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Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #371035] Sat, 21 July 2018 00:55 Go to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: dcweiser

Just following up to a comment, a mere 15 years later — I thought that Rats was a simple, but wonderful, game, and I spent many hours at it. Even now, I'm sorry that it's not in the Play Store.
Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #394666 is a reply to message #371035] Mon, 18 May 2020 04:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: cyril.raphanel

Ahhh Rats! One of the first video I played as kids ... on CTOS while dad compiling program during weekend.
I would love to find the source or binary in some sort.

Thx for pointing to dos/snipes, I would not have figured it out without this post.
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #394673 is a reply to message #371035] Mon, 18 May 2020 11:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: cyril.raphanel

On Sunday, 1 June 2003 17:32:53 UTC+3, George R. Gonzalez wrote:
> Waay back around 1982, I had the rare privilidge to buy one of the
> pre-peroduction prototypes of the not too famous Convergent Technology
> workstation. It was a OEM product, resold under various brands, maybe
> Burroughs, NCR, and Univac? Not sure.
>
> Anyway, at the time it was a STEAL, I got a 8086 CPU, a 14megabyte hard
> disk, 256K bytes of RAM, a green-screen hi-res (for the time) monitor, and a
> fancy keyboard. (No mouse), (no graphics, eacept downloadable character
> font graphics). No case, just open chassis, open monitor, three uncased
> power supplies, all screwed onto a sheet of plywood.
>
> It was a STEAL for only $3000.
>
>
> It had a very advanced operating system for the age. While PC's barely had
> PCDOS, this OS had a non-modal screen editor, long file names, a form-based
> command processor, a fuss-free local area network and file-sharing,
> spreadsheet, good word processor, FORTRAN, BASIC and Pascal compilers
> (shoddy Msoft ones). Text windows.,
> an awesome assembler, system source code, custom build system options, and
> more that I've forgotten.
>
> In My Humble Opinion, a HECK of a lot better computer than the IBM PC.
>
> But as we know the PC won out.
>
>
>
> And oh yes, an addictive and fun "rats maze" game that I played for hours
> and hours. Pretty good graphics considering it was all character-font
> based.
>
> Anybody remember that game? Anybody have the source code to it?
>
> Drool.... drool...
>
> ( Eventually after a few years the custom hard disk controller died and I
> tossed the whole shebang in the dumpster. Sad, but that seemed like the
> only option at the time.)
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> George

Has anyone a good screenshot/picture? I would like to mimic the look&feel in snipes.
https://github.com/Davidebyzero/Snipes
https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=49073
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #394705 is a reply to message #394673] Tue, 19 May 2020 12:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: cyril.raphanel

I do not know if this is one of you but found some rare screenshot here
https://flic.kr/p/5XkxY2
https://flic.kr/p/5XpR25
https://flic.kr/p/5XkvD6
https://flic.kr/p/5XpF1L
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #394967 is a reply to message #371035] Mon, 25 May 2020 17:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gerard Schildberger is currently offline  Gerard Schildberger
Messages: 163
Registered: September 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On Sunday, June 1, 2003 at 3:12:55 PM UTC-5, Don Quixote wrote:
> George R. Gonzalez might have said:
>
> [CT rats game]
>
>> Anybody remember that game? Anybody have the source code to it?
>
> Yes, no.

(Regarding the Rat's game ...)


Attributed to Lily Tomlin and/or Robert Reisner:


“The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win,
you're still a rat.”

________________________________________ Gerard Schildbergr
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #395478 is a reply to message #394967] Sat, 06 June 2020 11:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: cyril.raphanel

On Tuesday, 26 May 2020 00:18:15 UTC+3, Gerard Schildberger wrote:
> On Sunday, June 1, 2003 at 3:12:55 PM UTC-5, Don Quixote wrote:
>> George R. Gonzalez might have said:
>>
>> [CT rats game]
>>
>>> Anybody remember that game? Anybody have the source code to it?
>>
>> Yes, no.
>
> (Regarding the Rat's game ...)
>
>
> Attributed to Lily Tomlin and/or Robert Reisner:
>
>
> “The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win,
> you're still a rat.”
>
> ________________________________________ Gerard Schildbergr

hi,

do you remember if what was the behavior difference between the rat and the small one (bug?)?

I try to write my own version of the game ...
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #395479 is a reply to message #394967] Sat, 06 June 2020 11:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: cyril.raphanel

On Tuesday, 26 May 2020 00:18:15 UTC+3, Gerard Schildberger wrote:
> On Sunday, June 1, 2003 at 3:12:55 PM UTC-5, Don Quixote wrote:
>> George R. Gonzalez might have said:
>>
>> [CT rats game]
>>
>>> Anybody remember that game? Anybody have the source code to it?
>>
>> Yes, no.
>
> (Regarding the Rat's game ...)
>
>
> Attributed to Lily Tomlin and/or Robert Reisner:
>
>
> “The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win,
> you're still a rat.”
>
> ________________________________________ Gerard Schildbergr

hi,

do you remember what was the behavior difference between the rat and the small one (bug?)?

I try to write my own version of the game ...
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #395481 is a reply to message #394967] Sat, 06 June 2020 11:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: cyril.raphanel

On Tuesday, 26 May 2020 00:18:15 UTC+3, Gerard Schildberger wrote:
> On Sunday, June 1, 2003 at 3:12:55 PM UTC-5, Don Quixote wrote:
>> George R. Gonzalez might have said:
>>
>> [CT rats game]
>>
>>> Anybody remember that game? Anybody have the source code to it?
>>
>> Yes, no.
>
> (Regarding the Rat's game ...)
>
>
> Attributed to Lily Tomlin and/or Robert Reisner:
>
>
> “The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win,
> you're still a rat.”
>
> ________________________________________ Gerard Schildbergr


Hi
do you know what was the behavior difference between the rat and the small one (bug?)? I try to re-write my own version of the game ...
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #395482 is a reply to message #371035] Sat, 06 June 2020 11:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: cyril.raphanel

On Sunday, 1 June 2003 17:32:53 UTC+3, George R. Gonzalez wrote:
> Waay back around 1982, I had the rare privilidge to buy one of the
> pre-peroduction prototypes of the not too famous Convergent Technology
> workstation. It was a OEM product, resold under various brands, maybe
> Burroughs, NCR, and Univac? Not sure.
>
> Anyway, at the time it was a STEAL, I got a 8086 CPU, a 14megabyte hard
> disk, 256K bytes of RAM, a green-screen hi-res (for the time) monitor, and a
> fancy keyboard. (No mouse), (no graphics, eacept downloadable character
> font graphics). No case, just open chassis, open monitor, three uncased
> power supplies, all screwed onto a sheet of plywood.
>
> It was a STEAL for only $3000.
>
>
> It had a very advanced operating system for the age. While PC's barely had
> PCDOS, this OS had a non-modal screen editor, long file names, a form-based
> command processor, a fuss-free local area network and file-sharing,
> spreadsheet, good word processor, FORTRAN, BASIC and Pascal compilers
> (shoddy Msoft ones). Text windows.,
> an awesome assembler, system source code, custom build system options, and
> more that I've forgotten.
>
> In My Humble Opinion, a HECK of a lot better computer than the IBM PC.
>
> But as we know the PC won out.
>
>
>
> And oh yes, an addictive and fun "rats maze" game that I played for hours
> and hours. Pretty good graphics considering it was all character-font
> based.
>
> Anybody remember that game? Anybody have the source code to it?
>
> Drool.... drool...
>
> ( Eventually after a few years the custom hard disk controller died and I
> tossed the whole shebang in the dumpster. Sad, but that seemed like the
> only option at the time.)
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> George

Hi
do you know what was the behavior difference between the rat and the small one (bug?)? I try to re-write my own version of the game ...
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #395487 is a reply to message #395481] Sat, 06 June 2020 14:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Peter Flass is currently offline  Peter Flass
Messages: 8375
Registered: December 2011
Karma: 0
Senior Member
<cyril.raphanel@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tuesday, 26 May 2020 00:18:15 UTC+3, Gerard Schildberger wrote:
>> On Sunday, June 1, 2003 at 3:12:55 PM UTC-5, Don Quixote wrote:
>>> George R. Gonzalez might have said:
>>>
>>> [CT rats game]
>>>
>>>> Anybody remember that game? Anybody have the source code to it?
>>>
>>> Yes, no.
>>
>> (Regarding the Rat's game ...)
>>
>>
>> Attributed to Lily Tomlin and/or Robert Reisner:
>>
>>
>> “The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win,
>> you're still a rat.”
>>
>> ________________________________________ Gerard Schildbergr
>
>
> Hi
> do you know what was the behavior difference between the rat and the
> small one (bug?)? I try to re-write my own version of the game ...
>

Cyril, probably asking once would be enough. ;-)

--
Pete
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #395488 is a reply to message #395487] Sat, 06 June 2020 14:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: cyril.raphanel

On Saturday, 6 June 2020 21:10:29 UTC+3, Peter Flass wrote:
> <cyril.raphanel@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Tuesday, 26 May 2020 00:18:15 UTC+3, Gerard Schildberger wrote:
>>> On Sunday, June 1, 2003 at 3:12:55 PM UTC-5, Don Quixote wrote:
>>>> George R. Gonzalez might have said:
>>>>
>>>> [CT rats game]
>>>>
>>>> > Anybody remember that game? Anybody have the source code to it?
>>>>
>>>> Yes, no.
>>>
>>> (Regarding the Rat's game ...)
>>>
>>>
>>> Attributed to Lily Tomlin and/or Robert Reisner:
>>>
>>>
>>> “The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win,
>>> you're still a rat.”
>>>
>>> ________________________________________ Gerard Schildbergr
>>
>>
>> Hi
>> do you know what was the behavior difference between the rat and the
>> small one (bug?)? I try to re-write my own version of the game ...
>>
>
> Cyril, probably asking once would be enough. ;-)
>
> --
> Pete

Yep indeed ... still fighting with google groups :D
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420053 is a reply to message #395479] Wed, 03 May 2023 07:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: George T Peppel

On Saturday, June 6, 2020 at 11:41:59 AM UTC-4, cyril.r...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Tuesday, 26 May 2020 00:18:15 UTC+3, Gerard Schildberger wrote:
>> On Sunday, June 1, 2003 at 3:12:55 PM UTC-5, Don Quixote wrote:
>>> George R. Gonzalez might have said:
>>>
>>> [CT rats game]
>>>
>>>> Anybody remember that game? Anybody have the source code to it?
>>>
>>> Yes, no.
>>
>> (Regarding the Rat's game ...)
>>
>>
>> Attributed to Lily Tomlin and/or Robert Reisner:
>>
>>
>> “The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win,
>> you're still a rat.”
>>
>> ________________________________________ Gerard Schildbergr
> hi,
>
> do you remember what was the behavior difference between the rat and the small one (bug?)?
>
> I try to write my own version of the game ...
We called them "anklebiters" at Burroughs. I do remember they were fast but I am forgetting their full behavior.
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420054 is a reply to message #420053] Wed, 03 May 2023 07:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Carlos E.R.

Didn't you notice that you are replying to a thread from two decades ago?

On 2023-05-03 13:12, George T Peppel wrote:
> On Saturday, June 6, 2020 at 11:41:59 AM UTC-4, cyril.r...@gmail.com wrote:
>> On Tuesday, 26 May 2020 00:18:15 UTC+3, Gerard Schildberger wrote:
>>> On Sunday, June 1, 2003 at 3:12:55 PM UTC-5, Don Quixote wrote:
>>>> George R. Gonzalez might have said:
>>>>
>>>> [CT rats game]
>>>>
>>>> > Anybody remember that game? Anybody have the source code to it?
>>>>
>>>> Yes, no.
>>>
>>> (Regarding the Rat's game ...)
>>>
>>>
>>> Attributed to Lily Tomlin and/or Robert Reisner:
>>>
>>>
>>> “The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win,
>>> you're still a rat.”
>>>
>>> ________________________________________ Gerard Schildbergr
>> hi,
>>
>> do you remember what was the behavior difference between the rat and the small one (bug?)?
>>
>> I try to write my own version of the game ...
> We called them "anklebiters" at Burroughs. I do remember they were fast but I am forgetting their full behavior.

--
Cheers, Carlos.
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420055 is a reply to message #420054] Wed, 03 May 2023 10:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jan van den Broek is currently offline  Jan van den Broek
Messages: 70
Registered: April 2012
Karma: 0
Member
2023-05-03, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> schrieb:
>
> Didn't you notice that you are replying to a thread from two decades ago?

In my opinion the error is Googlegroups allowing this.

[Schnipp]

--
"There's an eyeball in my Martini"

Jan v/d Broek balglaas@sdf.org
SDF Public Access UNIX System - https://sdf.org
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420056 is a reply to message #420055] Wed, 03 May 2023 12:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Harry Vaderchi is currently offline  Harry Vaderchi
Messages: 719
Registered: July 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On Wed, 3 May 2023 14:08:18 -0000 (UTC)
Jan van den Broek <balglaas@sdf.org> wrote:

> 2023-05-03, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> schrieb:
>>
>> Didn't you notice that you are replying to a thread from two decades ago?
>
> In my opinion the error is Googlegroups allowing this.
>
> [Schnipp]
>
But I'd welcome a rewrite of the game to.. well for me. MSDOS. I might
tackle it myself, if had more of a spec.

Ah
https://convergentaws.blogspot.com/2022/02/finding-and-imple menting-rats-of-maze.html
has a lot of info. Maybe later.
--
Bah, and indeed Humbug.
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420057 is a reply to message #420055] Wed, 03 May 2023 16:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Peter Flass is currently offline  Peter Flass
Messages: 8375
Registered: December 2011
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Jan van den Broek <balglaas@sdf.org> wrote:
> 2023-05-03, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> schrieb:
>>
>> Didn't you notice that you are replying to a thread from two decades ago?
>
> In my opinion the error is Googlegroups allowing this.
>
> [Schnipp]
>

Right, or at least it should give a warning “the message you’re replying to
is more than xxx days old, do you want to continue.” Google should hire us
old-timers to fix their code.

--
Pete
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420059 is a reply to message #420057] Wed, 03 May 2023 17:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Charlie Gibbs is currently offline  Charlie Gibbs
Messages: 5313
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 2023-05-03, Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Jan van den Broek <balglaas@sdf.org> wrote:
>
>> 2023-05-03, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> schrieb:
>>
>>> Didn't you notice that you are replying to a thread from two decades ago?
>>
>> In my opinion the error is Googlegroups allowing this.
>>
>> [Schnipp]
>
> Right, or at least it should give a warning “the message you’re replying to
> is more than xxx days old, do you want to continue.” Google should hire us
> old-timers to fix their code.

Or not. Considering how far Google has insinuated its tentacles into
our lives, the last thing I'd want to do is help them in any way.

--
/~\ Charlie Gibbs | You can't save the earth
\ / <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> | unless you're willing to
X I'm really at ac.dekanfrus | make other people sacrifice.
/ \ if you read it the right way. | -- Dogbert the green consultant
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420065 is a reply to message #420057] Thu, 04 May 2023 00:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ahem A Rivet's Shot is currently offline  Ahem A Rivet's Shot
Messages: 4843
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On Wed, 3 May 2023 13:34:38 -0700
Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Google should hire us old-timers to fix their code.

Google (also Amazon and Meta) have been pinging me about working for
them on and off for the last decade, apparently I'm talent they'd like to
acquire. I haven't been desperate enough yet.

--
Steve O'Hara-Smith
Odds and Ends at http://www.sohara.org/
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420066 is a reply to message #420065] Thu, 04 May 2023 02:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Nicholas D. Richards

In article <20230504055155.02ec7253374b61b7ab643d8e@eircom.net>, Ahem A
Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> on Thu, 4 May 2023 at 05:51:55 awoke
Nicholas from his slumbers and wrote
> On Wed, 3 May 2023 13:34:38 -0700
> Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Google should hire us old-timers to fix their code.
>
> Google (also Amazon and Meta) have been pinging me about working for
> them on and off for the last decade, apparently I'm talent they'd like to
> acquire. I haven't been desperate enough yet.
>
Or you are dealing with people with evil intentions.....

as you were.
--
0sterc@tcher -

"Où sont les neiges d'antan?"
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420171 is a reply to message #420057] Thu, 11 May 2023 12:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Vir Campestris

On 03/05/2023 21:34, Peter Flass wrote:
> Right, or at least it should give a warning “the message you’re replying to
> is more than xxx days old, do you want to continue.” Google should hire us
> old-timers to fix their code.

I had a perfectly good job. I stopped when I decided I had enough money
to do the things I wanted, but might not have enough time.

I imagine that's true of a lot of people.

Andy
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420174 is a reply to message #420171] Thu, 11 May 2023 13:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: greymaus

On 2023-05-11, Vir Campestris <vir.campestris@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> On 03/05/2023 21:34, Peter Flass wrote:
>> Right, or at least it should give a warning “the message you’re replying to
>> is more than xxx days old, do you want to continue.” Google should hire us
>> old-timers to fix their code.
>
> I had a perfectly good job. I stopped when I decided I had enough money
> to do the things I wanted, but might not have enough time.
>
> I imagine that's true of a lot of people.
>
> Andy

A bit of a story from many, many years ago.

The machine was not working, so a learned man came from afar,
contemplated it for a while, then turned a screw, the machine started,
and the learned man presented his bill

"How can you justify charging so much for turning a screw?."#

"I knew which screw to turn."

Then there was the hospitals where someone noticed that patients died
between 6 and 7. The cleaners would plug out things to plug in vacuum
cleaners.

equally old


--
greymausg@mail.com
Where is our money gone, dude?
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420175 is a reply to message #420174] Thu, 11 May 2023 14:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mike Spencer is currently offline  Mike Spencer
Messages: 997
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
greymaus <maus@darkstar.org> writes:

> A bit of a story from many, many years ago.
>
> The machine was not working, so a learned man came from afar,
> contemplated it for a while, then turned a screw, the machine started,
> and the learned man presented his bill
>
> "How can you justify charging so much for turning a screw?."

The bill presented is for $101.00. The defence is, "One dollar for
turning the screw; $100 for knowing which screw to turn."


In the more grease-stained trades,

s/turned a screw/whacked it with a hammer/

and so on.

> "I knew which screw to turn."


--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420176 is a reply to message #420175] Thu, 11 May 2023 15:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ahem A Rivet's Shot is currently offline  Ahem A Rivet's Shot
Messages: 4843
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 11 May 2023 15:09:46 -0300
Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> wrote:

> The bill presented is for $101.00. The defence is, "One dollar for
> turning the screw; $100 for knowing which screw to turn."
>
>
> In the more grease-stained trades,
>
> s/turned a screw/whacked it with a hammer/

That was the version I first heard - with an extra zero in the bill
and without the 1 at the end - the figures were $50 for call out and hitting
with hammer, $950 for knowing where to hit.

--
Steve O'Hara-Smith
Odds and Ends at http://www.sohara.org/
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420180 is a reply to message #420176] Fri, 12 May 2023 06:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Johnny Billquist

On 2023-05-11 21:57, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
> On 11 May 2023 15:09:46 -0300
> Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> wrote:
>
>> The bill presented is for $101.00. The defence is, "One dollar for
>> turning the screw; $100 for knowing which screw to turn."
>>
>>
>> In the more grease-stained trades,
>>
>> s/turned a screw/whacked it with a hammer/
>
> That was the version I first heard - with an extra zero in the bill
> and without the 1 at the end - the figures were $50 for call out and hitting
> with hammer, $950 for knowing where to hit.

It's an old story that have been around in multiple variants for a long
time.

Just google for "where to tap", and you'll find a bunch.

Johnny
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420182 is a reply to message #420180] Fri, 12 May 2023 07:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ahem A Rivet's Shot is currently offline  Ahem A Rivet's Shot
Messages: 4843
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On Fri, 12 May 2023 12:13:05 +0200
Johnny Billquist <bqt@softjar.se> wrote:

> On 2023-05-11 21:57, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
>> On 11 May 2023 15:09:46 -0300
>> Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> wrote:
>>
>>> The bill presented is for $101.00. The defence is, "One dollar for
>>> turning the screw; $100 for knowing which screw to turn."
>>>
>>>
>>> In the more grease-stained trades,
>>>
>>> s/turned a screw/whacked it with a hammer/
>>
>> That was the version I first heard - with an extra zero in the
>> bill and without the 1 at the end - the figures were $50 for call out
>> and hitting with hammer, $950 for knowing where to hit.
>
> It's an old story that have been around in multiple variants for a long
> time.

I'm pretty sure it was ancient when I heard it circa 1980.

--
Steve O'Hara-Smith
Odds and Ends at http://www.sohara.org/
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420185 is a reply to message #420180] Fri, 12 May 2023 10:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: greymaus

On 2023-05-12, Johnny Billquist <bqt@softjar.se> wrote:
> On 2023-05-11 21:57, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
>> On 11 May 2023 15:09:46 -0300
>> Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> wrote:
>>
>>> The bill presented is for $101.00. The defence is, "One dollar for
>>> turning the screw; $100 for knowing which screw to turn."
>>>
>>>
>>> In the more grease-stained trades,
>>>
>>> s/turned a screw/whacked it with a hammer/
>>
>> That was the version I first heard - with an extra zero in the bill
>> and without the 1 at the end - the figures were $50 for call out and hitting
>> with hammer, $950 for knowing where to hit.
>
> It's an old story that have been around in multiple variants for a long
> time.
>
> Just google for "where to tap", and you'll find a bunch.
>
> Johnny
>

This is alt.FOLKLORE.computers. just a thought from olden time that
came to me .

--
greymausg@mail.com
Where is our money gone, dude?
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420186 is a reply to message #420185] Fri, 12 May 2023 13:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: snipeco.2

greymaus <maus@darkstar.org> wrote:

> On 2023-05-12, Johnny Billquist <bqt@softjar.se> wrote:
>> On 2023-05-11 21:57, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
>>> On 11 May 2023 15:09:46 -0300
>>> Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> wrote:
>>>
>>>> The bill presented is for $101.00. The defence is, "One dollar for
>>>> turning the screw; $100 for knowing which screw to turn."
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> In the more grease-stained trades,
>>>>
>>>> s/turned a screw/whacked it with a hammer/
>>>
>>> That was the version I first heard - with an extra zero in the bill
>>> and without the 1 at the end - the figures were $50 for call out and
>>> hitting with hammer, $950 for knowing where to hit.
>>
>> It's an old story that have been around in multiple variants for a long
>> time.
>>
>> Just google for "where to tap", and you'll find a bunch.
>>
>> Johnny
>>
>
> This is alt.FOLKLORE.computers. just a thought from olden time that
> came to me .

Percussive maintenance was certainly a thing in 1969.

--
^Ï^. – Sn!pe – My pet rock Gordon just is.

<https://youtu.be/_kqytf31a8E>
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420192 is a reply to message #420174] Fri, 12 May 2023 16:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Joe Makowiec is currently offline  Joe Makowiec
Messages: 71
Registered: June 2012
Karma: 0
Member
On 11 May 2023 in alt.folklore.computers, greymaus wrote:

> On 2023-05-11, Vir Campestris <vir.campestris@invalid.invalid>
> wrote:
>> On 03/05/2023 21:34, Peter Flass wrote:
>>> Right, or at least it should give a warning “the message
>>> you’re replying to is more than xxx days old, do you want to
>>> continue.” Google should hire us old-timers to fix their code.
>>
>> I had a perfectly good job. I stopped when I decided I had enough
>> money to do the things I wanted, but might not have enough time.
>>
>> I imagine that's true of a lot of people.
>>
>> Andy
>
> A bit of a story from many, many years ago.
....
> "How can you justify charging so much for turning a screw?."#
>
> "I knew which screw to turn."

I've heard a version of the story attributed to Charles Proteus
Steinmetz. He had gone his own way, perhaps nudged a bit in that
direction by General Electric. But nobody understood his material* as
he did, so he got called back in. They gave him the specs and plans
for the device they were having trouble with. He returned home and
contemplated the problem for a couple of days, came back, grabbed a
piece of chalk, marked the device, dropped a bill for ${large number}
on the table and left.

A few days later, comes a missive from GE - they want an /itemized/
bill. (Bean counters are always with us.) So Steinmetz sent the bill:
- $100 placing chalk mark on device
- ${large number} - $100 knowing where to put the chalk mark

GE, at least according to this story, paid.

* High voltage electricity

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

Ah, not quite. Footnote 13 of that article refers to this article:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/charles-proteus-stein metz-the-wizard-of-schenectady-51912022

Apparently, the victim was Henry Ford, not GE.

--
Joe Makowiec
http://makowiec.org/
Email: http://makowiec.org/contact/?Joe
Usenet Improvement Project: http://twovoyagers.com/improve-usenet.org/
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420193 is a reply to message #420186] Fri, 12 May 2023 16:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Charlie Gibbs is currently offline  Charlie Gibbs
Messages: 5313
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 2023-05-12, Sn!pe <snipeco.2@gmail.com> wrote:

> greymaus <maus@darkstar.org> wrote:
>
>> On 2023-05-12, Johnny Billquist <bqt@softjar.se> wrote:
>>
>>> On 2023-05-11 21:57, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 11 May 2023 15:09:46 -0300
>>>> Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > The bill presented is for $101.00. The defence is, "One dollar for
>>>> > turning the screw; $100 for knowing which screw to turn."
>>>> >
>>>> > In the more grease-stained trades,
>>>> >
>>>> > s/turned a screw/whacked it with a hammer/
>>>>
>>>> That was the version I first heard - with an extra zero in the bill
>>>> and without the 1 at the end - the figures were $50 for call out and
>>>> hitting with hammer, $950 for knowing where to hit.
>>>
>>> It's an old story that have been around in multiple variants for a long
>>> time.
>>>
>>> Just google for "where to tap", and you'll find a bunch.
>>
>> This is alt.FOLKLORE.computers. just a thought from olden time that
>> came to me .
>
> Percussive maintenance was certainly a thing in 1969.

I've heard it referred to as a "broad-spectrum seismic impulse".

--
/~\ Charlie Gibbs | You can't save the earth
\ / <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> | unless you're willing to
X I'm really at ac.dekanfrus | make other people sacrifice.
/ \ if you read it the right way. | -- Dogbert the green consultant
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420194 is a reply to message #420186] Fri, 12 May 2023 17:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Peter Flass is currently offline  Peter Flass
Messages: 8375
Registered: December 2011
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Sn!pe <snipeco.2@gmail.com> wrote:
> greymaus <maus@darkstar.org> wrote:
>
>> On 2023-05-12, Johnny Billquist <bqt@softjar.se> wrote:
>>> On 2023-05-11 21:57, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
>>>> On 11 May 2023 15:09:46 -0300
>>>> Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > The bill presented is for $101.00. The defence is, "One dollar for
>>>> > turning the screw; $100 for knowing which screw to turn."
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > In the more grease-stained trades,
>>>> >
>>>> > s/turned a screw/whacked it with a hammer/
>>>>
>>>> That was the version I first heard - with an extra zero in the bill
>>>> and without the 1 at the end - the figures were $50 for call out and
>>>> hitting with hammer, $950 for knowing where to hit.
>>>
>>> It's an old story that have been around in multiple variants for a long
>>> time.
>>>
>>> Just google for "where to tap", and you'll find a bunch.
>>>
>>> Johnny
>>>
>>
>> This is alt.FOLKLORE.computers. just a thought from olden time that
>> came to me .
>
> Percussive maintenance was certainly a thing in 1969.
>

The six-inch-drop was a way to fix terminals and PCs au aulden days.

--
Pete
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420196 is a reply to message #420194] Fri, 12 May 2023 19:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Charlie Gibbs is currently offline  Charlie Gibbs
Messages: 5313
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 2023-05-12, Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Sn!pe <snipeco.2@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> greymaus <maus@darkstar.org> wrote:
>>
>>> On 2023-05-12, Johnny Billquist <bqt@softjar.se> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 2023-05-11 21:57, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > On 11 May 2023 15:09:46 -0300
>>>> > Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> The bill presented is for $101.00. The defence is, "One dollar for
>>>> >> turning the screw; $100 for knowing which screw to turn."
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> In the more grease-stained trades,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> s/turned a screw/whacked it with a hammer/
>>>> >
>>>> > That was the version I first heard - with an extra zero in the bill
>>>> > and without the 1 at the end - the figures were $50 for call out and
>>>> > hitting with hammer, $950 for knowing where to hit.
>>>>
>>>> It's an old story that have been around in multiple variants for a long
>>>> time.
>>>>
>>>> Just google for "where to tap", and you'll find a bunch.
>>>
>>> This is alt.FOLKLORE.computers. just a thought from olden time that
>>> came to me .
>>
>> Percussive maintenance was certainly a thing in 1969.
>
> The six-inch-drop was a way to fix terminals and PCs au aulden days.

The contacts on the circuit boards in our mainframe terminals
(Uniscope 200) weren't gold-plated, and would often corrode.
A quick once-over with a pencil eraser usually fixed things.
(You'd have to be careful doing a six-inch drop - they weighed
50 pounds.)

--
/~\ Charlie Gibbs | You can't save the earth
\ / <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> | unless you're willing to
X I'm really at ac.dekanfrus | make other people sacrifice.
/ \ if you read it the right way. | -- Dogbert the green consultant
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420198 is a reply to message #420186] Fri, 12 May 2023 20:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mike Spencer is currently offline  Mike Spencer
Messages: 997
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
> Percussive maintenance was certainly a thing in 1969.

I had an IBM 19" CRT that, circa 2010, responded to percussive
maintenance. Eventually I took it apart and firmly attached the loose
item. No more percussion until last month when I retired it.

--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420203 is a reply to message #420174] Sun, 14 May 2023 01:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Niklas Karlsson is currently offline  Niklas Karlsson
Messages: 265
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 2023-05-11, greymaus <maus@darkstar.org> wrote:
>
> Then there was the hospitals where someone noticed that patients died
> between 6 and 7. The cleaners would plug out things to plug in vacuum
> cleaners.

Twenty years or so ago when I was doing hardware support, I had a
customer whose network switch was ceasing to function at roughly the
same time every night, then would come back to life in the morning. I
strongly suspected it was a case of a cleaner unplugging it, but in the
end, it turned out to be a case of the light switch being wired to the
outlet the switch fed from. Apparently this is not uncommon in US homes,
and his office was in a converted home.

Niklas
--
"BASH! THUD! POW! OCTOTHORPE!"
-- SteveD
Re: Convergent Technology Workstations and "Rats game"?? [message #420204 is a reply to message #420203] Sun, 14 May 2023 13:31 Go to previous message
Charlie Gibbs is currently offline  Charlie Gibbs
Messages: 5313
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 2023-05-14, Niklas Karlsson <nikke.karlsson@gmail.com> wrote:

> On 2023-05-11, greymaus <maus@darkstar.org> wrote:
>
>> Then there was the hospitals where someone noticed that patients died
>> between 6 and 7. The cleaners would plug out things to plug in vacuum
>> cleaners.
>
> Twenty years or so ago when I was doing hardware support, I had a
> customer whose network switch was ceasing to function at roughly the
> same time every night, then would come back to life in the morning. I
> strongly suspected it was a case of a cleaner unplugging it, but in the
> end, it turned out to be a case of the light switch being wired to the
> outlet the switch fed from. Apparently this is not uncommon in US homes,
> and his office was in a converted home.

One of the favourite stories I remember from this froup is about a
system that would go down overnight. When the staff came in in the
morning, they would find one or more disk drives offline. Hardware
testing revealed no problems that would make a drive spontaneously
go offline. Finally someone set up a cot in the machine room and
stayed overnight. In the middle of the night he saw a janitor come
in to clean the machine room. The janitor would push his cart between
the two rows of disk drives, and would occasionally bump into one,
sometimes hitting the "offline" button.

The solution was not, as one would initially think, to move the
disk drive rows farther part. Rather, they moved them closer
together so the janitor couldn't get his cart between them at all.
Problem solved.

--
/~\ Charlie Gibbs | You can't save the earth
\ / <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> | unless you're willing to
X I'm really at ac.dekanfrus | make other people sacrifice.
/ \ if you read it the right way. | -- Dogbert the green consultant
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