eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (12/06/90)
I want to add a Jargon File entry for DEC WARS along the following lines:
DEC WARS n. A famous 1978 large-format comic by ???? chronicling the attempts
of the brainwashed androids of ``IPM'' (Impossible to Program Machines)
to conquer and destroy the peaceful denizens of HEC (Human Engineered
Computers). This rather transparent allegory featured many references
to ADVENT (q.v.) and the immortal line ``Eat flaming death, minicomputer
mongrels!'' (uttered, of course, by an IPM stormtrooper). There is a legend
that the author subsequently received a letter of appreciation on IBM
company stationary from the then-head of IBM's Thomas Watson research
laboratories (then as now one of the few islands of hackerdom in the
IBM archipelago). The lower loop of the `B' in the IBM logo, it is said,
had been carefully whited out.
If anyone can supply the author's name (wasn't it `Chaz Andrews' or something?)
and confirm the year of publication I'd appreciate it. A full bibliographic
reference would be nice, and more juicy details suitable for the entry would
be utterly wonderful. I haven't seen a copy in more years than I care to
think about...
--
Eric S. Raymond = eric@snark.thyrsus.com (mad mastermind of TMN-Netnews)hrt@utne.cdad.dec.com (Henry R. Tumblin) (12/12/90)
CPU WARS was the title of the comic book and as it says on the cover Created Produced Directed & finally scrawled by CHAS ANDRES (c) 1980 -- Henry R. Tumblin CDAD Digital Equipment Corporation HLO2-3/J03 225-4845(dtn), 508-568-4845(external) Internet: hrt@utne.dec.com uucp: ...!decwrl!utne!hrt enet: utne::hrt
smithr@ast.dsd.northrop.com (Dick Smith) (12/12/90)
In article <1192@muhthr.dec.com> hrt@utne.dec.com writes: >CPU WARS was the title of the comic book and as it says on the cover > > Created Produced Directed & > finally scrawled by > CHAS ANDRES > (c) 1980 If I remember correctly, the original comics appeared in "The Variable Length Node", which was the April Fool's edition of the internal newsletters "The Small Buffer" and/or "The Large Buffer". Are there still such things? I don't know... I left DEC over 10 years ago. -- Dick Smith (ex-DEC employee number 66929... ghod, I still remember it!) smithr@ast.dsd.northrop.com (chicago route) ... mcdchg!ast!smithr (west coast) ... heat!ast!smithr
joltes@husc9.harvard.edu (Richard Joltes) (12/12/90)
In article <1192@muhthr.dec.com> hrt@utne.dec.com writes: >CPU WARS was the title of the comic book and as it says on the cover > > Created > Produced > Directed & > finally scrawled > by > CHAS > ANDRES > (c) 1980 > >-- >Henry R. Tumblin I was wondering about this...I have a "novel" (essentially the first 75% or so of the original *Star Wars* movie) written ghod knows how long ago and entitled "DEC Wars." It details the adventures of Luke VAXHacker and General OS/1 Kenobi (and their trusty companions RS232, 3CPU, Two Bacco (the Bookie), and Princess LPA0:) and their battle to defeat the evil Administrative Empire (headed by DEC Vadic and Governor Moff Tarchive, with their minions, the Imperial Storm Flunkies). Luke's goal is to "restore Freedom and Games to the network." It's mostly UNIX-oriented, with references to /mnt/dantooine, /usr/lars (the home of Luke's uncle), and other random stuff. Before anyone asks, I don't have it online here. I have hardcopy at home somewhere, though. It's pretty amusing. Sample dialogue: "Governor Tarchive! I thought I'd recognized your pattern when I was brought onboard." Princess LPA0: said, coldly eyeing the 0177545 stamped on his forehead. "Tooie, let's boot this popsicle stand! Set clock fast!" "On a word boundary, Luke. Don't just hack at it. Listen for the Carrier!" [OS/1 Kenobi to Luke, trying to train him to use his new Bytesaber...] "OVER HERE!!!" the Princess printed, with overstrikes, "THROUGH THIS LOOPHOLE!" "Gritch, gritch" said the Bookie, obviously unwilling to trust himself to an Administrative oversight. "I don't care how crufty it is!" shouted Con Solo. "DPB yourself in there, right now!!!" Enough! Dick Joltes joltes@husc9.harvard.edu Dick Joltes joltes@husc9.harvard.edu Mgr. of Hardware & Facilities Harvard University Science Center