Xref: utzoo rec.humor:19110 comp.misc:5199
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cwjcc!gatech!hubcap!ncrcae!ncrlnk!uunet!cucstud!wb8foz
From: wb8foz@cucstud.UUCP (David Lesher)
Newsgroups: rec.humor,comp.misc
Subject: Re: Looking for Computer Folklore
Keywords: clearly the MOST important task...
Message-ID: <1930@cucstud.UUCP>
Date: 18 Feb 89 00:56:08 GMT
References: <530@tcsc3b2.UUCP> <2491@cuuxb.ATT.COM> <89959@sun.uucp> <6375@saturn.ucsc.edu>
Reply-To: wb8foz@cucstud.UUCP (David Lesher,Guest)
Organization: guest of Columbia Union College; Takoma Park, MD 20912
Lines: 26

I worked on a multi pieces-part data acq. system called 
ESCORT III. I shall omit the place names, 
but this system gobbled up and displayed data from 
supersonic wind tunnels, along with other expensive-to-run lashups.

It consisted of VAXs, 11/34s and Falcolns, all talking to each
other in various ways.  The VAXs were centrally located,
while the PDPs were in each tunnel control room. Now along 
with the 34's printers, the control room had an error log
printer from the VAX. This was a LA-120. One, night during a
test, the operator noticed the 120 was not printing correctly.
He raised the lid to fix the ribbon. But the VAX chose that
momont to "BROADCAST" the latest error.

Nobody had bothered to mention that BROADCASTs take place at a
high priority. ALL other work, including data gobbling, halted
and waited for the operator to finish and return the 120 to 
on-line status. I think the scream of anguish from the
researchers in the room got his attention.

In any case, the test had be be restarted, and many
explanations given for the $$$$$ involved.

MORAL: It's nice that computers are so willing to wait on
those slow people, but there are times they should be slightly
more independent!