From: Conrad Schneiker <schneik@...>
Date: 2001-05-16T04:52:49+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:15205] ZetaBITS == Zetta bits (10 ** 21)?

Matz, 

I had a question about the origins of ZetaBITS in your e-mail address. I 
noticed in,

    (http://www.chemtutor.com/prex.htm) 

that the metric prefix 'zetta' is derived from the Latin for the ultimate 
letter, 'zeta', meaning 10 ** 21, which is a whole lot more bits than I 
have dendrites.

Does ZetaBITS refer to the metric system or Latin?

 I also noticed that a few things on the home page were in English, such 
as "What's new" and "Top page", even though most everything else was in 
Japanese. Any particular reason (convention, slang, jargon)?

Somewhat OT, but the metric prefix web page also had a couple of other 
interesting items that reminded me of J. von Neumann's ideal duration of a 
lecture, the microcentury:

     attoparsec (approximately = 3.1cm)
     microfortnight (= 1.2096 sec)

Every PI seconds or so, another nanocentury is lost forever, so enjoy them 
while they last. :-)

Conrad Schneiker
(This note is unofficial and subject to improvement without notice.)