I am impressed with the fact that in 1981 Eugene even knew the word
prognostication. How old was he then 10 or 11? I am proud to be in the same
species as this brilliant young man. His prognostication may not be as good
as his product but what is?

The truth is the HP3000 as we knew it in 1981 would not survive in today's
market. The HP3000 has grown into the server it is today. I think that the
normal evolutionary process would have left the HP3000 stuck out on some
dead limb of the computer family tree. The fact that HP did not die is due
to revolution not evolution. As we all know the results of revolution are
not easy to predict. (I personally think that instead of INVENT they should
have used REVOLT.)

-----Original Message-----
From:   HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Wirt Atmar
Sent:   Tuesday, December 21, 1999 3:50 PM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Re: Prognostications -- why not to make them

Tracy,

> P.S.  Humourus query:  What's the biblical punishment for a false prophet?

In the book of Revelations (20:10), the devil was tossed headlong into the
lake of fire and brimstone, the same lake where the beast and the false
prophet had been deposited earlier (19:20), to be tormented day and night
for
ever and ever.

Of course, this isn't the only mention of false prophets in the Bible. The
four gospels spend a great deal of their time trying to authenticate the
word
of Jesus over all the other comers -- and Mark gets downright cranky about
you (and the elect) listening to anyone else by saying that the consequences
shall be that, "the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her
light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven
shall be shaken."

If you read the Bible closely enough it's sometimes difficult to remember
that the primary message Jesus left was one of hope, charity, tolerance and
faith.

Nonetheless, those are the primary values that are to be celebrated,
especially now, during Christmas.

Wirt Atmar