rich-c: salut, Daniel rich-c: test rich-c: refresh
moved to room Meeting Place
changed username to George rich-c: hellov George George: Hi Rich rich-c: wondering when you were going to turen up George: i'm going crazy rich-c: having a good swim these days? :-] rich-c: you George: yes rich-c: re not going crazy, the world is George: drdos is busting my nuts rich-c: can't imagine why - also do not admit it rich-c: it is heresy in Adam circles to complain about DR DOS George: really rich-c: that's because the DR stands for Digital Research rich-c: as in, the writers of CP/M for, among others, Adam George: so they did some programs in cp/m rich-c: it is said that the reason you don't have DR Windows is becuase Gary Kildall wouldn't sell out his principles George: they could care less about ADAM now rich-c: when the first IBM PC was produced, CP/M was the operating systems of choice rich-c: Kildall wrote it so all the proprietary operating systems would have a language in common rich-c: you could write a program in CP/M and configure it to run on Adam or Apple or Atari or TI or just about anything else George: anyhow DR is defunked rich-c: yes, we know that' Gary Kildall died a couple of years back and he was teh guiding spirit George: and the people who bought the rights are all screwed up rich-c: anyway, IBM approached him to licence it but they wanted a set of proprietary tweaks put in so other computers couldnt use IBM programs rich-c: Kildall told IBM he wrote his operating system to bring computers together not drive them apart rich-c: so IBM found a nervy kid who was quite willing to sell out - name of Bill Gates rich-c: the ironic part is that Gates was smarter about writing the "exclusive" contract than IBM was rich-c: so he no sooner had them irrevocably committed than it turned out that it would run on "clone" machines too George: devicelogics now own the rights to DR's stuff as well as caldera and novell rich-c: and that these "clone" machines could be built without infringing on any IBM patents rich-c: I think you can figure out the history from there George: did you catch the above? rich-c: you mean about devicelogics? George: yes rich-c: yes, but the name doesnt ring any bells with me George: they run drdos.com rich-c: yes, if they have the rights, it figures they would rich-c: but why would you bother screwing around with that particular obsolete OS anyway? George: they are set to release dos 8.0 this spring rich-c: all fine and good, but what use is it? George: now mainly embedded systems rich-c: can't see why anyone would use it even for that purpose, unless licenceing fees were a big issue George: there is no options for keeping this on top rich-c: what do you mean by that? rich-c: (does it thrill you to know that our morning rain has just changed to snow?) George: everytime I move to something chat minimizes rich-c: well then dont try to multitask during chat rich-c: you're lucky it doesnt crash on you completely George: it shouldn't rich-c: by the way, we have had the lights flicker once already today rich-c: I am on a ups so will not go down without warning even if the power fails rich-c: but if it does fail all I can do is say I'm going away and will come back when the lights come on again George: i have a power back up rich-c: the ups will only carr6y my rig for a few minutes - monitors guzzle huge gobs of power rich-c: anyway, you know that Windows is written to be hostile to Java George: just long enough to shutdown properly rich-c: so when you're in a Java applet and try to multitask in Windows, don't expect it to cooperate rich-c: my backup is a 600vA which should allow a few minutes of operation but I don't want to push my luck George: SUN is screwing up XP service pack 1 rich-c: I mention this because our lights have been dimming slightly rich-c: are you talking Sun Solaris or Sun Java or some other Sun? George: java runtime enviornment rich-c: do you have 1.1 or 1.3? George: who knows George: i don't play with it rich-c: it should show inExplorer as a program, so you can look at its properties rich-c: I believe I got 1.1 in a download with Quicktime George: aol screws around with it too much to take a look rich-c: right - I keep forgetting you haven't smartened up and switched to a reasonable ISP yet George: i won't jump from the frying pan into the fire rich-c: no, but compared to the fire you're in, even the frying pan would be an improvement rich-c: AOL is losing users in droves right now - there are good reasons for this George: i never met an isp i really liked rich-c: that may be, a lot of them are a pain, but you haven't looked very hard rich-c: me, I got lucky, did very careful comparisons so when I did sign up I never had to change George: oh, yes i have look at the list rich-c: looking at a list telss you nothing - the most basic starting point is to look at each website and compare rates and rules and features rich-c: with a lot of them you never know till you try them George: oh, one bad apple for another rich-c: you have one advantage - when you're with AOL, anything else will be an improvement George: no not tamcotec rich-c: of course not tamcotec - that is only for people who live in Toronto rich-c: I'm thinking one like Earthlink or Roadrunner, or something more regional if you don't need a national connection George: i have an idea for 2 new games rich-c: you mean Colecovision games? George: in general rich-c: well, cartridge/arcade, or text/rpg sort of thing? George: pin the tail on the French George: and target practice on the French rich-c: why, what's the matter with the French that hasn't been the matter with the for the last 200 years? George: they are pouring out french wine in the streets for turning against us rich-c: first, no one has turned against you - though the whole world is against Bush, including most Americans George: and higher tarriffs are to come rich-c: possibly - America has never cared about keeping its signed agreements since Bush got in rich-c: but then, I guess you have heard of things like the World Trade Organization George: why should he? rich-c: right - only a gentleman keeps his given word, and no one ever called Shrub a gentleman rich-c: but believe it or not, George, I can remember when the United States was a nation that could be trusted George: the UN resolutions clearly spell out military action if Saddam doesn't comply he hasn't rich-c: you need to turn off CNN and seek out some real news for a change rich-c: There is no proof yet that Saddam is not complying rich-c: we have to give him a fair trial, then hang him George: and the UN went backon it now another resolution is being made rich-c: the UN has not "gone back" on anything - as I say, screw Fox and CNN and look up some real news George: Hans Blix stated twice he hasn't fully complied rich-c: you are missing a critical word - "yet" George: who the French? George: this is not a time game rich-c: that is why the rest of teh world is saying hold your fire, it isnt decision time yet rich-c: though they're getting ready - do you know where teh French Navy has its aircraft carrier positioned? George: either he complys or he doesn't rich-c: dodged teh question again, I see George: in their home? rich-c: no - the Charles de Gaulle has been fully armed in striking distance of Iraq for the last week rich-c: it was sent out into the eastern Mediterranean a couple of weeks back George: they are about as effective as a Jamacian bobsled team rich-c: you are exposing your ignorance of what constitutes military power George: that's why we had to bail them out in two world wars George: let them speak German rich-c: let's correct that - America sat on the sidelines and let everyone bleed till it was clear which was teh winning side rich-c: World War 1 started in August 1914 - by the time the Yanks arrived, the Krauts wre beaten rich-c: World War 2 started Sept. 1, 1939 - by the time the Yanks arrived, Hitler had been stymied rich-c: you've been watching too many Hollywood movies and studying too little history George: I wouldn't commit troops to a counrty that waited ti;; they were overrun to defend themselves either rich-c: just be glad England isnt supporting you the way you supported her in 1915 and 1940 rich-c: you sure are ignorant of your history, aren't you? rich-c: I'll bet you don't even know what the cause of teh war was in 1939 George: my father was there rich-c: what do you mean, was there? George: he was a marine who fought them rich-c: he was a marine who fought who? George: forget it rich-c: right - as I recall, he's ten years younger than I am George: he put his life on the line for the ingraets George: are you 98? rich-c: dont look at me to diss the Marines - anyone who serves his country deserves more respect than he gets George: you didn't answer the question rich-c: my younger brother is a U.S. resident and served in the 82nd Airborne during the Cold War rich-c: no, I'm not, and your father isnt 88 either rich-c: given your age, even 68 would be barely credible George: so are you 88? rich-c: no, I'm well into my eighth decade, take it from there George: he was born april 23, 1924 rich-c: so in 1941 he would have been barely 18 years old - barely of age to enlist George: which he did rich-c: yes, same thing in my family - I missed draft registrationby a couple of weeks rich-c: the war ended just a few days before I would have had to register rich-c: but since I was teh offspring of the youngest sibling, all my cousins wre old enough to enlist and serve George: i was registered rich-c: yes, you had a draft during Vietnam, didn't you? rich-c: we have had no draft since the end of WW2 George: i was one of the first when they restarted the registration rich-c: so how did you avoid finding yourself in Vietnam? George: reanan restarted it George: reagan rich-c: after all, you didn't have any big-wheel Texas oilmen to pull strings for you George: i was 7 rich-c: OK, and Vietnam didnt last THAT long George: do yyou draft kids? rich-c: we don't draft anybody - our armed services are all volunteers rich-c: and they keep raising the requirements for enlistment which raises the age effectively as well George: they won't take me anyway rich-c: now you are too old in any case George: they don't want to collect body parts on the way rich-c: yes, even if you wre of prime age, you'd be 4F for medical reeasons George: LOL rich-c: anyway I don't think you'll be geting any "greetings from the President" any time soon George: all i can do is is plunk a grenade down in front of me rich-c: though given the likelihood of his plans going catastophically wrong, you never know rich-c: well, get Saddam to sit on your lap while you do! George: NO! thanks rich-c: do you know why Bush the First didn't push on to Baghdad last time? rich-c: you mean you wouldn't make the sacrifice even to get Saddam? George: he gave it up for lent? rich-c: nope - Dick Cheyney asked him "when we get it, what are we going to do with it" rich-c: nobody in the White House had an answer for that George: make it the next state rich-c: hte Iraqui people would love that, but their neighbours might get a little upset George: yes the arabs on foodstamps rich-c: I'm not sure the kind of American who voted for Bush wuold care to pay for that rich-c: after all, look what they did in Afghanistan - big promises, then hand them back to the warlords George: they'll swallow anything rich-c: who, Bush voters, you mean? or Americans in general? George: the voterfor Bush rich-c: yes, that seems to be the case, unfortunately rich-c: wonder how long it will take him to totally bankrupt the country? George: and he'll win the next election rich-c: at the moment I doubt that - Iraq is a real tar baby George: not here rich-c: you mean not yet George: everyone here says Bush is unbeatable rich-c: you have to realize that despite the hatemongering in your media, the whole world is hoping Saddam will do something - anything - to justify whacking him rich-c: that by the way includes the French, Germans and Russians rich-c: their only insistence is that there has to be credible legal reason for it George: yes, they'll jump on the bandwagon afterwards rich-c: there is no bandwagon jumping involved - you have a very short memory for who fought at your side as recently as Afghanistan George: everyone is around when therei s money to give out rich-c: but then, American media never let on that the country actually had any help from allies, do they? rich-c: oh, and how much did America pay the British for their help in Desert Storm? George: enough rich-c: they did, though, send a bill to Kuwait for their services in liberating them rich-c: yes, to true friends nothing is enough - they don't fight for money George: make it COD rich-c: in case you're interested, the U.S. did cover some of Canada's costs rich-c: our air force out there ran short of bombs and had to borrow a few to keep helping George: was it the one we dropped on them rich-c: also, they needed troops there faster than our airlift capacity could move them, so we hitched a fw rides on USAF Starlifters rich-c: anyway, assuming Saddam is dumb enough to provide an excuse for war, what then? George: it was the the military tinkering around that gave us pc's rich-c: no, actually, it wasn't rich-c: the biggest military contribution was in funding the first mainframe, to do ballistics calculations for teh navy George: they were tinkering on them back in the 70's big mothers with tubes George: i saw one rich-c: actually they had tehm in teh 60s - one of my buddies used the Ferranti at the University of Toronto to earn his PhD George: when i saw it i said what the HELL is this rich-c: they developed very fast - he went to work as vice-president of Univac in Canada - experts wre rare then George: at fort dix rich-c: yes, for computers to become usable Bell Labs had to invent and develop the transistor George: i'm an old baby rich-c: not sure whre the military ballistics computer ended up - I know the Army was using it too (obviously) rich-c: so, who was president when you were born? George: i was born just before pampers rich-c: yes, they wre just coming in when Pamela was born and she is a couple of years younger than you George: nixon? rich-c: you mean you don't know? George: i was too young rich-c: don't they teach you anything is your schools anymore? George: do you think i came out of my mother and said "Hi Mr. President?" rich-c: I can tell you who was president when I was born, and prime minister of Canada rich-c: and I didn't sit up and ask that first thing George: they had em back then? rich-c: yes, believe it or not, ever since George Washingot (if you've heard of him) rich-c: or in Canada, Sir John A. MacDonald, who was later, and a legendary drunk George: oh, another George rich-c: yes, before that there wre a couple of kings by that name George: too common rich-c: you said it, I didnt George: not as common as Chins though rich-c: sorry, that one got by me George: look in a chinese phonebook rich-c: oh, just for the record - I think I have my laptop back in action George: i just got beeped rich-c: right, the Chinese only have a handful of family names, as I recall rich-c: imminent power failure? George: trouble is i don't have a beeper rich-c: this can make for major complications rich-c: I do know when our lights blink my ups beeps George: everything is steady here since i changed the bulbs rich-c: anyway, I went up and exchanged the wonky modem for a new one that works rich-c: so now I can do chats even when there's a race on Saturday afternoon George: can't miss those crashes George: cars or computers rich-c: oh, they usually get them out of the way fairly quickly so the serious stuff can resume rich-c: tomorrow the Champ Car race will likely end in time for me to pick up the last third of the NASCAR run George: well when my father is gone there will always be archie bunker rich-c: nothing like re-runs rich-c: I gather from that your relationship isnt all it might be George: for the 10,000th time rich-c: I have my hands too full with today's demands to look back much at what I've seen and done before rich-c: never know what is going to suddenly come up rich-c: like yesterday, didnt know we'd get a call saying come fetch mother-in-law's hearing aid George: Mr. Perfect died rich-c: and didn't know I'd find the answer to the modem problems and would get to deal with them George: i thought he was younger than me rich-c: that's why I am predictable in that I will schedule and be present at chat rich-c: and because I can do it on an open schedule, I'm good about email rich-c: but where it comes to say talking on the phone, even if I answr I often cant stay on rich-c: I gather you're talking about some tv character George: yes, WWF rich-c: I only turn on the tv for racing and football, and only selected events in that category George: or should i say WWE rich-c: and the lasst movie I went to was Gone with the wind rich-c: but ask me what was in the papers, or on the 'net, and I'll bend your ear for quite a while George: you are an antique rich-c: not yet, though I'm working on it rich-c: still have a few years to go to make the 100 George: disco is antique rich-c: no, it isnt even old - just passe George: i need a real dos driver for soundblaser 16 rich-c: that shouldn't be hardd to find - just do a search on Google if the Soundblaster site doesnt offer it George: isa and they ask what is that? rich-c: doesnt matter what bus connection you're using as long as it's appropriate to the card George: they also say what is DOS? rich-c: anyway, even some of the newest motherboards retain at leasst one shared ISA/PCI slot for legacy equipment George: not mine rich-c: you must be dealing with Walmart or something rich-c: that's OK there's a new laptop on the market here that doesnt even have a PCMCIA slot George: ASUS p4s533 doesn't have even one ISA rich-c: good board but they cant put everything on it and meet the form factor requirements George: dos out rich-c: well, it's gone from Windows in XP, and Linux and Apple are their own worlds rich-c: I gather it still underlies WinME, Win2000 and WinNT4 rich-c: anyhow, I think I smell dinner starting to get ready George: oh, microsoft bought connectix virtual pc rich-c: right, saw that on the business pages George: boy, they are getting even more aggresive rich-c: just from curiosity, how long would it take to download 250MB on your line? George: about 4 hours rich-c: Microsoft will be increasingly anxious to widen their product base rich-c: apparently Linux is starting to take significant chunks out of the desktop pc OS market George: they always wanted to kill mac from the beginning rich-c: pretty hard to compete when the competition is giving the product aay free rich-c: well now the Mac is not nearly the threat Linux is George: they say the microsoft operating systems used to be free rich-c: no, right from the start they have been grossly overpriced - that's how Gates made his billions rich-c: eventually he will have to give Windows away free, or get out of the business George: i don't know i only got into it in 1997 rich-c: as you'll realize us Adam oldtimers have been into computers since 1983, but most went to Windows much later George: ADAM actually kind of put me off computers for a while rich-c: cant imagine why, it's still about the easiest and friendliest evr built George: ADAM supplies dried up shortly after i got my ADAM and it was too limited rich-c: Adam is very limited compared to even a 386 - but the supplies are there, they are just hard to find George: there was no one to relate to rich-c: not until you could get on the internet to find them, though there used to be a strong group in your area George: i never heard of them rich-c: no, there was no way to get the word out until the internet was established rich-c: or more to the point, the world wide web rich-c: anyway, the Cherry Hill crew packed it in some while back, and havent heard from Rich Cossaboon and his group for some time George: there were bulletin boards but i couldn't get a modem rich-c: anyhow, I have to go set the table for dinner now rich-c: so I shall have to "pull the plug" till Wednesday night George: ok see you then rich-c: OK bye now George: bye rich-c: poof
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