Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!willett!ForthNet
From: ForthNet@willett.UUCP (ForthNet articles from GEnie)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.forth
Subject: Category 1,  Topic 2
Message-ID: <92.UUL1.3#5129@willett.UUCP>
Date: 4 Jan 90 21:05:59 GMT
Organization: Latest Link in ForthNet Chain
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Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 10        Sun Dec 24, 1989
F.SERGEANT [Frank]           at 15:09 CST

   ALL GRAY OR ONLY PARTIALLY GRAY?

   In the Dec 21st RTC, Gary asked when was the last time I saw Forth
programmer who didn't have gray hair.  I immediately ran to my mirror and to
my horror discovered I do have some gray hair.  How can this be? It's not like
I've gotten older on purpose.  Actually, I don't mind the gray hair.  I've
known for a long time that it would be a race between my hair turning gray and
going completely bald.  I don't know which will win.

   The RTC discussed rejuvenating Forth or FIG or whatever.  (I believe the
word rejuvenate means to make young again.)  This reminded me of the
discussions (tirades?) in '73 Magazine by Wayne Green on the subject of
recruiting new, young radio amateurs.

   Do we do something for ourselves by introducing Forth to kids? Maybe. That
seemed to be the theme.  Just as an aside, there might be another way of
looking at this.  If we felt benevolent toward kids we might search for the
BEST thing we could give them - for their benefit, not ours - and therefore
give them Forth.  In other words, we might not need to give the gift of Forth,
but it would be a kindness to the recipient if we did so.

   Anyway, is Forth an endangered species thing for which donations are
solicited?  Some people I know are always receiving Save the This and Save the
That (Poor Little Animal) pitches.  I figure they are all just gimmicks that
only make money for the solicitors and do nothing for the animals.  Obviously
the Forth appeals to spread the word are not exactly the same.

   Jax says the April renewal date for FIG annoys the hell out of the members.
As a member I'd like to say that it does not annoy me in the slightest. 
Whether it annoys others I cannot say.  I like that the membership is for the
entire year including all FD issues, regardless of when you subscribe.  Do we
really want to attract youth into FIG? If so, I think that the FIG membership
should be restored to $15 per year.  This has been discussed before, and this
is still my opinion.  I receive the answer that costs are up and FIG cannot
afford to do it. Maybe so, but maybe FIG cannot afford not to do it!  I think
the PD/shareware disk sales of FIG is a good idea and hope it brings in some
revenue.  With the lower membership fees perhaps those disks would be offered
to a much larger audience, huh?  Maybe with a much larger audience (due to
lower membership fees) more advertising would be placed in FD, huh?

   I suspect we will never have as enthusiasts the huge numbers that C &
Pascal & BASIC have.  So what!  The wine doing the greatest dollar or bottle
volume is probably not the highest quality wine.  Speaking of wine, what about
wimmin?  What are we gonna do to recruit some wimmin? To hell with the
children.

   -- Frank
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