SMOKE AND MIRRORS
\smˈə͡ʊk and mˈɪɹəz], \smˈəʊk and mˈɪɹəz], \s_m_ˈəʊ_k a_n_d m_ˈɪ_ɹ_ə_z]\
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Marketing deceptions. The term is mainstream in this generalsense. Among hackers it's strongly associated with bogusdemos and crocked benchmarks (see also MIPS,machoflops). "They claim their new box cranks 50 MIPS forunder $5000, but didn't specify the instruction mix - soundslike smoke and mirrors to me." The phrase has been said toderive from carnie slang for magic acts and "freak show"displays that depend on "trompe l"oeil' effects, but alsocalls to mind the fierce Aztec god Tezcatlipoca (lit. "SmokingMirror") for whom the hearts of huge numbers of humansacrificial victims were regularly cut out. Upon hearingabout a rigged demo or yet another round of fantasy-basedmarketing promises, hackers often feel analogouslydisheartened.
By Denis Howe
Word of the day
Platidiam
- An inorganic water-soluble platinum complex. After undergoing hydrolysis, it reacts DNA produce both intra interstrand crosslinks. These crosslinks appear to impair replication and transcription of DNA. The cytotoxicity cisplatin correlates with cellular arrest in G2 phase cell cycle.
Nearby Words
- smogginess
- smoggy
- smokable
- smoke
- smoke alarm
- smoke and mirrors
- smoke ball
- smoke bomb
- smoke bush
- smoke grenade
- smoke hole