Another rare critter here also - I started using Westi for interactive processing back in the early 80's then switched to CICS with IMS/DB & DB2 or IMS DB & DC with Oracle where I am right now.
Somewhere along the way I ended up working on a Wang VS system for a few years. Wang VS was way better for the interactive stuff than anything else that was available at the time. Unfortunately it is long gone, I have wondered a few times what it would have evolved into if it ever got onto the web
Sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree with you. You can learn basic cobol in a week, sure.
snipperoo...
Bear in mind also that most COBOL is mainframe still, so chances are that as well as the language itself, you're going to have to learn DB2, JCL, CICS and suchlike
You could just as easily slug in "Java" for "COBOL" and "generic SQL, shell scripts, Spring, and assorted other frameworks...." for "DB2, JCL, CICS" and the statement will be just as true (except for the fact that most Java is not mainframe), but the idea is still the same.
It is not the programming language, but all of the other 'stuff' that goes with it that makes it useful. It is the other 'stuff' that takes time to learn and become proficient with.
That is exactly what we are doing at my shop (a major research university). We are slowly wrapping nice gui web front ends around the existing code. This way we can present a modern appearance - while retaining all of the business logic that is embedded in the legacy COBOL (and some PL/1) code.
Whenever there is a need for a brand new application, it is quite often easier to access the data (usually a combination of IMS and Oracle databases) on the mainframe, and use zDirect to grab the IMS/DC screens. Sometimes new programs are written, sometimes old programs modified.
The VAX had DCL - Digital Command Language, and as far as JCL goes, it is essentially a method of setting up environment variables so programs can access external resources, a shell script - nothing more.
I don't remember ever seeing Zeke & Zack (not Zeek & Zed) on a Z/OS system - If I recall they were mostly on VSE systems and were a automated operator/scheduler. I can't remember which was which, it has been a long time since I have worked on VSE, Z/OS is a daily thing.
Have you ever considered a blender/shredder showdown with the Watch it Shred folks at http://www.ssiworld.com/
You would probably have to take one of their machines apart to fit into a Blendtec, but will it blend?
In Germany at 100km/h if you're within 50km of the car in front you're tailgating. (Speed in km/h)/2 = (distance in m) in space you need between the car in front of you.
I think you meant 50m, not 50km - at a 50km following distance, you would never see another car.
The only thing that is certain to increase is the number of tickets (i.e. municipal revenues). Anything else is just an unintentional side-effect
Most of the tickets generated seem to be for failing to stop for $number_of_seconds before making a right on red. NJ state law does not define a specific $number_of_seconds and local towns have made it whatever they feel like making it.
FWIW I have seen the photo flashes going off when there was no vehicle in or even near the intersection. No idea what they trying to ticket - low flying birds perhaps?
I seem to only drink Kirin at sushi restaurants so I don't expect to rushing out for it. However, if this was available for my favorite beer then I might give it a try.
While I like the 90 minute IPA, I think that the 120 minute IPA might make a better beer slushie (if you could get it to freeze smoothly).
I really need to get new glasses (or change default fonts) -- i read the BT corn an BT.com -- and thought why would insects need to become resistant to British Telecom??
Because there are many different sizes of melon and since it is a cantaloupe and you're an idiot we'll call it a cantaloupe since North American Cantaloupe is really too long
And cantaloupes come in a large range of sizes from about a pound to around 10 pounds (possibly bigger, the biggest I ever saw was around 10 pounds)
Comparison to something that is that variable in size is sort of useless, just give the actual (or even close) dimensions.
Don't know about the other guy, but here on the east coast the international broadcasters pretty much clobber everything else.
It has been getting better, but still a PITA in the evening.
What about the parents who used to be able to rely on their kids being in school so they could go out to work? Do they now need to arrange childcare for Fridays too?
<politicianspeak>
By instituting a 4 day school week, we will be creating additional jobs in childcare services, thus offsetting the loss of income by the non teaching school staffers
</politicianspeak>
Volkswagen, same thing. Happened to my 1996 Golf. I left the lights on, ran down the battery -- so the radio locked itself tight, awaiting the release code.
With my old departed 95 Jetta (@350k miles), the reset code came on a card in the user manual for the radio.
I can see both sides of this
From Apple's point of view (and also from that of an independent developer & the non-tech user's) - with a closed software system (just like the hardware) there are a limited number of variables to deal with. This makes it easier to use the "it just works" marketing, fewer systems to test on, no "brand x video does not work with brand y software when there is a brand z network interface present". From the independent developers view, Apple provides some of the marketing, assures that the app meets a certain set of standards, handles the finances and limits the number of potential competing apps.
On the other hand --
As an independent developer
- I have to do it the approved Apple Way or not at all
- Apple takes a cut of my sales
As a User --
- I have to do it the approved Apple Way or not at all
- Apple controls what can or cannot go onto my own system
Overall, I can see this going either way, I guess we will have to see how everythiong shakes out.
It would be like if Google created a new standard called norobotsexceptgoogles.txt and lowered the page rank of any sites that didn't refuse to be crawled by anyone but google
For some reason I read norobotsexceptgoogles.txt as no robot sex except google
Must be time for new reading glasses, the problem might be caused by all of that robot sex...
I don't know what the relevant difference is between Texas and North Dakota, but given the murder rates are anti-correlated with the harshness of the penalties it seems unlikely that the two are related at all.
You are only looking at one factor here, another possible reason is population density. I don't have the most recent statistics handy, but the version I have (2006) has TX @ 86 people/sq mi & ND @ 9 people/sq mi.
In ND, finding a person to who pisses you off enough to kill means you have to go a bit of a distance, in TX, that person is just across the street.
Slashdot Mirror
Another rare critter here also - I started using Westi for interactive processing back in the early 80's then switched to CICS with IMS/DB & DB2 or IMS DB & DC with Oracle where I am right now.
Somewhere along the way I ended up working on a Wang VS system for a few years. Wang VS was way better for the interactive stuff than anything else that was available at the time. Unfortunately it is long gone, I have wondered a few times what it would have evolved into if it ever got onto the web
Sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree with you. You can learn basic cobol in a week, sure.
snipperoo...
Bear in mind also that most COBOL is mainframe still, so chances are that as well as the language itself, you're going to have to learn DB2, JCL, CICS and suchlike
You could just as easily slug in "Java" for "COBOL" and "generic SQL, shell scripts, Spring, and assorted other frameworks...." for "DB2, JCL, CICS" and the statement will be just as true (except for the fact that most Java is not mainframe), but the idea is still the same.
It is not the programming language, but all of the other 'stuff' that goes with it that makes it useful. It is the other 'stuff' that takes time to learn and become proficient with.
That is exactly what we are doing at my shop (a major research university). We are slowly wrapping nice gui web front ends around the existing code. This way we can present a modern appearance - while retaining all of the business logic that is embedded in the legacy COBOL (and some PL/1) code.
Whenever there is a need for a brand new application, it is quite often easier to access the data (usually a combination of IMS and Oracle databases) on the mainframe, and use zDirect to grab the IMS/DC screens. Sometimes new programs are written, sometimes old programs modified.
The VAX had DCL - Digital Command Language, and as far as JCL goes, it is essentially a method of setting up environment variables so programs can access external resources, a shell script - nothing more.
I don't remember ever seeing Zeke & Zack (not Zeek & Zed) on a Z/OS system - If I recall they were mostly on VSE systems and were a automated operator/scheduler. I can't remember which was which, it has been a long time since I have worked on VSE, Z/OS is a daily thing.
Have you ever considered a blender/shredder showdown with the Watch it Shred folks at http://www.ssiworld.com/
You would probably have to take one of their machines apart to fit into a Blendtec, but will it blend?
The receiving end has all the right to filter any way they like
including the option of saying 'hey Mr ISP man, please filter this crap for me.'
In Germany at 100km/h if you're within 50km of the car in front you're tailgating. (Speed in km/h)/2 = (distance in m) in space you need between the car in front of you.
I think you meant 50m, not 50km - at a 50km following distance, you would never see another car.
The only thing that is certain to increase is the number of tickets (i.e. municipal revenues). Anything else is just an unintentional side-effect
Most of the tickets generated seem to be for failing to stop for $number_of_seconds before making a right on red. NJ state law does not define a specific $number_of_seconds and local towns have made it whatever they feel like making it.
FWIW I have seen the photo flashes going off when there was no vehicle in or even near the intersection. No idea what they trying to ticket - low flying birds perhaps?
Usually under a different - but similar name
They wouldn't be in harm's way if they're positioned somewhere sensible where cars don't travel, such as a sidewalk.
Bah - the article is about NJ, the sidewalk is considered to be the passing lane.
I didn't SlashDot posters actually had girlfriends....
I seem to only drink Kirin at sushi restaurants so I don't expect to rushing out for it. However, if this was available for my favorite beer then I might give it a try.
While I like the 90 minute IPA, I think that the 120 minute IPA might make a better beer slushie (if you could get it to freeze smoothly).
I really need to get new glasses (or change default fonts) -- i read the BT corn an BT.com -- and thought why would insects need to become resistant to British Telecom??
Until battery electric vehicles become popular, stations like this won't be ubiquitous in the same way gas stations are.
Chicken & Egg syndrome here - long range electric vehicles won't become popular until there are stop & swap battery stations available.
1) I use an analog scope
2) I use a digital scope
3) Cowboy Neal is a my scope
4) Whats an oscilloscope?
analog & digital - but mostly analog
Because there are many different sizes of melon and since it is a cantaloupe and you're an idiot we'll call it a cantaloupe since North American Cantaloupe is really too long
And cantaloupes come in a large range of sizes from about a pound to around 10 pounds (possibly bigger, the biggest I ever saw was around 10 pounds) Comparison to something that is that variable in size is sort of useless, just give the actual (or even close) dimensions.
Don't know about the other guy, but here on the east coast the international broadcasters pretty much clobber everything else. It has been getting better, but still a PITA in the evening.
Average age in our local club is about 45, but the members range from 14 - 90
What about the parents who used to be able to rely on their kids being in school so they could go out to work? Do they now need to arrange childcare for Fridays too?
<politicianspeak> By instituting a 4 day school week, we will be creating additional jobs in childcare services, thus offsetting the loss of income by the non teaching school staffers </politicianspeak>
I am *NOT* watching Dirty Jobs on that.
Dirty Jobs no - Food Network yes.
The only problem is that I know that my "smell-o-vision" will always be out of chocolate
Inded, that is exactly what it means.
Volkswagen, same thing. Happened to my 1996 Golf. I left the lights on, ran down the battery -- so the radio locked itself tight, awaiting the release code.
With my old departed 95 Jetta (@350k miles), the reset code came on a card in the user manual for the radio.
I can see both sides of this
From Apple's point of view (and also from that of an independent developer & the non-tech user's) - with a closed software system (just like the hardware) there are a limited number of variables to deal with. This makes it easier to use the "it just works" marketing, fewer systems to test on, no "brand x video does not work with brand y software when there is a brand z network interface present". From the independent developers view, Apple provides some of the marketing, assures that the app meets a certain set of standards, handles the finances and limits the number of potential competing apps.
On the other hand --
As an independent developer
- I have to do it the approved Apple Way or not at all
- Apple takes a cut of my sales
As a User --
- I have to do it the approved Apple Way or not at all
- Apple controls what can or cannot go onto my own system
Overall, I can see this going either way, I guess we will have to see how everythiong shakes out.
It would be like if Google created a new standard called norobotsexceptgoogles.txt and lowered the page rank of any sites that didn't refuse to be crawled by anyone but google
For some reason I read norobotsexceptgoogles.txt as no robot sex except google
Must be time for new reading glasses, the problem might be caused by all of that robot sex...
I don't know what the relevant difference is between Texas and North Dakota, but given the murder rates are anti-correlated with the harshness of the penalties it seems unlikely that the two are related at all.
You are only looking at one factor here, another possible reason is population density. I don't have the most recent statistics handy, but the version I have (2006) has TX @ 86 people/sq mi & ND @ 9 people/sq mi.
In ND, finding a person to who pisses you off enough to kill means you have to go a bit of a distance, in TX, that person is just across the street.
It's like a Soup Nazi.
no grammar for you!