Ming the Mechanic:
Simple, explicit and redundant
The NewsLog of Flemming Funch
 Simple, explicit and redundant2003-05-08 23:59
10 comments
by Flemming Funch

My printer suddenly started to print, and spat out a page that contained only this: 

# Keep this simple, explicit, and redundant

                                           V8

                                             Ou0

                                                Og0

                                                   OL0

                                                      Oeq

                                                        OQ/tmp
I hadn't asked it to print anything. Has never happened before. Well, it is a network connected printer, with its own IP, so I suppose somebody could have initiated it from elsewhere. Except for that it has a password.

A quick search in Google showed me that this is part of the standard content of mail.cf, one of sendmail's configuration files. Could be from one of my servers, but it would still be a mystery how it ended up on my printer.

Or maybe it is just good advice from the ethers. Keep it simple, explicit, and redundant. I'll try to remember.


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10 comments

9 May 2003 @ 02:21 by jazzolog : Overflowing Superfluity
I'd nix the redundant part of that printer's advice.  

9 May 2003 @ 14:03 by sharie : Redundancy
Some people need to hear the same message over and over before it sinks in.  

9 May 2003 @ 15:47 by ming : Redundancy
In biology, and in technology and in data storage redundancy is a good thing. Translates into fault-tolerance, resilience. Organic life is very redundant. Where your computer goes down if just one little copper wire is cut, an organic body will continue even with a great amount of damanage, and will tend to repair itself. Because of redundancy in the design.  

9 May 2003 @ 15:51 by martha : sounds
like a Borg. Has the invasion begun?  

9 May 2003 @ 17:40 by ming : Message
Maybe it is from the Borg queen. I think she wants me.  

10 May 2003 @ 04:21 by jazzolog : Re: dumbdance
The only people who "need" to hear the same message over and over and over are being trained or are training themselves by an authoritarian mind. Actors want to memorize the lines before they give the play the works---and probably wish then the brain is a computer. Otherwise the poet delights in the moment (s)he discovers yet another way to say Beauty Is Truth.  

10 May 2003 @ 13:10 by sharie : Hey Ming...
What is it you want to communicate?  

10 May 2003 @ 14:07 by ming : Communicate
I was simply reporting what my printer printed. To me it is good advice for computer programmers. And for any kind of technology designers.  

19 Dec 2014 @ 22:18 by Idalete @186.91.74.17 : HYPzzmjFwv
A formidable share, I just given this onto a cuoleagle who was doing a bit evaluation on this. And he in truth purchased me breakfast as a result of I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the deal with! However yeah Thnkx for spending the time to debate this, I really feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If doable, as you develop into expertise, would you mind updating your blog with extra particulars? It is extremely helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog put up!  

23 Dec 2014 @ 13:43 by Jak @190.207.106.178 : HiFiBIlMrkTrUIRCqi
You sure do know what youre talking about. Man, this weoblg is just excellent! I cant wait to read a lot more of what youve got to say. Im really happy that I came across this when I did since I was genuinely starting to obtain bored with the entire blogging scene. Youve turned me around, man!  

Other stories in
2012-05-03 00:04: An evolving path
2012-01-02 13:52: 2011 Accomplishments and 2012 Aims
2011-11-17 02:20: Your inner piece
2011-02-01 00:05: Slow Mo Flow
2011-01-22 18:40: Recognition
2010-08-23 00:36: Where's Ming?
2010-07-20 14:24: Getting other people to do stuff
2010-06-22 00:27: Inventory
2010-06-19 23:10: Conversations
2009-10-28 12:31: Then a miracle occurs


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