ietf
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: How to pay $47 for a copy of RFC 793

2011-05-12 16:17:42
Bob,

Thanks!  I had always thought 47 was an uninteresting number.  I wasn't sure if 
it was the least uninteresting number, and if it were, it would automatically 
be interesting(*), but now I see it's interesting even if it's not the least 
uninteresting number :)

Steve

* For those on this list not familiar with math jokes, there's a "proof" there 
are no uninteresting numbers: Suppose some (positive) integers are interesting 
and the rest are uninteresting.  Consider the least of the uninteresting 
numbers.  That's surely an interesting number...



On May 12, 2011, at 5:09 PM, Bob Hinden wrote:

Steve,

On May 9, 2011, at 5:05 PM, Steve Crocker wrote:

A simpler and more pragmatic approach is to include a statement in the 
boilerplate of every RFC that says, "RFCs are available free of charge 
online from ..."

The copyright rules would prohibit anyone from removing this statement.  If 
someone pays $47 for a copy and then reads this statement, he is unlikely to 
pay $47 again.


I wonder how they came up with $47?  

It is such a nice prime number.  See:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/47_(number)

I recommend reading it.  I never knew that a number could be so interesting.

Bob

p.s. Maybe this can be the end of this thread.......





_______________________________________________
Ietf mailing list
Ietf(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org
https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf