Look What I Found Today!

Two million dollars.

Next thing you know, they’ll be sending sharks with frickin’ laser beams on their heads onto CompuServe.

Just to put things into perspective, this is from a 1983 issue of Timex/Sinclair User. It was right about this time when I received my first 419 letter – via snail mail. Some enterprising soul had apparently trolled the state sales tax permit database, looking for suckers folks who would be very happy to help move 42 million dollars into the US.

My, how times have changed. Now all I have to do is look in my mobile phone inbox and I’ll find a notification from Cesar Chavez himself that I’ve won the Internet Lottery. Pardon me if I pass on the award.

Two of my favorite mental images from ye olde days of personal computing were the bit bucket and the data bus.

Here’s a charmingly-rendered graphic from a 1983 issue of Computers and Electronics.

Imagine a Betamax-sized box that played tape cartridges that looked like a stack of about a dozen 3.5″ floppies. Hours of enjoyment for the whole family!

Recently I ran across a cache of old Dallas newspapers. The dates on the ad might give you a clue as to why this particular newspaper had been placed in a box and stashed away in a closet.

Yes, the year was indeed 1963. And before the world came crashing down, a local bank was prepared to show Dallas the new wonder of the modern age. Presumably the event took place for at least a few nights, and Dallasites were introduced to a new banking term: It was the computer’s fault!

A year or so later I had my first look at a real computer. My father worked for LTV, and as part of a family day at the facility we were escorted down a hall and into a room to watch a man wearing a lab coat demonstrate the capabilities of their new computer. I seem to recall he made the bold prediction that within a few years every house would have a computer, and we kiddies would be doing our homework on one! We all know how that worked out.

If you’re an iPhone user with limited means brains, you probably scoffed at the “I Am Rich” application, which purports to show a glowing gem and reveal a “secret mantra.” The only question in my mind is, why did it take this long to make it to YouTube?

Ah, well. Here it is:

Note the fine attention to detail in the spelling and punctuation.

But what do I know? I’m just a writer with limited means.

(Via Gizmodo)

I’m an Olympus fan, much to the consternation of some of my photo shooting friends and colleagues. Perhaps it’s just me, but I’m a fan of the Four Thirds system.

This is why I was intrigued by the announcement of the Micro Four Thirds System this week. The linked release contains lots of technical lingo, but here’s the interesting bit:

While continuing to develop Four Thirds System interchangeable lens type digital camera system products, Panasonic will also develop a new generation of compact, lightweight, interchangeable lens type digital camera system products, including ultra-portable camera bodies, interchangeable lenses, and related system accessories.

They also mention that the new system uses the same size sensor.

I don’t think I’d ever be able to ditch a larger DSLR simply because I like the feel of a solid camera body. Still, the idea of a smaller system that supports interchangeable lenses is very intriguing. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for the new models.

More at dpreview.