Another rare critter here also - I started using Westi for interactive processing back in the early 80's then switched to CICS with IMS/DB & DB2 or IMS DB & DC with Oracle where I am right now.

Somewhere along the way I ended up working on a Wang VS system for a few years. Wang VS was way better for the interactive stuff than anything else that was available at the time. Unfortunately it is long gone, I have wondered a few times what it would have evolved into if it ever got onto the web

snipperoo...

You could just as easily slug in "Java" for "COBOL" and "generic SQL, shell scripts, Spring, and assorted other frameworks...." for "DB2, JCL, CICS" and the statement will be just as true (except for the fact that most Java is not mainframe), but the idea is still the same.

It is not the programming language, but all of the other 'stuff' that goes with it that makes it useful. It is the other 'stuff' that takes time to learn and become proficient with.

That is exactly what we are doing at my shop (a major research university). We are slowly wrapping nice gui web front ends around the existing code. This way we can present a modern appearance - while retaining all of the business logic that is embedded in the legacy COBOL (and some PL/1) code.

Whenever there is a need for a brand new application, it is quite often easier to access the data (usually a combination of IMS and Oracle databases) on the mainframe, and use zDirect to grab the IMS/DC screens. Sometimes new programs are written, sometimes old programs modified.

The VAX had DCL - Digital Command Language, and as far as JCL goes, it is essentially a method of setting up environment variables so programs can access external resources, a shell script - nothing more.

I don't remember ever seeing Zeke & Zack (not Zeek & Zed) on a Z/OS system - If I recall they were mostly on VSE systems and were a automated operator/scheduler. I can't remember which was which, it has been a long time since I have worked on VSE, Z/OS is a daily thing.

Have you ever considered a blender/shredder showdown with the Watch it Shred folks at http://www.ssiworld.com/
You would probably have to take one of their machines apart to fit into a Blendtec, but will it blend?

including the option of saying 'hey Mr ISP man, please filter this crap for me.'

I think you meant 50m, not 50km - at a 50km following distance, you would never see another car.

Most of the tickets generated seem to be for failing to stop for $number_of_seconds before making a right on red. NJ state law does not define a specific $number_of_seconds and local towns have made it whatever they feel like making it.

FWIW I have seen the photo flashes going off when there was no vehicle in or even near the intersection. No idea what they trying to ticket - low flying birds perhaps?

Usually under a different - but similar name

Bah - the article is about NJ, the sidewalk is considered to be the passing lane.

I didn't SlashDot posters actually had girlfriends....

While I like the 90 minute IPA, I think that the 120 minute IPA might make a better beer slushie (if you could get it to freeze smoothly).

I really need to get new glasses (or change default fonts) -- i read the BT corn an BT.com -- and thought why would insects need to become resistant to British Telecom??

Chicken & Egg syndrome here - long range electric vehicles won't become popular until there are stop & swap battery stations available.

Learning disabled & gifted should just be different flavors of the special education ice cream. Unfortunately most school districts don't see it that way -- especially when they get more state aid for the kids who have difficulties than those that are ahead of the rest of the class.

Personally I hate both terms (learning disabled and gifted), and prefer to use "differently learning"