Thread Subject: Now, you too, can sound like Marco...

I think most of us know who Marco is by now. I for one am
fairly annoyed with all the garbage he posts, but that is
the cost of free speech. I think many of us have tried to
reason with him, obviously to no avail. So I figured I'd
have a little fun and exercise my own freedom of speech...

I was feeling mischievous the other day, and was inspired
by some comments people were posting trying to mimic
Marco's unintelligible explanations. I decided to write my
own software version of Marco: a Marco Mad Libs generator.
Yes, now you too can sound just like Marco! Do we really
want more people sounding like Marco? Probably not... but I
thought everyone might get a kick out of it anyway.

Although the code is about 500 lines, I am cutting and
pasting it in here. I was reluctant to post it to the
FEX... Lord knows I don't want to end up like another
Marco, posting code that generates nothing but gibberish.
The newsgroup seems like a slightly less inappropriate
place to share this than the FEX. ;)

Have fun, and hopefully this will ease frustrations,
Ken

function marcoString = marco_mad_libs(commentType)
%MARCO_MAD_LIBS Now, you too, can sound like Marco.
% STR = MARCO_MAD_LIBS returns a Marco-like statement (as
a character
% array).
%
% STR = MARCO_MAD_LIBS(TYPE) returns a Marco-like
statement in the form
% of TYPE, where TYPE is a string input (case-
insensitive) that can be
% one of the following:
%
% -'rant' ==> Creates a sizable rant by Marco (default)
% -'assertion' ==> Marco makes some bold statements
% -'question' ==> Marco ponders the universe
% -'formula' ==> Marco tries his hand at math, and fails
%
% Examples:
%
% >> marco_mad_libs
%
% ans =
%
% my perception is only 4=4 or 3=3... my
interpretation isn't
% in error... Pi=Pi... result is... with an error of +
or -
% ... Where is contradiction in my number? Where
is
% Universe-container? to treadle is necessary three
space.
% don't exist error... 1=3... 3=NaN... current...
time...
% observation... to see is necessary 3D image... past
see
% inside us... see time and relativity... i'm sure?
number...
% with Inf=NaN and Pi=3: future-time repeat present of
point
% of half and if quadrature to me are life... bye
%
% >> marco_mad_libs
%
% ans =
%
% i'm infinite, but i've liberty... 2=2... 2=Inf...
time of
% the vision is time of the Universe-container...
matter is
% finite, i've perception... points repeat relativity
of
% future-time and inverse-method... i'm PC with
possibility
% to transport past-time... thanks
%
% >> marco_mad_libs
%
% ans =
%
% present obtain inside us... obtain other
equilibrium...
% life of me in a copy of life... Brain is
a
% matter-container... current... 4 present... neural
number
% is the same thing to say i'm neural... but i'm
not
% neural... think to this my words
%
% >> marco_mad_libs('assertion')
%
% ans =
%
% duality must be constantly to past-inverter...
%
% >> marco_mad_libs('question')
%
% ans =
%
% If i write inf*inf=(Pi+pi)/2 or inf*inf=(NaN+NaN)/2
or
% pi=3... are nonsense?

% Author: Ken Eaton
% Last modified: 6/3/08
%-----------------------------------------------------------
---------------

  % Check inputs:

  switch nargin,
    case 0,
      commentType = 'rant';
    case 1,
      if (~ischar(commentType)),
        error('marco_mad_libs:badArgumentType',...
              'Input argument should be of type char.');
      end
      commentType = lower(commentType(:).');
      validStrings =
{'rant'; 'assertion'; 'question'; 'formula'};
      if (~any(strcmp(commentType,validStrings))),
        error('marco_mad_libs:invalidFormat',...
              'Invalid input argument.');
      end
  end

  % Initialize constants:

  noun = {'area'; ...
          'brain'; ...
          'clock'; ...
          'code'; ...
          'copy'; ...
          'current'; ...
          'dimension'; ...
          'external-environment'; ...
          'external-system'; ...
          'file'; ...
          'future-time'; ...
          'image'; ...
          'input'; ...
          'inverter'; ...
          'life-mechanism'; ...
          'matter'; ...
          'me'; ...
          'method'; ...
          'model'; ...
          'neural function'; ...
          'neural liberty'; ...
          'neural-theory'; ...
          'number'; ...
          'number-association'; ...
          'numerical-association'; ...
          'observation'; ...
          'output'; ...
          'past-time'; ...
          'PC'; ...
          'pc-input'; ...
          'pdf'; ...
          'perimeter'; ...
          'point of half'; ...
          'points'; ...
          'PSX'; ...
          'sets'; ...
          'software'; ...
          'static-Universe'; ...
          'syntax error'; ...
          'symbol'; ...
          'system'; ...
          'time-reaction'; ...
          'Universe-container'; ...
          'value'; ...
          'word'; ...
          'you'};
  concept = {'duality'; ...
             'entropy'; ...
             'equilibrium'; ...
             'future'; ...
             'liberty'; ...
             'life'; ...
             'method'; ...
             'motivation'; ...
             'other'; ...
             'past'; ...
             'perception'; ...
             'present'; ...
             'quadrature'; ...
             'relativity'; ...
             'space'; ...
             'spacetime'; ...
             'time'; ...
             'transformation'; ...
             'vision'; ...
             'zero'};
  adjective = {'1D'; ...
               '2D'; ...
               '3D'; ...
               'constant'; ...
               'current'; ...
               'different'; ...
               'external'; ...
               'finite'; ...
               'good'; ...
               'inanimated'; ...
               'indeterminate'; ...
               'infinite'; ...
               'internal'; ...
               'inverse'; ...
               'neural'; ...
               'null'; ...
               'overlapping'; ...
               'poor'; ...
               'random'; ...
               'static'; ...
               'three'; ...
               'two'; ...
               'undefined'};
  verb = {'consider'; ...
          'exist'; ...
          'find'; ...
          'obtain'; ...
          'perceive'; ...
          'repeat'; ...
          'see'; ...
          'select'; ...
          'start'; ...
          'transport'; ...
          'treadle'};
  value = {'Pi'; ...
           'pi'; ...
           'NaN'; ...
           'Inf'; ...
           'inf'};
  number = {'1'; ...
            '2'; ...
            '3'; ...
            '4'};
  goodbye = {''; ...
             'see you'; ...
             'think to this my words'; ...
             'thanks'; ...
             'is an idea to value'; ...
             'bye'; ...
             'anyway thanks'; ...
             'Spit! Spit! You are an expert of the spit...
But your spit'};

  % Choose statement type:

  switch commentType,
    case 'rant',
      marcoString = marco_rant;
    case 'assertion',
      marcoString = marco_assertion;
    case 'question',
      marcoString = marco_question;
    case 'formula',
      marcoString = marco_formula;
  end
  marcoString = char(textwrap({marcoString},60));

%~~~Begin nested
functions~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  function outString = pick_one(varargin)
    outString = varargin{round(rand*(nargin-1)+1)};
    nChoices = numel(outString);
    switch nChoices,
      case 0,
        outString = '';
      case 1,
        outString = outString{1};
      otherwise,
        outString = outString{round(rand*(nChoices-1)+1)};
    end
  end

  function outString = add_article(outString)
    if isempty(regexp(outString,'^[aeiouAEIOU]+','once')),
      outString = ['a ',outString];
    else
      outString = ['an ',outString];
    end
  end

  function outString = marco_snippet
    switch round(rand*25),
      case 0,
        outString = 'certainly';
      case 1,
        outString = 'Lol... excuse me one moment';
      case 2,
        outString = ['is ',pick_one({},{'im'}),'possible'];
      case 3,
        outString = 'think to it';
      case 4,
        outString = 'i''m sure';
      case 5,
        outString = 'your spit';
      case 6,
        outString = ['if ',pick_one(noun,concept),' to me
are ',...
                     pick_one(noun,concept)];
      case 7,
        outString = ['if i ',pick_one(verb),' ',pick_one
(noun)];
      case 8,
        outString = [pick_one(adjective),'-',pick_one
(noun,concept)];
      case 9,
        outString = ['i ',pick_one({},{'don''t '}),pick_one
(verb),...
                     ' ',pick_one({},concept)];
      case 10,
        outString = [pick_one(adjective),' ',pick_one
(noun),' and ',...
                     pick_one(verb)];
      case 11,
        outString = ['not ',pick_one(adjective),' ',pick_one
(noun)];
      case 12,
        outString = [pick_one({},adjective),' ',pick_one
(noun),...
                     ' of ',pick_one(noun)];
      case 13,
        outString = ['of the ',pick_one(noun)];
      case 14,
        outString = ['to ',pick_one(verb)];
      case 15,
        outString = ['principle of ',pick_one
(noun,concept)];
      case 16,
        outString = ['there is',pick_one({},
{'n''t'}),' ',...
                     pick_one(noun,concept)];
      case 17,
        outString = ['my ',pick_one(noun,concept),'-
',pick_one(noun)];
      case 18,
        outString = ['my ',pick_one
(adjective,noun,value,concept),...
                     '-theory'];
      case 19,
        outString = [pick_one(number),' ',pick_one
(noun,concept)];
      case 20,
        outString = [pick_one(concept),' ',pick_one
(verb),' ',...
                     pick_one(noun)];
      case 21,
        outString = [pick_one(concept),' is ',pick_one
(noun,adjective)];
      case 22,
        outString = [pick_one({},verb),' with ',pick_one
(concept)];
      case 23,
        outString = ['with ',marco_formula,'
and ',marco_formula];
      case 24,
        outString = ['not ',pick_one(concept),'
is ',pick_one(noun),...
                     ' without ',pick_one(concept)];
      case 25,
        outString = [pick_one({},noun),' is',pick_one({},
{'n''t'}),' ',...
                     pick_one(adjective)];
    end
  end

  function outString = marco_assertion
    switch round(rand*30),
      case 0,
        outString = [pick_one({},{'Listen
me, '}),marco_snippet,...
                     '...
but ',marco_snippet,'... ',marco_snippet];
      case 1,
        outString = pick_one(verb);
        outString = [pick_one(concept),' ',outString,'
inside us... ',...
                     outString,' ',pick_one(concept),...
                     pick_one({},{' and'}),' ',pick_one
(concept)];
      case 2,
        outString = ['i''m ',pick_one(noun),' with
possibility to ',...
                     pick_one(verb),' ',pick_one(noun)];
      case 3,
        outString = ['i''m ',pick_one(adjective),', but
i''ve ',...
                     pick_one(verb,noun,concept)];
      case 4,
        outString = [pick_one(concept),' of me in a copy
of ',...
                     pick_one(noun,concept)];
      case 5,
        outString = [marco_snippet,' and also
other ',marco_snippet];
      case 6,
        outString = ['to ',pick_one(verb),' is
necessary ',...
                     pick_one(adjective),' ',pick_one
(noun,concept)];
      case 7,
        outString = [marco_snippet,' and ',marco_snippet,'
is ',...
                     pick_one(concept)];
      case 8,
        outString = [marco_snippet,' is ',marco_snippet,'
or ',...
                     marco_snippet];
      case 9,
        outString = pick_one(adjective);
        outString = [pick_one(concept),'
is ',outString,', ',...
                     pick_one(noun),' ',pick_one
({outString},adjective)];
      case 10,
        outString = [pick_one(concept),' must be constantly
to ',...
                     pick_one(concept),'-',pick_one(noun)];
      case 11,
        outString = pick_one(concept);
        outString = [outString,' is an anti-',...
                     pick_one({outString},concept)];
      case 12,
        outString = ['i''ve ',add_article(pick_one
(noun,concept)),...
                     ', in my mind is all perfect'];
      case 13,
        outString = ['i ',pick_one(verb),' ',...
                     add_article(pick_one
(adjective)),' ',...
                     pick_one(noun),...
                     ', this action is possible because
exist also ',...
                     pick_one(noun,concept)];
      case 14,
        outString = [pick_one(noun),' ',pick_one
(verb),' ',...
                     pick_one(concept),' of ',pick_one
(noun),' and ',...
                     marco_snippet];
      case 15,
        outString = ['I''ve formula ',marco_formula,...
                     ' and current is been interpretated to
me how ',...
                     marco_snippet];
      case 16,
        outString = pick_one(adjective);
        outString = [outString,' ',pick_one(noun),...
                     ' is the same thing to say
i''m ',outString,...
                     '... but i''m not ',outString];
      case 17,
        outString = [marco_formula,...
                     '... result is... with an error of +
or - '];
      case 18,
        outString = {pick_one(noun); pick_one(adjective)};
        outString = ['my ',outString{1},' isn''t ',outString
{2},...
                     ' (don''t exist ',outString
{2},' ',outString{1},')'];
      case 19,
        outString = pick_one(concept);
        outString = [outString,' of the ',pick_one
(noun,concept),' is ',...
                     outString,' of the ',pick_one
(noun,concept)];
      case 20,
        outString = ['my ',pick_one(concept),' is
only ',marco_formula,...
                     ' or ',marco_formula,...
                     '... my interpretation isn''t in
error'];
      case 21,
        outString = 'don''t exist error';
      case 22,
        outString = ['my proposal is ',pick_one(concept),'
of ',...
                     pick_one(noun)];
      case 23,
        outString = 'Matlab, in the program languages, is
MATLAB';
      case 24,
        outString = [pick_one(noun),' is ',pick_one
(adjective),...
                     ', i''ve perception'];
      case 25,
        outString = ['Brain is ',add_article(pick_one
(noun,concept)),...
                     '-container'];
      otherwise,
        outString = pick_one(noun,concept,{marco_snippet});
        for iAssertion = 1:round(rand*2),
          outString = [outString,'... ',...
                       pick_one(noun,concept,
{marco_snippet})];
        end
    end
    switch round(rand*19),
      case 0,
        outString = [outString,'!'];
      case 1,
        outString = [outString,'.'];
      case 2,
        outString = [outString,':'];
      case 3,
        outString = [outString,','];
      otherwise,
        outString = [outString,'...'];
    end
  end

  function outString = marco_question
    switch round(rand*18),
      case 0,
        outString = 'Are we same opinion?';
      case 1,
        outString = 'Afterwards?';
      case 2,
        outString = 'What is, for you, mathematics?';
      case 3,
        outString = 'If is illogical... can i to understand
motivation?';
      case 4,
        outString = ['If my theory is in error... ',...
                     'can i to know where and because?'];
      case 5,
        outString = ['If i write ',marco_formula];
        switch round(rand*2),
          case 0,
          case 1,
            outString = [outString,' or ',marco_formula];
          case 2,
            outString = [outString,' or ',marco_formula,'
or ',...
                         marco_formula];
        end
        outString = [outString,'... are nonsense?'];
      case 6,
        outString = ['How can i work with ',pick_one
(concept),'?'];
      case 7,
        outString = add_article(pick_one(adjective));
        outString = ['How is possible to
obtain ',outString,' ',...
                     pick_one(noun,concept),'
or ',outString,' ',...
                     pick_one(noun,concept),'?'];
      case 8,
        outString = ['Where is contradiction in
my ',pick_one(noun),'?'];
      case 9,
        outString = ['How is possible ',pick_one
(concept),'?'];
      case 10,
        outString = ['Where is ',pick_one
(noun,concept),'?'];
      case 11,
        outString = [pick_one(adjective),' ',pick_one
(noun),'?'];
      case 12,
        outString = ['What? Value of ',pick_one(value),'?'];
      case 13,
        outString = [pick_one(noun,concept),'?'];
      otherwise,
        outString = [marco_snippet,'?'];
    end
  end

  function outString = marco_formula
    switch round(rand*8),
      case 0,
        outString = ['(',pick_one(value,number),pick_one({'-
'},{'+'}),...
                     pick_one(value,number),')/',pick_one
(number),'=',...
                     pick_one(value,number)];
      case 1,
        outString = [pick_one(value),'*',pick_one(value),'=
(',...
                     pick_one(value),'+',pick_one
(value),')/2'];
      case 2,
        outString = [pick_one(number),'=',pick_one
(value),...
                     pick_one({'-'},{'+'}),pick_one
(value,number)];
      otherwise,
        outString = pick_one(value,number);
        outString = [outString,'=',pick_one
({outString},value,number)];
    end
  end

  function outString = marco_rant
    outString = '';
    for iRant = 1:round(rand*10+5),
      switch round(rand*4),
        case 0,
          outString = [outString,' ',marco_question];
        case 1,
          outString = [outString,' ',marco_formula,'...'];
        otherwise,
          outString = [outString,' ',marco_assertion];
      end
    end
    outString = [outString(2:end),' ',pick_one(goodbye)];
  end

%~~~End nested
functions~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

end

Sorry if the formatting got a little screwed up...

Ken

In article <g249tm$49t$1@fred.mathworks.com>,
Kenneth Eaton <Kenneth.dot.Eaton@cchmc.dot.org> wrote:
>I think most of us know who Marco is by now. I for one am
>fairly annoyed with all the garbage he posts, but that is
>the cost of free speech. I think many of us have tried to
>reason with him, obviously to no avail.

No. I checked all of the articles my newsreader stores back
to late November 2007, and all of the articles I found with
names that were some variant on Marco were serious questions
(asked at various Matlab skill levels and with various English
skill levels.) Some of them learned faster than others, but
in my assessment, not one of them was a "problem".

Perhaps you were referring to someone who only posts comments
on the FEX, or only in some other newsgroup, but *I*, at least,
have no idea who you are refering to.
--
  "Every intellectual product must be judged from the point of view
  of the age and the people in which it was produced."
                                              -- Walter Horatio Pater

> Perhaps you were referring to someone who only posts
comments
> on the FEX, or only in some other newsgroup, but *I*, at
least,
> have no idea who you are refering to.

Sorry if it was unclear. I was refering to someone who goes
only by "Marco" and has posted numerous files to the FEX
that make absolutely no sense whatsoever.

Ken

roberson@ibd.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca (Walter Roberson) wrote in message
<g24ago$3ti$1@canopus.cc.umanitoba.ca>...
> In article <g249tm$49t$1@fred.mathworks.com>,
> Kenneth Eaton <Kenneth.dot.Eaton@cchmc.dot.org> wrote:
> >I think most of us know who Marco is by now. I for one am
> >fairly annoyed with all the garbage he posts, but that is
> >the cost of free speech. I think many of us have tried to
> >reason with him, obviously to no avail.
>
> No. I checked all of the articles my newsreader stores back
> to late November 2007, and all of the articles I found with
> names that were some variant on Marco were serious questions
> (asked at various Matlab skill levels and with various English
> skill levels.) Some of them learned faster than others, but
> in my assessment, not one of them was a "problem".
>
> Perhaps you were referring to someone who only posts comments
> on the FEX, or only in some other newsgroup, but *I*, at least,
> have no idea who you are refering to.
> --
> "Every intellectual product must be judged from the point of view
> of the age and the people in which it was produced."
> -- Walter Horatio Pater

Look on the file exchange.

What kind of dressing do you take with
your word salad? Wild mushrooms on top.
Spam might go well with it too, maybe a
little diced troll.

John

In article <g24b6t$jf2$1@fred.mathworks.com>,
Kenneth Eaton <Kenneth.dot.Eaton@cchmc.dot.org> wrote:

>Sorry if it was unclear. I was refering to someone who goes
>only by "Marco" and has posted numerous files to the FEX
>that make absolutely no sense whatsoever.

username Marco, but comments are From: Marco Pittaluga ?


--
  "To the modern spirt nothing is, or can be rightly known,
  except relatively and under conditions." -- Walter Pater

> username Marco, but comments are From: Marco Pittaluga ?

Yep, that's him.

I haven't looked at your code, but I like the idea. It may
come in handy when I want to sound like the dark,
misunderstood, eccentric scientist/genius type. Of course it
will only fool those with no scientific background
whatsoever....

:-D That's hilarious. You should post it on the File
Exchange, under "Games". It beats "why"!

>> marco

ans =

What? Value of pi? present of me in a copy of code, Where
is contradiction in my PC? number-association... zero is
external? How is possible space? What? Value of pi? my
Universe-container isn't indeterminate (don't exist
indeterminate Universe-container)... pi=Inf... result is...
with an error of + or - ... Where is contradiction in my
model? i've a me, in my mind is all perfect, pi*NaN=
(NaN+pi)/2... i'm area with possibility to consider
dimension... inf*pi= (NaN+pi)/2... thanks

Hey, I am at work. That description of the input argument
'formula' and the corresponding outputs made me laugh too
hard for a businesslike environment! Funny stuff.



Matt Fig

Pi/Inf = exp(NaN/0)

in Boccadasse

cryptic code written badly
 
meaning never clear



Scott

"Kenneth Eaton" <Kenneth.dot.Eaton@cchmc.dot.org> wrote in message
<g249tm$49t$1@fred.mathworks.com>...
> I think most of us know who Marco is by now. I for one am
> fairly annoyed with all the garbage he posts, but that is
> the cost of free speech. I think many of us have tried to
> reason with him, obviously to no avail. So I figured I'd
> have a little fun and exercise my own freedom of speech...
>
> I was feeling mischievous the other day, and was inspired
> by some comments people were posting trying to mimic
> Marco's unintelligible explanations. I decided to write my
> own software version of Marco: a Marco Mad Libs generator.
> Yes, now you too can sound just like Marco! Do we really
> want more people sounding like Marco? Probably not... but I
> thought everyone might get a kick out of it anyway.
>
> Although the code is about 500 lines, I am cutting and
> pasting it in here. I was reluctant to post it to the
> FEX... Lord knows I don't want to end up like another
> Marco, posting code that generates nothing but gibberish.
> The newsgroup seems like a slightly less inappropriate
> place to share this than the FEX. ;)
>
> Have fun, and hopefully this will ease frustrations,

By the way, this was truly splendid, a work
of art.

John

"John D'Errico" <woodchips@rochester.rr.com> wrote in
...
> By the way, this was truly splendid, a work
> of art.
>
> John

I agree! Post it, please please, under the "games"
category. I had to fix the formatting glitches, above, to
get it to work. I'll rate it a 5. It's absolutely
hilarious. Automatic generation of terribly treadled
treacle ... it's great!

One suggestion: you should add an input that makes the code
repeatable, like "why" has. why(42), for example, gives the
42nd reason why. That way, if someone finds a particularly
clever one, they can just say, "Why? The answer is given by
marco(42).". Also, just call the function "marco", not
"marco_mad_lib".

Here's my suggestion. marco(string) does what you now do.
marco(n) initializes rand to rand('state',n), selects a
string at random (rant, assertion, question, formula), then
continues as you now do. marco(string,n) initializes
rand('state',n), but does not select the string at random.
Or maybe you want marco(n,string), as in marco(42,'rant'),
the 42nd random marco rant.

You realize of course, that the analysis of this Marco code
would require the use of some heavy-duty Marco(v) Chain
Models :-).

I want to thank you.
I didn't know this guy and have a look to his contributions.
Impressive !

I agree other for putting this code in the FEX.

Caroline
(sorry for my poor english, it's soon time to go back to
home here and my brain is quite down)

"Tim Davis" <davis@cise.ufl.edu> wrote in message
<g260f9$6la$1@fred.mathworks.com>...
> "John D'Errico" <woodchips@rochester.rr.com> wrote in
> ...
> > By the way, this was truly splendid, a work
> > of art.
> >
> > John
>
> I agree! Post it, please please, under the "games"
> category. I had to fix the formatting glitches, above,
to
> get it to work. I'll rate it a 5. It's absolutely
> hilarious.

Please post the fantastic Macro aphorism generator to the
FEX for all to enjoy in their own space-time. The
cyclomatic complexity is only 34, perhaps you could add
self-modifying nested recursive functions to increase this
metric towards Inf-eps.

Will the Mathworks please assign NaN as the FEX ID for this
code?

Ken

I appreciate all of the positive feedback, and I've heard
some good ideas for improving the code. However, I'm
reluctant to post it to the FEX. Firstly, since the code is
targeted at a specific individual, I don't think it is
really appropriate or wise to post it on the FEX since
Marco might complain to or make trouble for the Mathworks.

Secondly, although the code may be very entertaining, I
don't think it is substantial or generally useful enough to
warrant posting to the FEX. Call me a purist, but I think
the FEX should be used for more utilitarian purposes.
Granted, there IS a "Games" section, but the games on there
often stand as good coding examples (GUI design, etc.) and
don't single out specific individuals for a laugh.

I would urge people wanting to share this code NOT to post
it to the FEX. It's a better idea to just keep this an
inside-the-newsgroup joke. ;)

Ken

So change it to "FEXtroll_mad_libs" instead of
"marco_mad_libs" and remove any mention of Marco in the code.

"Kenneth Eaton" <Kenneth.dot.Eaton@cchmc.dot.org> wrote in
message <g26is4$ohn$1@fred.mathworks.com>...
>
> I appreciate all of the positive feedback, and I've heard
> some good ideas for improving the code. However, I'm
> reluctant to post it to the FEX. Firstly, since the code
is
> targeted at a specific individual, I don't think it is
> really appropriate or wise to post it on the FEX since
> Marco might complain to or make trouble for the Mathworks.
>
> Secondly, although the code may be very entertaining, I
> don't think it is substantial or generally useful enough
to
> warrant posting to the FEX. Call me a purist, but I think
> the FEX should be used for more utilitarian purposes.
> Granted, there IS a "Games" section, but the games on
there
> often stand as good coding examples (GUI design, etc.)
and
> don't single out specific individuals for a laugh.
>
> I would urge people wanting to share this code NOT to
post
> it to the FEX. It's a better idea to just keep this an
> inside-the-newsgroup joke. ;)
>
> Ken

I agree with Ken not to put this on the FEX, especially
since Marco seems to like the negative attention he gets
from these discussions. I recommend to rate his submissions
as poor with a comment "spam". No fun for him this way.

Jos

"Matt Fig" <spamanon@yahoo.com> wrote in message
<g26km5$jrn$1@fred.mathworks.com>...
> So change it to "FEXtroll_mad_libs" instead of
> "marco_mad_libs" and remove any mention of Marco in the code.
>

That's a good idea. Leave out Marco's name. Just call the
code something simple, like "ramble".

In article <g26q2m$qkj$1@fred.mathworks.com>, Jos <DELjos@jasenDEL.nl> wrote:

>I recommend to rate his submissions
>as poor with a comment "spam".

I would reserve "spam" for advertising, chain letters, 419's (advance
fee fraud) and the like. There are many other terms available for those
things that are difficult to comprehend.
--
  "The first draught serveth for health, the second for pleasure,
  the third for shame, the fourth for madness." -- Sir Walter Raleigh

roberson@ibd.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca (Walter Roberson) wrote in
message <g26qkk$fh$1@canopus.cc.umanitoba.ca>...
> In article <g26q2m$qkj$1@fred.mathworks.com>, Jos
<DELjos@jasenDEL.nl> wrote:
>
> >I recommend to rate his submissions
> >as poor with a comment "spam".
>
> I would reserve "spam" for advertising, chain letters,
419's (advance
> fee fraud) and the like. There are many other terms
available for those
> things that are difficult to comprehend.
> --

Difficult or impossible?

Jos

"Tim Davis" <davis@cise.ufl.edu> wrote in message
<g26q8a$skj$1@fred.mathworks.com>...
> "Matt Fig" <spamanon@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> <g26km5$jrn$1@fred.mathworks.com>...
> > So change it to "FEXtroll_mad_libs" instead of
> > "marco_mad_libs" and remove any mention of Marco in the
code.
> >
>
> That's a good idea. Leave out Marco's name. Just call
the
> code something simple, like "ramble".
>

I agree with that. It'd be a pity to not share this piece
of art - and encourage the community to contribute to the
effort as well.
Perhaps Marco could be mentioned as a source of
inspiration, when the code is posted.

"Jos " <DELjos@jasenDEL.nl> wrote in message <g26sn2
$19a$1@fred.mathworks.com>...
> roberson@ibd.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca (Walter Roberson) wrote in
> message <g26qkk$fh$1@canopus.cc.umanitoba.ca>...
> > In article <g26q2m$qkj$1@fred.mathworks.com>, Jos
> <DELjos@jasenDEL.nl> wrote:
> >
> > >I recommend to rate his submissions
> > >as poor with a comment "spam".
> >
> > I would reserve "spam" for advertising, chain letters,
> 419's (advance
> > fee fraud) and the like. There are many other terms
> available for those
> > things that are difficult to comprehend.
> > --
>
> Difficult or impossible?
>
> Jos

What's wrong with calling it like it is: "troll"

What makes you guys think that Marco is a real person in
the first place? Perhaps we have all failed the Fringe
Science Turing test, with all the postings (both text and
*CODE*) having been generated automatically. Perhaps the
joke has been on all of us from the beginning.

In keeping with the spirit of this effort, adding in
phrases from John Baez's crackpot checklist (e.g.,
comparing oneself to Galileo or Einstein), or from
postmodern analysis (yes, it's been done) would be
interesting in MATLAB, make it more entertaining, and
perhaps make it a little less personal to Marco. Who I
suspect is not human.

Scott

"Scott " <millers@yoyodyne.com> wrote in message
<g2bq8t$iqn$1@fred.mathworks.com>...
> What makes you guys think that Marco is a real person in
> the first place? Perhaps we have all failed the Fringe
> Science Turing test, with all the postings (both text and
> *CODE*) having been generated automatically. Perhaps the
> joke has been on all of us from the beginning.

Oops... did I let the cat out of the bag? Maybe the entity
we know as "Marco" is just Deep Blue trying to learn to do
something other than play chess?

If so, it should just stick to chess.
Ken

"Kenneth Eaton" <Kenneth.dot.Eaton@cchmc.dot.org> wrote in message
<g2brga$2m4$1@fred.mathworks.com>...
> "Scott " <millers@yoyodyne.com> wrote in message
> <g2bq8t$iqn$1@fred.mathworks.com>...
> > What makes you guys think that Marco is a real person in
> > the first place? Perhaps we have all failed the Fringe
> > Science Turing test, with all the postings (both text and
> > *CODE*) having been generated automatically. Perhaps the
> > joke has been on all of us from the beginning.
>
> Oops... did I let the cat out of the bag? Maybe the entity
> we know as "Marco" is just Deep Blue trying to learn to do
> something other than play chess?
>
> If so, it should just stick to chess.

Could this be the birth of skynet?

John

>Who I suspect is not human.
>
> Scott

I'll admit I made an error in trying to give this entity
known as Macro a counter example to the assertion that if a
square and a circle have the same perimeter, they have the
same error. I did this on the, what can only be termed,
'thread' of reviews for Pi_value. My mistake, won't happen
again.

P.S. If Deep Blue thought like that, Kasparov would still
have his ego untarnished.

a simple comment:
i am very sad about this thread on our NG.
until now, CSSM has never been (ab)used as a vehicle to
single out, bash up, and/or target a particular individual -
 no matter how troll-ish or foolish - or even abusive -
the person might have presented him/her-self here or on the
FEX; this kind of cheap shot simply was not an option.
moreover, and to be overtly honest, i am extremely sad to
see some of the most seasoned and prolific contributors on
both the NG and the FEX chime in - for a cheap laughter(?,
we all realize that this thread will get the ML community
nowhere other than possibly pushing this particular person
to even darker limits).
and yes, i saw the strange contributions on the FEX - in my
view, however
- they simply exaggerate a lot of what one sees these days
on the FEX (and could you all really say that you have all
of them rated appropriately...)
- they prove (much to my relief) that TMW does NOT censor
any contribution no matter how questionable or silly they
are
- they show that our ML is able to patiently handle even
the most LISP-ic requests

just a few thoughts
us

In article <g2cltv$kvd$1@fred.mathworks.com>,
 "us " <us@neurol.unizh.ch> wrote:

> a simple comment:
> i am very sad about this thread on our NG.
> until now, CSSM has never been (ab)used as a vehicle to
> single out, bash up, and/or target a particular individual -
> no matter how troll-ish or foolish - or even abusive -
> the person might have presented him/her-self here or on the
> FEX; this kind of cheap shot simply was not an option.
> moreover, and to be overtly honest, i am extremely sad to
> see some of the most seasoned and prolific contributors on
> both the NG and the FEX chime in - for a cheap laughter(?,
> we all realize that this thread will get the ML community
> nowhere other than possibly pushing this particular person
> to even darker limits).
> and yes, i saw the strange contributions on the FEX - in my
> view, however
> - they simply exaggerate a lot of what one sees these days
> on the FEX (and could you all really say that you have all
> of them rated appropriately...)
> - they prove (much to my relief) that TMW does NOT censor
> any contribution no matter how questionable or silly they
> are
> - they show that our ML is able to patiently handle even
> the most LISP-ic requests
>
> just a few thoughts
> us


Well said, Urs, I agree completely. The best thing to do in such cases
is to ignore the offending person. It has the dual benefit of
maximizing the probability of the person going away and keeping your
conscience clear.

--
Doug Schwarz
dmschwarz&ieee,org
Make obvious changes to get real email address.

<snip>
> Well said, Urs, I agree completely. The best thing to do
in such cases
> is to ignore the offending person. It has the dual
benefit of
> maximizing the probability of the person going away and
keeping your
> conscience clear.
>
> --
> Doug Schwarz
> dmschwarz&ieee,org
> Make obvious changes to get real email address.

I'm sure the OP is horrified that this got as much
attention as it has. I'm also sure this was written for fun
and was largely seen as just that. I saw on Marco's blog
that he was basically delighted by it (I guess it means he
is getting attention) and was depicting this thread there
so obviously nobody was offended.

The program is ingenious and hilarious and no people or
animals were harmed during development. <grin>

Scott

> I'm sure the OP is horrified that this got as much
> attention as it has. I'm also sure this was written for
fun
> and was largely seen as just that. I saw on Marco's blog
> that he was basically delighted by it (I guess it means
he
> is getting attention) and was depicting this thread there
> so obviously nobody was offended.

I would have to say I'm certainly surprised at how many
responses/views this has gotten. I only really expected a
few of the more outspoken critics of Marco to take
interest, but we've clearly heard a wide swath of opinions
on the matter.

As a little background, I'll briefly explain my
outlook/worldview. When presented with adverse situations,
my first resort is logic and reason. I attempted this in
some of my comments to Marco, to no avail. Once I find
myself in a situation that seems hopelessly frustrating, I
tend to then resort to humor (maybe I've watched too much
Keith Olbermann or The Daily Show =) ).

The code I wrote was certainly made in fun. If there's one
good thing you can say about Marco, it's that he at least
appears to have a decent enough sense of humor, judging by
the fact that he seems almost flattered by this thread. The
freedom of the FEX/CSSM allows Marco to post whatever he
wishes, but it also gives us the chance to respond in
whatever way we feel is warranted. Obviously, I prefer to
respond in a joking and light-hearted manner.

Ken