Lippard.Multics 1985-03-05 16:58:59 mst Tue
Subject:  DIGITERATA - From Micro Cornucopia
Date:  Tuesday, 26 February 1985 22:24 mst
From:  Shoo <RLLeatherwood>
To:  {mbx >udd>m>jjl>misc>misc}

                 DIGITERATA

     Go placidly amid the bytes & bits, and remember what peace there
may be in a power falure. As far as possible without surrender, modify
your software until it works the way the software house advertised it
would. Speak your truth quietly & clearly; and listen to others, even
FORTH programmers and members of other sects; they too have their story.
Avoid RPG and FORTRAN hackers, they're a vexation to the spirit. If you
compare your code with that of other programmers, you may become vain or
bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser than yourself. Enjoy
your BBII as well as your BBI. Keep the faith with your Z80 system,
however humble; it is a real antique in the ever changing technologies.
Exercise caution when booting your system, for the floppy disk is full
of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; even
Unix gurus strive for high ideals; and though their quest is futile,
their life is full of heroism. Be honest, your computer knows the truth.
Especially do not run emulators, for even an 8 MHz Z-80 can't
impersonate a Cray. Neither be cynical about MS-DOS; for in the face of
all time it is but a butterfly. Take kindly the counsel of the S-100
buffs, surrendering their knowledge of superior systems. They, too, run
CP/M. Retain backups to shield you during the rains of winter. But do
not distress yourself with imaginings of power falures yet to come. When
they hit, accept them kindly and kick neither the cat, the child, nor
the spouse. They may all kick back. You are a child of the computer
revolution, unlike Morrow and Wozniak; you have no right to be here. And
whether or not it's clear to you, Apple and IBM will be overcome as they
should. Therefore be at peace with your Single Board, whatever you
conceive it to be: BBI, II, Kaypro, Ampro, or Slicer. In the end you
will trade it for a terminal, modem, and access to a mainframe channel.
With all its drudgery & broken dreams, the Z8000 is still a beautiful
chip. Comment your code. Read Micro Cornucopia.

By Tony Dowden

Taken from "The Culture Corner" in Micro Cornucopia issue number 22.
Used without permission.