Very nice to see that we here on this very forum got a namecheck and recommendation on the Retro Computing Roundtable discussion - they publish show notes, so see here for their links this time around: RCR Episode 210: Computer viruses
Hope to see some of their listeners here (I think a few have already appeared) and perhaps some of our readers here will have a listen over there too, or maybe at least make a habit of perusing the links in their show notes!
There’s an mp3 on that page to listen to or to download. But also here’s the sausage being made (cued up to the mention):
Thanks to @paulhagstrom for recommending us, and to @cjs for the featured thread (the one on EDASM.)
BTW, one of the links found in the show notes of that episode is one of the most hilarious retro computing related things, I’ve ever seen: “Make It With Punched Cards”, a book edited by The Pack-O-Fun Staff in 1971. No, it’s not another book about computing in the middle ages (as you may be mislead to infere from the title), rather, it’s a DIY book about making things like lamp shades (very fashionable) and origami from punch cards!
And there’s a new episode, #211, currently YouTube only (so no show notes for the time being, but I guess, notes and stream will be soon on the website, as well):
Sadly, the book seems quite incomplete. It does say that one should use cards that have already been keypunched, but I find no information on what sort material should be on them. JCL? FORTRAN? COBOL? Perhaps even LISP or APL? Inquiring minds want to know!
I guess, it depends on your needs and personal taste, as well. E.g. column binary cards will probably provide the most of light, when used for a lamp shade, while assembler source code or symbolic cards will do less so, but may produce some distinctive band of lights, which may be quite attractive, I think, this was supposed to be covered in a follow-up publication, “Interior Design With Punched Cards”.
I distinctly recall scattering punch card confetti on complete strangers at a public 4th of July event one year. As I recall, the majority of them were non-plussed, but we had quite a bit, so…
Oh, we’re positively namedropped, all of us! And yes, it is nice. The RCR people seem to have a particularly positive energy: they are happy to see something new or to learn of something. I guess they’ve been around each other for a while.
But please do contribute, with whatever encouragement, recollections, discoveries you may have. Even the like button (the ) is a useful encouragement: every writer needs feedback, everyone likes to feel valued.
I’m hoping that those here who bring lots of specialist knowledge can share it in a spirit which isn’t offputting - we’re here because we have an enthusiasm, and that ought to be part of any sharing.
) is a useful encouragement: every writer needs feedback, everyone likes to feel valued.