- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

Museum of Modern Art Event: Thinking Machines: Art and Design in the Computer Age, 1959–1989
by Christian Liendo 09 Nov '17

09 Nov '17

I am going to check this out, but I think it's rather interesting https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/3863?locale=en Drawn primarily from MoMA's collection, Thinking Machines: Art and Design in the Computer Age, 1959–1989 brings artworks produced using computers and computational thinking together with notable examples of computer and component design. The exhibition reveals how artists, architects, and designers operating at the vanguard of art and technology deployed computing as a means to reconsider artistic production. The artists featured in Thinking Machines exploited the potential of emerging technologies by inventing systems wholesale or by partnering with institutions and corporations that provided access to cutting-edge machines. They channeled the promise of computing into kinetic sculpture, plotter drawing, computer animation, and video installation. Photographers and architects likewise recognized these technologies' capacity to reconfigure human communities and the built environment. Thinking Machines includes works by John Cage and Lejaren Hiller, Waldemar Cordeiro, Charles Csuri, Richard Hamilton, Alison Knowles, Beryl Korot, Vera Molnár, Cedric Price, and Stan VanDerBeek, alongside computers designed by Tamiko Thiel and others at Thinking Machines Corporation, IBM, Olivetti, and Apple Computer. The exhibition combines artworks, design objects, and architectural proposals to trace how computers transformed aesthetics and hierarchies, revealing how these thinking machines reshaped art making, working life, and social connections. Organized by Sean Anderson, Associate Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, and Giampaolo Bianconi, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Media and Performance Art.

2 1

Connor!
by Evan Koblentz 09 Nov '17

09 Nov '17

Our own Connor K. is becoming more famous by the clock cycle! IBM made a video about him. It's about 40 minutes so make some popcorn and enjoy. https://t.co/u qb4kyi09g6 Connor, we hope to see you at Festivus.

4 5

relaying the news: Oregon Train revisited
by Herb Johnson 09 Nov '17

09 Nov '17

> a playable version of the classic Apple ][-era adventure game > Oregon Trail to promote Oregon tourism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oregon_Trail_(series) Over the decades, I kept stumbling over implementations of this game; so it's caught my attention (I don't "game".) Most recently, I accidentally watched an episode of "Teen Titans", a current cartoon about DC comics teen heroes (essentially slacker teens with a clubhouse). It apparently started as a BASIC time-shared program in 1971. The basis of the game is "some research in some diaries of people who actually made the trip on Oregon Trail", from a 2013 interview of the first developer, in Minnesota. http://yesterthenfornow.kinja.com/an-interview-with-the-teacher-turned-deve… HMH IP Company Unlimited (parent of The Learning Company) a company that produces educational gaming, appears to have a current trademark for "The Oregon Trail", from 2017. Their IPO (stock offering) of 2013 lists The Oregon Trail as one of their premier titles. There's a current card-game, produced by Pressman, that's available at Amazon and Target. The diaries themselves, are historic documents, accumulated by various people and organizations; some are still held by families. In the 1970's, they were researched by authors and scholars. A Web search for "Oregon trail diaries" finds a few online, and discussion about them. http://www.oregonpioneers.com/diaries.htm http://www.octa-trails.org/articles/oregon-trail-diaries Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

1 0

RE: Digest, Vol 25, Issue 8, Slide Rules
by SVCatITC＠aol.com 09 Nov '17

09 Nov '17

Still have my Post ' Versalog ' model. I also, (in my picking travels) have found a hardcover instruction manual for it. (it originally only came with a paper instruction, long gone) Lost all knowledge of how to use since 1972! I have, on the bucket list, to relearn my slide rule, now that I have proper instructions. Bill Inderrieden In a message dated 11/8/2017 12:01:51 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, vcf-midatlantic-request(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org writes: Message: 4 Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2017 19:10:20 -0500 From: systems_glitch <systems.glitch(a)gmail.com> To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Slide rules, lots and lots of 'em Message-ID: <CAA+dubJ6f3YVHtoZwmpDSi_a+jdR5bZ6bpCJj=swTFNHgtarEg(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Wonder if they'll have any of the classroom sized ones -- Amy had one in their graduate office at RPI that must've been a yard long! Thanks, Jonathan On Tue, Nov 7, 2017 at 5:25 PM, Brian Schenkenberger via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: > > >Someone is donating 20 boxes of slide rules. He said some of common and > >some are rare/exotic. > > > >We'll keep the latter and probably sell many of the former at VCF East > >or whatever. > > Ooooo! I still have my K&E Log-Log Duplex Decitrig and case from my HS and > college days. I had a second one too (a short 8" SR) but I don't recall > the > make. I'll need to dig it out of the mothballs. ;) > ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2017 19:41:20 -0500 From: David Gesswein <djg(a)pdp8online.com> To: Brian Schenkenberger via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Slide rules, lots and lots of 'em Message-ID: <20171108004119.GA25333(a)hugin2.pdp8online.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii On Tue, Nov 07, 2017 at 05:25:43PM -0500, Brian Schenkenberger via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > > Ooooo! I still have my K&E Log-Log Duplex Decitrig and case from my HS and > college days. I had a second one too (a short 8" SR) but I don't recall the > make. I'll need to dig it out of the mothballs. ;) > I just missed being taught them. Did have my relatives slide rules in my 2016 VCF display. http://www.pdp8online.com/shows/vcfe16/pics/P1090150.shtml?small

1 0

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Galaga Challenge at Festivus
by william degnan 09 Nov '17

09 Nov '17

Ok. I wrote a program that runs an arcade game olympics for the c64 once. Keeps track of scoreboard etc Bill Degnan twitter: billdeg vintagecomputer.net On Nov 8, 2017 11:03 PM, "Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic" < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: This will be the Namco Joystick version made by JAKKS Pacific: https://www.google.com/search?q=jakks+pacific+namco+ms.+ pacman&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiKkb6OzrDXAhWqzIMKHeP2D pQQ_AUICygC&biw=1097&bih=556#imgrc=wIrplMWXpRFImM : On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 10:36 PM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > The real game or a pc version? > > Bill Degnan > twitter: billdeg > vintagecomputer.net > On Nov 8, 2017 9:17 PM, "Dean Notarnicola via vcf-midatlantic" < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > > > I'm game > > > > On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 9:16 PM Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic < > > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > > > > > I challenge anyone to a three game battle on Galaga. We each play three > > > games and add up the scores. Highest score wins. I'm awesome at this > > game. > > > I can beat anyone! Who accepts? > > > > > >

2 2

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Slide rules, lots and lots of 'em
by Michael Thompson 08 Nov '17

08 Nov '17

> > Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2017 16:15:08 -0500 > From: Evan Koblentz <evan(a)vcfed.org> > Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] Slide rules, lots and lots of 'em > Message-ID: <def00faf-b3c2-f7f9-9df8-2efd142534a1(a)vcfed.org> > > Someone is donating 20 boxes of slide rules. He said some of common and > some are rare/exotic. > > We'll keep the latter and probably sell many of the former at VCF East > or whatever. > > ________________________________ > Evan Koblentz, director > I have one that is about a yard long for calculating free oxygen in magnetic materials. -- Michael Thompson

1 0

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Slide rules, lots and lots of 'em
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 08 Nov '17

08 Nov '17

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >Someone is donating 20 boxes of slide rules. He said some of common and >some are rare/exotic. > >We'll keep the latter and probably sell many of the former at VCF East >or whatever. Ooooo! I still have my K&E Log-Log Duplex Decitrig and case from my HS and college days. I had a second one too (a short 8" SR) but I don't recall the make. I'll need to dig it out of the mothballs. ;)

10 9

TV alert
by Evan Koblentz 08 Nov '17

08 Nov '17

There's a show called "Young Sheldon" which is a spin-out of "The Big Bang Theory". I suggest watching the Thursday, Jan. 18 episode (8:30, CBS) to see some vintage computing. ________________________________ Evan Koblentz, director Vintage Computer Federation a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit evan(a)vcfed.org (646) 546-9999 www.vcfed.org facebook.com/vcfederation twitter.com/vcfederation instagram.com/vcfederation

1 0

Read all about it
by Evan Koblentz 07 Nov '17

07 Nov '17

....Because I'm donating most of my personal library of computer history books to the museum (see what I did in the subject line?) I'm moving soon and will have much less space. Today I packed four banker's boxes full of books about the history of computing. These will go in our museum for all members/docents to read. ________________________________ Evan Koblentz, director Vintage Computer Federation a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit evan(a)vcfed.org (646) 546-9999 www.vcfed.org facebook.com/vcfederation twitter.com/vcfederation instagram.com/vcfederation

2 2

Slide rules, lots and lots of 'em
by Evan Koblentz 07 Nov '17

07 Nov '17

Someone is donating 20 boxes of slide rules. He said some of common and some are rare/exotic. We'll keep the latter and probably sell many of the former at VCF East or whatever. ________________________________ Evan Koblentz, director Vintage Computer Federation a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit evan(a)vcfed.org (646) 546-9999 www.vcfed.org facebook.com/vcfederation twitter.com/vcfederation instagram.com/vcfederation

1 0