On Thu, 22 Mar 2007, Chad Perrin wrote: > On Thu, Mar 22, 2007 at 07:17:29AM +0900, ara.t.howard / noaa.gov wrote: >> >> can you give an example of some data which were not processed by at least >> one >> peice of software, hardware, or meatware (people) before they were stored? > > Wait -- we're talking about human beings as "applications" now!? heh. no, not quite ;-) i'm just pointing out the various steps which take place before data are stored information -> applications -> data -> applications -> hopefully new information but most people visulalize this like so data -> applications -> hopefully new information and in reality it's something more like ... information -> applications -> data -> applications -> information -> applications -> data -> applications -> information -> applications -> data -> applications -> information -> applications -> data -> applications -> ... it's simply a mistake to consider the data some sort of ultimate 'starting point' imho. -a -- be kind whenever possible... it is always possible. - the dalai lama