rich-c: hi rich Rich Drushel: Hello Richard. rich-c: good to see you here, and early, too Rich Drushel: A busy day here: mowing the lawn, changing a tube in Christina's bike. Rich Drushel: Joan just phoned to say that she is roped into working a double shift today :-( rich-c: oh, I've been having a problem with teh anti-theft devicve on the truck. It won't let it start Rich Drushel: So I will have to depart around 5 PM to start cooking supper. Rich Drushel: I always said that car anti-burglar devices just keep the owners out of them :-) rich-c: I did get it going eventually, but Frances was not pleased; it rich-c: s her mother visiting day Rich Drushel: About every day someone's horn system goes off in the hospital parking deck. rich-c: mine is an immobiliser, no fireworks included rich-c: but the company's first 800 number didn't work, the second was voice mail, a direct phone call also got voice mail, and their website is down Rich Drushel: Sounds like modern tech support to me... rich-c: I have a dirty sneaking suspicion I may have teh product of a company on the financial ropes Rich Drushel: More tech, less need to help out a customer. rich-c: I'll settle for information on how to rip it out Rich Drushel: Well, aren't we all predisposed to that, being ADAMites and all? Rich Drushel: Picking companies on financial ropes, I mean. rich-c: yes, you'll recall I have a fine old yestertech car. too Rich Drushel: I hadn't heard that FoMoCo was in trouble... rich-c: actually I didn't pick this, it was on the van when I bought it rich-c: oddly enough, despite the best-in-class products in a large group of categories, Ford is having problems with slipping sales Rich Drushel: Fallout from their top-heavy Explorer, no doubt. Rich Drushel: My physics gestalt sides with Firestone in that dispute. rich-c: don't know how many people think that's Ford's fault and how many think it's Firestone's rich-c: if the failures weren't so concentrated in the output of one plant, I might agree Rich Drushel: Well, I've had Firestone tires on my minvans as replacements for the original Goodyears. rich-c: and if teh failures weren't so concentrated in an area where owner abuse is critical, likewise Rich Drushel: No complaints. rich-c: all SUVs are top-heavy of course, but the Ford ones are no worse than others Rich Drushel: Well, the typical Explorer/SUV driver in general has no business driving the vehicle. rich-c: in fact it was others whose SUVs got "not recommended" by Consumer Reports Rich Drushel: Too many people drive them like sports cars...and wonder when they roll over. Rich Drushel: Or don't stop in time. rich-c: but I agree; few people seem to buy the right vehicles for themselves Rich Drushel: And as big as they are, compared to the other Neon-sized things on the road, it breeds a feeling of invincibility. rich-c: that's OK, if they actually got into sports cars, they'd likely fall off the road at the first corner anyway Rich Drushel: haha Rich Drushel: Maybe driver's education should require experience with different vehicle types. rich-c: I consider any SUV without at least a class 3 trailer hitch as a poseur rich-c: sort of like the gold-chain Porsche pushers Rich Drushel: I took my driver's test in a '78 Toyota 5-speed, 'cause I wanted to learn to drive standard transmission. rich-c: I took my licence test in a Morris Oxford Rich Drushel: But I had driven a '75 3-speed (column) Dodge pickup, as well as a Caprice 4-door automatic. rich-c: I didn't even own an autopmatic until 1973 Rich Drushel: Joan took her test in New Jersey (parallel parking and all) in an enormous '72 Ambassador station wagon. rich-c: actually a wagon amy be marginally easier, the rear corner is so close to the rear glass Rich Drushel: Let's see the youngsters drive an SUV well enough to pass a driving test in it before certifying them to drive one :-) rich-c: I'd amend that to anyone contemplating buying one Rich Drushel: We couldn't have moved to our house in '88 had I not known had to drive stick-shift, as U-Haul at that time only rented diesel 3-speed manual trucks. rich-c: maybe there should be a higher category licence required for light trucks - including SUVs Rich Drushel: Agreed...but let's see that legislation get through...not a chance. Rich Drushel: As for U-Haul, they have wimped out and made everything automatic. Rich Drushel: Rather, replaced their fleet with automatics as older vehicles are retired. rich-c: no, mainly because classing them as trucks (which they are underneath) gives the manufacturers a break in meeting CAFE standards rich-c: ever notice how many big vehicles seem to have "Darlington stripes" down the right-hand sides? Rich Drushel: haha
moved to room Meeting Place rich-c: bet that's Guy
changed username to Ron rich-c: no, it's Ron - hi Ron Ron: nope Rich Drushel: Our Comox correspondent. Ron: me.... large as life, twice as ugly Ron: where the sun shineth Rich Drushel: Not using CUCMe, so we're okay . rich-c: heard from David Cobley yesterday - he was talking with PJ Ron: ? Ron: :) Rich Drushel: What's the word (from both of them)? Ron: she foned me this morning too....she must be doing the "keep in touch thing" rich-c: even he can't talk her into gettin onto the net - in fact, she's even abandoned her computer entirely Ron: David is well rich-c: David is doing well, as is Midge - just bought a new toy, 1984 Fiero Ron: he tells me he just bought a pristine (read as in West Coast Car) 1984 Pontiac Fiero Ron: you heard it too rich-c: midlife crisis car, no doubt Ron: no, that's David He changes cars annually, and buys the neatest pre-owned vehicles imagineable Rich Drushel: I thought David was older... Ron: yes....pushing 80 rich-c: he ages well Ron: but he's also an ex helicopter pilot, and so must have something to do rich-c: but he still has his faithful Volvo (his fifth); does he often have second "toy" cars? Ron: up to this point he's had two Caddies..both 2nd hand, but in great shape Ron: so the Pontiac seems a bit out of character, but then I haven't seen it Ron: both he and Midge had Volvos at one time rich-c: it looks rather like the Fiat X-1-9 if you remember that mid-engine, two-seat roadster Ron: I have a vague picture Ron: be right back guys....gotta make myself some lunch...gimme 5 Ron: minutes that is rich-c: not a good car as GM made too many cost-cutting compromises rich-c: they did correct some in later production Rich Drushel: Have a nice lunch, Ron! rich-c: and the aftermarket offered correcting bits too Rich Drushel: (You'd think he'd make it ahead of time and eat at the keyboard like I do :-) ) rich-c: yes, I've been known to follow that strategy Rich Drushel: Many's the meal I've eaten at a keyboard... rich-c: I've alos learned how to sneak out for a cigarette without my absence being noted Rich Drushel: probably too many. rich-c: I dunno, the food's the same no matter where you eat it rich-c: same calories, same nutrients (or lack thereof) Rich Drushel: I've learned how to multi-task in chats so that I can do other things. Rich Drushel: Oh, it's not the food, it's the idea of having been busy enough to need to eat and type at the same time. rich-c: unfortunately my computer tends to crash out if I try to multitask Rich Drushel: Few enough times have been for "recreation". rich-c: seems to be something about how the browser reacts to being in a Java applet rich-c: I tend more to eat and read at teh same time, almost always at breakfast and lunch Rich Drushel: For this SpanielChat, it's seemed to work okay with Explorer 5 for Mac (this home machine is a PowerMac 6100 with 250 MHz G3 upgrade CPU). Rich Drushel: With Netscape I get the chat buffer overflow problem. rich-c: I'm still working on speccing out a new computer Rich Drushel: If I can get books which will lie flat so I can eat with 2 hands, I too will eat and read at the same time. rich-c: seems by the time I get my decisions made, the trailing-edge processor will be 2 gig Rich Drushel: What I'd really like to have is a PC laptop with nice active-matrix color screen, to dedicate to ADAM stuff. rich-c: My eating literature is newspapers or magazines, so lie flat is less of a problem Rich Drushel: I would probably use it exclusively for ADAMem stuff. rich-c: I am also seeking a laptop, but not for dedication to the Adam Rich Drushel: For my work data/word processing stuff, the Powerbook 1400 I use is good enough. rich-c: Frances wants a machine she can take with us on our trailer trips Rich Drushel: Sounds like a laptop is what you need, so long as the screen is big enough for her to see comfortably. Ron: ok..... I can now stuff my face and talk simultaneously rich-c: my problem is peripherals - I want them to work under DOS as well as Win9x Rich Drushel: Mmmf gllbf smdslff ghgh! rich-c: yes, on a laptop the screen size is a serious issue for old eyes. Ron: right Rich Drushel: Win2K has made great strides in killing off DOS apps, and WinXP will complete it, from what I've seen. rich-c: did you watch teh Liions game last night, Ron? Ron: my latest is an old Powerbook 520C and it just ain't got enough horsepower Rich Drushel: If you want DOS, best stick to real DOS, or Win98 at the very very latest. rich-c: I want a new computer while I can still get Win98/2 for it Ron: re the football question Rich...part of it....then I got slightly ill at the progress of my team Rich Drushel: My PB 1400 has a 400 MHz G3 card in it from Sonnet Technologies...flies along nicely now. rich-c: I do not want any part of ME or XP Ron: sounds like a more than adequate computer all right Rich Drushel: Then buy your copy of 2K now, before fall when XP debuts--all the older ones will be yanked from the market. rich-c: they got better for a while later on, Ron, but it wasn't enough Ron: My experience with OS X tells me I don't want no more new operating systems around here rich-c: If I buy it with a computer, bundled, the price is very much better Ron: it's pretty, but.... Ron: exactly Rich rich-c: like, teh OEM price is under half the retail edition Ron: and I should have known that Ron: my Dealer did a number on me and I failed to say 'no' rich-c: that's always dangerous Ron: In a coulple of weeks he's having a big lunch and 'press the flesh' meet at one of the local hotels Ron: I am to go and talk positively about my experience with OS X Rich Drushel: Hard to believe that the last new computer I bought was the 486 in September 1993. rich-c: rotsa ruck Rich Drushel: Everything else has been scavenged. Ron: I shall smile and shake hands firmly rich-c: and make sure you're too busy eating to talk Rich Drushel: haha Ron: same here Rich D. except the iMac. it's been a bit of a different experience Ron: it was probably the first computer I haven't taken apart as a way of introducing myself Rich Drushel: Every time I want to buy a new one for me, it just doesn't rate high enough in the budget priorities...and the lesser-tier stuff keeps being free. rich-c: new or used, the computer isn't really yours till you've had it apart Ron: Well.. for sure I'm going back to being 3 years behind. It's cheaper I think rich-c: even if you don't have a "real" reason to take it apart Rich Drushel: I'd love to spend $5K on a topflight Dell laptop... Ron: Well, that's just it rich-c: wouldn't we all Rich Drushel: But this fall, a replacement for our aging '89 Caravan is more important. Ron: I want one of them there Mac G4 Titanium thingies Ron: priorities, priorities..bah! rich-c: yes, at 12 years it is doubtless getting a bit long in the tooth Rich Drushel: And the PB 1400+upgrade (paid for by robot course and lab grant) works well enough for "real work". rich-c: what sort of mileage have you put on it? Rich Drushel: About 92K miles. Rich Drushel: Body is finally beginning to go, though. Ron: Hell...barely worn in Rich Drushel: It will look ugly after this winter. rich-c: that all? then it's barely broken in Rich Drushel: If we don't trade it in before then. Ron: you see, that's the thing about the west coast. Cars last forever out here rich-c: yes, you have salt in Ohio too, don't you? Ron: which is why Cobley can find a 1984 that looks like it just came off the line Rich Drushel: Rear hatch going at the bottom pinch weld, driver's door the same, 2 spots in each rear wheel well. rich-c: yes, Left Coast and Sunbelt cars are famous for that Ron: well, we gotta have something going for us. Sure as heck ain't our politics Rich Drushel: Mechanically it's been well cared for. Breaks good, tires new, AC system rebuilt 3 years ago after it too rusted out. rich-c: those are curable by a good body shop, but the worry is structural rust Rich Drushel: It's due for another timing belt, though, and that is non-trivial. Ron: sounds like bux rich-c: I thought the change interval was 60,000 miles Rich Drushel: 60K for first one, then every 30K after that. So says shop manual (which I own). rich-c: when labour charges are a buck a minute, few things are trivial any more Rich Drushel: Water pumps are every 60K. Ron: a slightly off topic question for my learned friends.... Ron: what is the term used for an event that happens every two years? rich-c: biennial Rich Drushel: biennial Ron: ok thnx rich-c: every six months is semi-annual Rich Drushel: biannual is twice a year, I think. Ron: just bought a ticket for our bienial air show...wherein the Snowbirds are due to perform Ron: prey rich-c: I thought teh big air show was at Abbotsford Ron: yes, but only every 2 years now....bienial Ron: this is the off year rich-c: so Comox gets its own mini edition? Ron: our aerobatics team has been in some hot water of late...... Ron: actually, Lake Erie...that's probbly not so hot Ron: yup Rich Drushel: 72 F today :-) Ron: understand that the gent who ditched his Tudor jet in Lake Erie decided to stay behind in Moosejaw for additional Ron: training rich-c: warmer than teh Pacific, I'll wager Ron: much warmer Rich Rich Drushel: 72 is our peak temperature for the lake water. Rich Drushel: Usually not reached for another 2 weeks, but it's been a hot July. Ron: out here the Pacific is about 56 F summer or winter rich-c: don't think the otehr lakes get that high, but they're bigger and deeper Rich Drushel: Woo-hoo, guess I'm glad I've never been to an ocean! Ron: if you get a low tide on a real hot day, then time your swim to the rising tide, it can be passable Rich Drushel: Those surfer-dudes sure don't look like they're in 56-degree water. Ron: one the first layer of ice forms on your ankles Ron: you won't see anyone out here doing that without a wet suit rich-c: we have a bunch in Nova Scotia who go surfing in January rich-c: and yes, dodging ice floes is a problem Ron: :) Rich Drushel: So the ocean is warmer off the California coast? Ron: Understand it warms up to the south of us, yes. California is better rich-c: one of them is Lesley Choyce, a writer/publisher who own(s/ed) an Adam Ron: aha! Rich Drushel: Is that a he or a she? rich-c: he rich-c: believe he's an ex-pat Yankee Rich Drushel: Most people I've known with variants of that name are she, but there's the odd he out there. Ron: Leslie is my ex's name, but she always said that was the boy's spelling rich-c: yes, we offered a couple of others in the Wednesday chat Rich Drushel: So I presume Mr. Choyce is a famous ADAMite? rich-c: the Brits seem to do that a bit rich-c: in a manner of speaking Rich Drushel: Clue me in; I've never heard of him. rich-c: you may recall I was selling his science fiction anthology at previous 'cons Ron: Speaking of which..... Dr. D. How much of a chore was it to reformat my AC report to 80 col Ron: Never even thought about that when I was using Speedywrite to do it Rich Drushel: Only small chore. Ron: hard returns Ron: ?? rich-c: good report -read it last night Ron: thank you sir Rich Drushel: Yep. But I did it in BBEdit (Mac), so it was pretty easy. Rich Drushel: The spellchecking was done in Word 5.1a. Ron: Must try BB Edit. Have it here but have never used it Rich Drushel: Hope I didn't miss anything else. Rich Drushel: It's the code editor we used in the robot lab. Rich Drushel: And free. Ron: had a look, think you got 'em all Ron: that's right rich-c: I didn't notice any typos Ron: every Mac Addict disk I get has the latest version on it Rich Drushel: Have either of you looked at the photos I announced yesterday, to try to identify any more people? rich-c: not yet, I've had too many other issues Ron: just saw that message this morning Rich, and havent yet been there to do that...but will Rich Drushel: No hurry, just curious. Rich Drushel: Haven't been into my office today to look at the http logs. rich-c: I see it managed to provoke some reaction from Whooter Ron: poor old Whooter Rich Drushel: Yeah, the bugger! He gripes about chats and then won't come to them. Ron: he surfaces every so often, usually in a foul mood Rich Drushel: His name is Ed Walton, isn't it? rich-c: he does seem to feel that the world is against him Ron: yes Ron: met him at ADAMCON 5 Ron: he was one of the locals Rich Drushel: I used to mentally mix him up with Pete Ames (who also could be tetchy). rich-c: I can live very happily without styled emails Rich Drushel: I didn't look at his JPEG, what was it? Ron: Think Whooter lives in Nevada, just over the border Rich Drushel: I was hoping he would ID the rest of the locals in the 05 composite. Rich Drushel: I'd ask Alan Neeley if I had any idea how to ask him. Rich Drushel: His wife was also in the composite, and I can't remember her name. rich-c: I thought Alan was still on the Adam mailing list Ron: PJ would know Rich Drushel: You used to be able to finger coladam-list@calum.csclub.uwaterloo.ca and get back a list of all the subscribed E-mail addresses. That doesn't work anymore. rich-c: 'fraid I don't remember - creeping dementia Ron: think I might have it here.....just bringing up the Dos Box Rich Drushel: She looks like a "Sheila" to me, but I know that isn't her name. rich-c: I think Dale blocked it because it was too vulnerable to spammers Rich Drushel: There wasn't an attendees list in my 05 delegate folder when I looked (don't know if there ever was one, though). rich-c: that's a thought - I'll have to check mine Rich Drushel: Well, if Alan is subscribed, then maybe he'll look at the photos. rich-c: there is usually at least a list of room assignments Rich Drushel: I couldn't find a last name for Peter ____ from last year's convention, either. Even in the schedule, it just says "Peter". rich-c: I think he's one of the ones who are just lurking these days - we do have quite a few Rich Drushel: I wonder about the people who subscribe to the list...where they're coming from, etc. Ron: just checked my ADAMcon5 folder....no list rich-c: yes, on the bounces and such, there are all sorts of names I can't relate to anyone I know Rich Drushel: You don't think the fact that we're "family" here scares new people off, do you? Rich Drushel: I don't think we're cliquey. rich-c: hard to tell - we do try very hard to draw them in when they do try the chat Ron: Nope. No Alan Neeley in my Address book Ron: I know I had him once rich-c: in fact the general inclination seems to be to welcome and be very attentive to any new voice Rich Drushel: My inner cynic says they're people who have something they want to move on E-bay and subscribed for kicks. Rich Drushel: But Bob S. would know more about that than me. Ron: The impression I get sometimes is that there are some out there who would like it to be more the way it was Rich Drushel: Alan's in the 10 composite, so he must have been reachable that recently, at least. rich-c: no, if they thought we'd buy, they'd just post to the liost, I reckon Ron: problem with that is that the some of the people who were with us then, are not now Rich Drushel: What is "the way it was "? Ron: Alan Neeley was at ADAMCON 10, but only here and there. He was at the banquet Ron: Oh I dunno Rich.....stuff for sale, newsletters hither and yon, people building stuff.....something like that Ron: I'm guessing Rich Drushel: *LOTS* of stuff for sale, just it's the same old stuff :-) rich-c: there still is a certain amount of that, thought there's much family stuff too Ron: quite honestly, I for one like it the way it is now Rich Drushel: I think there's a ton of stuff to do yet, that people have forgotten about. rich-c: yes, all the postings have some interest, some a great deal Ron: however, with some we seem to be creating the impression, I think, that we're a bit of a closed club. Nothing could be Ron: further from the truth Rich Drushel: That's what I hoped to awaken with the Treasure Hunt etc. Rich Drushel: "Gee, I forgot you could do that, and that was fun!" Ron: exactly Rich..... rich-c: I can't think of much on the list that seems in any way exclusive Ron: and it achieved its aim Rich Drushel: Even though it's 18 years old. Ron: had Dale on my case.... "did you do the program yet?" etc etc rich-c: does that mean Ron can spill Diet Coke on the keyboard now it's old enough to drink? Ron: hahahhah Rich Drushel: I do know of one hardware add-on that would sell like mad, especially to the video game (CV, non-ADAM) people. Ron: a keyboard here isn't a keyboard in the 'snakepit' until that's happened rich-c: I'm waiting for Dale to post the URL for that program he mentioned that creates PDF-readable files Rich Drushel: If someone built a game cartridge that contained the ROM images of every CV game, you "dial in" a number on the front of the cart to select, you could sell several hundred, I bet. Rich Drushel: Of course, there are all the copyright problems :-) Ron: probably Rich Rich Drushel: But that hasn't stopped similar products from being made for all the other game systems--just check out the video games newsgroup. Ron: How much can those game carts hold....guess it depends on the circuitry inside rich-c: well, the rom image collection that "appeared" in conjunction with the emulator comes close Rich Drushel: A cart big enough to hold 256 games would need 4 MB of ROM (assuming each game is 32K). rich-c: the original Coleco game cartridges were 32K max rich-c: most games are half that or less Ron: understand that most games don't use the full 32k Rich Drushel: The biggest EPROMs that I have seen are 512K. Ron: but suppose you have to presume that for purposes of indexing? Rich Drushel: Flash RAM is much bigger. Rich Drushel: Yes, for addressing, each game needs to occupy the same size. Ron: by the way..... speaking of chips Ron: to show my ignorance Ron: you guys were talking about a GAL chip at the Ann meeting Ron: what's a GAL chip? rich-c: gate array logic Rich Drushel: "Gate Array Logic" Ron: aha! Ron: which does? rich-c: you shoulda been on chat when I asked that a few nights ago Ron: only stupid question...is Ron: the one that doesn't get asked Rich Drushel: Think of it as a programmable substitute for discrete AND/OR/NOT chips that you might use in a circuit design. Rich Drushel: Or an EPROM that has logic switches in it instead of a program. Ron: ok and as applied to the ADAM world of IDE cards? Ron: ok gotcha Rich Drushel: You need some logic chips AND/OR/NOT/etc. to make the card talk to the ADAM. Ron: right Rich Drushel: You can make the card using the explicit 74xx-series parts. Rich Drushel: It takes up lots of room. Ron: a guy really needs to ask about these things rich-c: back to games - I have a user wants the accererator pedal for the Exp.2 module Rich Drushel: Or, you can have the same logic programmed inside one of these GALs. rich-c: anybody got any clue where he might find one? Rich Drushel: Same signals in from the ADAM, same signals out to the HD controller. Ron: steering wheel and accelerator? Rich Drushel: But now in one chip instead of several. rich-c: that's the one, Ron Ron: sec rich-c: the steering wheels he's got - just wants the pedal Rich Drushel: I've never seen the pedals separate from the wheels (even though the pedal plugs into the wheel console). Rich Drushel: Someone must have lost a pedal, right? rich-c: right - and my observation is they were the first part to break Rich Drushel: I don't know what's in the pedal...it might be a variable resistor or equivalent. Rich Drushel: I never took apart a steering wheel setup. rich-c: could be a simple on-off switch Rich Drushel: (I did open a trackball once.) rich-c: I wonder if one of the buttons on the Super Action Controller could substitute? Ron: yes, I have one Rich Drushel: Or maybe multi-position digital switch, because the accelerator does work as an accelerator. Ron: and it has to be surplus, because I haven't used it in years Ron: what software went with it? Ron: a cart... I think Rich Drushel: Turbo. The only game to use it, I think. Ron: the pedal is a simple headphone plug into the steering wheel assembly rich-c: Turbo, and I think there was an off-road game as well - and Dukes of Hazzard Ron: right that was it Rich Drushel: Well, I have only one pedal to go with my one steering wheel. rich-c: Ron, I'll send you his email address and you can solicit an offer Rich Drushel: And since Joan is working a double shift today, I need to adjourn to go put supper into the oven. Rich Drushel: Can we reconvene on Wednesday? Rich Drushel: Or I will, at any rate. rich-c: absolutely. Frances just arrived home Ron: ok..winding down? rich-c: and I have much to do rich-c: yes, I'd say so, Ron Ron: Rich... if you want to make some arrangement with your buyer on this on e here Ron: let me know Rich Drushel: Winding down...until Wednesday from Starbase Cleveland...bye.
Rich Drushel left chat session Ron: I have no idea if it works Ron: but will try it rich-c: I'll email you and let you take it from there Ron: ok rich-c: bye Rich Ron: later all rich-c: bye Ron
Ron left chat session
rich-c left chat session
moved to room Meeting Place
changed username to Pamela
Pamela left chat session
moved to room Meeting Place
changed username to wb
wb left chat session
moved to room Meeting Place
changed username to Sark
Sark left chat session
moved to room Meeting Place
left chat session
moved to room Meeting Place
changed username to KrazyKlingon