[486] in Cypherpunks
Re: PI Compression
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Perry E. Metzger)
Fri May 21 19:52:09 1993
To: "Kent Hastings" <kent_hastings@qmail2.aero.org>
Cc: cypherpunks@toad.com
In-Reply-To: Your message of "21 May 1993 15:33:10 +0800."
Reply-To: pmetzger@lehman.com
Date: Fri, 21 May 1993 19:39:27 -0400
From: "Perry E. Metzger" <pmetzger@lehman.com>
"Kent Hastings" says:
> PI Compression
> It may have been discussed here months ago, but my favorite bogus
> compression scheme is "pi compression". Any number like pi or
> SQRT(2) can be represented as an infinite sequence of non-repeating
> bits (there are repetitive patterns, but eventually the sequence
> breaks out). A finite bit string can be represented simply as the
> starting location and length in pi.
>
> Since all possible finite bit strings are, by definition, contained
> in the unending cavalcade of bits in pi, all literary works, radio
> programs, TV, 3D holos, feelies, etc for all sentient species from
> the remotest past to the distant future, in every possible alternate
> universe is in little old pi.
Bull. You cannot prove that all strings are contained as substrings of
PI. The mere fact that a bit string is infinite and non-repeating does
not mean that it is wholely random. For instance, I can very readily
construct infinite sequences that do not contain arbitrary bit
strings.
See, as an example, this non-repeating bit string
101001000100001000001....
> Who would dare argue against these reasonable assertions?
Me.
Perry
