trying to impress mates...
Hmm... all this talk of BBC computers... I once had a Model B with a speech synthesizer module- I spent about three days perfecting a carefully timed sequence of questions-and-answers which could be kicked off when I pressed a button I'd connected to the underside of the keyboard via some blobby soldering... the idea was I wanted to convince my friends that my Beeb was much better than their Speccies and C64s because I could hold a conversation with my comp. The trigger button was hidden via a long wire and under cushions so it would appear, once the button was pressed, like an evil bond villain I could command the computer to give information. Hours typing carefully calibrated delays and memorising the answer sequence so I wouldn't be out of step with the list of pre-programmed replies.

I don't even think I used it. Just wanted to impress my mates. What a geek.

These days I am not a geek at all. Example- a typical line from a typical day at work-

"The Cirrus configuration and test station's vehicle communication interface polled the parameter identity relating to the torque request limitation variable in the transmission electronic control unit but the bit-timing on the control area network protocol meant the module identity became scrambled in the serial bitstream meaning the prioritisation of device message frames has collapsed into non-heirarchial reporting order. This has resulted in a default limp-home mode which imposes performance limitations on the throttle angle lookup table, malfunction indicator lamp request and diagnostic trouble code logging which we retrieved using the on board diagnostic J1962 protocol scantool."

Except that becomes ' The Cirrus VCAT's VCI fetched the TQL PiD from the TCU but screwed the CAN BTI so the PriOrd tumbled. Limphome with MIL, get DTCs using AMDS'

It's just one 'STAT!!!' away from something on ER.

Oh, I forgot the comics.

Secret Wars, X-Men, New Mutants, Alpha Flight (early roots of me loving most things Canadian perhaps?), 2000AD, Watchmen, Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers- although discounting the Idiots Abroad compendium I bought last year, stopped buying after I was 18.

But that's not so bad as my cartoon/animation collection. I didn't even know about Dragonball Z until I was 27 but now It's an unusual day if I don't watch some or play something with a DBZ connection. Between that and Samurai Jack, Cow'n'Chicken, Dexters' Lab and Family Guy/American Dad I think I must prefer animation to real life.

Oh, and Wallace and Gromit but that's OK, right guys(?)
( Rotating Wobbly Hat That's not a banana. THIS is a banana., Fri 7 Mar 2008, 20:10, 1 reply)

I love Cow & Chicken.
Stopped my Sky service now so can't get it any more.

It's been usefull having a young nephew to watch all this stuff with.

I'm afraid I'm a Spongebob freak.
( girlinthehole, Sat 8 Mar 2008, 19:59, closed)