[oclug] Re: Who are members anyway?

[bbarnett at L8R.net]

On 12-Aug-2001 Chris Herrnberger wrote:
> On August 11, 2001 08:02 pm, you wrote:
>>
>> If that's not the case, then obviously that isn't a list of members, and
>> Rod is still looking for one.  Additionally, there are 6 private members on
>> that list.  Private members? ;).
>>
> Thats precisely the issue I was raising in my previouse post. There is little
> consistancy in implementation. 
> 
> Chris

Many years ago, when I was a small lad, my father brought me to the big city. 
He brought me to Ottawa, to see the focal point of political power in Canada. 
Back then I was very interested in computers, of course, but they were few and
far between.  Since we were in the "big city", we had hoped I would get a
chance to see one.  We were quite happy to find out, after calling a local
government office, that they gave tours of their computer rooms if booked in
advance.

The next day was a happy day, because even back then I knew that Unix was a
wonderful thing, and that most of the government departments ran one derivative
of it or another.  My small mind had spent hours reading up on the commands and
the structure of Unix, from books that my local library had special ordered in,
just for me.  Finally I would get to see a real computer, not just Vic20!
Perhaps I could talk to someone who actually _used_ one for a living!  This was
to be a day of happiness, and a day of learning.  Unfortunately, it was not to
be so!

About 1/2 way through the tour, I noticed an empty terminal, and I snuck away
from the tour to get a closer look at it.  This is when my heart broke, and it
was the first _real_ let down of my young life.  On this desk, in the heart of
UNIX land itself, was a horrible book.  I would later call it the Anti-Christ's
bible,  and it was titled "Let's ask Bill Gates - Is Unix for you?".  It was
open, and highlighted with the word "INSIGHTFUL!", was a sentence that read
"Unix is doomed to fade into non-existance within 20 years".  It was at this
point that I started to emit a painful sounding cry, much like the sound a Moose
makes during mating season.

Now, many years later, I can look back on the tormented days that followed, and
almost laugh.  I can sit back and have a beer, and smile over the past, or at
least I could, until now.  You see, while reading this email about Private
members, a flash of insight erupted through me, and I remember one crystal
clear picture of that moment I described above.  On that desk, sitting beside
that horrible book and its comment, was a name plate and it read Francis
Penteric!!!!! 

I see it all clearly now!  I now know who these "private" members are.  After
reading that book, Francis must have started a pen pal relationship with Bill
Gates!  Over the years, 100s of letters must have passed, from here to Seattle,
where Francis' mentor lives!  After a long and mutually benificial friendship
with each other, Bill found out about OCLUG because of our dear "friend"
Francis, and immediately asked to join.  Suddenly wrought with fear and concern
over his dirty windows secret becoming public, yet forced to honour his
friendship, Francis snuck Bill in as a "private" member.

For shame Francis, for shame!!!!


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