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Oh wow thank you, I’ve looked for this for years. I am pretty sure this story and King’s Quest are the two major reasons I ended up in computer engineering.

jasonwatkinspdx 6y ago
I'm sure it's that way for quite a lot of us that are of a similar age. I have a really distinct memory of watching it as a child. I wasn't really interested in computers beyond the (rudimentary) games we had on ours, but this episode planted a lot of ideas in my head I'm sure.
- CliffStoll 6y ago
  Jason, I thought I was an oldster when I chased down that hacker and wrote about it. Thirty plus years later, I think of how young I was back then. There must be some lesson in this, but I can't find it.
  - jasonwatkinspdx 6y ago
    I would have been roughly kindergarten age at the time. That kid back then watching a face on tv would have never predicted the world would change in such ways that we'd be here chatting. As ugly as some things have gotten on the internet of late, that still fills me with something like awe, joy, and hope for the future. I may only be 2/3rds your age, but every time I look back on life I feel the same way. I hope I always feel that way, because I think that means I'm continuing to learn and grow.
  - Stratoscope 6y ago
    My friend, I am doing my best and really hope to catch up. But I always seem to be almost 600 days behind you. Please, can we do something to fix this? (Without any danger to either of us, of course!)
    - CliffStoll 6y ago
      OH! You need a simple one-way time machine. You're welcome to borrow mine, but it seems to be out of order for the moment.
      - Stratoscope 6y ago
        Wait a minute! You have an out of order time machine? That is what I've been looking for all my life. I already have an in order time machine, and it keeps going the same direction. I want an out of order machine! Can we trade? Today, tomorrow, or yesterday. I will give you a Klein bottle for it. And even do your dishes!
        CliffStoll 6y ago
        Hey Scope of the Stratos, I'm unable to wait a minute. My time machine's out of order.

jasonwatkinspdx 6y ago

I'm sure it's that way for quite a lot of us that are of a similar age. I have a really distinct memory of watching it as a child. I wasn't really interested in computers beyond the (rudimentary) games we had on ours, but this episode planted a lot of ideas in my head I'm sure.

CliffStoll 6y ago
Jason, I thought I was an oldster when I chased down that hacker and wrote about it. Thirty plus years later, I think of how young I was back then. There must be some lesson in this, but I can't find it.
- jasonwatkinspdx 6y ago
  I would have been roughly kindergarten age at the time. That kid back then watching a face on tv would have never predicted the world would change in such ways that we'd be here chatting. As ugly as some things have gotten on the internet of late, that still fills me with something like awe, joy, and hope for the future. I may only be 2/3rds your age, but every time I look back on life I feel the same way. I hope I always feel that way, because I think that means I'm continuing to learn and grow.
- Stratoscope 6y ago
  My friend, I am doing my best and really hope to catch up. But I always seem to be almost 600 days behind you. Please, can we do something to fix this? (Without any danger to either of us, of course!)
  - CliffStoll 6y ago
    OH! You need a simple one-way time machine. You're welcome to borrow mine, but it seems to be out of order for the moment.
    - Stratoscope 6y ago
      Wait a minute! You have an out of order time machine? That is what I've been looking for all my life. I already have an in order time machine, and it keeps going the same direction. I want an out of order machine! Can we trade? Today, tomorrow, or yesterday. I will give you a Klein bottle for it. And even do your dishes!
      - CliffStoll 6y ago
        Hey Scope of the Stratos, I'm unable to wait a minute. My time machine's out of order.