Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 15:54:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl at keithlynch.net>
To: WSFAlist at keithlynch.net
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Netiquette
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

Kit Mason <kit at hers.com> wrote:

> I learned word processing first on a dedicated DEC system in
> 1981; each of us had a dumb terminal and the main 'computer' was
> elsewhere, with its attendant avatar to care for it.  Once, the
> building was struck by lightning and everything we'd done was wiped
> off the current disk and had to be redone... not fun.

I hope the "attendant avatar" was fired, as their main responsibility
was to make frequent backups.  And also to keep offsite backups, in
case of a larger disaster than a lightning strike.

Notice that very little computer data were lost in the WTC collapse,
since all the firms in those buildings knew the importance of frequent
backups and offsite storage.

Too bad it's not yet possible to make backups of *people*.  Maybe in
another fifty years.  After that, a WTC attack would only be a minor
inconvenience, in which nobody would be permanently hurt or killed.
Everyone would be as potentially immortal as a book or symphony, with
little chance of being killed for as long as civilization survives.
Which could easily exceed ten to the hundredth power years.
--
Keith F. Lynch - kfl at keithlynch.net - http://keithlynch.net/
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