tlug: historical musings

[Jim Schweizer <schweiz@example.com>]

Hi all,

Having grown up in St. Louis, MO (on the banks of the
Mississippi) and possessing a fondness for Mark Twain, I was
delighted to find that Project Gutenberg has most of his texts
on-line.

While reading 'Life on the Mississippi' I couldn't help but
reflect on Linux development Vs historical perspective. Linux
has been around for a grand total of 8 years. Here's the quick
excerpt that got me thinking:

"Seventy years elapsed, after the exploration, before the
river's borders had a white population worth considering;
and nearly fifty more before the river had a commerce.
Between La Salle's opening of the river and the time when it
may be said to have become the vehicle of anything like a regular
and active commerce, seven sovereigns had occupied the throne
of England, America had become an independent nation, Louis XIV.
and Louis XV.  had rotted and died, the French monarchy had gone
down in the red tempest of the revolution, and Napoleon was a
name that was beginning to be talked about.  Truly, there were
snails in those days."

Linux and the 'net are truly astounding:-)

Have a good night.

Jim S.

----------------------------------
Jim Schweizer <schweiz@example.com>
Mosher's Law of Software Engineering:
  Don't worry if it doesn't work right.  If everything 
  did, you'd be out of a job.
http://www1.harenet.or.jp/~schweiz/
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