


    In my case, I was riding near the center line on a two lane road, turned
    on my right turn signal, she thought it was my left turn signal, and
    came around on my right just as I started into my turn.

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Paul S Person@3:633/10 to Dorsey on Wed Sep 17 08:49:12 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: psperson@old.netcom.invalid

    On Tue, 16 Sep 2025 19:53:19 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
    Dorsey) wrote:

    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 10:53 AM, Mark Jackson wrote:
    On 9/12/2025 11:38 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    Grok really screwed up.  10,000 trillion is 10^16.

    Grok?  I would urge you to instead use a trustworthy AI, but that's an >>> oxymoron.

    I would trust none of the AIs to write code for me. Especially in my >>ongoing project to convert my 850,000 lines of F77 code to C++ code.

    We do have f2c for that, which isn't wonderful but is non-horrible and >non-AI.

    Why are you doing this, though? Are you looking for the added security
    and reliability of null-terminated strings and dynamically-allocated >variables?

    I suspect that last bit was satire. Note that he is talking about C++,
    not about C.

    IIRC, he is trying to move his software from a 32-bit world to a
    64-bit world, and this has something to do with the availability of
    64-bit compilers.

    Or maybe my memory is just making all that up.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Paul S Person@3:633/10 to Dorsey on Wed Sep 17 08:52:19 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: psperson@old.netcom.invalid

    On Tue, 16 Sep 2025 19:54:35 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
    Dorsey) wrote:

    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 3:32 PM, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
    Been there done that.  Gnats form clouds on roads and taste horrible. >>>>
    So don't wear a open face helmet.

    Now you tell me. Where were you in the fall of 1979 ?

    In the fall of 1979 I was probably by the side of the road fixing a
    2-cycle Moto-Guzzi product. I didn't actually ride it much but I
    repaired it a lot.

    Sounds like the (European) foreign car tradition of the 50s.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Lurndal@3:633/10 to Paul S Person on Wed Sep 17 16:13:41 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: scott@slp53.sl.home

    Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
    On Tue, 16 Sep 2025 19:53:19 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
    Dorsey) wrote:

    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 10:53 AM, Mark Jackson wrote:
    On 9/12/2025 11:38 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    Grok really screwed up.=C2=A0 10,000 trillion is 10^16.
    =20
    Grok?=C2=A0 I would urge you to instead use a trustworthy AI, but = >that's an=20
    oxymoron.

    I would trust none of the AIs to write code for me. Especially in my=20 >>>ongoing project to convert my 850,000 lines of F77 code to C++ code.

    We do have f2c for that, which isn't wonderful but is non-horrible and >>non-AI.

    Why are you doing this, though? Are you looking for the added security
    and reliability of null-terminated strings and dynamically-allocated=20 >>variables?

    I suspect that last bit was satire. Note that he is talking about C++,
    not about C.=20

    C is generally considered a subset of C++. To that extent, the use of
    f2c to translate fortran to C++ is a good start. It may not produce
    idiomatic object-oriented C++ code, but that's not necessarily a bad thing; particularly for the math-centric code that Lynn uses.

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Dorsey@3:633/10 to psperson@old.netcom.invalid on Wed Sep 17 13:38:02 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: kludge@panix.com

    Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> wrote:
    On Tue, 16 Sep 2025 19:53:19 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
    Dorsey) wrote:

    Why are you doing this, though? Are you looking for the added security
    and reliability of null-terminated strings and dynamically-allocated=20 >>variables?

    I suspect that last bit was satire. Note that he is talking about C++,
    not about C.=20

    Indeed. One of the main benefits of Fortran is that you don't have to
    trust engineers with pointers.


    IIRC, he is trying to move his software from a 32-bit world to a
    64-bit world, and this has something to do with the availability of
    64-bit compilers.

    Or maybe my memory is just making all that up.

    Doesn't make sense to me, as I am using gfortran on a regular basis to
    make amd64 code. There are Intel and Nagware out ther as well as some
    others, and there are definitely situations where the Intel compiler makes faster code than gfortran, but they are getting thinner and thinner on
    the ground as time goes by.
    --scott

    --
    "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Mark Jackson@3:633/10 to Scott Dorsey on Wed Sep 17 14:05:22 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: mjackson@alumni.caltech.edu

    On 9/16/2025 7:53 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 10:53 AM, Mark Jackson wrote:
    On 9/12/2025 11:38 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    Grok really screwed up.  10,000 trillion is 10^16.

    Grok?  I would urge you to instead use a trustworthy AI, but that's an
    oxymoron.

    I would trust none of the AIs to write code for me. Especially in my
    ongoing project to convert my 850,000 lines of F77 code to C++ code.

    We do have f2c for that, which isn't wonderful but is non-horrible and non-AI.

    Why are you doing this, though? Are you looking for the added security
    and reliability of null-terminated strings and dynamically-allocated variables?

    Might be a question of what's supported in a new target environment.
    Some years ago I had to re-implement some Fortran code involving FFTs in Pascal, because that's all we had available on the iRMX-86 box driving
    the rest of the hardware.

    --
    Mark Jackson - https://mark-jackson.online/
    Reductio ad absurdum fails when reality is absurd.
    - Randall Munroe

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Dimensional Traveler@3:633/10 to William Hyde on Wed Sep 17 13:46:41 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: dtravel@sonic.net

    On 9/17/2025 1:22 PM, William Hyde wrote:
    Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Paul S Person  <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> wrote:
    On Tue, 16 Sep 2025 19:53:19 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
    Dorsey) wrote:

    Why are you doing this, though?  Are you looking for the added security >>>> and reliability of null-terminated strings and dynamically-allocated=20 >>>> variables?

    I suspect that last bit was satire. Note that he is talking about C++,
    not about C.=20

    Indeed.  One of the main benefits of Fortran is that you don't have to
    trust engineers with pointers.


    I think I found a way to make every conceivable error with Fortran-77,
    and I'm not an engineer.

    Just natural talent, I guess.

    Nah, true natural talent can find a way to make all the inconceivable
    errors. :P

    --
    I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
    dirty old man.

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Lurndal@3:633/10 to Lynn McGuire on Wed Sep 17 21:56:17 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: scott@slp53.sl.home

    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:
    On 9/16/2025 6:53 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 9/13/2025 10:53 AM, Mark Jackson wrote:
    On 9/12/2025 11:38 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    Grok really screwed up.  10,000 trillion is 10^16.

    Grok?  I would urge you to instead use a trustworthy AI, but that's an >>>> oxymoron.

    I would trust none of the AIs to write code for me. Especially in my
    ongoing project to convert my 850,000 lines of F77 code to C++ code.

    We do have f2c for that, which isn't wonderful but is non-horrible and
    non-AI.

    Why are you doing this, though? Are you looking for the added security
    and reliability of null-terminated strings and dynamically-allocated
    variables?
    --scott

    Too late. My F77 code calls malloc, free, and realloc extensively.

    We have been using dynamic memory in our F66 code since 1977 or so.
    That is how we and our customers were able to simulate refineries back
    in the 1970s with only 64K words on mainframes (Univac 1108, CDC 7600,
    and IBM 370 junk).

    I think you're conflating dynamic allocation with virtual memory.

    Dynamic allocation is still limited to the size of the program
    address space unless you use overlays of some form or operating
    system provided virtual memory.

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Dorsey@3:633/10 to wthyde1953@gmail.com on Wed Sep 17 19:28:26 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: kludge@panix.com

    William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> wrote:
    Scott Dorsey wrote:

    Indeed. One of the main benefits of Fortran is that you don't have to
    trust engineers with pointers.

    I think I found a way to make every conceivable error with Fortran-77,
    and I'm not an engineer.

    Just natural talent, I guess.

    You should try C, or even better C++. It gives you a whole new realms of possible errors to make.
    --scott
    --
    "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Dorsey@3:633/10 to Scott Lurndal on Wed Sep 17 19:32:57 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: kludge@panix.com

    Scott Lurndal <slp53@pacbell.net> wrote:
    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:
    Too late. My F77 code calls malloc, free, and realloc extensively.

    We have been using dynamic memory in our F66 code since 1977 or so.
    That is how we and our customers were able to simulate refineries back
    in the 1970s with only 64K words on mainframes (Univac 1108, CDC 7600,
    and IBM 370 junk).

    I think you're conflating dynamic allocation with virtual memory.

    Dynamic allocation is still limited to the size of the program
    address space unless you use overlays of some form or operating
    system provided virtual memory.

    Yes, but dynamic allocation can dramatically improve your total memory
    usage, because you only have to allocate the memory for variables while
    they are in use. Once you have finished using the variable you can free
    the memory it had up, instead of locking up that memory until the program
    ends.

    If you have virtual memory, dynamic allocation doesn't buy you very much actually, since you have a giant address space available and you can
    just let the machine swap out pages that contain only variables that
    aren't in use.

    Another possibility is to use common blocks so that unrelated variables
    in different subroutines share the same memory. That's effective but
    makes debugging into a horror.

    Don't even mention overlays please. I am still recovering from CDC NOS. --scott

    --
    "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)
  • From Paul S Person@3:633/10 to Dorsey on Thu Sep 18 08:49:21 2025
    XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
    From: psperson@old.netcom.invalid

    On Wed, 17 Sep 2025 19:28:26 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
    Dorsey) wrote:

    William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> wrote:
    Scott Dorsey wrote:

    Indeed. One of the main benefits of Fortran is that you don't have to
    trust engineers with pointers.

    I think I found a way to make every conceivable error with Fortran-77,
    and I'm not an engineer.

    Just natural talent, I guess.

    You should try C, or even better C++. It gives you a whole new realms of >possible errors to make.

    When I started with C++, it was a safer form of C and featured
    classes.

    This began changing when the (draft) Standard C++ Library (I had the
    book on it by Plauger) was turned into a nest of templates.

    When I last had contact with it, the Standards Committee had made it,
    for me, unintelligible. I remember debates on a usenet group devoted
    to a C++ compiler on just what the standard meant in various points.

    For some reason, the requirement to support multitasking (or may it
    was multithreading) was particularly contentious, since our compiler
    had to support good ol' DOS which, of course, isn't multi anything.

    I am currently using C on a project related to that compiler. This
    isn't that bad -- you just have to be sure ever enum tag has a
    globally unique name and use unions where, in C++, you would use
    sub-classes. Among, I am sure, other less disruptive things.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

    --- SoupGate-Linux v1.05
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- FidoNet<>Usenet Gateway -:--- (3:633/10)