| Dear Friends,
There are many people, who, for no fault of their own, are forced to write in
COBOL. Whereas some of us work out 2 plus 2 by saying "PRINT 2+2" or
something equally laconic (indeed the older ones amongst us can actually do such
calculations in our heads), COBOL sufferers have to say "ADD 2 TO 2 GIVING
THE ANSWER, PLEASE, NICE MR COMPUTER, AND SEND ME A MEMO
ABOUT IT IN TIME FOR THE BOARD MEETING"
So what can we do for these people? One answer is therapy. Here is a typical case
study of a sufferer locked away in solitary confinement with nothing but IBM manuals
to keep him company.
Day 1: Subject persistently screaming for Oxford English Dictionary (20-odd
volumes). Gnawed three of his toes off when this request denied.
Day 2: Subject very subdued, and starts compiling his own dictionary from bits of
bed linen and stale soup.
Day 3: Subject befriends a wasp in the cell, and starts asking it to add two and two.
Day 4: First breakthrough. Subject reads IBM manual.
Day 5: Subject complains that his bed needs emergency engineering.
Day 6: Subject tears up his dictionary and starts listing abend codes.
Day 7: Success. Subject says "ICH 9000I Good morning" when his warder brings
him a bowl of porridge.
... as you can see, there is some way to go before a complete cure can be
guaranteed.
Meanwhile send lots of money to me. This is nothing to do with the campaign, I just
want some money.
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