WEDNESDAY, 20 May, 1998 #846
Computer Night
"Millennium Bug Spray" was not required
Jean Doré who has acquired great hi-tech expertise during
his stints with Hitachi and SNC (he can open WINDOWS)
Wednesday Night # 846
Wednesday evening, May 20, 1998 was unique.
An unusual preamble
As they arrived in the front hall, guests were treated to a display of brilliant photographs taken in Nepal by Mackay L. Smith. All were then invited to go downstairs to view a slide presentation in the dramatic but infrequently used basement amphitheatre with its five, nine foot wide, screens filling our vision. The scenes portrayed on both the projected slides and displayed prints were breathtaking and the faces depicted, human, empathetic, fascinating and beautiful.
Following the artistic demonstration, about twice the average number of guests, including a number of new faces, gathered around the Nicholsons' dining room table to engage in a discussion mostly relating to computers, hardware, software, and the humans involved in creating and using them.
Software is available which has been designed to rapidly scan code
and correct two digit date codes, thus providing a fifty year window for
either permanent correction or replacement of software. Although
effective, there remain some defects likely to cause problems. The case
of Wells Fargo was cited. This company started in good time to correct
its programs, but neglected to change the coding in the power supply
software. Fortunately a test-run highlighted this particular defect.
Wells Fargo will now be prepared to face the year 2000. Others may not have had the foresight to do so.
Gatesgate and the Microsoft Monopoly:
Unexpectedly, Microsoft received much support from the assembled
guests. Some of the statements of support were as follows:
- "While he exhibits predatory behaviour and is obnoxious, the fix is
worse than the cure."
- "What we have is legislation against government-granted monopoly,
but here we are penalizing ingenuity."
- "Gates' success has more to do with marketing strategy than
ingenuity."
- "He is establishing new marketing strategy that the U.S. Government
hasn't thought of, and doesn't know how to handle."
- "You cannot cry foul about the rules once the rules are set. Coca
Cola is just a name with great marketing."
Our Children: Are they being penalized because we don't provide them with
the latest technology?
- "Just because you use the most advanced technology to teach
students does not mean they will be better students. Sometimes they can
learn more from a slide-rule than from a computer. Conceptual thinking
is important."
- "I am working towards a paperless office. (I recently) met with
graphic artists, but both used pencils and paper."
- "The designer or engineer works with and designs the most advanced
technology; the mechanic or technician works with both old and new
technology, using his ingenuity to adapt them to current needs. Both
skills are equally important."
(Editor's Note: The May 25th issue of TIME highlights this debate extremely well, see particularly boxes on pp 38 and 39 No, It's Not: David Gelernter says learn first, surf later)
and 'GORE's Costly High-Wirw Act
#842 Singapore night or Singapore computer scene
Computerized Translation:
The group was divided on the value in all instances of translation based
on concept rather than on dictionary. Jean Bourbonnais, the creator of
ALIS pointed out the difference between inbound and outbound translation
and the trade-off between low cost, speed and coarseness of translation
versus high cost, slow and fine translation as well as the trade-offs and
the continuum of which they represent the two extremities.
Outbound translation is designed to convince the reader of a point, or
the value of a product or service. It should accurately reflect the
concept, a relatively slow process involving high cost human
intervention, approaching a text originally created in the language of
the reader.
At the other extreme, inbound translation is designed for the reader who
is curious but cannot determine whether the text is of value to him. A
rapid, inexpensive, coarse translation may provide him with sufficient
information to enable him to determine whether or not the investment in a
higher level of translation is warranted.
In other words, computerized translation can provide the user with a
hierarchy of levels involving a varying mix of software and human
intervention. enabling him to select the optimum choice for his
particular application.
The Market:
There has been a wonderful run in the market, seeing the Dow Jones
index increasing in short period of time from seven thousand to nine
thousand, a rise of over twenty-five percent. There may be a corrective
move which, if it occurs will represent a buy opportunity. In April,
which is not an RRSP month, 3.6 billion additional dollars were invested
in mutual funds. This is a clear indication that the market will continue to rise.
Do try our Quote getter
The U.S. economy is strong and will remain so. The situation in Indonesia appears to be in the process of resolving itself, but Asia in general - and India- in particular are still volatile and can continue to affect the world economy adversely.
Message to Westmounters from Le Mouvement de Libération Nationale du Québec:
Here the consensus was that the time and money spent on the
dissemination of the pamphlets to Westmounters marking Victoria Day,
would probably been more profitably spent on furthering the welfare of
their fellow Quebeckers. However, there was not consensus among those who had received the pamphlets about how to treat the issue. Many individuals are deeply disturbed and feel threatened, others are more inclined to dismiss the messages as the work of a handful of crackpots who don't represent anyone but their own small sick clique.
and the Ottawa General Hospital
For once, everyone agreed that this situation is disgraceful… Mr. Levine is highly qualified for the position and his politics have absolutely nothing to do with his work. The ardent federalists in Ottawa are an embarrassing reminder that stupidity and prejudice are not limited to those in Quebec with whom we disagree!
The media comes in for a large part of the blame; the local papers, talk shows and even the news shows have been fanning the flames. It appears, however, that the Board will stand firm and, furthermore, that since the public meeting, calls to Board members have been running 5-1 in favor of Mr. Levine. Let's hope that this dies down quickly as it plays into the hands of radicals everywhere. Please see our page on things we wish would go away
Jean Doré was unfortunately delayed in another meeting, but has promised to join us next Wednesday, May 27th.
 Richard Tardif Systems Enginer on 
For Demos A fast connection (ISDN 128Kbps or better) is recommended.
 Prof. Gerald Ratzer McGill CS
See LMsoft's HyperPage ... prize winning softwar produced by Luc Michaud and André Daveluy Account Manager and Dominique Brogi Sales Manager (Paris)
BEST of COMDEX Show DIGITAL MEDIA LMSOFT Inc.
LMSoft Presenter 2. gives corporate users the ability to create professional-looking audio and video presentations without requiring advanced production skills. It also provides innovative mechanisms for combining dynamically updated Internet-based content with multiple concurrent video and audio streams.
 William Steinberg Consultants Inc.
The TPC FAX service to send a fax (no JUNK and less than 7 a week) to many locations around the world. FREE by Bill Lloyd
IDDD country codes & call Letters Canada = 1 CA and the areas of the world covered
Mackay L. Smith , author of "The Jews of Montreal and
Their Judaisms. A Voyage of Discovery". Irwin Block The Gaxette "What's a nice left-handed laundryman from Upper Westmount like you (doing) writing ... a book about the Jews of Montréal?" .. squash, geopolitics, photographer [see IMAGE on Ste.Catherine near Greeen] and ex-carouser. ..A good read.
<"KaySmith">e-mail here $19.95
Wednesday #823 on Hi tech with Marc Nicholson by Linda Blanshay
& Michael Judson Edited by Diana Thébaud Nicholson
Notes of value to be seen
../westweb/ on computers and web help and Speed / ISPs / Y2K and ..how to get the most out of these sites also Hartco updated Wed 20th '98
#845 Asia night May 13th. was a great evening
We feel that this is an appropriate occasion to pay tribute to our two devoted scribes whose meticulous notes enable us to publish summaries of Wednesday events. Herb Bercovitz and Michael Judson are an indispensable part of the organisation and we thank them!
David and Diana Nicholson
Larry Davis Sat 23 May '98 (07:46 AM) WSJ
Before we come down too hard on Microsoft, we should ask one question.
Why is it, that there is even a hint of a monopoly? The answer? A
conspiracy. By whom? Whatever the current percentage of PC owners
using Windows. Now think about it. Did anyone "make" these people buy
Windows, or was it a situation of nothing better available. No,
Microsoft products are not perfect, there are just about always bugs.
But, I have yet to see a perfect software. And as to monopolies,
anyone that lives in a small rural community can tell you that it is
impossible to prevent their existence. A small rural community cannot
support more than one local phone, gas, electric company. In the
purest sense of the word, this constitutes a monopoly. Is it bad? No,
it is similar to the laws of physics. Some things naturally occur and
cannot be prevented, nor should they be. When a company mis-uses this
situation, maybe the government should step in, but only to prevent the
mis-use, not to prevent a monopoly. I am all for fair trade and
competition, but not at the expense of the consumer.
So why didn't shares in Netscape Communications Corp. take off yesterday after the U.S. government threatened to force mighty Microsoft Corp. to distribute the company's
Internet-browsing software? The answer is that nobody really cares, analysts and portfolio
managers say.
"A visit to the ICQ Web site was a shock. The flexibility and wide range of uses for ICQ are staggering". TERRY TAYLOR Southam News
MICROSOFT WAS ACCUSED of seeking to destroy software-industry rivals in landmark antitrust lawsuits filed by the U.S. and 20 states. A government victory could mean that new computers would display links to products and services placed there by the computer maker, not by Microsoft.
Monday, May 18, 1998
Microsoft is in talks about investing nearly $400 million for a 20% stake in RoadRunner, the high-speed Internet service owned by Time Warner, people familiar with the matter said.
[Go]AT&T is expected to unveil a marketing alliance with Yahoo, executives familiar with the plan said, another move by the company to boost sales by teaming with an Internet directory.
|
|
By Herbert Bercovitz
|