whalesong n.
The peculiar clicking and whooshing sounds made by a PEP modem
such as the Telebit Trailblazer as it tries to synchronize with
another PEP modem for their special high-speed mode. This sound
isn't anything like the normal two-tone handshake between
conventional V-series modems and is instantly recognizable to
anyone who has heard it more than once. It sounds, in fact, very
much like whale songs. This noise is also called "the moose call"
or "moose tones".
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[XEROX PARC] This phrase expands to: "You have just used a
term that I've heard for a year and a half, and I feel I should
know, but don't. My curiosity has finally overcome my guilt." The
PARC lexicon adds "Moral: don't hesitate to ask questions, even
if they seem obvious."