Re: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]
21 Aug
2022
21 Aug
'22
1:42 p.m.
I seriously considered getting some custom >napkins
printed up (bars >sometimes have personalized napkins; 5.25" is >available,
although these >days, bars usually use smaller, just to keep from >making rings on
the >tables), with just the outline of a 5.25" disk jacket >printed on them
>(perimeter, write enable notch, index hole, and >oval access slot), and a
>version of the story, IFF it could be confirmed on >the backFred,You should just do
it and add a teeny tiny disclaimer at the bottom regarding the veracity of the story. It.
Would make for a great gag gift! Or if you want to get real fancy have a qr code that can
be scanned on each napkin for a site with more detailed discussion of the events.-Ali
21 Aug
21 Aug
1:58 p.m.
New subject: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]
RESENT FOR LEGIBILITY
I seriously considered getting some custom
napkins printed up (bars
sometimes have personalized napkins; 5.25" is
available, although these
days, bars usually use smaller, just to keep from
making rings on the
tables), with just the outline of a 5.25" disk jacket
printed on them
(perimeter, write enable notch, index hole, and
oval access slot), and a
version of the story, IFF it could be confirmed on
the back
Fred,
You should just do it and add a teeny tiny disclaimer at the bottom regarding the veracity
of the story. It would make for a great gag gift! Or if you want to get real fancy have a
QR code that can be scanned on each napkin for a site with more detailed discussion of the
events.
-Ali
2:42 p.m.
New subject: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]
On Sun, 21 Aug 2022, Ali wrote:
You should just do it and add a teeny tiny disclaimer
at the bottom
regarding the veracity of the story. It would make for a great gag gift!
Or if you want to get real fancy have a QR code that can be scanned on
each napkin for a site with more detailed discussion of the events.
I used to know an elderly fellow who had a reasonably complete printshop
at his house. He used to do embossed fancy invitations, envelopes, etc.
But, he's dead. So, I no longer already have a printer.
I don't even know whether personalized napkins are printed on existing
napkins, or printed as a folio and then folded.
There are some home methods, such as an oversized rubber stamp, etc.
But, I think that it should be done professionally.
Simplest artwork would be simply a small circle, a large oval, and a small
square at the edge. But, a border around would be nice.
I don't think that I will get around to doing it :-(
If somebody else wants to pick up the idea, I would appreciate it if you
would give me a good price to buy a dozen or so of them.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com
3:34 p.m.
New subject: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]
BTW, I first heard the story in the late 1980s? My recollection was that
it was in a sidebar in a magazine article. I can't currently find that.
Massaro's denial of it
http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/text/Oral_History/5.25_3.5_Flo…
was 2006?
The story was about the diskette size.
Massaro's story is about the size of the DRIVE, and making a cardboard
mockup in the backseat of a car.
Unless Adkisson comes forward, and reasserts the validity of the story,
then it is unlikely.
11:06 p.m.
New subject: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]
Fred:
Please quote the current version of the oral history,
It says:
Porter: Jimmy said that you guys got together with the guys at Wang in a
dark bar one night and, after a
discussion, you decided on the size of what the smaller diskette should be
and there was a cocktail napkin
on the bar which was 5 1/4" square <laughter> napkin <inaudible>.
That's
Jimmy's story.
[Ed. note: Contacted in 2009, both Adkisson and Massaro stated that there
was never any such meeting
in a bar with Dr. Wang]
5.25 and 3.5 Floppy Disk Oral History Panel (computerhistory.org)
<https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/05/102657925
-05-01-acc.pdf> at page 10
Will you now stop promulgating this fable?
Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Cisin [mailto:cisin@xenosoft.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2022 3:34 PM
To: Fred Cisin via cctalk
Subject: [cctalk] Re: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a
dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]
BTW, I first heard the story in the late 1980s? My recollection was that it
was in a sidebar in a magazine article. I can't currently find that.
Massaro's denial of it
<http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/text/Oral_History/5.25_3.5_Flo
ppy_Drive/5.25_and_3.5_Floppy_Panel.oral_history.2005.102657925.pdf>
http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/text/Oral_History/5.25_3.5_Flop
py_Drive/5.25_and_3.5_Floppy_Panel.oral_history.2005.102657925.pdf
was 2006?
The story was about the diskette size.
Massaro's story is about the size of the DRIVE, and making a cardboard
mockup in the backseat of a car.
Unless Adkisson comes forward, and reasserts the validity of the story, then
it is unlikely.
11:32 p.m.
New subject: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]
On Sun, 21 Aug 2022, Tom Gardner wrote:
Fred:
Please quote the current version of the oral history,
It says:
Porter: Jimmy said that you guys got together with the guys at Wang in a
dark bar one night and, after a
discussion, you decided on the size of what the smaller diskette should be
and there was a cocktail napkin
on the bar which was 5 1/4" square <laughter> napkin <inaudible>.
That's
Jimmy's story.
[Ed. note: Contacted in 2009, both Adkisson and Massaro stated that there
was never any such meeting
in a bar with Dr. Wang]
5.25 and 3.5 Floppy Disk Oral History Panel (computerhistory.org)
<https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/05/102657925
-05-01-acc.pdf> at page 10
Will you now stop promulgating this fable?
Yes. Knowing that BOTH deny it shows that it is an apocryphal tale.
I was, indeed, looking at an older version (2005)
When I had only heard of Massaro's refutation, I was wondering whether
Adkisson agreed. Now, it is clear.
Thank you.
22 Aug
22 Aug
9:24 a.m.
New subject: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]
That's one of the "features" of the CHM oral history archives, they keep
older versions on line on "scholarly" principles.
I've suggest they keep only the current version on line and include a change
log to no avail
Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Cisin [mailto:cisin@xenosoft.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2022 11:32 PM
To: t.gardner(a)computer.org
Cc: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'
Subject: RE: [cctalk] Re: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a
dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]
On Sun, 21 Aug 2022, Tom Gardner wrote:
Fred:
Please quote the current version of the oral history, It says:
Porter: Jimmy said that you guys got together with the guys at Wang in
a dark bar one night and, after a discussion, you decided on the size
of what the smaller diskette should be and there was a cocktail napkin
on the bar which was 5 1/4" square <laughter> napkin <inaudible>.
That's Jimmy's story.
[Ed. note: Contacted in 2009, both Adkisson and Massaro stated that
there was never any such meeting in a bar with Dr. Wang]
5.25 and 3.5 Floppy Disk Oral History Panel (computerhistory.org)
<https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/05/102
657925
-05-01-acc.pdf> at page 10
Will you now stop promulgating this fable?
Yes. Knowing that BOTH deny it shows that it is an apocryphal tale.
I was, indeed, looking at an older version (2005) When I had only heard of
Massaro's refutation, I was wondering whether Adkisson agreed. Now, it is
clear.
Thank you.
11:33 a.m.
New subject: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]
OR, keep them all available, but include a mention and link to newest, or
at least next, or precede each with a small visible meta-data block with
date and links.
If it's too cumbersome to edit every one when a new one is put up, having
a mention/link to the next one would at least provide a linked list.
I was unaware that I was not looking at the current one.
(and was confused by your statements that Adkisson had recanted, which was
definitely not present in the one that I was looking at.)
Feel free to use my error as an example in your campaign to improve the
organization.
On Mon, 22 Aug 2022, Tom Gardner via cctalk wrote:
That's one of the "features" of the CHM
oral history archives, they keep
older versions on line on "scholarly" principles.
I've suggest they keep only the current version on line and include a change
log to no avail
Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Cisin [mailto:cisin@xenosoft.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2022 11:32 PM
To: t.gardner(a)computer.org
Cc: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'
Subject: RE: [cctalk] Re: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a
dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]
On Sun, 21 Aug 2022, Tom Gardner wrote:
Fred:
Please quote the current version of the oral history, It says:
Porter: Jimmy said that you guys got together with the guys at Wang in
a dark bar one night and, after a discussion, you decided on the size
of what the smaller diskette should be and there was a cocktail napkin
on the bar which was 5 1/4" square <laughter> napkin <inaudible>.
That's Jimmy's story.
[Ed. note: Contacted in 2009, both Adkisson and Massaro stated that
there was never any such meeting in a bar with Dr. Wang]
5.25 and 3.5 Floppy Disk Oral History Panel (computerhistory.org)
<https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/05/102
657925
-05-01-acc.pdf> at page 10
Will you now stop promulgating this fable?
Yes. Knowing that BOTH deny it shows that it is an apocryphal tale.
I was, indeed, looking at an older version (2005) When I had only heard of
Massaro's refutation, I was wondering whether Adkisson agreed. Now, it is
clear.
Thank you. 
21 Aug
21 Aug
7:19 p.m.
New subject: Wang bar napkin story [WAS:RE: Re: "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet]
https://www.foryourparty.com/cocktail-napkins
--
Chris Elmquist
On Aug 21, 2022, at 4:45 PM, Fred Cisin via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
On Sun, 21 Aug 2022, Ali wrote:
You should just do it and add a teeny tiny
disclaimer at the bottom regarding the veracity of the story. It would make for a great
gag gift! Or if you want to get real fancy have a QR code that can be scanned on each
napkin for a site with more detailed discussion of the events.
I used to know an elderly fellow who had a reasonably complete printshop at his house.
He used to do embossed fancy invitations, envelopes, etc.
But, he's dead. So, I no longer already have a printer.
I don't even know whether personalized napkins are printed on existing napkins, or
printed as a folio and then folded.
There are some home methods, such as an oversized rubber stamp, etc.
But, I think that it should be done professionally.
Simplest artwork would be simply a small circle, a large oval, and a small square at the
edge. But, a border around would be nice.
I don't think that I will get around to doing it :-(
If somebody else wants to pick up the idea, I would appreciate it if you would give me a
good price to buy a dozen or so of them.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com
607
days inactive
608
days old
8 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
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Ali -
Chris Elmquist -
Fred Cisin -
Tom Gardner