[OT] Space shuttle explosions and computers (was Re: Who invented the internet?)

From: Eric Smith <eric_at_brouhaha.com>
Date: Thu Feb 18 00:41:00 1999

> So Eric Smith is technically correct. But, in my humble
> opinion, it is he, not Allison who is missing something!!
>
> Allison, please accept this apology from the rest of the group, as well as
> from Eric Smith (I would hope) for any insensitive treatment of you remarks.

I did not intend any disrespect to anyone, and apologize if any offense was
given. I, too, was shocked and appalled by the disaster. (And at the
incredible stupidity that caused the disaster, but that's another story.) I
am reminded of the disaster twice every day when I drive past Onizuka Air
Force Base. However, I invite Jerome to explain it to me off the list
exactly what I am "missing".

> I suggest that you wait for an appropriate time and do not link the AP-101S
> to the Shuttle program for a while.

I suggest that this is going way overboard. Maybe I was an asshole for asking
about the comma (which I intended only as a real question to find out
precisely what Allison meant). Maybe I was an asshole for mentioning that
velocity != speed. I'll gladly to apologize for both of those statements,
even though I intended no offense or disrespect. But AFAIK there is no other
context in which to discuss the AP-101S, and it is on-charter for this mailing
list since it is a computer that is more than ten years old. If a mere
mention of an AP-101B or AP-101S is enough to give offense, I am *NOT* going
to aplogize for that, and if 13 years isn't an appropriate length of time, I
doubt that a human lifetime is either. Anyone offended by mere mention of the
AP-101B, AP-101S, DDP-516, Space Shuttle, or any other object or concept
I happen to mention on this list are hereby invited to add my email address
to their kill files.

Eric
Received on Thu Feb 18 1999 - 00:41:00 GMT