It has been brought to my attention that it is time for me to return the favors provided by those numerous graybeards who shared their time with me while I was a student. In particularly, I should return the lessons, stories and wisdom shared as we waited hours for turnaround at the computer center. These lessons are in no books or articles. They are passed by word of mouth. They are told late at night -- over stale coffee and warm beer. They are old war stories about the discipline. There are personalities; mistakes and might-have-beens. While we are working here in the engine room I will intersperse these tales with the technical discussion. I have saved them up for twenty-five years. There is an object lesson in them all.
The current graybeards -- who you all aspire to become -- have already done this work. They already know these stories and they have done their time in the trenches late at night. By the time this INTERNET thing reaches some maturity, the graybeards will have retired to their fishing poles. You will inherit this discipline. Your time will come. Meanwhile we have work to do.
There is an Engine Room Reading List. Don't ask questions if you haven't done your homework.
There are some other Engine Room rules:
Some nearby places to GOTO (GETBACK as best you can). I've left NO breadcrumb trails: