[SGVLUG] OT [was: New Linux Lug]

[Emerson, Tom]

-----Original Message-----
Don Gibbs

I offer, without comment, for your browsing pleasure


http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2006-023

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OK, well, I'll comment...

One line in this reads

   "... They conducted a nearly comprehensive survey of Greenland glacial ice discharge rates ..."

What exactly does "nearly comprehensive" mean?  I know that lots of car makers tout their "virtually maintenance free" cars and engines, and I have a blast replacing "virtually" with the synonymous term "not really", so I'm tempted to replace "nearly" with "almost", which makes for a significant statement:

   ... They conducted an almost comprehensive study ...

Hmmm... sounds like they "almost" have enough data to base a hypothesis upon...

I suspect the intent, though, was to convey that it was a /very/ comprehensive study, and that collecting any further data wouldn't significantly change their results at this point, but it isn't worded that way...