Harehunter

I've just had to completely rewrite all my unix shell scripts to work in an environment of virtual machines. Almost all lower case until I get to variable names. Using mixed case makes it easier to read. Then there is that confounded row of special symbols where I have to reach the furthest to get to.

 

Consarned new-fangled gadgets!

That is because in some ways we are all different types of people.

vive le diversity!

I took typing in high school, at my mother's urging, and I got up to 47 wpm on a manual typewriter. That sucker required a hefty hand to move the keys. When I started working on terminals and PCs, I got up to about 80+ wpm in spurts. Flying Fingers Finnigan strikes again. When the Parkinson's hit me, I dropped to about 10 wpm because I had to use my right hand exclusively. With the new meds working pretty good, I'm back up to about 50-60wpm.

Sorry about all that. I've been having pun elsewhere. I need inspiration to pull off a stream like this one.

 

Talking about old computers and data storage on the Pictures thread.

 

And to think that a mere 30+ years ago, people used punched cards for storage. By the way, has anyone seen Chad hanging around lately? The last time I saw him, he was pretty tensed out. He needs to learn to let the chips fall where they may. I seem to have misplaced my bit bucket, as well. I need it so I can repair these cards with holes in them. With out them, I'm going to feel all out of sorts. I guess I'd better wrap this up before some tries to deck me.

 

 

Later we got onto the subject of

shift key usage

 

 

The presumptive purveyor of puns must pace his patter to preserve the potency of his putrid product.

 

(What's a little alliteration among friends?)

Mostly left shift only, touch type the caps lock, and usually shun the right shift. What with the cursor keys, the numeric keypad and the mouse, let the left hand do its share.

I used to use the right shift key when I had to use a typewriter. But with the advent of the computer, with all those extra keys to the right, just begging for attention, then the introduction of the mouse, my right hand just became too busy to deal with the annoying business of that key, so he became shiftless.

Paranoia is a healthy attribute for Database Administrators. I have backups of my backups, and backups of those backups at an offsite location. I do the same thing with my personal machine at home, except I don't have an offsite location. I wonder if I shouldn't check out Carbonite?

At the time Steve invented the Apple II computer, Personal Computers looked like this .

Actually, I thought I was weird for doing the same thing. It is good to know that I am in good company.

You know you're an Oracle programmer if you can touch-type the Caps-Lock key.

Canines abhor a vacuum. And, no I didn't blow a tube, but I did blow off some steam. Look out Stanley, I'm chugging through.

Now I have used a few AlGorithms in my career as a programmer. They come in pretty handy for solving some problems. Has anyone seen my slide ruler?

And to think he was three years my junior. May each day be a blessing that we may enjoy to the fullest, with family and friends to share that joy. May the Jobs family have solace in their time of grief of a man who passed away, much too early.

Nice toupee.

Once upon a time, a half a lifetime ago, before the invention of the internet (my god I feel ancient) people used to sit down and write with their hand (hence the origin of the term 'handwriting') a brief correspondence with their friends and family. Long-distant calling was available, but it was too Price-y (I was wondering where Vincent came from). It was also common to foot-note their letters with their next chess move. (Seque Avernum 3, the two huts on either side of the ogre infested pass.)

And to think that a mere 30+ years ago, people used punched cards for storage. By the way, has anyone seen Chad hanging around lately? The last time I saw him, he was pretty tensed out. He needs to learn to let the chips fall where they may. I seem to have misplaced my bit bucket, as well. I need it so I can repair these cards with holes in them. With out them, I'm going to feel all out of sorts. I guess I'd better wrap this up before some tries to deck me.

Actually, its sort of like postal chess. It gives us time to digest each others arguments, research your facts ( spewing false information on this forum of well educated people will draw 100 verbal lashes), and compose a thoughtful and respectfully worded response. If you like reality show arguments, there are plenty of those. (BTW, whatever happened to Jerry Springer?)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Yosimite Sam and Sylvester Cat are in cahoots against Bugs Bunny and Tweety Bird...
(What is a 'cahoot' anyway? Some strange cross breed of a cat and an owl?)

Interestingly, land navigation is one of the skills they taught me in the army. I developed the knack of 'seeing' a two-dimensional topographic map in 'three' dimensions. In fact I had the highest score in my training company. Of course, I was a lot younger and a lot more fit back then. ;-)

If fact, I even had hair on top of my now bald pate! :-D

But you know what they say...

When I was a soldier, I cussed as a soldier. When I became a civilian, I had to become more civilian. civility... civil!
It may seem silly, or hypocritical to some, to use profanity in private, and refrain from it where minors are concerned, especially since the theatres are full of movies that are full of violence and profanity. But it certainly doesn't hurt us to try to be more polite to each other.

Back on topic... I have had a little experience with First Person Shooter games, and have found them to be repetitive and boring. DOOM, Hexen, Heretic. Once through and I was done. Exile, Avernum, Myst. They get replayed so much I've worn the shiny off the bits. I've even put together a few maps for other players to enjoy. Give me more story, more thoughtful encounters. These, I relish.

Sometimes you remind me of me.

I suppose I need to brush up on my sense of what is meant as a joke. Political Correctness here in the states has run amok and is getting people fired from their jobs. Maybe you can assist me in recognizing what you intend as a joke.

I don't know. What say we drop this topic and move back to the original subject. If any one wishes to continue further in this vein, we can start another thread.

Pax?

If you're looking for an argument from me, you won't find one. Too many DOD projects are un-needed and un-wanted. And the process by which government contracts are handed out is a political boondoggle. Add to that the tremendous additional waste of money charged to the government by those contractors, money they are are required to spend in order to meet regulations. And I am not going to argue that there is not a lot of fraudulent billing done by those corporations, fraud that was supposed to be prevented by those expensive regulations.

The only benefit is that it is one of few things the federal government can do that directly produces jobs. You may freely debate over the worth of these jobs, but there they are.

Actually, not quite right by my understanding. They do know that taxes are a necessary thing for the government to have the resources to provide what the government should provide. One key part of the debate is about how much government we should have at the federal level, and how much should be left at the state and local level. Another key part is, when it is said that the 'rich' people need to be taxed more, just who are those 'rich' people. If a person earns more than $250,000, are they 'rich'? And how does taxing corporations more increase job opportunities? What does 're-distribution of wealth' mean? Does the federal government have the right to force individual citizens to purchase anything? And why did we put over half a billion dollars in a company which had already been determined that it would fail? I know the government funds a lot of 'basic' research which produces no immediate product, but without it no future breakthroughs can be achieved. I know that government subsidies are important to prop up industries that are vital, or at least of significant economic importance. But to throw such money into a hole that has no chance of producing any long term employment, that's a crying shame.


Actually, speaking strictly as a veteran, I do agree that once our military personnel have been deployed, they should be supplied with whatever resources they need to survive. I don't agree with the notion that all our current deployments were justified or necessary. I do believe that it is past time to end such deployments, which would in fact reduce the need for military funding.

Filofax? Who remembers Microfiche? No, I am serious this time.

I guess you're right, Slarty. These are volatile political times we live in. It is easy to touch off a firestorm with this group. I have enjoyed the debates you and I have engaged in.

Now you know why I loved the Null Magic Fields to prevent them from using their magic against you.