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Conference thebay::joyoflex

Title:The Joy of Lex
Notice:A Notes File even your grammar could love
Moderator:THEBAY::SYSTEM
Created:Fri Feb 28 1986
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1192
Total number of notes:42769

1150.0. "xfer" by OSOSPS::KAGEYAMA (Trust, but Verify) Thu Aug 03 1995 01:15

Hi!

I sometimes see the expression "xfer" for "transfer."  Is it a common 
idea that replacing "trans" by "x"?  Thanks in advance.

- Kazunori
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1150.1GIDDAY::BURTDPD (tm)Thu Aug 03 1995 02:3713
Yes.


xfer, xlate
I've seen a couple of others which I can't recall off-hand.

Xfer is quite common when referring to data. It's been around for <cough> 
years.


Chele


1150.2KOLFAX::GOODMANI see you shiver with antici.........pation!Thu Aug 03 1995 19:196
    Did it start with three-character designations for characters?  Like
    SOH, EOT, XMT, XON, XOFF (well, short designations)
    
    I forget which character maps to XMT, though...
    
    Roy
1150.3ALLVAX::GELINEAUfear, surprise, and an almost fanatical devotionThu Aug 03 1995 19:293
    and of course... Xmas (hee hee)
    
    --angela
1150.4OSOSPS::KAGEYAMATrust, but VerifyThu Aug 03 1995 21:0917
.2>    Did it start with three-character designations for characters?  Like

Good point!  I agree with your idea.

.2>    I forget which character maps to XMT, though...
    
transmit?

.3>    and of course... Xmas (hee hee)

When "x" is used for replacing some characters, they usually contains 
all or some parts of [iks] pronunciation. "Xmas" is one of its variatons 
and "thanx" is much more clear example. But "xfer" is away from that 
rule. So I thought there must be some stories. Thanx, everyone!

- Kazunori
1150.5JRDV04::DIAMONDsegmentation fault (california dumped)Thu Aug 03 1995 22:0814
    ASCII control codes have nothing to do with it.
    
    Railroad X'ings have existed for over a century.  The abbreviation
    was surely obvious, and the only question is whether this kind of
    abbreviation had been used even earlier or not.
    
    The Latin root "trans" is related to the English word "cross" so
    the connexion is obvious again.
    
    The X in Xmas can also be considered to represent a cross.  This
    time I doubt that this is how the abbreviation originated, but
    again the connexion exists.
    
    -- Norman Diamond
1150.6LJSRV2::KALIKOWHi-ho! Yow! I'm surfing Arpanet!Thu Aug 03 1995 23:336
    Wonderful etymology-by-induction, Norman.  I somehow felt that there
    WAS something "right" about X as trans, but you put your finger right
    where X marks the spot on!!
    
    Thanks!
    
1150.7SMURF::BINDERNight's candles are burnt out.Fri Aug 04 1995 10:0410
1150.8BBRDGE::LOVELLFri Aug 04 1995 18:4816
    I remember the "trans" prefix version from my  EE classes for "Xistor" 
    which if memory serves me well was invented in 1947 and so documented
    shortly thereafter.
    
    I like the data communications idea (which surely came after
    transistors) because any transmit/receive pinouts are usually show as ;
    
    1  -     -  1
    
    2  -.   .-  2
         \ /
          x
         / \  
    3  _/   \_  3
    
    4  etc...   
1150.9BBRDGE::LOVELLFri Aug 04 1995 19:068
    I neglected to mention that as most EE degrees require a science
    foundation (physics, chem, maths), then it is a pretty safe bet that
    the EE usage was a xmogrification of the long established Chemistry 
    use of trans-so-and-so for geometric isomers.  This replacement of "X"
    for "trans" is pretty obvious when you draw a geometric isomer.
    
    The meaning in Chem is "crossing" or "bridging" whereas for x-istor the
    "trans" stem is already formally documented as a truncation of "transfer".
1150.10DRDAN::KALIKOWHi-ho! Yow! I'm surfing Arpanet!Fri Aug 04 1995 21:322
      Well as long as you brought Chem into it, may I observe that the
                 Cistine Chapel was a Xforming experience.
1150.11exALLVAX::GELINEAUfear, surprise, and an almost fanatical devotionSat Aug 05 1995 12:233
    nice one Dan (re cis-  and trans- iso's)
    
    --angela
1150.12Tnx! -- from both my isomers:DRDAN::KALIKOWCyberian Ambassador to DIGITALSat Aug 05 1995 14:123
                    From my Normal, un-X-formed:  |-{:-) 
                and from
                                    my C-ter:     (-:}-|
1150.13JRDV04::DIAMONDsegmentation fault (california dumped)Sun Aug 06 1995 22:0916
    
                       Ph.D.
                ______/
               /      \
              /        \
              \        /
               \______/
                      \
                       Ph.D
    
    
    
    
               Paradocs
    
                       -- x.
1150.14DRDAN::KALIKOWCyberian Ambassador to DIGITALSun Aug 06 1995 22:564
    That was parrafine, not paradocs, Norman...
    
    Kudos!! :-)
    
1150.15x-formedBBRDGE::LOVELLMon Aug 07 1995 08:2816
1150.16DRDAN::KALIKOWCyberian Ambassador to DIGITALMon Aug 07 1995 09:1814
1150.17ALLVAX::GELINEAUfear, surprise, and an almost fanatical devotionMon Aug 07 1995 19:109
        
    
    
    
    
    paradigms lost
    
    
    --angela
1150.18AUSSIE::WHORLOWMy Cow is dead!Mon Aug 07 1995 20:1626
1150.19JRDV04::DIAMONDsegmentation fault (california dumped)Mon Aug 07 1995 21:1916
    Sorry, .18 is transshoots.
    
    
    
                       TKO
                ______/
               /      \
              /        \
              \        /
               \______/
               /
            VBO
    
    
    
    xsites
1150.20JRDV04::DIAMONDsegmentation fault (california dumped)Thu Aug 10 1995 06:0821
                                ______
                               /      \
                              /        \__DUA0:
                              \        /
                               \______/
                               /      \
                        ______/        DUA1:
                       /      \
                      /        \
                      \        /
                       \______/
                       /
                ______/
               /      \
              /        \__DUB0:
              \        /
               \______/
                      \
                       DUB1:
    
    transistor
1150.21Is it that I don't know enuf chem or enuf hardware...DRDAN::KALIKOWRTFWThu Aug 10 1995 06:321
                   ... to get .20?  Explanation please...
1150.22JRDV04::DIAMONDsegmentation fault (california dumped)Thu Aug 10 1995 22:598
    Re .21
    
    trans cis store
    
    
    To make up for it, I didn't understand the pun that you posted
    recently to whichever pun note that was.  Figured I didn't know
    enough of something or other.
1150.23Chemistry Correctionswook.mso.dec.com::mold.ogo.dec.com::leeWook like book with a WMon Sep 18 1995 02:2359
Sorry to break up the party, but those aromatic puns stink.

The correct designations are:

Ortho as in Orthodox

        Ph.D.
  _____/
 /     \
/       \_Ph.D.
\       /
 \_____/

Meta as in I met a girl.
        I
  _____/
 /     \
/       \
\       /
 \_____/
       \
        girl

Para as in Paradox
        MD
  _____/
 /     \
/       \
\       /
 \_____/
 /
MD

Also, cis and trans are typically relative to a single double bond. (How's 
that for an oxymoron a.k.a. O=moron :-)

Cis as in Scissors

Or   Or
 \  /
  ==

Trans as in transits

pimple
   \
    ==
      \
     pimple

or transfers

 Mink
   \
    ==
      \
      Mink

Wook
1150.24TELGAR::WAKEMANLAlike a silicon armadilloTue Sep 19 1995 13:0814
    Wook,
    
    You forgot one:
    
 	  Fe       Fe
	    \_____/
	    /     \
	Fe_/       \_Fe
	   \       /
	    \_____/
    	    /     \
      	  Fe       Fe
    
    A Ferrous Wheel
1150.25Here's one I should have forgot!16.124.224.10::LEETue Sep 19 1995 15:5730
                                                                       CH3
         _____         _____         _____         _____         _____/
        /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \
  _____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____
 /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \
/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \
\       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /
 \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/
 /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \
/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \
\       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /
 \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/
 /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \
/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \
\       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /
 \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/
 /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \
/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \
\       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /
 \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/
 /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \
/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \
\       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /
 \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/
       \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /     \       /
        \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/       \_____/
        /
       CH3

Dimethyl Chicken Wire
1150.26DRDAN::KALIKOWDIGITAL=DEC: ReClaim TheName&amp;Glory!Tue Sep 19 1995 17:586
    Anyone willing to type in that many -\/s must be suffering from 
    organic 
    
    (chemistry)
            dain bramage.
    
1150.27Organic Chemistry (a.k.a. Chem 20) made me what I am today.wook.mso.dec.com::mold.ogo.dec.com::leeWook like book with a WWed Sep 20 1995 01:4519
Tut, tut, uncommon wisdom would have lead you to the conclusion that I made 
liberal use of the ubiquitous cyberodent to confound and bemuse even the 
loikes of you, Dr. Dan.

BTW, my enjoyment of organic chemistry lectures was eclipsed only by my 
overwhelming dread of organic chemistry lab. I still wonder if they will 
ever synthesize a conjugated pi bond system in the form of a mobuis strip. 
For all I know, the day they succeed will be the day the universe implodes 
or worse, xfer it to a dimension with no chocolate! (Note how I once again 
weave the original topic into an otherwise shameless rathole.)

As we used to say, "Aromatic chemistry stinks!"

Ah! I love the smell of benzaldehyde in the morning!
It smells like chemistry!

(Actually, it smells more like Marachino(sp?) cherries.)

Wook
1150.28GVPROD::BARTAGabriel Barta/CIO-GPS/GenevaFri Sep 22 1995 10:3216
Ah, how I enjoy picking nits.  (By the way, for Europeans that should 
be "splitting hairs".)

Wook's .-1:

Tut, tut, uncommon wisdom would have lead you to the conclusion that I made 
                                     led  (not like "read")

I still wonder if they will 
ever synthesize a conjugated pi bond system in the form of a mobuis strip.
                                                             Moebius 

(Actually, it smells more like Marachino(sp?) cherries.)
                               Maraschino   pronounced "maraskino"

Gabriel.
1150.29JRDV04::DIAMONDsegmentation fault (california dumped)Sun Sep 24 1995 22:503
    >Ah, how I enjoy picking nits.
    
    Nitness counts.
1150.30Split the hair to pick the nitwook.mso.dec.com::mold.ogo.dec.com::leeWook like &quot;Book&quot; with a &quot;W&quot;Mon Sep 25 1995 01:4312
Re: Gabriel

I've got to quit writing notes in the middle of the night.

Then, perhaps you'd stop righting notes in the middle of the day.

Re: Nitness

Yes, but it multiplies, too. Especially in the wee hours of GMT-4 or is it 
GMT-5? Whatever.

Wook
1150.31DRDAN::KALIKOWDIGITAL=DEC: ReClaim TheName&amp;Glory!Mon Sep 25 1995 09:382
       ... and anent nits, ain't it spozed to be "decrenum"?  :-)
       
1150.32Nuts about nits?JOKUR::MACDONALDTue Nov 21 1995 15:322
    nits on de cranium, Dr. Dan?
    Bruce