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Groups > comp.os.linux.misc > #66786 > unrolled thread

Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET

Started byc186282 <c186282@nnada.net>
First post2025-04-02 05:34 -0400
Last post2025-04-05 20:09 +0000
Articles 20 on this page of 58 — 8 participants

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Contents

  Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-02 05:34 -0400
    Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-02 11:42 +0100
    Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-02 19:08 +0000
      Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-03 06:26 -0400
        Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-03 18:42 +0000
          Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-03 16:34 -0400
            Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-04 00:50 +0000
              Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2025-04-04 07:53 -0700
                Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-04 19:11 +0000
                  Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-05 04:39 -0400
                    Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-05 20:20 +0000
                      Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-05 18:46 -0400
                        Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-06 01:48 +0100
                          Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-05 23:01 -0400
                        Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2025-04-06 01:08 +0000
                          Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-06 02:31 +0000
                            Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2025-04-06 17:35 +0000
                          Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-06 00:32 -0400
                            Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2025-04-07 03:09 +0000
                              Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-06 23:47 -0400
                                Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-07 12:06 +0100
                                  Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2025-04-07 15:53 +0000
                              Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-07 12:02 +0100
                                Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-07 07:13 -0400
                                  Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-07 12:26 +0100
                                    Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-07 07:42 -0400
                                      Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-07 12:55 +0100
                      Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-06 01:47 +0100
                        Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-06 02:34 +0000
                        Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-05 22:49 -0400
                Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-05 02:00 -0400
                  Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-05 07:46 +0000
                    Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-05 04:21 -0400
                      Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-05 11:37 +0100
                      Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-05 20:05 +0000
                        Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-05 19:47 -0400
                          Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET Robert Riches <spamtrap42@jacob21819.net> - 2025-04-06 00:14 +0000
                            Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-06 01:53 +0100
                              Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-05 23:42 -0400
                                Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2025-04-06 17:35 +0000
                                  Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-06 22:13 +0000
                            Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-06 02:27 +0000
                              Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-06 11:57 +0100
                            Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-05 22:47 -0400
                            Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-04-07 07:47 +0000
                              Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-07 05:13 -0400
                                Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-07 17:50 +0000
                          Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-06 01:52 +0100
                            Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-05 23:34 -0400
                              Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2025-04-06 17:35 +0000
                                Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-06 22:29 +0000
                                Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-06 22:18 -0400
                          Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-06 02:25 +0000
                            Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2025-04-07 03:16 +0000
                              Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-04-07 00:35 -0400
                                Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-07 06:09 +0000
                  Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-04-05 11:20 +0100
                    Re: Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-04-05 20:09 +0000

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#66786 — Past Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET

Fromc186282 <c186282@nnada.net>
Date2025-04-02 05:34 -0400
SubjectPast Blast - "Wonder Woman 1984" - Corp Guy Using PET
Message-ID<3LScnf6o-ddHmXD6nZ2dnZfqnPGdnZ2d@giganews.com>
Blast from the past ...

"Wonder Woman 1984" - the old moneybags corp guy is
seen using a COMPUTER ... a Commodore PET, looks
like 40 column display, with a crude spreadsheet  :-)

PETs weren't terrible PCs ... 1Mhz 6502, not much
diff from the Apple-II performance-wise. Kinda always
wanted one. I've got an A2, with floppies, but don't
dare turn it on lest old capacitors pop.

Knew one of those guys ... remember that Val Kilmer movie
called "Real Genius" ... the guy was a LOT like the
movie guy who lived in the walls. He used a PET to
write cloned popular video games - IN *MACHINE LANG*,
HEX codes - and burned them to ROM cartridges. Watched
him do it, easy as writing a post-it note. Said
it gave him a buzz .......

NOT sure what became of him - maybe went nuts - IQ 200+
fer sure - those guys ain't always stable, "Sheldon+" ...
but DID love his little computer shop. Remember when
there were LOTS of those ??? Well WORTH driving 50
miles ......

Heh heh ... one more local shop, the guy wondered
why anyone would possibly want more than 8-bit/
64K ... I told him "graphics" ....... this was
C-64/Atari-800 days ...........

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#66789

FromThe Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid>
Date2025-04-02 11:42 +0100
Message-ID<vsj4af$1jt3k$3@dont-email.me>
In reply to#66786
On 02/04/2025 10:34, c186282 wrote:
> He used a PET to
> write cloned popular video games - IN *MACHINE LANG*,
> HEX codes - and burned them to ROM cartridges.

Older computers just gave you a set of front panel SWITCHES to enter 
machine code, one line at a time...

No assemblers for THOSE!

-- 
Truth welcomes investigation because truth knows investigation will lead 
to converts. It is deception that uses all the other techniques.

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#66810

Fromrbowman <bowman@montana.com>
Date2025-04-02 19:08 +0000
Message-ID<m55g9gF1fe1U1@mid.individual.net>
In reply to#66786
On Wed, 2 Apr 2025 05:34:59 -0400, c186282 wrote:

> PETs weren't terrible PCs ... 1Mhz 6502, not much diff from the Apple-II
> performance-wise. Kinda always wanted one. I've got an A2, with
> floppies, but don't dare turn it on lest old capacitors pop.

Sprague Electric, which was a major manufacturer of tantalum capacitors, 
had a number of PETs. They used the HP-IB (GPIB) for their peripherals 
which made them very convenient for connecting to HP instrumentation at 
about a quarter the cost of a HP computer. 

Besides, you could play 'snake' on them.

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#66832

Fromc186282 <c186282@nnada.net>
Date2025-04-03 06:26 -0400
Message-ID<PrWcnfSsir_Q_3P6nZ2dnZfqn_udnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#66810
On 4/2/25 3:08 PM, rbowman wrote:
> On Wed, 2 Apr 2025 05:34:59 -0400, c186282 wrote:
> 
>> PETs weren't terrible PCs ... 1Mhz 6502, not much diff from the Apple-II
>> performance-wise. Kinda always wanted one. I've got an A2, with
>> floppies, but don't dare turn it on lest old capacitors pop.
> 
> Sprague Electric, which was a major manufacturer of tantalum capacitors,
> had a number of PETs. They used the HP-IB (GPIB) for their peripherals
> which made them very convenient for connecting to HP instrumentation at
> about a quarter the cost of a HP computer.
> 
> Besides, you could play 'snake' on them.


   Heh heh  :-)

   The A2 was a good model for the IBM-PC in having
   on-board plug-in cards. The competition stuck to
   external "serial" periphs.

   Also always wanted a good S-100 system ... but
   could not afford one way back then. THINK they
   hung on all the way to the 68k chips, but after
   that the bus was too slow. NOW I can't afford
   a working re-sell  :-)

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#66853

Fromrbowman <bowman@montana.com>
Date2025-04-03 18:42 +0000
Message-ID<m5834aFe093U2@mid.individual.net>
In reply to#66832
On Thu, 3 Apr 2025 06:26:16 -0400, c186282 wrote:

>    Also always wanted a good S-100 system ... but could not afford one
>    way back then. THINK they hung on all the way to the 68k chips, but
>    after that the bus was too slow. NOW I can't afford a working re-sell

The rumor back then was the S-100 bus came from someone finding a great 
deal on milsurp edge connectors. There were a number of alternatives.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STD_Bus

Despite the name, the STD bus wasn't a standard. Sprague Electric had a 
severe case of NIH so I designed a bus for them that used a Z80 processor, 
memory cards, and I/O cards. You could get away with a lot with 3.57 MHz. 
It was fun and they were willing to pay for the project but a COTS 
solution would have made more sense.

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#66859

Fromc186282 <c186282@nnada.net>
Date2025-04-03 16:34 -0400
Message-ID<vLqdnVb4yaZObXP6nZ2dnZfqn_qdnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#66853
On 4/3/25 2:42 PM, rbowman wrote:
> On Thu, 3 Apr 2025 06:26:16 -0400, c186282 wrote:
> 
>>     Also always wanted a good S-100 system ... but could not afford one
>>     way back then. THINK they hung on all the way to the 68k chips, but
>>     after that the bus was too slow. NOW I can't afford a working re-sell
> 
> The rumor back then was the S-100 bus came from someone finding a great
> deal on milsurp edge connectors. There were a number of alternatives.
> 
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STD_Bus

   I can believe it ... hey, why use EXPENSIVE custom
   edge connectors ?  :-)

> Despite the name, the STD bus wasn't a standard. Sprague Electric had a
> severe case of NIH so I designed a bus for them that used a Z80 processor,
> memory cards, and I/O cards. You could get away with a lot with 3.57 MHz.
> It was fun and they were willing to pay for the project but a COTS
> solution would have made more sense.

   Sounds like you went further into custom electronics
   than I ever did. However, back in the day, DIY was
   much more common and NEEDED.

   I'll have to check ... I think S-100 was solid up to
   four or five MHz. The Z80s were the most common CPU
   but I'd seen them with lots of others. The main reason
   to stick with S-100 was all the ready-made periph cards
   back in the days when the CPU board did NOT have built-
   in everything. Had to have a sep serial board, sep
   printer card(s), sep drive interface card(s) .....
   indeed I think on some even the CPU was not all on
   one board.

   According to one source, Cromeco sold a 16.7 MHz 68020
   board for S-100 ... but that'd be pushing things.

   Alas the biggest problem was that the use of those
   100 lines tended to 'evolve' over time, which could
   increase incompatibility issues.

   Anyway, I'd be happy with a Cromeco Z80 with a floppy
   and serial board and maybe 128kb. Good solid CP/M
   system blast from the past. Yes, you can buy TINY
   Z80 SBCs now, even seen kits ... but that's not as
   fun or impressive  :-)

   Hey, the earlier versions of Turbo Pascal came
   with a CP/M variant ... don't remember if that
   was just CP/M-86 or actually for Z80s.

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#66868

Fromrbowman <bowman@montana.com>
Date2025-04-04 00:50 +0000
Message-ID<m58omiFguqjU3@mid.individual.net>
In reply to#66859
On Thu, 3 Apr 2025 16:34:04 -0400, c186282 wrote:


>    I'll have to check ... I think S-100 was solid up to four or five
>    MHz. The Z80s were the most common CPU but I'd seen them with lots of
>    others. The main reason to stick with S-100 was all the ready-made
>    periph cards back in the days when the CPU board did NOT have built-
>    in everything. Had to have a sep serial board, sep printer card(s),
>    sep drive interface card(s) ..... indeed I think on some even the CPU
>    was not all on one board.

The later Z80s were good for 6 MHz but 3.57 MHz was good enough for me and 
color burst crystals were dirt cheap. For the one I did the SRAM was a 
separate card. The price wasn't a problem and it s a lot easier to deal 
with than the DRAM refresh cycles.

>    Hey, the earlier versions of Turbo Pascal came with a CP/M variant
>    ... don't remember if that was just CP/M-86 or actually for Z80s.

The version I bought was for CP/M. TBH I wasn't all that interested in 
Pascal but I wanted to see what you could possibly get for $49.95.  The 
BDS C compiler I was using was $110.

http://gaby.de/ftp/pub/cpm/znode51/articles/int4.htm

The article talks about how fast it was but it wasn't all that speedy for 
non-trivial code. However that was my experience with the first Hello 
World TP app. "Damn thing doesn't work; nothing happened. Oops, that looks 
like an executable. Let's see what it does."

I never warmed up to Pascal but the TP experience biased me towards 
Borland's OWL when I got around to Windows. Then the 500 pound gorilla 
stomped it into the ground.



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#66877

FromJohn Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com>
Date2025-04-04 07:53 -0700
Message-ID<20250404075333.000000fc@gmail.com>
In reply to#66868
On 4 Apr 2025 00:50:26 GMT
rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

> The version I bought was for CP/M. TBH I wasn't all that interested
> in Pascal but I wanted to see what you could possibly get for $49.95.

That was the key: fast, usable, and *way* cheaper than anything else
on the market. (Microsoft C - really just a re-branded Lattice C - cost
*ten times as much,* the same year TP rolled out.) Whether Pascal was
your favorite programming language or not, that made a *big* difference
to scrappy independent developers and prospective enterpreneurs.

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#66881

Fromrbowman <bowman@montana.com>
Date2025-04-04 19:11 +0000
Message-ID<m5ap7fFr19rU3@mid.individual.net>
In reply to#66877
On Fri, 4 Apr 2025 07:53:33 -0700, John Ames wrote:

> On 4 Apr 2025 00:50:26 GMT rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:
> 
>> The version I bought was for CP/M. TBH I wasn't all that interested in
>> Pascal but I wanted to see what you could possibly get for $49.95.
> 
> That was the key: fast, usable, and *way* cheaper than anything else on
> the market. (Microsoft C - really just a re-branded Lattice C - cost
> *ten times as much,* the same year TP rolled out.) Whether Pascal was
> your favorite programming language or not, that made a *big* difference
> to scrappy independent developers and prospective enterpreneurs.

Microsoft C 3.0 was a polished product for its day with printed manuals 
and everything. GE paid for it so I don't know what it cost. Before they 
got into Windows I thought of MS more as a tool provider, with MSDOS as an 
afterthought. It was third party TSRs and, iirc, Quaterdeck's memory 
manager that made DOS on an AT usable.

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#66890

Fromc186282 <c186282@nnada.net>
Date2025-04-05 04:39 -0400
Message-ID<-UadnYX0z-bYcW36nZ2dnZfqn_idnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#66881
On 4/4/25 3:11 PM, rbowman wrote:
> On Fri, 4 Apr 2025 07:53:33 -0700, John Ames wrote:
> 
>> On 4 Apr 2025 00:50:26 GMT rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:
>>
>>> The version I bought was for CP/M. TBH I wasn't all that interested in
>>> Pascal but I wanted to see what you could possibly get for $49.95.
>>
>> That was the key: fast, usable, and *way* cheaper than anything else on
>> the market. (Microsoft C - really just a re-branded Lattice C - cost
>> *ten times as much,* the same year TP rolled out.) Whether Pascal was
>> your favorite programming language or not, that made a *big* difference
>> to scrappy independent developers and prospective enterpreneurs.
> 
> Microsoft C 3.0 was a polished product for its day with printed manuals
> and everything. GE paid for it so I don't know what it cost. Before they
> got into Windows I thought of MS more as a tool provider, with MSDOS as an
> afterthought. It was third party TSRs and, iirc, Quaterdeck's memory
> manager that made DOS on an AT usable.


   Ah, I remember QEMM ... a big improvement, could
   actually use a LOT of RAM.

   The compilers offered by IBM/(M$) were very good.
   We kinda though of M$ as a hero company back then,
   all the good tools. Then .........

   As I recall ... there was 'C' and Pascal and FORTRAN
   along with a MASM. A BASIC compiler was also to be
   had (and I used it). Of course those were all the
   typical multi-pass compilers - two, three, four steps
   to get an executable of even a short simple pgm.
   BUT, they worked. Still have those in a DOS VM and
   mess with them from time to time.

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#66913

Fromrbowman <bowman@montana.com>
Date2025-04-05 20:20 +0000
Message-ID<m5dhkmF9mvkU4@mid.individual.net>
In reply to#66890
On Sat, 5 Apr 2025 04:39:30 -0400, c186282 wrote:

>    The compilers offered by IBM/(M$) were very good. We kinda though of
>    M$ as a hero company back then,
>    all the good tools. Then .........

PCs were thought of as an IBM product. It wasn't until Windows that they 
sort of became associated with M$ even if MS's forays into hardware didn't 
always turn out well. 

IBM seems to be shuffling out the door. They sold their fabs to Global and 
are 'rebalancing'.

https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/27/ibm_cuts_jobs_in_us/

Funny how IBM can fire 12,000 people and it gets a brief headline on the 
tech sites. Fire 12,000 government drones and it's the end of the world. 

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#66920

Fromc186282 <c186282@nnada.net>
Date2025-04-05 18:46 -0400
Message-ID<cg6dnfOMv8UxL2z6nZ2dnZfqn_WdnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#66913
On 4/5/25 4:20 PM, rbowman wrote:
> On Sat, 5 Apr 2025 04:39:30 -0400, c186282 wrote:
> 
>>     The compilers offered by IBM/(M$) were very good. We kinda though of
>>     M$ as a hero company back then,
>>     all the good tools. Then .........
> 
> PCs were thought of as an IBM product. It wasn't until Windows that they
> sort of became associated with M$ even if MS's forays into hardware didn't
> always turn out well.
> 
> IBM seems to be shuffling out the door. They sold their fabs to Global and
> are 'rebalancing'.
> 
> https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/27/ibm_cuts_jobs_in_us/
> 
> Funny how IBM can fire 12,000 people and it gets a brief headline on the
> tech sites. Fire 12,000 government drones and it's the end of the world.

   IBM has proven itself to be resilient - shifting
   focus back and forth depending on the current global
   needs. If it fires 12,000 today it MAY hire 20,000
   a few years from now to exploit some new markets.

   As for the govt drones (half of which seem to be
   'probationary' employees yet getting all the perks)
   well, big/deep state is a POWER BASE and TAPPABLE
   CASH FLOW for some of the people who are REALLY in
   charge, so they DO freak about that kind of stuff.

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#66928

FromThe Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid>
Date2025-04-06 01:48 +0100
Message-ID<vssj12$3ki2e$3@dont-email.me>
In reply to#66920
On 05/04/2025 23:46, c186282 wrote:
> On 4/5/25 4:20 PM, rbowman wrote:
>> On Sat, 5 Apr 2025 04:39:30 -0400, c186282 wrote:
>>
>>>     The compilers offered by IBM/(M$) were very good. We kinda though of
>>>     M$ as a hero company back then,
>>>     all the good tools. Then .........
>>
>> PCs were thought of as an IBM product. It wasn't until Windows that they
>> sort of became associated with M$ even if MS's forays into hardware 
>> didn't
>> always turn out well.
>>
>> IBM seems to be shuffling out the door. They sold their fabs to Global 
>> and
>> are 'rebalancing'.
>>
>> https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/27/ibm_cuts_jobs_in_us/
>>
>> Funny how IBM can fire 12,000 people and it gets a brief headline on the
>> tech sites. Fire 12,000 government drones and it's the end of the world.
> 
>    IBM has proven itself to be resilient - shifting
>    focus back and forth depending on the current global
>    needs. If it fires 12,000 today it MAY hire 20,000
>    a few years from now to exploit some new markets.
> 
>    As for the govt drones (half of which seem to be
>    'probationary' employees yet getting all the perks)
>    well, big/deep state is a POWER BASE and TAPPABLE
>    CASH FLOW for some of the people who are REALLY in
>    charge, so they DO freak about that kind of stuff

How much did the Lone Skunk get in Subsidies eh?

-- 
There’s a mighty big difference between good, sound reasons and reasons 
that sound good.

Burton Hillis (William Vaughn, American columnist)

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#66942

Fromc186282 <c186282@nnada.net>
Date2025-04-05 23:01 -0400
Message-ID<1_2cnX5g4J3nc2z6nZ2dnZfqn_adnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#66928
On 4/5/25 8:48 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 05/04/2025 23:46, c186282 wrote:
>> On 4/5/25 4:20 PM, rbowman wrote:
>>> On Sat, 5 Apr 2025 04:39:30 -0400, c186282 wrote:
>>>
>>>>     The compilers offered by IBM/(M$) were very good. We kinda 
>>>> though of
>>>>     M$ as a hero company back then,
>>>>     all the good tools. Then .........
>>>
>>> PCs were thought of as an IBM product. It wasn't until Windows that they
>>> sort of became associated with M$ even if MS's forays into hardware 
>>> didn't
>>> always turn out well.
>>>
>>> IBM seems to be shuffling out the door. They sold their fabs to 
>>> Global and
>>> are 'rebalancing'.
>>>
>>> https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/27/ibm_cuts_jobs_in_us/
>>>
>>> Funny how IBM can fire 12,000 people and it gets a brief headline on the
>>> tech sites. Fire 12,000 government drones and it's the end of the world.
>>
>>    IBM has proven itself to be resilient - shifting
>>    focus back and forth depending on the current global
>>    needs. If it fires 12,000 today it MAY hire 20,000
>>    a few years from now to exploit some new markets.
>>
>>    As for the govt drones (half of which seem to be
>>    'probationary' employees yet getting all the perks)
>>    well, big/deep state is a POWER BASE and TAPPABLE
>>    CASH FLOW for some of the people who are REALLY in
>>    charge, so they DO freak about that kind of stuff
> 
> How much did the Lone Skunk get in Subsidies eh?

   Dunno. Will have to search around.

   A big feature of 'govt-funded' is the ability to get
   in on, and siphon from, the CASH FLOW. Kick a little
   back to yer pols, keep the rest. It's been this way
   for a long LONG time. In the USA, the "Spruce Goose"
   was kinda one of those cash-dip projects.

   Yea, yea, he made it fly in ground-effect for half
   a minute ... big deal ..... TOTAL WarBucks scam.

   There are the 'elected officials' and then there are
   the REAL people in charge, the 'oligarchs' by one name.
   This is exactly how things were done in Machiavelli's
   day and STILL done.

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#66933

FromRich <rich@example.invalid>
Date2025-04-06 01:08 +0000
Message-ID<vssk6t$3llaq$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#66920
c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote:
>   As for the govt drones (half of which seem to be
>   'probationary' employees yet getting all the perks)

Do note that in the US federal govt, the meaning of a "probationary 
employee" is very different from the normal private sector usage (it is 
unfortunate the statue writers chose 'probationary' for their word, but 
here we are).

It simply means they have been on the job for less than one year, and 
what is different for 'probationary' employess is they don't have all 
of the usual protections from arbitrary and capricious firings as those 
who have been on the job for more than one year.  The purpose is to 
give the govt a one year window to see if the employee actually can do 
the job, and allow an easier time of laying them off if it turns out 
they can't do the job.

>   well, big/deep state is a POWER BASE and TAPPABLE
>   CASH FLOW for some of the people who are REALLY in
>   charge, so they DO freak about that kind of stuff.

The federal employees never were the "deep state".  If indeed there 
ever was a "deep state" it was the political appointed cabinet heads.  
The employees just do what they are told by their managers, within the 
bounds of whatever laws congress enacted that created their given 
areas.  If a deep state exists, it is the political appointees who are 
part of it, not the day to day employees that just keep things running 
day to day.

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#66937

Fromrbowman <bowman@montana.com>
Date2025-04-06 02:31 +0000
Message-ID<m5e7b6Fd990U3@mid.individual.net>
In reply to#66933
On Sun, 6 Apr 2025 01:08:45 -0000 (UTC), Rich wrote:

> It simply means they have been on the job for less than one year, and
> what is different for 'probationary' employess is they don't have all of
> the usual protections from arbitrary and capricious firings as those who
> have been on the job for more than one year.  The purpose is to give the
> govt a one year window to see if the employee actually can do the job,
> and allow an easier time of laying them off if it turns out they can't
> do the job.

I don't know if it is still the case but that was Boeing's model in the 
'50s. Hire 100 engineers and fire 97 of them in the first year. My brother 
was one of the 3 lucky ones. 

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#66971

FromCharlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid>
Date2025-04-06 17:35 +0000
Message-ID<uXyIP.18295$j2D.16342@fx09.iad>
In reply to#66937
On 2025-04-06, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

> On Sun, 6 Apr 2025 01:08:45 -0000 (UTC), Rich wrote:
>
>> It simply means they have been on the job for less than one year, and
>> what is different for 'probationary' employess is they don't have all of
>> the usual protections from arbitrary and capricious firings as those who
>> have been on the job for more than one year.  The purpose is to give the
>> govt a one year window to see if the employee actually can do the job,
>> and allow an easier time of laying them off if it turns out they can't
>> do the job.
>
> I don't know if it is still the case but that was Boeing's model in the 
> '50s. Hire 100 engineers and fire 97 of them in the first year. My brother 
> was one of the 3 lucky ones. 

The way things are going now, it seems they've switched to firing the 3.

-- 
/~\  Charlie Gibbs                  |  Growth for the sake of
\ /  <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid>      |  growth is the ideology
 X   I'm really at ac.dekanfrus     |  of the cancer cell.
/ \  if you read it the right way.  |    -- Edward Abbey

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#66946

Fromc186282 <c186282@nnada.net>
Date2025-04-06 00:32 -0400
Message-ID<IYCcnfTNk_tFnm_6nZ2dnZfqn_adnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#66933
On 4/5/25 9:08 PM, Rich wrote:
> c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote:
>>    As for the govt drones (half of which seem to be
>>    'probationary' employees yet getting all the perks)
> 
> Do note that in the US federal govt, the meaning of a "probationary
> employee" is very different from the normal private sector usage (it is
> unfortunate the statue writers chose 'probationary' for their word, but
> here we are).


   Well ... HERE WE ARE .......

   Politics is about *appearances* more than any
   realities.

   If I hear "probationary" I think some Gen-Z/A2
   dink kinda part-time drones who don't deserve
   any consideration.

> It simply means they have been on the job for less than one year, and
> what is different for 'probationary' employess is they don't have all
> of the usual protections from arbitrary and capricious firings as those
> who have been on the job for more than one year.  The purpose is to
> give the govt a one year window to see if the employee actually can do
> the job, and allow an easier time of laying them off if it turns out
> they can't do the job.

   Um, WHY so many <1yr people ??? Sounds like a Joe
   initiative to reinforce the bureaucracy/deep-state.

   So, FIRE them all !

>>    well, big/deep state is a POWER BASE and TAPPABLE
>>    CASH FLOW for some of the people who are REALLY in
>>    charge, so they DO freak about that kind of stuff.
> 
> The federal employees never were the "deep state".

   Oh, please !!!

   If not 'part', then 'pawns'.

   It's ENDING, rather rudely.

>  If indeed there
> ever was a "deep state" it was the political appointed cabinet heads.
> The employees just do what they are told by their managers, within the
> bounds of whatever laws congress enacted that created their given
> areas.  If a deep state exists, it is the political appointees who are
> part of it, not the day to day employees that just keep things running
> day to day.
> 

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#66984

FromRich <rich@example.invalid>
Date2025-04-07 03:09 +0000
Message-ID<vsvflb$2ima9$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#66946
c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote:
> On 4/5/25 9:08 PM, Rich wrote:
>> c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote:
>>>    As for the govt drones (half of which seem to be 'probationary' 
>>>    employees yet getting all the perks)
>> 
>> Do note that in the US federal govt, the meaning of a "probationary 
>> employee" is very different from the normal private sector usage (it 
>> is unfortunate the statue writers chose 'probationary' for their 
>> word, but here we are).
> 
>   Well ... HERE WE ARE .......
> 
>   Politics is about *appearances* more than any realities.
> 
>   If I hear "probationary" I think some Gen-Z/A2 dink kinda part-time 
>   drones who don't deserve any consideration.

Yes, and that's probably what the rest of the country thinks, since 
unless they've been a govt. employee at some point, they would never 
have had a chance to learn the "government" meaning.  As I said, it is 
unfortunate the statute writers chose the word "probationary", but they 
did, so it is the word used. 

>> It simply means they have been on the job for less than one year, 
>> and what is different for 'probationary' employess is they don't 
>> have all of the usual protections from arbitrary and capricious 
>> firings as those who have been on the job for more than one year.  
>> The purpose is to give the govt a one year window to see if the 
>> employee actually can do the job, and allow an easier time of laying 
>> them off if it turns out they can't do the job.
> 
>   Um, WHY so many <1yr people ??? Sounds like a Joe
>   initiative to reinforce the bureaucracy/deep-state.

Most realistic reason, given the number of people employed by the fed: 
there is a constant churn of old workers retiring (or dying) off and 
others who quit to go elsewhere with the accompanyng new hires being 
hired to replace those that have left.  Just that, given size size of 
the fed, without any "joe initiatives" would produce a quite large 
count of folks in "probationary" status, more than enough for the 
numbers being quoted in the press.  Another quirk of the govt.  
"probationary" status is if one changes jobs within the govt, one 
becomes "probationary" for the first year of the new job.  So a portion 
of the "probationary" workers have more than a year total govt 
experience, but are "probationary" because they switched jobs within 
the fed.

>   So, FIRE them all !

And with that, the workers that make sure your prescription drugs won't 
accidentally poison you, or those that make sure your steak does not 
include a deadly does of salmonella, or those that make sure you get 
your social security check (if one is drawing one), or those who make 
sure one's medicare payments go through for medical services (for those 
old enough to be forced to be on medicare), or the forest service 
workers rescuing hikers who get themselves hopelessly lost in the 
woods, or a whole host of other services that many have no idea is 
being provided by the federal workforce.

>>>    well, big/deep state is a POWER BASE and TAPPABLE
>>>    CASH FLOW for some of the people who are REALLY in
>>>    charge, so they DO freak about that kind of stuff.
>> 
>> The federal employees never were the "deep state".
> 
>   Oh, please !!!
> 
>   If not 'part', then 'pawns'.

One could argue 'pawns' convincingly.  And as well, no 'pawn' (on a 
chessboard or in the fed) is "calling the shots" either.  The "deep 
state" would be the ones "calling the shots" rather than the lowly 
pieces on the board that are being moved about by the "shot caller".

Right now, the 'pawns' are being fired, while the 'chess players' 
remain around.  That's hardly clearing the "deep state", to leave 
around the ones that were calling the shots.

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#66988

Fromc186282 <c186282@nnada.net>
Date2025-04-06 23:47 -0400
Message-ID<kyKdnacRdeQh1276nZ2dnZfqn_udnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#66984
On 4/6/25 11:09 PM, Rich wrote:
> c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote:
>> On 4/5/25 9:08 PM, Rich wrote:
>>> c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote:
>>>>     As for the govt drones (half of which seem to be 'probationary'
>>>>     employees yet getting all the perks)
>>>
>>> Do note that in the US federal govt, the meaning of a "probationary
>>> employee" is very different from the normal private sector usage (it
>>> is unfortunate the statue writers chose 'probationary' for their
>>> word, but here we are).
>>
>>    Well ... HERE WE ARE .......
>>
>>    Politics is about *appearances* more than any realities.
>>
>>    If I hear "probationary" I think some Gen-Z/A2 dink kinda part-time
>>    drones who don't deserve any consideration.
> 
> Yes, and that's probably what the rest of the country thinks, since
> unless they've been a govt. employee at some point, they would never
> have had a chance to learn the "government" meaning.  As I said, it is
> unfortunate the statute writers chose the word "probationary", but they
> did, so it is the word used.
> 
>>> It simply means they have been on the job for less than one year,
>>> and what is different for 'probationary' employess is they don't
>>> have all of the usual protections from arbitrary and capricious
>>> firings as those who have been on the job for more than one year.
>>> The purpose is to give the govt a one year window to see if the
>>> employee actually can do the job, and allow an easier time of laying
>>> them off if it turns out they can't do the job.
>>
>>    Um, WHY so many <1yr people ??? Sounds like a Joe
>>    initiative to reinforce the bureaucracy/deep-state.
> 
> Most realistic reason, given the number of people employed by the fed:
> there is a constant churn of old workers retiring (or dying) off and
> others who quit to go elsewhere with the accompanyng new hires being
> hired to replace those that have left.  Just that, given size size of
> the fed, without any "joe initiatives" would produce a quite large
> count of folks in "probationary" status, more than enough for the
> numbers being quoted in the press.  Another quirk of the govt.
> "probationary" status is if one changes jobs within the govt, one
> becomes "probationary" for the first year of the new job.  So a portion
> of the "probationary" workers have more than a year total govt
> experience, but are "probationary" because they switched jobs within
> the fed.
> 
>>    So, FIRE them all !
> 
> And with that, the workers that make sure your prescription drugs won't
> accidentally poison you, or those that make sure your steak does not
> include a deadly does of salmonella, or those that make sure you get
> your social security check (if one is drawing one), or those who make
> sure one's medicare payments go through for medical services (for those
> old enough to be forced to be on medicare), or the forest service
> workers rescuing hikers who get themselves hopelessly lost in the
> woods, or a whole host of other services that many have no idea is
> being provided by the federal workforce.
> 
>>>>     well, big/deep state is a POWER BASE and TAPPABLE
>>>>     CASH FLOW for some of the people who are REALLY in
>>>>     charge, so they DO freak about that kind of stuff.
>>>
>>> The federal employees never were the "deep state".
>>
>>    Oh, please !!!
>>
>>    If not 'part', then 'pawns'.
> 
> One could argue 'pawns' convincingly.  And as well, no 'pawn' (on a
> chessboard or in the fed) is "calling the shots" either.  The "deep
> state" would be the ones "calling the shots" rather than the lowly
> pieces on the board that are being moved about by the "shot caller".
> 
> Right now, the 'pawns' are being fired, while the 'chess players'
> remain around.  That's hardly clearing the "deep state", to leave
> around the ones that were calling the shots.


   Hey, NEXT step, go after the OTHER players ... but
   you've gotta strip them of their shield of pawns
   first ........

   Some like to think Trump and friends don't understand
   all this - but it's self-delusion. Trump is playing
   HARD, real, politics here. He was fucked-over by the
   WokieComs ... NOW he's gonna destroy them.

   Doing kinda well so far.

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