Deja vu

From: D. Peschel <dpeschel_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Fri Aug 28 03:47:52 1998

> >"This instrument can teach, it can illuminate;
> > Yes,and it can even inspire. But it can do so
> > only to the extent that humans are determined
> > to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is
> > merely lights and wires in a box."
> > - Micro68 computer User's Manual,EPA Inc. 1976

Sorry for the extra level of quoting (the original message hasn't reached my
mailbox yet).

I believe these words are Edward R. Murrow's -- they refer to television.
The only reason I know this is because PBS used them in one of their pro-PBS
"commercials" a while ago.

Of course they are quite appropriate about computers as well (especially since
computers these days -- much more than in 1976 -- use the same flashiness
techniques that the TV industry crdated).

For non-US readers, PBS is our Public Broadcasting System. It's funded partly
by viewer donations. There are small "Our sponsors are..." announcements but
no actual commercials, though there are "Watch PBS because..." clips. And the
audience is assumed to be much more intelligent/curious than the networks'
target audience.

-- Derek
Received on Fri Aug 28 1998 - 03:47:52 BST