April Fools joke

From: Bill Pechter <pechter_at_pechter.dyndns.org>
Date: Tue Apr 3 09:22:54 2001

> > This brings to mind one of the old practical jokes, which can no longer be
> > used on modern systems...
> >
> A couple years back someone on this list posted an HP control sequence for
> changing the READY message on HP printers. So I wrote a script that found
> every printer on campus, changed the READY message to INSERT 5 CENTS, ran
> the script on April Fools' day and sent a message to the campus announcement
> echo saying that all printers now would require a five cents' per page charge
> with charge accounts required from all offices (coin acceptors to be
> installed that same day). I nearly got in trouble with the Financial VP but
> it was a great joke! I still have some archived voice mail from people who
> took the joke completely seriously :-)

Sounds like the April Fools joke I worked out with a DEC RP06 disk drive
power sequence cable and a 75 cents coin box from a commercial washing
machine. This joke requires a very cooperative customer. 8-)


Your RP06 doesn't spin up...
Call field service...

I respond and drop 3 quarters in the machine which connects the power
sequence leads...

Close service call.

Of course there was a Memorex guy who got fired when DEC found him
shipping oem'd 677's (RP06's) to DEC with sample boxes of Tide in them.

--Bill
Received on Tue Apr 03 2001 - 09:22:54 BST

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