Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!nbires!ncar!ames!pioneer!eugene From: eugene@pioneer.arpa (Eugene N. Miya) Newsgroups: comp.misc Subject: Re: Benchmark names: origins Message-ID: <8534@ames.arc.nasa.gov> Date: 10 May 88 00:34:57 GMT References: <30528@linus.UUCP> <1087@mcgill-vision.UUCP> Sender: usenet@ames.arc.nasa.gov Reply-To: eugene@pioneer.UUCP (Eugene N. Miya) Distribution: na Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Lines: 20 There are several popular (read Common) derivations. The best thing to do is ask Brian Wichmann (at NPL). The NPL is not far from Wheatstone, England (hey it's an island after all). The relation to the Wheatstone Bridge or other similar puns as a benchmark (self-correcting) might or might not be intended. (Unlike the Multics/Unix pun, this one has not been elaborated). Brian Randell (also in the UK and who also reads comp.arch) might also best be approached to ask Wichmann. Hope you saw the recent Saturday Night Live skit (Common Knowledge: hence my use of the word Common). If you have a turkey who thinks he knows what a Whetstone is, ask him how many tests there are inside the thing. Another gross generalization from --eugene miya, NASA Ames Research Center, eugene@ames-aurora.ARPA resident cynic soon to be aurora.arc.nasa.gov at the Rock of Ages Home for Retired Hackers: "Mailers?! HA!", "If my mail does not reach you, please accept my apology." {uunet,hplabs,hao,ihnp4,decwrl,allegra,tektronix}!ames!aurora!eugene "Send mail, avoid follow-ups. If enough, I'll summarize."