Conversing Computers

    Well, we're there, folks.  I suppose it was inevitable.  And presumably the news has been deliberately hushed and permitted to leak here so no one would get the impulse to jump out of his shoes.  So let's get on with it — the press release from Electronic Engineering Co. of Calif., Santa Ana.  Datelined Washington, D.C., it states, "An electronic data processing system is making it possible for two computers to 'talk' to each other in a common electronic mathematical language."

    The story goes on to state that the system, which cost $245,000, and is known as a ZA-100 Computer Language Translator, enables two computers, the IBM 704 and the Remington Rand Univac, "to freely interchange mathematical data or to process raw scientific data."

    No report on what the 704's first words to the Univac were.  Probably "Hello."

    THE PASSION for confession and honesty which has gripped the television industry since the quiz show scandals had a satiric echo at the Western States Advertising Agency association dinner.

    FAVORITE SON
Kennedy's name
Is potent, I find.
With Jack before it
And jack behind.
        RICHARD ARMOUR

    SIDEWALK SERMONS — A church in La Verne had these two billboard reminders:

    Self righteousness is jealousy with a halo.

    Gossip is letting the chat out of the bag.

    NOT LONG AGO  a man I know was arrested for driving while drunk, found guilty and had his driver's license revoked indefinitely.  Since, he has been relying on buses and friends to get him where he needs to go.  He wouldn't for the world think of driving and possibly compounding his jam.  He is also on the wagon.

    But now he has been called for jury duty and when he reported he was given the talk that all prospective jurors get — that jury service is a sacred trust and one of the few opportunities given citizens to exercise their patriotic duty.  He was deeply impressed but said reluctantly  he didn't believe he could serve.  Well, the jury people know how to handle malingerers and he was asked sternly if there was any reason he felt he didn't qualify.  He had to confess his driver's license had been revoked for drunken driving.

    After a soul-searching clash on waywardness vs. duty he was excused.

    ON ARRIVING home, Don Moye was asked by Donny, 6, "Dad, what does intidiac mean?"  Stalling to save face, Don asked where he'd heard it.  "On TV," was the reply.  Still mystified, Don asked him to use it in a sentence.  Donny answered solemnly, "Everybody wants to get intidiac."