timtyrrell · February 13, 2013 16:47
diff --git a/cobol response b/cobol response
 Hi Tim,
 Interesting article.  Except for some web interfaces written in java our railroad runs on COBOL.  It is a versatile powerful language that I was taught using instructional tapes at the Rock Island Railroad on my summer job (in 1970) before senior year at Knox.  We called the lady in the tapes "Connie Cobol" which got me out of Fortran programming which had limited applications.    I also viewed the tapes of "Annie ALC" to learn the IBM 360/370 Assembler Language.  Since I knew assembler for the IBM 1130 I could handle the progression to the more powerful machines.  I was sent to school at IBM in Chicago for several courses for my promotion.  I was put in the elite group of three at the Rock that coded in Assembler for the brand new electronic data interchange that was being started.  Our transmissions originally came via the teletype machines.  I tested my EDI  programs by punching the paper tapes and running them thru the teletypes.  Our carriage returns and line feeds had to separate the data for it to be recognized.    That was in the days of reel to reel tape drives and disk drives that were in housings the size of washing machines that vibrated and generated tons of heat. To change the disks for a different file we would choose the disk in it's protective cover with a handle on top that looked like a huge cake saver and screw it into the drive housing.  Now that memory is so condensed a thumb drive probably holds lots more than all our cake sized disks combined.  Progress.

 It has been a real trip.  We got more respect before everyone who can send an email decided they are as smart as we are.  You are the new generation in IT but our generation isn't done yet.  Enjoy it.

 Love, Mom.
	Hi Tim,
	Interesting article. Except for some web interfaces written in java our railroad runs on COBOL. It is a versatile powerful language that I was taught using instructional tapes at the Rock Island Railroad on my summer job (in 1970) before senior year at Knox. We called the lady in the tapes "Connie Cobol" which got me out of Fortran programming which had limited applications. I also viewed the tapes of "Annie ALC" to learn the IBM 360/370 Assembler Language. Since I knew assembler for the IBM 1130 I could handle the progression to the more powerful machines. I was sent to school at IBM in Chicago for several courses for my promotion. I was put in the elite group of three at the Rock that coded in Assembler for the brand new electronic data interchange that was being started. Our transmissions originally came via the teletype machines. I tested my EDI programs by punching the paper tapes and running them thru the teletypes. Our carriage returns and line feeds had to separate the data for it to be recognized. That was in the days of reel to reel tape drives and disk drives that were in housings the size of washing machines that vibrated and generated tons of heat. To change the disks for a different file we would choose the disk in it's protective cover with a handle on top that looked like a huge cake saver and screw it into the drive housing. Now that memory is so condensed a thumb drive probably holds lots more than all our cake sized disks combined. Progress.

	It has been a real trip. We got more respect before everyone who can send an email decided they are as smart as we are. You are the new generation in IT but our generation isn't done yet. Enjoy it.

	Love, Mom.