jackg@tekchips.UUCP (08/09/83)
It wasn't December 7, 1948 and it wasn't December 7, 1945 and it wasn't December 5, 1941! It was December 7, 1941. Seems like there are a lot of alternate universes out there. Try participating in mine.
tjj@ssc-vax.UUCP (T J Jardine) (08/10/83)
OK folks, especially those of you from various parts of tektronix-land who don't seem to have access to or have interest in reading a history book, let's review the bidding for your edification at least. A very unsavory reference was made in the context of a remark from a present-day visiting professor from Japan regarding the Japanese Fifth Generation Project. The first bid for a date was 5 Dec 1948. This was changed by the same author after he received at least one electronic mail reply to 5 Dec 1945! This may have been with tongue-in-cheek, as I know that he was given the correct date at least once prior to his second message. It's a matter of record that the Japanese Ambassador was instructed to visit the Secretary of State on Friday, December 5, 1941. Whether he or his representative were again doing so on Sunday, December 7, 1941 is a moot point, as I am certain that they were very busy at the old trash incinerator that morning. Although we should not forget history, lest we be doomed to repeat it, I do think that comparison of this episode with the present day 5th Generation Project, even in the context of the devastation of Detroit, is stretching things beyond the breaking point. If you want to flame, send mail to me, as I already have my asbestos suit on, but let's graduate net.ai back to something more appropriate and certainly more interesting. TJ (with Amazing Grace) The Piper ssc-vax!tjj