VM/COM, October - November 1986



1
-
            OO        OO OOO   OOO      //  OOOOOOO   OOOOOOO  OOO   OOO
             OO      OO  OO OOO OO     //  OO     OO OO     OO OO OOO OO
              OO    OO   OO  O  OO    //   OO        OO     OO OO  O  OO
               oo  oo    oo     oo   //    oo        oo     oo oo     oo
                oooo     oo     oo  //     oo     oo oo     oo oo     oo
                 oo      oo     oo //       ooooooo   ooooooo  oo     oo
0           ------------------------------------------------------------
            October/November 1986 Edition           Volume 3  Number 5/6
-                            CsNews Network Newsletter
-
-
            Staff:
0             Michele Robinson    CSMICH  at MAINE    Editor
              Andrew T. Robinson  ANDY    at MAINE    CsNews Director
              Prof. G. Markowsky  MARKOV  at MAINE    Faculty Advisor
-
0            Ôçççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççä
             ³ Newsletter article contribution Userid:  CSNEWS@MAINE ³
             ³                                                       ³
             ³  Contributions from readers welcomed and encouraged!  ³
             ¨ççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççççç]
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
-
0                                Table of Contents
+                                _____ __ ________
-           Introduction to Vm/Com 3.5  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
            CSNEWS Notes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
            Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
            Life in the Fast Lane:  Column #3 . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
            Publishing an Electronic Magazine: a gothic romance . . .  9
            Don't you C?  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
            How the Jack O' Lantern Got Its Name  . . . . . . . . . . 15
            OpCodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-                                        2
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0                            Introduction to Vm/Com 3.5
+                            Introduction to Vm/Com 3.5
-
                Yes you can believe your eyes..  another issue of Vm/Com
            has finally made it.   Better  late than never right?   This
            may not  be the longest issue  of Vm/Com you have  ever seen
            but it is at least something to  let you know that Vm/Com is
            still  struggling along.    Again  I am  going  to ask  that
            anybody  out  there  who  might  be  interested  in  writing
            something let me know.  We really do need the articles.
0               This issue  contains a  Letters to  the Editor  section,
            part  three of  Life in  the  Fast Lane,   an article  about
            electronic magazines, an article on the language C,  and the
            usual assortment of OpCodes.  Also  you will find an article
            on  Halloween,   I  realize  this has  nothing  to  do  with
            computers but its in the Holiday spirit.
0               Until next time,   Keep reading and writing,  and have a
            Happy Halloween and a Happy Thanksgiving.  See ya in V3-7.
0           Michele Robinson,
            Editor
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0                                        1
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0                                   CSNEWS Notes
+                                   CSNEWS Notes
0                         Andrew T. Robinson, (ANDY@MAINE)
-
0                 Well, since I'm running out of clever original opening
            lines,  let me just say "Welcome to the next issue of CSNEWS
            NOTES."
0              Many things have transpired since  the last time you read
            the hallowed column of Vm/Com...  Not  the least of which is
            that  University of  Maine Computer  Science department  has
            devoted an entire course (and  possibly a series of courses,
            if the pilot is successful) to the CSNEWS server software!
0              It would  be spoiling  the surprise(s)   to let  you know
            exactly what  we are engaged in  this semester,  but  if all
            goes well there  will be at LEAST a few  surprises for those
            of you who are programming-oriented when our work is done.
0              Other than  that,  there  isn't a whole  lot new  to talk
            about.   CSNEWS usage has never  been better,  and FLAME and
            CSBB are as active as anyone could want.   Oh well,  maybe I
            will have something more exciting next issue.
0           Keep Netting!
0           Andy Robinson
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0                                        2
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0                              Letters to the Editor
+                              Letters to the Editor
-
            From:  Bruce Pennypacker, (90_PENNYPAB@UNION)
-               I just started using BITNET only three weeks ago, and am
            totally surprised at  what I can do just by  sitting in this
            room full of terminals and typing away at a bunch of keys in
            front of me.   A few days ago  I found out about  the VM/COM
            newsletter and decided to take a  look at it.   I was amazed
            to see a group of articles by  people all over the world who
            took  a   few  minutes  to   write  about  what   they  find
            interesting.    Everybody  should  be  encouraged  to  write
            articles for  VM/COM every once  in a  while.  Look at  me -
            after reading my  first copy of the newsletter  I decided to
            let everybody know how impressed I  was.  I had never used a
            mainframe  before I  started  college  and didn't  have  the
            slightest  idea  that  there   were  hundreds  of  computers
            connected  together  throughout  the   world  that  I  could
            communicate with.   I am very glad  that I learned of BITNET
            and intend to use  it as much as possible (at  least until I
            graduate!).  I hope that there are a lot of people that take
            advantage of BITNET's capabilities and help keep the network
            and newsletters like VM/COM  working smoothly for everybody,
            especially the  people like me  who are just  learning about
            it.  Keep up the good work!!!
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
                                         3
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0                        Life in the Fast Lane:  Column #3
+                        Life in the Fast Lane:  Column #3
0                           Chris Condon BITLIB@YALEVMX
-
                For the  Fall 1986 semester I  wrote a study  for Sacred
            Heart University, the school I attend.   The study concerned
            whether  the  University  should link  it's  VAX  11/750  to
            BITNET.    It  included descriptions  of  network  services,
            membership requirements,  and  the cost of the  hardware and
            software.   Melded into all of that was an evaluation of the
            network as  a whole.   Since  my own Yale  BITNET activities
            wouldn't be affected  by my conclusions I was  able to stand
            back and  take a  hard,  dispassionate  look at  Our Beloved
            Network.   This article  contains  a  condensation of  those
            thoughts.
0                     The Use and Stability of BITNET Services
0                BITNET  is   still  by  and  large   a  voluntary,
                 cooperative network that only exists to the extent
                 that people work together... - Daniel Oberst
0              The file servers,  conference machines,  list servers and
            other BITNET services perform the  vital network function of
            dispersal of  information in  different and  efficient ways.
            Their  use  reflects   both  the  type  and   importance  of
            information given.   For instance,  many file  servers store
            programs  that are  useful  for  present and  future  BITNET
            users,  while the digests and forums may contain information
            that is of interest only during a particular week.
0              It  should  be noted,   however,  that  while the  BITNET
            services  are  useful in  many  ways  they are  also  fairly
            unregulated.  On some file servers it is easy to find listed
            among programs such as AWAY EXEC and VNET EXEC files such as
            NUDE  PICTURE  and  OTHELLO   EXEC.    Depending  upon  your
            sensibilities this may or may  not be harmless.   Those that
            maintain  the file  servers store  the files  they see  fit.
            Those in authority over them may  have something else to say
            about it.
0               As recently  as August 1985  there were  seven non-Relay
            conference machines,   twice as  many several  months before
            that.  In pre-Relay days conference machines were maintained
            most often by  students who wrote their own code  and ran it
            on their own userids.   These old chats lasted as long as no
            one detected  how much system  resources they  were gobbling
            up.    When the  chat was  uncovered  it would  mysteriously
            dissaper.   Often the  code would be shipped  off to another
            node or userid to be run again.
-
                                         4
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0               Due to the span of  the relatively less CPU-hungry Relay
            system,   there are  no more  old-style conference  machines
            remaining.   The last, FORUM@TAMCBA, was pronounced inactive
            in late April of this year.
0              There is no official registration for BITNET servers.  If
            administrators  at a  given node  wish  to write  and run  a
            server it it their prerogative,  but there exists no central
            authority to  inform that the  server is available  for use.
            By convention,   the BITLIST weekly electronic  magazine has
            become the  accepted source  for such  announcements.   That
            magazine,   however,   is  published on  a voluntary  basis.
            Should  the author/editor  of  the  BITLIST choose  to  stop
            writing the magazine the job may or may not be taken over by
            somebody  else.    This  is  not,   to  say  the  least,   a
            tremendously efficient setup.
0              Not only magazines  are maintained on a  voluntary basis.
            The  resources for  file servers  such  as CSNEWS@MAINE  and
            SERVER@TAMCBA are provided by  their respective institutions
            for BITNET use.   There is  no requirement that they provide
            these services to BITNET,  nor do these institutions receive
            incentive to do so.   However,  the  author has yet to see a
            file server  shut down permanently.    These tend to  be the
            most stable of BITNET services.
0              Name  servers are  about as   useful  as the  information
            stored on them.  There is no requirement to register oneself
            in the  user database at BITNIC, nor do most  nodes maintain
            local name  servers.   The real maintainance  problem occurs
            when  people do  not delete  themselves from  off node  user
            databases.   Each semester the the author  is sent a list of
            Yale userids in the CSNEWS user database and asked to verify
            their existence.   This must be done for every node that has
            a user listed in that database (a tedious process to say the
            least).
0              BITNET,   however is  not  a  static network.    Work  is
            constantly  underway to  study such  problems and  construct
            solutions.   That is  the one function of  the list servers,
            digests,  and electronic magazines.  Change is a constant in
            BITNET, but more often than not it is change for the better.
0              The institutions in BITNET and  her sister networks offer
            a wide  variety of  services to  the users.    Most of  all,
            BITNET  allows  quick  and easy  contact  with knowledgeable
            people  in Computer  Science and  many  other fields.    The
            interests  of those  in  the  networking community  are  not
            restricted to  computers,  nor are  the those  interested in
            computing  solely concerned with  networking.   The  various
            services   (file  servers,    list   servers  etc.)    allow
            communication with these people.  People, after all, are the
            basis for BITNET.
-                                        5
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0              Communication with  these people is both  BITNET's strong
            and weak point.  The variety of services in BITNET is great.
            They fill the various information  niches in several easy to
            use ways.   These same services, however, are often unstable
            and subject to the whims of those caring for them.   This is
            not a problem restricted to BITNET.   The Digests and Forums
            from Arpanet and other networks often die out to due to lack
            of interest.
0              The instability of these services  often makes the people
            in BITNET difficult to contact.    Eventually this becomes a
            matter  of knowing  where  to  look for  information.    For
            example,  If one were trying to locate  people knowledgeable
            in software engineering he might search the CSNEWS  Bitnauts
            list.   If  he failed  there he  might try  the NETSERV  and
            BITSERVE user  databases,  and  then go  on to  the Soft-Eng
            Digest.   The less experienced user  might not know of these
            sources, or how to use them effectively.
0              The resolution to  this problem is proper  instruction in
            the use  of the  network and its  services.   All  too often
            nodes are attached  to BITNET and the staff does  not have a
            complete knowledge  of what is available  or how to  use it.
            The users  may be left to  their own devices.    This breeds
            intentional  and   unintentional  network   abuse.    Proper
            instruction  prevents   many  of   the  pitfalls   that  the
            uninformed user may fall into.
0              The people of  BITNET themselves are not  always the salt
            of the Earth.  There are hackers in BITNET, yes.   There are
            a few people who take advantage of the relative anonymity of
            mainframe accounts and verbally abuse others via interactive
            messages.   For the most part,   however,  the people of the
            network are a well mannered, educated group of people.   For
            the most  part,  that  is...   Those  that abuse  BITNET are
            subject to  disciplinary action at  their own node,   if and
            when they can be tracked down.   This depends on whether the
            abused individual has the presence of mind to write down the
            userid@node of the abuser.
0              BITNET   also   suffers  from   its   "store-and-forward"
            structure.   System crashes or hardware  problems at a given
            node may cut nodes off from the rest of the network for days
            at a time.   For instance,  when the CUNYVM-->YALEVM link is
            down,   those  at   Yale,  University  of  Maine,   Wesleyan
            University, UCONN,  SUNY-SB, Brookhaven,  Brown  University,
            Northeast University,   Boston University,   Boston College,
            Harvard, MIT, and Tufts University are unable to contact the
            1000+ other nodes in the network.    Nor are the users there
            able to contact most of the file servers, list servers, etc.
            Likewise, the people on the other side of the gap are unable
            to contact  CSNEWS@MAINE.   This  causes a  buildup of  mail
            files at both YALEVM and CUNYVM.
-                                        6
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0              Conversely, this same "store-and-forward" structure makes
            BITNET  easier  to  use  than  some  other  networks.    For
            instance,  when sending  mail files RSCS checks  the routing
            tables as there is only ONE way to get from Point A to Point
            B in the network.   Some  other networks require a specified
            pathway, such as:
0                 mitpls!ubjade!yalecs!melkor!gandalf!kulpvm!shucc!
0           That can become  quite a problem when sending  mail from one
            end of a network to another.
0              Obviously,   BITNET has  it's problems.    This does  not
            diminish the fact that despite these problems the network is
            still useful and still works.  How useful it is and how well
            it works depends on the individual institutions and how they
            contribute to and maintain the network. This may be said for
            any computer network.
0              The  mystique behind  BITNET is  this:  For  a hacker  or
            someone who simply enjoys computing, the network is a source
            of great  enjoyment.   It is on  such a scale that  it would
            take many  months,  maybe years  to thoroughly  explore it's
            resources  (not  to  mention   those   available  via  other
            networks).   However,  what may be a source of enjoyment for
            the hacker may  be simply annoying to someone  who wishes to
            use the services for a specific purpose.   The jnet software
            package is easy to use;  it is BITNET that requires the user
            to go through quite a bit of orientation.
0              That problem is partially surmountable, given experienced
            people to guide  new BITNET users through  the services.   A
            consultant of sorts  would be necessary to  answer questions
            or suggest where information might be found.   This does not
            help the consultant much,  who must  still keep track of the
            services.   Most of the BITNET services have been covered or
            referred to  in these pages.   It  is more than  likely that
            there will  be someone who  is running a  conference machine
            that doesn't come to his attention, or a digest that will be
            phased out without notice.
0              BITNET may not be right for  Sacred Heart University.  It
            may be  too expensive  or too disorganized  or even  too big
            depending upon  what one wants to  put into and get  out it.
            That does not mean that networks as a whole are not for this
            institution.   On  the contrary,  computer networks  offer a
            range of services that would be  useful to both students and
            faculty.   This  is evident  from the  number of  people and
            services in a network as young as this one.
-
-
                                         7
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0              Networking can be a useful tool  for the people of Sacred
            Heart University.   BITNET, however,  may not be the network
            of  choice.   It  is  therefore  suggested that  alternative
            networks  be studied  before  BITNET  membership is  decided
            upon.    This,   in  turn,  will  allow  the  proposed  1987
            restructuring of BITNET to be studied and evaluated.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0                                        8
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0               Publishing an Electronic Magazine: a gothic romance
+               Publishing an Electronic Magazine: a gothic romance
0                 David A. Liscomb, (CSDAVE@MAINE, LISCOMB@MAINE)
-
               The following  article was prepared with  the cooperation
            of  the   editors  of  several  popular   BITNET  electronic
            magazines.    My  thanks  go to  Chris  Condon,   editor  of
            NetMonth; Andy and Michele Robinson, editors of Vm/Com;  and
            Brent  Britton,   editor  of Nutworks.    I  have  tried  to
            incorporate their advice  with my own experiences  as editor
            of the electronic magazine FSFnet.
0              This article is primarily  intended for people interested
            in editing an electronic magazine,   and for those users who
            wish to  know just what it  takes to make a  BITNET magazine
            succeed. I will deal with four specific areas of concern for
            myself  and  other  editors:  how  to  start  an  electronic
            magazine,   how  to increase the  number of readers  of your
            magazine,  the problems of  soliciting submissions,  and the
            difficulties  of distribution.    In the  final section  the
            editors of the above magazines discuss what hints they would
            give to prospective editors of BITNET magazines.
0              The  first step  in establishing  an electronic  magazine
            should ideally be  planning out what need  the magazine will
            fill,  how it will interest users, and the magazine's format
            and contents.  Of course,  many BITNET magazines have simply
            spontaneously generated.  For example, NetMonth began simply
            as a user  maintaining a list of BITNET  servers.   For this
            reason, many editors fail to anticipate the dimensions their
            project  will reach.   Ideally,  a  magazine  should fill  a
            noticeable void in the network.  For example, before FSFnet,
            there was  no BITNET  science fiction  forum for  authors or
            readers,  despite a very healthy interest.   Any  electronic
            magazine, to be successful,   must both fill a distinct need
            by users as well as sparking their interest.
0              If your magazine  fills such a need  and is well-written,
            the readership  often takes care  of itself.    Many editors
            will attribute their popularity to  the "one user tells two,
            and so on" theory. However, this is not always the case.  In
            addition  to  word  of mouth,   another  method  of  gaining
            exposure to potential readers is by advertising.   Many file
            servers are  willing to  maintain informational  files about
            electronic  magazines,  and  there are  several BITNET  news
            magazines  (NetMonth,  Vm/Com  to name  two)   who are  very
            willing to  spread the news of  a new BITNET  magazine.   By
            advertising in the proper places and by encouraging users to
            spread the word about your magazine,  you will be insured of
            a healthy readership.
-
                                         9
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0              Perhaps the  single most  critical and  pervasive problem
            that BITNET electronic magazines face  is a common inability
            to obtain original submissions.  In  most cases,  users seem
            legitimately interested in writing articles,  but  with most
            network  users being  either  students  or computing  staff,
            other priorities often get in the way. This is a serious and
            permanent problem for some magazines,   as editors cannot be
            expected to write entire issues  alone.   I believe that the
            secret  to  getting  submissions is  to  motivate  potential
            writers.  This might at first seem  obvious,  but it is very
            difficult to put into practise.  In FSFnet, I have organized
            a  special writing  project,   which  has been  particularly
            productive.    Unfortunately,  this  tactic  is specific  to
            fantasy fiction,  and is virtually useless to other types of
            magazines.  This remains  the primary problem area  for most
            BITNET  magazines,   including  well-established ones,   who
            still must face this issue daily.
0              Another difficulty which arises after a magazine has been
            established is distribution.   By their very nature,  BITNET
            magazines  are very  large  files,  and  are  sent in  large
            numbers. To avoid abuse of the network, editors must come up
            with an  efficient method  of distribution.    Oddly enough,
            none  of the  above magazines  are distributed  in the  same
            manner.   Nutworks is not distributed at all,  but sent to a
            number of  file servers,   where users  may request  them on
            their own.   Some magazines are sent through MAILERs,  which
            cuts down on network load.   Many,  like FSFnet,  are simply
            sent directly  at odd  hours.  I  would strongly  suggest to
            anyone thinking of  starting a BITNET magazine  to look into
            the LISTSERV machines.   They are  the most efficient method
            of distribution of large numbers of files, and they have the
            added benefit of allowing inter-network mailing,  which is a
            concern of large, established magazines.
0              After discussing these questions  with the above editors,
            I asked them what suggestions they would give to prospective
            editors.   Their  responses were  not always  complimentary,
            although I think some insight may be gained from each. Brent
            Britton stressed that the editor  must be prepared to devote
            a large quantity of time to his project, as he has taken the
            responsibility of maintaining it,  and should honor interest
            expressed by  the readership.   Chris  Condon said  that the
            editor should not simply fish for praise,   but actively ask
            for criticism from the readership,   in order to improve the
            magazine and better  serve the interests of  the readership.
            There was some disagreement as  to whether a magazine should
            adhere  to a  strict publication  schedule.   While  FSFnet,
            Vm/Com,  and Nutworks appear  (very)  irregularly,  NetMonth
            comes out  right on schedule.   It appears that  whether the
            magazine is published in a certain  time period is wholly up
            to the  editor,   but that if  the magazine has  a specified
            publication schedule,   that schedule should be  followed if
            possible.
0                                        10
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0              These are, of course, only a few of the lessons the above
            editors have learned in the  publication of their magazines.
            If you  have any  questions,  feel free  to address  them to
            myself.  I'm  sure that  any of the  other editors  would be
            happy to honor reasonable questions posed of them as well.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-                                        11
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0                                   Don't you C?
+                                   Don't you C?
0                           Glenn Sixbury, (VMAQ5@KSUVM)
-
0              Once again, it's soap-box time.   I never seem to run out
            of opinions about this,  that,   or the other thing.   Since
            Michele is pleading  again for articles,  I  have decided to
            put my latest crusade in writing.   This will probably be my
            last article which I write for VM/Com,  but then again,  I'm
            not making any promises.
0              Throughout my college career,  I have noticed that people
            at the  university are not always  in tune with the  rest of
            society.   University life seems to  be contained in a world
            of its own,   and for those of us who  are eventually thrust
            into the  "real" world,   it can sometimes  come as  quite a
            shock.    Supposedly,  college  is a  way  of preparing  us;
            teaching  us  what  we  will need  to  know  in  our  chosen
            profession, but sometimes,  the training we receive comes up
            short of what  the business world expects.    In particular,
            here  at  Kansas  State University,   our  average  Computer
            Science graduate goes  out into the world  armed mainly with
            Pascal.    Our  average  Engineering  student  emerges  only
            slightly familiar with the Fortran language.  This is not to
            say that  we don't teach  other programming  languages.   It
            just means that Pascal and Fortran  are the staples.   IN MY
            OPINION, this is not the way to go.
0              From what I've  seen,  the "real" world  wants people who
            know JCL, COBOL, and C.   JCL is helpful no matter what kind
            of programming work you do.  There are still too many places
            using some version of an  IBM operating system,  and knowing
            JCL is indispensable.   Of course, more and more, a thorough
            understanding   of  the   UNIX  operating   system  can   be
            substituted.    Also,  it  is still  true that  most of  the
            business software out there is written in COBOL.   If you're
            a Computer  Science graduate bound  for the  business world,
            forget about  PASCAL and ADA (at  least for now)   and learn
            COBOL.   For the rest of the programmers,  the engineers and
            the  scientifically-oriented   computer   science  students,
            those wishing to do something  other than balance the books,
            data base work,  or write reports,  the language to learn is
            C.  Some  of you  stated "Of  course,  I  know that,"  after
            reading the  last sentence.   This  article is not  aimed at
            you.  It is aimed at the people who let loose a woeful groan
            of non-agreement.  These people should read onward.
-
-
                                         12
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0              I have always liked C.   Maybe I liked it so much because
            I heard only good  things about it for a long  time before I
            ever used it, or saw any programs written in it.   The first
            time I had a chance to work with  it,  I used it to write an
            assembler.   As such,  it didn't take  long for C to impress
            me.   After  working with Fortran,   Basic,  and  Pascal for
            years,   I was  amazed  about how  many  problems the  other
            languages have which C has overcome.   The pure power of the
            languages is exciting.  One part of C's power comes from its
            chameleon  nature.   It  takes  on the  look  of the  person
            programming it.   Fortran programmers produce C code looking
            much  like Fortran  code;  Pascal  people end  up with  very
            Pascal-like programs.  One of the main contributions to this
            ability is C's define statement, which allows the programmer
            to use  a different  symbol for  C's default  symbols,  thus
            altering  the appearance  of  the  code as  desired.    This
            attribute allows more flexability than non-C programmers can
            realize.
0              It is not C's flexability that entices the business world
            into using the language,  but rather,   it is C's ability to
            get the job done that  convinces technical managers it's the
            best language to use.  By getting  the job done,  I refer to
            the  fact that  C is  not  a strongly  typed language  (like
            pascal),  it  retains structured  flow-control constructions
            (like While, For, etc.), and it produces extremely efficient
            code.   Of  these qualities,   the ability  to produce  very
            efficient code is probably the most important.  By efficient
            code,  I mean that programs written  in C usually execute as
            quickly as programs written in assembly language.   In fact,
            C is  so efficient  that almost  all of  the UNIX  operating
            system is  written in C.   For companies trying  to minimize
            computer time,   this ability  of C  is indeed  an important
            quality.
0              I realize I haven't given an irrefutable argument in this
            article as to why C is the language to learn, but few people
            would enjoy seeing  such a lengthy article  in an electronic
            magazine such as this one.   Therefore, I ask you to take my
            word that C  programmers are in demand  in today's technical
            end of the  business world,  or if you'd  rather,  you could
            check it out  for yourself.  You will  find that C is  not a
            hard language to learn if one  already knows Pascal,  and it
            is worth the  effort.   To aid in this  learning effort,  an
            absolute necessity is what is commonly  referred to as the C
            Bible.   This is a book  entitled The C Programming Language
+                                             ___ _ ___________ ________
            by Brian W.  Kernighan and Dennis M.  Ritchie.   Every other
            book about C I have ever read has referenced Kernighan's and
            Ritchie's book in its bibliography.  As such, it seems to me
            that the C Bible is a good place to start learning about C.
-
-                                        13
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0              So  much for  this month's  sermon about  the virtues  of
            learning the  language of C.   I've  tried to point  out the
            fact that people in the  business world want programmers who
            can program in C, I tried to give a very short impression as
            to why they feel the way they do, and I have encouraged that
            the  readers of  this  article who  do not  yet  know the  C
            language should go out and learn  it.   I'm sure some of you
            will learn C.   For those who do, the next time someone asks
            "Don't you C?", you can say, "Of course I do."
0              Good luck and good programming.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-                                        14
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0                       How the Jack O' Lantern Got Its Name
+                       How the Jack O' Lantern Got Its Name
0                                An Irish Folk Tale
                          From:  Roman Shi, (ROMAN@UCSFVM)
-           There was once a very old, miserly man named Jack.   He  was
            even  more  miserly and selfish than Scrooge.  No one in the
            town liked him at all, which just made him more  bitter  and
            miserly.
0           Well, one day, Jack took a walk out to a  nearby  woods  and
            proceeded  to take a nap under a tree.  Suddenly, Jack awoke
            to find the devil sitting next to him smiling  evilly.   The
            devil had long been following Jack's selfish and greedy ways
            and wanted to make a bargain  for  Jack's  soul.   Well,  of
            course  Jack  was  terrified of this prospect, but you don't
            get rich by not using your head, so Jack  quickly  formed  a
            plan.
0           Jack told the devil that he couldn't make deals on an  empty
            stomach,  so  would  the devil please climb the tree and get
            him a piece of fruit.  The  Devil  agreed  and  climbed  the
            tree.  Once up in the tree, Jack took out a knife and carved
            a cross into the bark of the tree.  Now as  everyone  knows,
            the  devil  can't  pass  over  the sign of the cross, so the
            devil was stuck up in the tree indefinitely.  The devil  was
            (needless to say) furious with Jack and threatened Jack ter-
            ribly.  Jack said that HE would offer the devil a deal:   If
            the  Devil  promised never, in anyway to try and take Jack's
            soul, he would scratch out the cross so the devil could  get
            down.  The Devil didn't like this at all, but neither did he
            like the prospect of being up a tree forever, so  the  devil
            grudgingly   agreed   to  Jack's  terms.   So  saying,  Jack
            scratched away the cross and let the devil down.  The  devil
            then vanished.
0           Well, Jack died eventually, and his spirit went  to  heaven,
            but upon reaching the Gates to Heaven, his way was barred by
            Saint Peter.  Saint Peter said that a man who had led such a
            narrow and uncharitable life could not be permitted entrance
            to Heaven.  Jack was shocked, and he begged and pleaded with
            Saint Peter to let him in, but still he was denied.
0           Accepting his fate, Jack turned and proceeded  to  the  only
            other place that his soul could go, so he proceeded to Hell.
            Well, when he got to the Gates of Hell, the devil was there.
            When  Jack  asked  admittance,  the Devil mockingly told him
            that under different circumstances Jack could have  entered,
            but  he  reminded  Jack  of the deal they had made.  So say-
            ingly, Jack could not stay in Hell,  either.   Jack  had  no
            place  to go, and realized with horror that he must walk the
            Earth (in purgatory) forever!
-                                        15
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0           Well, since damned souls cannot be abroad during  the  light
            of  day,  they must walk the Earth at night.  So Jack's soul
            wandered the Earth looking for a place to rest.   Especially
            on  Halloween,  which  you  know  is slang for "All Hallow's
            Eve," the night all souls of the dead roam the earth.
0           Jack wanted to light his way on his endless  search,  so  he
            dug  up a large turnip, cut out holes in it, and he placed a
            lighted candle inside of it, making it into a  lantern.   He
            then  went forth, into the night mists searching for a place
            that his soul may rest.
0           And that is why we call it to this day, a  Jack  O'  Lantern
            (meaning:   the  Lantern  of  Jack), and why we see it every
            Halloween.
0           It is also said that lighting the Jack O' Lantern, and plac-
            ing  it in your window, helps light the way for all the lost
            and wandering souls on this particular night.
-                                 Happy Halloween
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
                                         16
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0                                     OpCodes
+                                     OpCodes
0                      Various and Assorted Creative Minds...
-
            BAC     Branch to Alpha Centauri
            BAH     Branch And Hang
            BALC    Branch And Link Cheeseburger
            BB      Branch on Bug
            BBI     Branch on Burned-out Indicator
            BBL     Branch on Burned-out Lamp
            BBLB    Branch on Blinking Light Bulb
            BCF     Branch on Chip box Full
            BCIL    Branch Creating Infinite Loop
            BD      Branch to Data
            BE      Branch Everywhere
            BMI     Branch on Missing Index
            BNA     Branch to Nonexistent Address
            BNR     Branch for No Reason
            BOD     Branch on Operator Desperate
            BPB     Branch on Program Bug
            BPD     Branch on Programmer Debugging
            BPO     Branch to Power Off
            BRA     BRanch Anywhere
            BRA     Branch to Random Address
            BRO     BRanch to Oblivion
            BRT     BRanch on Tuesdays
            BSM     Branch and Scramble Memory
            BSO     Branch on Sleeping Operator
            BTJ     Branch and Turn Japanese
            BW      Branch on When
            BW      Branch on Whim
            CBNC    Close, But No Cigar
            CC      Crappy Control ÕUNIXþ
            CCD     Choke, Cough and Die
            CCR     Change Channels Random
            CCWR    Change Color of Write Ring
            CH      Create Havoc
            CIB     Change Important Byte
            CIMM    Create Imaginary Memory Map
            DAUF    Delete All Useless Files
            DBZ     Divide By Zero
            DMPE    Decide to Major in Physical Education
            HF      Hide a File
            IBR     Insert Bugs at Random
            ICSP    Invert CRT Screen Picture
            IDI     Invoke Divine Intervention
            IDPS    Ignore Disk Protect Switch
            IEOF    Ignore End Of File
            IF      Invoke Force
-
0                                        17
1
0                                Vm-Com  Issue 3.5
0           MBH     Memory Bank Hold-up
            RAST    Rewind And Stretch Tape
            RBG     Random Bug Generate
            RCF     Rewind Cabinet Fans
            RCR     Rewind Card Reader
            RDA     Refuse to Disclose Answer
            RIC     Rotate Illogical thru Carry
            ROD     ROtate Diagonally
            ROT     Rotate Disk Õfixes broken drivesþ
            RST     Rewind and Stretch Tape
            SCST    Switch Channel to Star Trek
            SID     Switch to Infinite Density
            SRD     Switch to Random Density
            SZD     Switch to Zero Density
            UCK     Unlock Console Keyswitch
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0                                        18