just like the old days of a.c.c-b

• From: Doug O'Neal <tychobrahe_at_tycho2brahe.yahoo.invalid>
• Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 10:44:41 -0500
• Message-ID: <3E4E6069.62258D2B_at_...>

>    From: acfraud

> --- In quizbowl_at_yahoogroups.com, "Jordan Boyd-Graber <jordanbg_at_y...>"
> <jordanbg_at_y...> wrote:
> >
> > > The rough equivalent in my field would
> > > be discussing the differences between spectra expected from
> > > bremsstrahlung and synchrotron emissions from an astrophysical plasma,
> > > which I learned (though don't necessarily remember) in an astro. class
> 
> Not at all. Both the questions discussed in this thread - "closed" and
> "surjective" - are extremely basic. The equivalent in your field would
> be closer to "star" or "plasma." Anyone who's had a real math class
> (no, calculus is not real math, but I for one recall hearing the word
> "surjective" in some pre-calculus high school class) will know these
> terms and be able to define them. By loudly proclaiming your
> ignorance, you've made it clear that not everyone who's had a real
> astrophysics class knows the difference in bremsstrahlung and
> synchrotron emission spectra. (Hint: one should have a power-law form,
> the other should not, if I'm not wildly mistaken). Hence the two are
> not comparable in difficulty.

First of all, I wrote what you quoted; be careful of your attributions. 
Second, you make a logical leap of astounding (and unjustified)
proportions in the sentence beginning "By loudly...".  Also, "closed"
was never an issue. 

Finally, O for this wonderful arrogance that revives sweet memories of
quiz bowlers from the halcyon days of my youth. 

    Doug
http://www.alltel.net/~tychobrahe