8 Nov
2010
8 Nov
'10
4:53 a.m.
On 7 Nov 2010, at 18:00, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote:
Message: 7
Date: Sat, 6 Nov 2010 21:15:55 +0000 (GMT)
From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell)
Subject: Re: Fragility in the floppy world (was Re: TRS-80 Model II
Manuals)
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Message-ID: <m1PEq7C-000J48C at p850ug1>
Content-Type: text/plain
Except that I am in the wrong country for this.
Do you _really_ want me to try it?
Definitely not, for one thing you would not be able to report back the result of the test
if successful, only if it failed.
A bit like testing the I/O instruction that a torpedo's processor issues to explode
its charge, and the code it executes afterwards. The Q.A. department of course would
insist that the absence of a detonator and charge might affect the result of the test so
must be connected up.
We do get into some weird discussions don't we, like guns. What's next? Using
classic computers for "sex and drugs and rock and roll"? World domination?
Extermination of parasites? Building of DNA molecules to breed a super intelligent
organism which will then decide to eliminate what it regards as parasites, the human race?
If you must go off at tangents, please at least change the subject line!
Roger Holmes
> Oh,
go ahead... But I beleive that cucifixion has never been used as a
>> suicide method.
> No. I've tried it dozens of times; there's just no way you can hammer in
> the last nail.
On Fri, 5 Nov 2010, Tony Duell wrote:
I have this image of 4 of those butane-powered
nailers used by builders
suitably arranged nad with a remote triggger facility. You get your arms
and legs in the right places, somehow press the switch and bang...
You might be able to get away with one of the Sears "Nextec" cordless
electric hammers. No I am NOT thinking of trying this.
So,
the technique remains untested. 
8 Nov
8 Nov
7:22 a.m.
New subject: Weird discussions, was Crucifixion (was Re: Fragility in the floppy world (was Re: TRS-80 Model II Manuals))
On 11/8/10 7:53 AM, Roger Holmes wrote:
We do get into some weird discussions don't we,
like guns. What's
next? Using classic computers for "sex and drugs and rock and roll"?
World domination? Extermination of parasites? Building of DNA
molecules to breed a super intelligent organism which will then
decide to eliminate what it regards as parasites, the human race?
I once dated a girl who was a DEC geek (she grew up around PDPs), and
she wanted to have, erm, "physical relations" atop my VAX 8700.
If you must go off at tangents, please at least change
the subject
line!
I did. =)
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire
Port Charlotte, FL
7:40 a.m.
New subject: Weird discussions, was Crucifixion (was Re: Fragility in the floppy world (was Re: TRS-80 Model II Manuals))
? I once dated a girl who was a DEC geek (she grew up
around PDPs), and she wanted to have, erm, "physical
relations" atop my VAX 8700.
Now we know the "real" reason the Cray-1 was C-shaped.
A whole new classification of computers!
- if you can have physical relations inside it, it's
a mainframe
- if you can have physical relations on top of it,
it's a mini-computer
- if you can get involved with someone who would
like to test those characteristics you're amazingly
lucky
BLS
8:28 a.m.
New subject: Weird discussions, was Crucifixion (was Re: Fragility in the floppy world (was Re: TRS-80 Model II Manuals))
I once dated a
girl who was a DEC geek (she grew up
around PDPs), and she wanted to have, erm, "physical
relations" atop my VAX 8700.
Now we know the "real" reason the Cray-1 was C-shaped.
A whole new classification of computers!
- if you can have physical relations inside it, it's
a mainframe
- if you can have physical relations on top of it,
it's a mini-computer
- if you can get involved with someone who would
like to test those characteristics you're amazingly
lucky 
10:56 a.m.
New subject: Crucifixion (was Re: Fragility in the floppy world (was Re: TRS-80 Model II Manuals))
It was thus said that the Great Roger Holmes once stated:
On 7 Nov 2010, at 18:00, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote:
Except that I am in the wrong country for this.
Do you _really_ want me to try it?
Definitely not, for one thing you would not be able to report back the
result of the test if successful, only if it failed.
A bit like testing the I/O instruction that a torpedo's processor issues
to explode its charge, and the code it executes afterwards. The Q.A.
department of course would insist that the absence of a detonator and
charge might affect the result of the test so must be connected up.
Back in college, I was working on a personal project [1] and I got stuck
when a problem in handing error conditions [2]. So I popped into one of my
professor's office, described the error condition I was trying to handle,
and he said, with all seriousness [3], "If you don't know how to handle the
error, don't check for the condition."
In retrospect, I think he was on to something ...
-spc (Then there's one of my favorite quotes: The death of God left the
angels in a strange position.)
[1] A BBS door game. Never did get it finished. I've forgotten which
BBS software it was for, but I do know it ran under MS-DOS.
[2] Since it was a BBS door, writing the error message to the screen was
no good as it would probably never be seen. Writing to the disk was
find, but what if the disk filled up? Okay, as a last resort, dump
the message to the printer. But if the printer was off line ...
[3] He was a former IBMer, so of course he meant business.
> Oh, go ahead... But I beleive that cucifixion has
never been used as a
>> suicide method.
> No. I've tried it dozens of times; there's just no way you can hammer in
> the last nail.
On Fri, 5 Nov 2010, Tony Duell wrote:
I have this image of 4 of those butane-powered
nailers used by builders
suitably arranged nad with a remote triggger facility. You get your arms
and legs in the right places, somehow press the switch and bang...
You might be able to get away with one of the Sears "Nextec" cordless
electric hammers. No I am
NOT thinking of trying this.
So, the technique remains untested. 
12:37 p.m.
New subject: Crucifixion (was Re: Fragility in the floppy world (was Re: TRS-80
Do you
_really_ want me to try it?
Definitely not, for one thing you would not be able to report back the =
result of the test if successful, only if it failed.
A bit like testing the I/O instruction that a torpedo's processor issues =
to explode its charge, and the code it executes afterwards. The Q.A. =
The only sane things to put there are surely a CPU halt or BR .-2 or
similar.
-tony
12:47 p.m.
New subject: Crucifixion (was Re: Fragility in the floppy world (was Re: TRS-80
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-
bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Tony Duell
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 12:37 PM
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: Crucifixion (was Re: Fragility in the floppy world (was
Re: TRS-80
the =
How about HCF? -- Ian
Do you
_really_ want me to try it?
Definitely not, for one thing you would not be able to report back result of the test if successful, only if it
failed.
I believe that crucifixion is a slow (and painful) death. In which case
I
could presumably find a way to send a message after I was nailed up
(perhaps using one of those input devices for disable people that only
requires a single-bit input, say an pressure sensor operated by sucking
a
tube. Steve Ciarcia described one in an Circuit Cellar article in Byte
years ago). At least then you'd know the nailing was successful.
I am still not intending to try it...
A bit like testing the I/O instruction that a torpedo's processor
issues =
to explode its charge, and the code it executes
afterwards. The Q.A.
=
The only sane things to put there are surely a CPU halt or BR .-2 or
similar.
12:28 p.m.
New subject: ProFiles scans...
...are complete from the collection I had. Another 20+ issues went up on
Saturday and I updated the descriptions a bit on Sunday.
http://www.retroarchive.org
g.
--
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
http://www.simpits.org/geneb - The Me-109F/X Project
ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
http://www.scarletdme.org - Get it _today_!
Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical
minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which
holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd
by the clean end.
2:34 p.m.
New subject: ProFiles scans...
On Nov 8, 2010, at 3:28 PM, Gene Buckle wrote:
...are complete from the collection I had. Another
20+ issues went up on Saturday and I updated the descriptions a bit on Sunday.
http://www.retroarchive.org
g.
--
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
http://www.simpits.org/geneb - The Me-109F/X Project
Nice work Gene. I've been reading away.
Thanks
Rob
(still without a Kaypro :)
Robert Borsuk
rborsuk at colourfull.com
Colourfull Creations
http://www.colourfull.com
2:04 p.m.
New subject: ProFiles scans...
On Mon, 8 Nov 2010, Robert Borsuk wrote:
On Nov 8, 2010, at 3:28 PM, Gene Buckle wrote:
You're quite welcome Rob!
g.
--
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
http://www.simpits.org/geneb - The Me-109F/X Project
ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
http://www.scarletdme.org - Get it _today_!
Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical
minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which
holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd
by the clean end.
...are complete from the collection I had.
Another 20+ issues went up on Saturday and I updated the descriptions a bit on Sunday.
http://www.retroarchive.org
g.
--
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
http://www.simpits.org/geneb - The Me-109F/X Project
Nice work Gene. I've been reading away.
9 Nov
9 Nov
12:02 p.m.
New subject: Crucifixion (was Re: Fragility in the floppy world (was Re: TRS-80
A bit like testing the I/O instruction that a
torpedo's processor
issues =3D
to explode its charge, and the code it executes
afterwards. The Q.A.
=3D
=20
The only sane things to put there are surely a CPU halt or BR .-2 or
similar.
=20
5474
days inactive
5475
days old
10 comments
9 participants
participants (9)
-
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
blstuart＠bellsouth.net -
geneb＠deltasoft.com -
IanK＠vulcan.com -
mcguire＠neurotica.com -
rborsuk＠colourfull.com -
roger.holmes＠microspot.co.uk -
spc＠conman.org -
spectre＠floodgap.com