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From: jrb@wdl1.UUCP (John R Blaker)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Random Flames & Ramblings
Message-ID: <176@wdl1.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 3-Mar-84 19:43:09 EST
Article-I.D.: wdl1.176
Posted: Sat Mar  3 19:43:09 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 6-Mar-84 04:03:13 EST
Lines: 78

RANDOM FLAMES FROM A LONG-TIME NETWORK VOYEUR

Hello there, this is Evelyn's long-suffering room-mate/tenant at last allowed to
use his own terminal to flame on the net.  I spend my time at work working and
come home to find 'Evelyn' hogging the terminal.  It's enough to make a devout
UNIX hacker turn to his Apple for consolation.

** FLAME ON **

1.  This one is about Hayes's Terminal Programme for the Apple "for use with the
    Hayes Smartmodem 300 or 1200".  Why do they write a terminal emulator that
    makes you select from eight different printer interface cards and only
    allows selection from either a Super Serial Card or "Something Else" when it
    comes to your serial interface?  I would think that a communications
    programme would want to know a lot about the serial card (at least as much
    as the printer card).  GAAH!  I have gotten the bloody thing to talk at 1200    baud only twice.  The rest of the time it tells me it can't find the modem.
    Naturally, it talks fine at 300 baud.

2.  Constitutional Monarchy:  I am in favour of it, but I have been unable to
    come up with much in the way of supporting arguments.  I have the following
    ones to make:
    a.  A monarch preserves continuity
    b.  Monarchs are great public relations abroad.  The Queen's visit to the
	Bay Area last year did more for the image of Britain than did the last
	three Prime Ministers.
    c.  The monarch removes a lot of strain from the Prime Minister allowing
	him/her to get on with the job of actually running things.   If I may
	quote Robert A Heinlein in "Double Star":

	[The king speaks first to our hero who was just named Prime Minister]

		"Once in a long time I get a chance to give a little push in
	the right direction -- what I think is the right direction.  Kinging is
	a very odd profession, Joseph.  Don't ever take it up."
		"I'm afraid it's a bit a late, even if I wanted to."
		He made some fine adjustment on the toy.  "My real function
	is to keep you from going crazy."
		"Eh?"
		"Of course.  Psychosis-situational is the occupational disease
	of heads of states.  My predecessors in the king trade, the ones who
	actually ruled, were almost all a bit balmy.  And take a look at your
	American presidents; the job used frequently to kill them in their
	prime.  But me, I don't have to run things; I have a professional like
	yourself to do it for me.  And you don't have the killing pressure
	either; you, or those in your shoes, can always quit if things get too
	tough -- and the old Emperor -- it's almost always the 'old' Emperor;
	we mount the throne about the age other men retire -- the Emperor is
	always there, maintaining continuity, preserving the symbol of the
	state, while you professionals work out a new deal."  He blinked
	solemnly.  "My job is not glamorous, but it IS useful".

3.  Bad Drivers:  What I really hate are people who cross one or more lanes of
    traffic without signaling.  What do those idiots think the signal was put
    there for, anyway?

4.  Wombats:  I've seen photographs of these beasts, and all I can say is they
    make Koalas look cute.  I wouldn't want to pick a fight with one, because I
    know who would win.  Actually, one of my best friends is Aussie.  I don't
    know what he has to say about wombats, but I do know that he thinks
    Vegemite is disgusting.  Unfortunately, his Mum doesn't seem to know
    that he doesn't like it.

5.  Why, oh why must restaurants and fast-food stands insist on putting lettuce
    and tomato on everything.  I swear it's as bad as the French with the
    bloody sauces on everything.  I like to taste what I'm eating.  If I order
    a hamburger, what I want is a hamburger.  I can live with the bun.

** FLAME OFF **

An interesting experiment is the following:  When ever you reply to something
that is likely to put you on a mailing list, use a different fictitious name.
That way, you can tell what junk mail places they sold their mailing list to.

Gee that felt good!

John R Blaker	-- NOT EVELYN!!
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