Cool facts and articles

[HangryHippo]

I think of that time as a bit of a "golden era" in computing, just ahead of the PC era, and somehow software development just isn't the same. No desire to understand how systems work, or to try to put things together artfully or from a systems perspective...but I digress...

Can you expound on this, particularly the last sentence?

[flintysooner]

I think of that time as a bit of a "golden era" in computing, just ahead of the PC era, and somehow software development just isn't the same. No desire to understand how systems work, or to try to put things together artfully or from a systems perspective...but I digress...

I agree with that and think it is insightful.

Programming was more a way of thinking about solving a problem. It is amazing to me how much easier it is today. But, of course, we continue to work on increasingly complex problems, too.

[ctchandler]

Flintysooner,
I worked for the government, (big bucks $$$$), and it was a vital place for the military, so the first computer I worked on in 1965 was an IBM 1401 with 16k, disk and tape drives. It was considered the largest 1401 produced by IBM. I then moved t a 1410 and then a 360 model 50, the second one delivered by IBM. we were coding queries on the 360 which was a predecessor (one of many) to sql, and that was in 1967/68. By the way, when I first started coding, I learned that bal was almost freeform so I didn't pay attention to the accepted format except for the required items, the label/tag had to be in column 1, comment indicator (*) in 7, continue on next card in 72, and we put date in 73-80. But after a couple of programs, trying to debug from an assembly listing with freeform really stunk and from then on, I followed protocol. Sorry, I knows this is boring to non techies, just that some of these comments brought back some good (and not so good) memories.
C. T.

Thats how I remember coding BAL on sheets. Then someone had to keypunch or later key it in for mag cards. One mag card was 256 bytes. I am certain that sounds funny to current programmers.

But my first programs only had 4K bytes to run in so we had to write all these overlays and include a process to load and unload them.

Probably the most complex thing I wrote had to do with operating a ledger feed and posting system.

The great thing about mag cards was I could code, compile, and test really quickly as in a few hours contrasted to punch cards or tape that might take a few days or weeks.

I really liked BAL.

[flintysooner]

Originally Posted by SoonerDave View Post
I think of that time as a bit of a "golden era" in computing, just ahead of the PC era, and somehow software development just isn't the same. No desire to understand how systems work, or to try to put things together artfully or from a systems perspective...but I digress...

Can you expound on this, particularly the last sentence?

I think I understand at least in part what he means. Back then it was a real adventure to get to work on a different OS and different hardware and programming languages. We were adventurers and explorers as much as anything else. So if a new OS became available or a new programming language or new hardware then we all took every opportunity to jump in and learn the entirety of the new thing. Since we needed some reason to program we eagerly looked for any problem that could be solved with a computer program. The programs were good excuses for us to delve into the OS and the hardware and the language.

Don't get me wrong. We all wrote a lot of useful programs. You have to remember that this was before the computer was widely used so most any task you thought of hadn't been done yet.

Together we probably wrote a few million examples of Tic Tac Toe and maybe that many spreadsheet programs. Some of us, a lot of us probably, wanted to write the entire systems from the OS clear to the end user interface and all the applications in between. It was like a big new playground with a lot of new and interesting toys to try.

I think I would never have been happy writing just a piece of something. It was an exciting time.

[flintysooner]

Flintysooner,
I worked for the government, (big bucks $$$$), and it was a vital place for the military, so the first computer I worked on in 1965 was an IBM 1401 with 16k, disk and tape drives. It was considered the largest 1401 produced by IBM. I then moved t a 1410 and then a 360 model 50, the second one delivered by IBM. we were coding queries on the 360 which was a predecessor (one of many) to sql, and that was in 1967/68. By the way, when I first started coding, I learned that bal was almost freeform so I didn't pay attention to the accepted format except for the required items, the label/tag had to be in column 1, comment indicator (*) in 7, continue on next card in 72, and we put date in 73-80. But after a couple of programs, trying to debug from an assembly listing with freeform really stunk and from then on, I followed protocol. Sorry, I knows this is boring to non techies, just that some of these comments brought back some good (and not so good) memories.
C. T.

I am glad you posted it CT and I totally understand.

[ThomPaine]

A 3-D Printer That Uses the Sun to Create Glass Objects Out of Sand | Popular Science

[Plutonic Panda]

Our solar system to scale

[ljbab728]

If you want something interesting about the universe check out this actual video of Mars.

Mars' North Pole Fly-Around Delivered By European Probe | Video | Space.com

[RadicalModerate]

Because it's really, really hard to be All Serious All the Time:
39 Test Answers That Are 100% Wrong But Totally Genius At The Same Time | Distractify

Note: When I was attempting to teach "how to read a tape measure/the concept of fractions" to 19 year old kids in a carpentry class, I bought a copy of Calculus For Dummies to remind me, daily, to be humble, in terms of knowledge stuff. No kidding. That Calculus Dummy Book might as well have been written in Romulan . . . upside down and backwards.

[Prunepicker]

Note: When I was attempting to teach "how to read a tape measure/the
concept of fractions" to 19 year old kids in a carpentry class, I bought a
copy of Calculus For Dummies to remind me, daily, to be humble, in terms
of knowledge stuff. No kidding.

LOL! I learned much applicable math in Shop when I was in Junior High.
Applying it to real world applications made more sense than a formula
in an Algebra book.

Later in life, when I was calculating the distance of lenses, and the
curves necessary to create the designated formula, I had no idea I
was using Algebra and Geometry.

Then came my awareness of English and Grammar... I hated school.

One day, in my 20's and I believe I was mowing the lawn at the time, it
hit me like a ton of bricks. "Hey" I thought, "that crap in high school math
really works!"

[Dubya61]

Because it's really, really hard to be All Serious All the Time:
39 Test Answers That Are 100% Wrong But Totally Genius At The Same Time | Distractify

Note: When I was attempting to teach "how to read a tape measure/the concept of fractions" to 19 year old kids in a carpentry class, I bought a copy of Calculus For Dummies to remind me, daily, to be humble, in terms of knowledge stuff. No kidding. That Calculus Dummy Book might as well have been written in Romulan . . . upside down and backwards.

Laughed a bunch at that link. It led me to this:
These Are The 31 Worst Puns Ever But You Can?t Stop Laughing! | Distractify

[RadicalModerate]

Laughed a bunch at that link. It led me to this:
These Are The 31 Worst Puns Ever But You Can?t Stop Laughing! | Distractify

I also clicked on the Puns link on the above website.
Did you see the one about responses to Wrong Numbers on cell phones?
It's hilarious.

[Prunepicker]

[Plutonic Panda]

[Mel]

It should show the color of regret also for when your bowels move for the last time after you pass.

[ThomPaine]

This 3D Printer, Capable Of Building A House In A Day, Could Change Construction Forever

[Dustin]

Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber are the same person...

http://i.imgur.com/5W8zmwT.jpg

Click at your own risk!!

[Prunepicker]

Beiber got busted in Miami

[Plutonic Panda]

I saw that earlier. All I have to say, is com on' maaaaaan, a Gallardo??? Should at LEAST be in an Aventador!

[Prunepicker]

I saw that earlier. All I have to say, is com on' maaaaaan, a Gallardo???
Should at LEAST be in an Aventador!

The Aventador is one bad Lambo.

[Prunepicker]

Here's some fun. Lexus vs McLaren vs Lamborghini vs Bugatti.

[Prunepicker]

How about a super charged ZR-1 Corvette vs a Blue Angel fighter jet?

The video is 19 minutes but the race is over over by 7 minutes. Quite a bit of
suspense has been added to the show.

If you want to see the race start at 5:00 minutes.

[Plutonic Panda]

[MadMonk]

10 Futuristic Materials. Read the article for full details. There's some cool stuff out there and some coming down the pipe. I, for one, would love to insulate my home with aerogel.


1. Aerogel


2. Carbon Nanotubes


3. Metamaterials


4. Bulk Diamond


5. Bulk Fullerines


6. Amorphous Metal


7. Superalloys


8. Metal Foam


9. Transparent Alumina


10. E-Textiles

[Prunepicker]

The crayons and heat reminded me of some art I did some 50+ years ago.

We'd put crayons through a grater then place the shavings on waxed paper.
The paper would be folded and an iron was placed on it. Made for some
very interesting art. If only the waxed paper had been clear.