Conference 7.286::digital

>    1. Digital is the US has gone into chapter 11.

	Strange, if Digital has more cash than debt, 
	why would they want to do that?

>    1. Digital is the US has gone into chapter 11.
>    2. Digital France has filed for bankcruptcy.

     While Digital's financial situation is not nearly as dire as that
of most companies that go into chapter 11, chapter 11 (at least in the
U.S.) does give a company more flexibility in dealing with labor (when
Continental Airlines went chapter 11, as was allowed to break union
contracts).

     While the rumor fits the current discussion, I don't think it fits
the facts:

	DEC ain't unionized in the U.S.
	France probably doesn't have the same labor/bankruptcy
	    allowances as the U.S.

    Evidently the Barney-led takeover failed, leaving Palmer with no other
    options.  The SEC is looking into insider trading allegations in the
    People in Costumes community, but so far hasn't gotten a word from Big
    Bird, Barney, or the Cookie Monster.
    
    It's either a close-mouthed conspiracy amongst that set or just another
    rumour.  An interesting note...Oliver Stone was seen at PKO this week.
    Go figure.
    
    							Tex

where on earth do these rumors originate?  It impresses the heck out of me
that this stuff goes around1

While the reign of terror continues, will all new notes have "New Note:" in
the title?

    re: .3
    
    Stone? 
    
    Then maybe it was the wrong purple dinosaur.  The buyout was really
    being done by Dino Flintstone.
    
    --bonnie 

re: .5

It's up to the note author.  They can do a SET NOTE/TITLE="new title" if
they want to change it.  I don't touch it when I move it from 3061.

Bob - Co-moderator DIGITAL

    	I have heard no rumour in France of DEC France being declared
    bankrupt, but today is a national holiday.
    
    	I have always wondered about the concept of a wholly-owned
    subsidiary being declared bankrupt. It is well known that such a
    subsidiary can be persuaded by the parent company to pay more than the
    market rate for goods or services provided by another company in the
    group, and this is used to concentrate profits in countries where there
    is least corporate tax. I suppose that a company like DEC France could
    run at a loss for some time and yet still be an asset to DEC Corporate.
    
    	I currently work for a non-profit (and therefore non-loss) company,
    but there are moves to merge us with DEC France. I imagine that DEC
    France will not be declared bankrupt before the merger is complete.

    I couldn't find any mention of DEC in Barney's latest book - 
    could we be in some other chapter?

    .9
    
    >I couldn't find any mention of DEC in Barney's latest book -
    >could we be in some other chapter?
    
    did you look for us under "DEC" or "digital" ?
    
    try under "digital" not "DEC", we are now "digital" .
    
    \nasser

    
    I heard that Barney was upset because the color change was not close 
    enough to purple!!!   That is what I heard
    
    
    bc

    Is it Barney?  I heard it was the Cookie Monster, and the new corporate
    color was going to be light brown with dark brown chocolate-chip spots.
    
    --bonnie

      We've been OVER this!! It's NOT Barney or the Cookie Monster, or Dino
    or Fred Flintstone!!
    
      It's Bart Simpson!! And he's making Homer the Benefits Manager, and
    Marge will run the cafeteria.. We'll have a beer tap in every office,
    and Bart won't be using any transportatin 'perks', because he'll be
    riding a skateboard to work.. His new Digital motto is going to be:
    "Buy Digital stuff or eat my shorts!"
    
      Upon hearing of this buyout, D. Martini of CNN queried Bart on his
    long term intentions for the company, and his curt reply was "Don't
    have a COW!!"
    
      His first task is reported to be a cost study on changing the Digital
    colors to yellow........
    
       JMc

Cookie Monster might just feel at home with all the Oscar the Grouches here in
this notesfile.

    
    I thought it was Captain Kirk that was going to be the benefits 
    manager; see what these rumors can do.
    
    

    all the kidding aside. if we don't get this ship turned around, and
    quick, we're going to be a chapter-something candidate.

    Beavis and Butthead....
    
    
    

	I heard Bob Palmer is gonna be interviewed on the new Space Ghost
	talk show on the Comedy Channel.

							mike

    Uh, that's the Cartoon Network, Fridays at 11:00...
    
    That's channel 40 for those of you with Time-Warner cable in Kingsport,
    Tennessee.
    

>      We've been OVER this!! It's NOT Barney or the Cookie Monster, or Dino
>    or Fred Flintstone!!
>      It's Bart Simpson!! And he's making Homer the Benefits Manager, and
>    Marge will run the cafeteria.. We'll have a beer tap in every office,
    
    Ok, Ok, just 'cause you have inside scoop doesn't mean you can get
    testy!  Now, if Marge is running the cafeteria, I'm hoping she's
    cognizant of Digtal Cafeteria Standard DEC 131313, re: utensil
    ordering?

    
    Barney took over the ownership of DEC =STD 131313; didn't he??
    

    Well, hell!  This spin-off stuff's ALREADY causing problems!

Re last few making light of DEC STD 131313

I dont see the humor in belittling a really useful document like DEC STD 131313.
This company is in real trouble and all you guys can do is make silly jokes
about one of the instruments that could well put this company right. Whats wrong
with you anyway? Isnt it crystal clear that this company is in trouble because
if its lack of discipline in utensil ordering? Given the global economic climate
and the current state of the bond market any company that cant maintain proper
utnesil ordering will be out of business in pretty short order. Even BP is
waking up to this undeniable truth (albeit slowly). Didnt anybody catch his
passing reference to the same in his last DVN? (My sources tell me that a goodly
portion of the last board meeting was comsumed by a rather heated discussion
about the state (in general) of Digital cafes worldwide. They touched on the
delicate issue of significantly overhauling DEC STD 131313 to

	o include more than just utensils,
	o internationalization,
	o current technological advances,
	o object orientation,
	o interoperability and
	o networking.

In fact its strongly rumored that a new core business will be announced as a
result of said debate, namely Enterprise Cafe Management Technology (ECMT).)

I feel that such forward thinking is worthy of our sincerest efforts and not the
jovial foolishness so indicative of this conference. Please, have some respect!
Our leaders are laboring night and day to see this company to good health.

I apologize for becoming so overwrought but when this topic comes
up the passion of the moment just sweeps me away.

 DEC STD 131313 was recently inactivated and replaced by ISO 91000.  But, 
 unfortunately, ISO 91000 can't be ordered from American National Standards 
 Institute (ANSI) because of the $1.25 expense.

 Jim Boice 
 Standards and Methods Control (DEC STDS)

Jim,
If what you say is really true then this revelation is shocking and
disgraceful and certain to offend even the coursest brute! I just really
dont understand the 'logic' behind such decisions. Is everyone asleep?
HELLO!!! Why havent we spilled over into the halls and corridors of our
respective facilitities and DEMANDED an accounting for such an atrocity? I read
such lofty talk in this conference about empowerment and organizing but alas
its all a bunch of wind! Do you realize that with the retirement of DEC STD
131313 you have NO right to question (or even comment) on utensil placement!!!
Even worse it also puts the cafe watch groups at jeopardy. So, now the cafe
staff is at complete liberty to toss the utensils wherever and whenever they
please and you have NO recourse!!!

Ive just have it up to here with this sort of treatment! This needs to be
investigated by an entity outside of Digital! Im going to call the EPA,
Surgeon General, CDC, OSHA, NIOSHA, DOD, White House, my Senators and Reps
and a famous ambulance chasing laywer who runs TV ads during the day time
about this deplorable condition!

This is fair warning to the mods...if you try to delete this entry Im going
to hold my breath and stomp my feet until I get what I want!!!!!

    I don't think Goddard's just passing wind here.  My Australian friends
    damn near tore apart Sydney's cafeteria on this same issue!~
    
    							Tex

    If he's passing wind, shouldn't he be posting it in the pay toilets
    note instead of cluttering up the cafeteria rumors note with irrelevant
    smells? 
    
    I don't think either DEC STD 131313 or ISO 9100000 adequately addresses
    this issue.  I think we'd better form a committee to investigate
    submitting an ECO to both standards to facilitate the ability to
    streamline the standardization process in regards to such horrible
    solecisms.
    
    --bonnie

    Send a mail to tha appropriate VP.
    
    Laurie.

Last few dozen....

In Python style ... This Sketch is getting Silly .....and now for something
completely different...

KR

    I've just received what I can only call extremely sad news. 
    Apparently, Jim Goddard's stand on the DEC 131313 utensil ordering and
    toilet reforms was not popular with management and he has been given
    his marching papers.  He said his manager actually tore up copies of
    both DEC 131313 AND ISO 90001 in front of him, laughing, during the
    exit interview.
    
    We shall miss Jim's input on cafeterias and output in toilets all over
    the world.  Please, fellow Deccies, the next time you pluck a fork from
    a utensil holder in the cafeteria or pass a piece of Charmin through
    the Hidden Valley, observe a moment of silence for Jim.  A good man,
    who did his damndest to effect meaningul change.
    
    							Tex
    

      Re last....
    
      Are we now to refer to the "4 G's"??? 
    
      Din't anyone just think of mebbe pickin' up the bowl 'n drinking the
    soup would eliminate the NEED for the soup spoons?? Think of the
    potential $$$$$ saved....!!!
    
      Marge sez HER soup'll be so thick ya can eat it with a fork
    anyhew....
    
    
      

    >>> and he has been given his marching papers.  He said his manager
    >>> actually tore up copies of both DEC 131313 AND ISO 90001 in front 
    >>> of him, laughing, during the exit interview.
    
    The manager was probably laughing because with the torn-up specs, he
    now has a six-month supply of paper for the toilets.  
    
    --bonnie

    Ummm.  Would someone explain what the heck is going on?
    
    The base note is nomore.  So I can't get any context for this string.
    
    It it serious?
    
    What was the base note about?
    
    And is Jim Goddard and DEC 131313 real?  (or were they real???)
    
    /Skip

    .0 was the usual rumor-mongering (see .2 or so for exerpts of the
    rumor). Unfounded as usual. The topic seems to have devolved into
    silliness (since I would not expect a DEC standard to be numbered
    131313. 666 maybe, but not 131313).

Apparently the basenote rumor was circulating at DECUS too... 
Best rumor from DECUS (so far):

	Storage/Subsystems is being spun off as a separate company, and
	it's first action will be to buy Digital Equipment Corp.

	Joe

    
    Barney has nothing to do with silliness, purple yes; silliness no.
    as far as DEC standard 131313 is concerned, it should be modified
    and updated to include sporks; or maybe I do not have the latest
    version.
    
    bc
    

    re: .33
    
    It's mostly silly.  But I think there's a certain amount of, um,
    commentary in some of the remarks.  
    
    --bonnie

    Re .33
    
      The basenote struck a 'mindwarp' somewhere between funny and
    ludicrous, and the replies sort of followed a fairly routine path of
    constant degradation to the point of complete idiocy... But...in the
    current climate, there MUST be something to laugh about now and
    then...just to maintain some sort of sanity...
    
                                     
    

    
    THANK YOU ALL for devolving this down a rathole...now, Goddard has
    charged me with carrying on our return to profitability in his forced
    absence and I intend to do JUST THAT!
    
    'Sporks' has presented somewhat of a problem in re: DEC 131313.  I've
    got some ideas on this and have a fairly hefty amount of past research
    compiled into a single two-drawer filing cabinet, all of which I plan
    on digitizing and entering in this conference in .GIF format.  HOWEVER,
    I'd like to hear how the Spork issue manifests itself at different
    sites and its effect on profitability and competitiveness.
    
    nasser?  Anyone?
    
    							Tex
    
    PS: I personally believe handling all such rumours with a
        heavy-handed application of DEC 131313 is appropriate, don't y'all?

Article 24079 of comp.sys.dec:
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec,biz.dec
Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!pa.dec.com!decwrl!ames!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!MathWorks.Com!news.kei.com!world!RAID7
From: [email protected] (John OBrien)
Subject: DEC selling businesses: disk drives too?
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Sat, 7 May 1994 12:23:06 GMT
Lines: 18
Xref: nntpd.lkg.dec.com comp.sys.dec:24079 biz.dec:1190

I see there is a big story in the press about DEC selling off some of its 
businesses, including perhaps peripherals.  Would anyone have any 
information on this?  I wonder how much they might want for their disk 
drive business.  Maybe our company should look into this.  We could 
probably use some extra manufacturing capacity for our RAID 7 disk array 
platforms, and we could update the DEC disk drive product line.  Please 
Email directly with any information.

John


John O'Brien                Tel. 603-880-3005
Storage Computer Corp.      Fax. 603-889-7232
11 Riverside Street
Nashua, NH 03062            European headquarters: Wiesbaden, Germany
United States               Tel. 49 611 30 82 30 6   

-----------------------"Protect Your Writes"-------------------------


Article 24087 of comp.sys.dec:
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From: [email protected] (Dave Goldblatt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec,comp.arch.storage
Subject: Re: DEC selling businesses: disk drives too?
Date: 08 May 1994 14:55:44 GMT
Organization: Psyton Software, Wayland MA
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In-reply-to: [email protected]'s message of Sat, 7 May 1994 12:23:06 GMT
Xref: nntpd.lkg.dec.com comp.sys.dec:24087 comp.arch.storage:3195


On Sat, 7 May 1994 12:23:06 GMT, [email protected] (John OBrien) said:

JOB> I see there is a big story in the press about DEC selling off some of its 
JOB> businesses, including perhaps peripherals.  Would anyone have any 
JOB> information on this?  I wonder how much they might want for their disk 
JOB> drive business.  Maybe our company should look into this.  We could 
JOB> probably use some extra manufacturing capacity for our RAID 7 disk array 
JOB> platforms, and we could update the DEC disk drive product line.  Please 
JOB> Email directly with any information.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

I'm sorry, John, but I just couldn't help myself.

Let's see: Storage Computer.  Unknown sales, tiny private company with
<< 100 employees.  Are you guys drawing salaries yet?  Sells a
PC-based RAID-4 with cache.  Will advertise for food.  Pretends to be
kibo excepts keys on the word "RAID".

Digital Equipment Storage Division.  Part of a $13B company.  Unknown
sales, but I'll estimate somewheres between $500M-$1B.  Manufactures
disk and tape storage media, RAID storage, large R&D development
group, several large production plants.  Probably doesn't even know
Storage Computer exists.

John, I've seen most of your postings since you first got your World
account.  This has got to be the funniest.

By the way, Digital has in the past received offers from inquired
parties about their storage business, but they have yet to be
seriously interested in any of them, according to friends there.

-dg-
--
 All of us get lost in the darkness      |  Dave Goldblatt
 Dreamers learn to steer by the stars.   |  Psyton Software
 All of us do time in the gutter         |  Wayland, MA
 Dreamers turn to look at the cars.      |  [email protected]

        .39

    \Tex, as soon as the latest downsizing is complete i'll be happy
    to work these issues with you and your organization. we are
    now in in the midst of being downsized and our efforts are
    directed at this in the near future.

    as far as the soup spoons situation is concerned, some nice DECeeeee
    has send me one (not plastic but real metal) which i use now all
    the time.

                          
    and thank you to the DECeeee who send me the soup spoon.
     
    \buy
    \nasser

		announcing 'clean up your office week'

Do you have eating utensils cluttering up your offfice?  (or your lab, or
your meeting rooms?)  Now's your chance to get rid of them, quicly, easily
and without even having to wash them - just drop them into a inter office
mail envelope (please remember to double bag, if necessary!), and address
them to:
		NASSER ABBASI @ ZKO3-4/Y2

    RE: last bunch:
    
    Did someone actually write up a joke DEC Std 131313?  Is there a copy
    anywhere?
    
    /Skip

>    Did someone actually write up a joke DEC Std 131313?  Is there a copy
>    anywhere?
    
    Skipper, if they did I hope they were summarily executed.  Jim made the
    ultimate sacrifice on this issue and I would sure hate to see his
    efforts demeaned in any manner.
    
    For full information on DEC 131313, see basenote "Sydney, Digital's
    Meanest Cafeteria".  VERY informative reading and it really gives you a
    feel for the charisma and talent that Jim brought to this entire issue.
    
    (Be warned, the basenoter is a whining non-Australian, so disregard any
    of his rantings, they were only the catalyst).  Happy reading.
    
    							Tex

    
    What joke?
    
    The author of .43 needs to get a grip!
    
    DEC Std 131313 is not a joke. This company is in the throes of a
    utensil crisis. Attempting to insulate oneself from the problem by
    calling DEC Std 131313 a "joke" will only result in sharper edged
    problems later on.
    
    I hope .43 never has to deal with Supply Chain Reengineering if he
    thinks DEC Std 131313 is a "joke".
    

    >calling DEC Std 131313 a "joke" will only result in sharper edged
    >problems later on.
    
    Why? Is there now a problem with the knives in the various cafeterias?
    Things just get worse every day! ;-)
    
    Harry
    

re Note 3063.46 by USHS01::HARDMAN:

>     Why? Is there now a problem with the knives in the various cafeterias?
>     Things just get worse every day! ;-)
  
        Well, there certainly is a metal utensil crisis in the MSO2
        cafeteria.  The cafeteria manager says that he thinks a lot
        get thrown out with disposable plates when people clear their
        trays (especially when they take them back to the office).

        Not to worry, though: the MSO2 manager says he got permission
        to order a new batch of metal utensils, which should arrive
        in time for Bob Palmer's move to MSO2 (but probably *after* I
        and my group leave MSO2).

        Bob

    Well, you see, that's why we need to add sporks to DEC STD 131313.  
    
    A well-edged spork can function as spoon, fork, and knife as required,
    thus replacing all three common utinsels and eliminating any
    possibility that supplies will get out of synch -- for example, that a
    particular cafeteria will have plenty of spoons but no forks.  The
    advantages of the spork more than outweigh the fact that it costs three
    times as much as conventional metal utinsels.  
    
    It will naturally be necessary to provide user training in spork usage
    and maintenance, to make sure users do not accidentally cut their
    mouths on the sharpened side while using the spoon or fork
    functionality.  Further, cafeterial staff should be trained in proper
    spork maintenance.  A separate Spork Training and Maintenance
    Organization (STMO) will be necessary to properly implement spork
    replacement.  I assume the head of STMO would be a VP.
    
    If we don't update DEC STD 131313 in a timely manner, we may all be
    reduced to eating with our fingers.  
    
    --bonnie

    maybe they should give out personal sporks for those as a 5yr/10yr
    award gift with the digital logo or the mill clock engraved on it.
    
                    stig

    
    but the logo might fall off into our food and then we would choke to
    death!!!!!
    

    re.50
    Don't put silly ideas in the heads of the beancounters!
    
    Charles

>    re.50
>    Don't put silly ideas in the heads of the beancounters!
    
    Or lawyers.
    
    		Alfred

    
    sorry, I forgot.

At the moment theres nothing in particular to do on the job hunting front
so I thought Id just 'pop in'.

First, Im Extremely heartened by the patriotic and enthusiastic display for this
most pressuring issue and for the Company at large. Kudos to all. I had
no idea there were so many committed employees willing to risk public (and
possibly private) humiliation in 'carrying the banner'. I will warn you though
Upper Management is showing itself quite hostile to this Movement...please be
careful. Im still suffering from the rude and vicious beating I received... with
a copy of DEC Std 131313 no less! I ask you, 'Is it right? Is it decent?'.

Secondly, please bear in mind that this Movement is gaining momentum Everywhere.
Since beginning my job search I have discovered a veritable plethora of support
and encouragement industry wide from those who view utnesil ordering as top
priority. Kudos to all! Even the Federal Reserve Board has responded
by raising interest rates! I ask you, with such strong indicators who can
dispute the enormity of The Problem? Now, if you answered 'Digital' then you are
completely correct! Why cant Upper Mangement 'get it'? I will venture a guess
by saying that BP is being frustrated in his efforts to deliver a complete
solution. I think basically BP is a very astute businessman quite capable of
running (its just the direction thats uncertain) a hitech business such as this.
After all, in his last visit to ZKO he did venture within several hundred yards
of the cafe. I feel certain he was sending us a clear message that he agrees
that utensil ordering is a major problem. Kudos and three cheers for BP!! No
matter what the current problems I feel sure that Digital will turn around and
generate industry shattering profits. For those that stay, you have everything,
in the royal sense, to look forward to. Not only will there be an increase but
it will come even more rapidly than in the past!

Given all of the encouraging news lately (like Q3 results) I must interject
a small note of gloom. I have it on good authority that there are those in Upper
Managment who have taken upon themselves the full time effort of stripping the
cafes of eating utensils. This is their so called solution to The Problem...'If
theres nothing to order then they cant be out of order.'. Im sure youre as
horrified as I was on reading such a malicious and contemptable statment. It
just flys in the face of all thats sensible. It also unscores the need to become
involved!

Until we met again...Happy trails and kudos to all!

					JimG

    We've got spifes around here...

    What's the corporate strategy: sporks or spifes?

    And how do we come to an all encompassing archtitecure to
    integrate the two?
    
    Or is a spork Darwinian and a spife Architectural?

    Wait a minute.  If you're going to consider the spife, don't you also
    have to consider the knork?
    
    --bonnie

    
    
    Don't forget the foons, they replaced sporks as the industry standard.
    
    
    Mike

    
    ref .59
    
               OH NO,,,,,   another standard change...

    "Sporks, knorks, spifes, foons, it's all so damn confusing", said Gerald
    Ford.  "These are big words!".
    
    I must say, I am in total awe of exactly how far Eating Utensil
    Technology has come!  Or has it?  In any event, it's important to
    identify the issues, and as Jim pointed out, BP did get within a
    football field's length of the cafeteria at ZKO.
    
    Can anyone provide a complete list of the new utensil line you're
    encountering out there in the field?  How are they working?  Are there
    not safety issues connected with knorks?  Do foons work with soup?
    
    Inquiring minds want to know.
    
    							Tex

re:       <<< Note 3063.58 by WEORG::SCHUTZMAN "Bonnie Randall Schutzman" >>>

>    Wait a minute.  If you're going to consider the spife, don't you also
>    have to consider the knork?
    
>    --bonnie

Sorry Bonnie, I believe that the knork has been deemed impractical. Unless
you use two of them. 

BTW, what is the correct term for multiple spifes? is it spives?

- george

    
    People, please don't take this too far...
    
    Remember, we'll have to maintain a DEC order number for each
    permutation. (BTW, are European knoons different from American
    knoons?)
    

    re: .62
    
    If you're going to use a pair of spiven, you may as well just go all
    the way, junk DEC STD 131313, and go with ISO 99999.9999, informally
    known as the "Chopstick" standard. 
    
    --bonnie

	While we are discussing what the proper name for 
	the "fork/spoon/knife" utensil should be called 
	perhaps it should be made DEC65 complient so we could
	add it as an element to the corp data dictionary.

	Consider the following entry.

	GEN$EAT_UTN_FSK 
	  (general eating utensil fork spoon knife)

	In the far east 

	REGN_EAT_UTN_CHOP
	   (regional eating utensil chopsticks)


		...

    OK, it's time to reign in some of the wilder speculation going on in
    this string.  -.2 raising the issue of doing away with 131313 shows the
    exact type of thinking that has gotten us in the deep fertilizer we are
    in today.  DEC std 131313 was a carefully researched standard, created
    by a cross-disclipinary team of standard iplementation experts,
    utensiltarians, and food management personnel (previously referred to
    in the non-PC vernacular as "cafeteria ladies").  I find it
    egotistical, on a par with the current effort to revamp the
    constitution by the current Congress.
    
    Implementation of DEC65, when the majority of our cafeterias are
    already non 131313-compliant and the appropriate addendums to address
    the knorks, foons, spives issue, would be equally foolhardy, don't you
    think?  Let's look before we leap, and gather more input.  F'rinstance,
    we've yet to hear from the newly opened Jo'burg office or the Reykyavik
    branch subsidiary regarding these self-same issues.  We've also yet to
    hear from a proudly fully compliant site and to fully understand the
    benefits THEY'VE derived.
    
    I'll put $5 on this...find a fully compliant site and you'll find a
    profitable division!  Let's emulate for a better tomorrow, what say?
    
    							Tex

This talk about sporks and foons is obviously very VMS-centric. 
Unix gets along with just fork() - no spoon() or knife(), never mind
spork or foon or anything else.

    Some of you folk must be addled... 
    
    Standards be damned, *I* will _never_ use any of the kn...ife variants
    as an eating utensil; I cherish the integrity of my sustenance intake
    orifice to much to risk inserting any kn...ife construct into it.
    
    	Dave

    
    Unix is sort of like the Swiss Army Knife you can do anything with it.
    
    Well, almost anything!!!!!
    
    paper please.

re -1

	To be precise, "STANDARD UNIX" is like a 45 blade
	Swiss Army knife.

	It does everything.

	Just none of it well !

    
    I tend to disagree it depends on the user and the adminstration of that
    user, as to how well it operates, wither it be standard UNIX, system 4
    system 5 or SCO UNIX.
    
    bc
    
    

    Let's get back on track here!  The UNIX issue, as a phased
    implementation platform-independent methodology IS relavent, not as an
    OS, but as a template.  As a previous noter, protecting his caloric
    intake orifice noted, he would NOT be using SPIFES, FOONS, KNORKS, etc.
    I see this as basically the same kind of issue, wherein one utensil,
    supposed to perform all functions, does...but not well.
    
    Please.  More info on the implementation of DEC std 131313 on an
    international level is needed here.  Also, I had made a statement
    earlier that, if we found a fully compliant cafeteria, we would find a
    correspondingly profitable division.  Is the reverse of this true? 
    Could someone name the top five most profitable (or least unprofitable)
    divisions of the company?
    
    Our research team will contact persons in those divisions, as well as
    perform an on-site cafeteria inspection, if necessary.  How is 131313
    implemented in Taiwan?  Or has the Taiwan cafeteria obviated this whole
    issue by using the UNIX-like chopsticks?  And what of soup spoons?
    
    Please, fellow Deccies, your input is desperately needed!
    
    				Tex
    				DEC std 131313 Analysis Committe Chairperson

    
    	I hate to labour the point (nasty word, POINT - a horrible user
    UNfriendly system [bit like UNIX really!] that is going to spread all
    over the DIGITAL sales world), but can UNIX use plain english commands
    as does OpenVMS?
    
    	After all, knives and forks, spoons and things maybe OK in some
    places, but let us get real here, SPIFES, FOONS, KNORKS, etc. are THE
    way ahead surely.  Let us spread a little light in this darkened world!
    
    				Malcolm.

    
    I hate to see UNIX get the brunt here, if you can program in assembly 
    you can program in UNIX. If you can eat with a spork or a knorf you
    can eat with anything.
    
    bc
    

    
    			KNORF?
    
    Which site do you eat at?  What is a knorf?  This is completely new! 
    Can you scan a picture of one into this conference for us?  What is
    your cafeteria's ordering policy on knorfs?
    
    Lord, just when you thought you really had your arms around the bigger
    picture!
    
    							Tex

    Phew - you folks are obviously not QUITE on the ball. Sporks, spives,
    foons ... that all done - remember the Universal Platform ? That's
    infrastructure stuff, architected, designed, built, priced, sold, 
    implemented, supported - you can even get part numbers for it! 

    Spork variant, foon variant and ... hey, we're Digital, of COURSE we do 
    knorks - we invented 'em ! You mean, you don't have them ? We do them
    here ... hell, we'd be REALLY lost without them !

    What's needed is the "Big Picture". The crux of the matter has to be
    "Where is DEC STD 131313 implemented and is it making money ? ". It is NOT
    implemented here. Maybe it used to be ... I dunno, I havn't worked
    here that long. Besides, I do lunch in the pub mostly - I used
    to work in a field office in London. No canteen there, you just gotta
    slum it in the sanwich bar ... or the pub. I chose the latter...

    Still, I digress. The interesting thing to note is the rumour that the 
    subsidiary located here doesn't make money these days. Hardly surprising 
    in light of this string - "No DEC STD 131313, no profit" seems to be 
    the assertion, right ?
     
    The subsidiary DID make money once ... Maybe, just maybe, there was a 
    DEC STD 131313 whatever here once (this is England and we do canteens,
    sometimes restaurants - ESPECIALLY restaurants in country house type 
    facilities !). I don't recall a DEC STD 131313 compliance certificate 
    anywhere, but then my memory isn't all it used to be. 
    
    So there we have it ... some REAL data at last ! 

    Any other facilites care to donate some EMPIRICAL data ? Once we get
    some FACTS on the table, perhaps we can start to make some real
    progress towards a verifiable proposition AND some sustainable 
    profit ! 

                                                    


    

    Howcum we're endlessly debating these standards while the market is
    moving to chopsticks made in Seattle?  If we really want to penetrate
    the market, we need to demonstrate to our customers how they can use
    our multi-function spknorks just like chopsticks by buying *two* and
    holding them backwards!  It not that clumsy, once you get the hang of
    it.  In order to implement the knife function in a "best in class"
    fashion (needs to pass the gensing-knife benchmarks) the knife side of
    our spknorks are particularly sharp.  So, there is the occasional
    "serrated lip" problem.  But, when you hold them backwards, this isn't
    an issue.  (There is, of course, the "serrated knuckle" problem, but
    this is only a rumor.)
                                                          
    Steve

    Any serration problems can be dealt with through adequate training.  I
    see a tremendous opportunity for customer classes. 
    
    The best-in-class edging might also leverage an investment in services. 
    We can provide on-site application of antibiotic ointment and adhesive
    bandages.  Stiches would, of course, be extra.
    
    --bonnie

    re: .79, .80
    Nothing will alter the position I expressed in .68
    Talk about "user unfriendly"!
    
    	Dave

    
    ref .80
    
                  training has been canceled, but for 10,000 and 2 days
    of your time I will be glad to show you how to use a spork.
    
    now were did I put that vacation card.....................

    re: .80
    
    Don't forget when ordering stiches that the needle is a seperate part
    number...........

    ... and the eye of the needle is yet another part number ...

>    re: .79, .80
>    Nothing will alter the position I expressed in .68
>    Talk about "user unfriendly"!
>    
>    	Dave
    
    Now, Dave, let's not get too defensive!  We're only in a fact-finding
    mode here and may well discover, with more empirical evidence, that
    your position is the predominant one in the company, presenting
    somewhat of an insurmountable corporate-cultural hurdle to overcome. 
    In this case, we may relax, knowing that DEC std 131313 in its
    unamended state can be implemented world-wide, thus restoring us to
    profitability almost immediately.
    
    On the other hand, I think it's best we stay flexible and let Bonnie
    expound on the training issue.  This has merit, in that our clients
    could then outsource their own utensil ordering, creating a whole new
    stream of revenue for us!  Bonnie's shown a aptitude in the past for
    presenting viable alternatives in similar sticky situations, so I'm
    inclined to hear her out on the spork issue.
    
    The multi-cultural aspects, especially regarding the problem-solving
    already demonstrated here with the spork-to-chopstick issue.
    
    							Tex

Tex, Im so gratified to see you acting as the 'level head' in this
debate. Kudos to Tex.

On the other hand those (you know who you are) who mentioned chop sticks...
are you Managment plants sent to disrupt and derail this discussion?
Anyone knows that chop sticks cant be ordered!!!!! Most importantly
DEC Std 131313 SPECIFICALLY excludes them from the utensil ordering
architecture. Dont be sucked in folks this is only a ploy to sidetrack
the Real Issue. Also the person who mentioned chop sticks from Seattle
is definately a YUPPY Manager. Who ever heard of regular engineering
types using imported flatware?

On the issue of the multipurpose single implements (MSI) Id like to state
my own preference is the spork. Being an engineer I get quite a 'kick' out
of the elegance in which the different versions are engineered. Also the
multipurpose aspect appeals to my austere side. However, I feel quite
right in saying that these sorts of 'gutter' implements have no place
in Digital cafes. I base this statement on the simple premise that our
customers typically require a more traditional and refined approach to flatware.
While engineers tend toward pig at the trough manners this is certainly
atypical of say sales, marketing, admin or accounting. They prefer a full
set of flatware whereby they might delicately 'fiddle' (for lack of a
better word) their food from a given point to a staging area from which
its taken and consumed. This technique of eating is generally thought to
be more gentile and has been refined to a state of complete order and
predicatability in some circles. Our customers appreciate and require
this. So, how does this all play into The Standard? Simply, if customers
are satisfied and made to feel important and comfortable then theyll make
us profitable. In fact thats the whole purpose of The Standard...to bring
the company back to profitability by catering to the customer. However, all
too often Ive witnessed the spectical of the customer site visit cut short
at the condiment counter. Most customers, when faced with the hodge-
podge 'arrangment' of utensils, give up and politely (usually) ask their
leave. I ask you, given DEC Std 131313, why do things like this happen?
What more do we need beside the will to follow our own advice? In fact
most of this discussion has become Digitalcentric instead of customer-
centric. Lets branch out a bit and focus on our bread and butter...the customer.


						Happy trails...JimG 
 

    
    As you can all see by the previous note from Jim, I'm falteringly
    attempting to walk in the shadow of a master.  Thanks to all for
    bearing with me on this.  Would that his steady hand were still on the
    utensil tray.
    
    							sigh

    >>>  I base this statement on the simple premise that our customers
    >>> typically require a more traditional and refined approach to flatware.
    >>>  While engineers tend toward pig at the trough manners this is certainly
    >>>  atypical of say sales, marketing, admin or accounting. They prefer a
    >>>  full set of flatware whereby they might delicately 'fiddle' (for lack
    >>>  of a better word) their food from a given point to a staging area from
    >>>  which its taken and consumed. This technique of eating is generally
    >>>  thought to be more gentile and has been refined to a state of complete
    >>>  order and predicatability in some circles.
    
    JimG, 
    
    This is certainly a valid point.  However, one should beware the danger
    of narrowing our market segment still further.  If we take the low-end
    cafeteria client as the equivalent of a PC customer, then the high-end
    cafeteria client corresponds to a large AXP cluster.  It becomes
    readily apparent that while the high-end customer needs a variety of
    powerful processing options, in the form of salad forks and demitasse
    spoons and even oyster forks, the low-end customer is going to look at
    this bewildering array of similar flatware and say, "C'mon, where's a
    knife I can use to eat my peas?"  
    
    Consider also the tremendous quantity of part numbers that will be
    required to implement your strategy.  It's difficult to come up with a
    coherent system for pricing the relative power of forks, which are
    highly scalable.  A per-tine price makes sense, but would require a
    separate part number for each tine, and customers might not be aware
    they also have to order a fork stem.  Other measures of relative size
    are difficult to implement across international boundaries.  Weight,
    for instance, would preclude sales of genuine sterling silverware to
    the very high-end market, though plastic picnicware might be
    competitive. 
    
    I'll assume your appalling ignorance of the importance of chopsticks
    [particularly the high-quality Seattle chopsticks] reflects a simple
    lack of time to keep fully up to speed on the literature in the field. 
    
    --bonnie
    

    A company spokeswoman was quoted Friday:
    
     "While Digital continues to demonstrate industry leadership 
    and best-in-class in knorks and spives, the company has come to 
    realise that it must improve its focus. This is also in line
    with our customers' expectations of us as a company. 
    
    As such the company will provide more focus in its efforts on 
    knork frameworks.
    
    The company has also initiated a program to cultivate a series of strong
    partnerhips in order to continue to bring best-in-class knorks and knives
    to its customers."
    
    The spokeswoman also added that "Digitals OpenKnork framework
    strategy will now allow a wide variety of value added partners to
    bring world class knorks, spives and also market niche sporks
    faster to the customer."
    
    One industry analyst was quoted as saying that "he was glad that
    Digital was strengthening its focus by limiting itself to
    knork frameworks. Some of Digital's knorks were really the best 
    in the industry but somehow Digital has had
    trouble in positioning and marketing them correctly"
    
    The spokeswoman also indicated that "Digital believes that its 
    OpenKnork framework will provide a significant boost to its 
    industry leading client server capabilities. To be honest,
    we are quite excited about the possibilities that the new
    KnorkGeneration products will give us."
                                                             

    
    
    This just out.  No more Sporks, foons, knorks, spives, etc.  We want to
    portray a consistent message.  From now on the utensils will be known
    as oral life sustaining substance carrying devices (tm).  Also the
    color has been changed from white to silver (not gray), color
    #12345678900987654321 on the color chart.  Please use these in future 
    conversations.
    
    

    Isn't Oral Live-Sustaining Substance-Carrying Devices already the
    Really Silly Cartoon Spoon Company's trademark for their line of
    medical spifes? 
    
    --bonnie

    
    
    Yeah.....but if we say it enough we can make it ours.
    
    
    
    Mike

>>    Would that his steady hand were still on the
>>    utensil tray.
Tex, although I appreciate your gush of comradeship I must state for The
Record that I depart. It has been clearly demonstrated that I have no
place or role to play in the future of The Company. Im not sure I could
stay even if invited to by The Management especially after being beaten
with a copy of DEC Std 131313. I found out later that the copy used was
an obsolete version! In that light Im sure you will agree that my desire
to depart is completely justified and consist with the severity of the
insult.

Bonnie, I really enjoyed and appreciated your comments up to the point --

>>     I'll assume your appalling ignorance of the importance of chopsticks
>>    [particularly the high-quality Seattle chopsticks] reflects a simple
>>    lack of time to keep fully up to speed on the literature in the field.

By no means have I failed to stay current with chopstick technology. (BTW
Im a member of the World Association of Chopstick Engineers (WACE).) As
coauthor of DEC Std 131313 I can say with complete confidence that we
researched the subject more than any other. Our findings concluded that
The Company could not properly leverage continued growth margins if
chopsticks were included in The Company's offerings. For the most of
our entry/low-end customers chopsticks proved too user-unfriendly.
Our AD field test showed that the majority of potential customers would
either do bodily harm to themselves or become malnourished due to low
caloric intake. These conditions are all directly attibutable to the
delivery vehicle. Even after extensive training results were not
appreciably better. In fact scores for some job classifications declined
proprotionally as hours of training increased.

The Managment pushed us hard from the beginning to validate chopsticks as
a delivery vehicle. In all honesty the chopstick is ideal and I understand
their zeal to adopt it. Its advantages are many:

	o Easily manufactured
	o Fault tolerant -- Two units which can work in tandem or alone
	o Profitable -- espcially the Yuppy versions
	o Environmetally friendly
	o Easy to maintain

However, analysis proved that The Company would consume the profits in support
charges and law suits. It was my impression that Upper Managment had
'bought into' this conclusion. So, this, in a nutshell, is why chopsticks
were SPECIFICALLY excluded from DEC Std 131313. Its my hope that you will not
repeat such audacious charges in a public forum again without first trying to
ascertain some back ground information.

Bonnie, as I said previously the bulk of your comments were very insightful
and could be used to leverage new trends in this area. Kudos to Bonnie!!
I think though specialized utensiles such as dessert forks, butter knives,
etc should be reserved only for our most demanding customers, which are
few. In fact one could present good arguments to completely abandon that
market altogether. Research has shown that the bulk of sales come from
customers who prefer the 'traditional three' -- namely knife, fork and
spoon. Currently, Digital is in no position to set standards. The future
remains to be written however. Its my opinion that to be successful Digital
should concentrate on the 'traditional three' and thereby funnel profits back
into R&D. This could set the stage for some very exciting innovation and
standards for the future.

>> Re Oral life sustaining substance carrying devices
I believe youve been misinformed. The DEC Std 131313 glossary has NO listing for
this term. The official name is delivery device or, alternately, utensil. No
other names have been authorized. I would also add that these names, in part or
in whole, may become brand/trade name/phrase. Rumor has it that the trade name
mostly likely to win approval is 'UtensilGeneration'.

					Happy trails...JimG

    re: .93
    
    I don't for a moment mean to cast aspersions on the technical expertise
    or professional integrity of those involved in your market research, 
    but perhaps next time you might consider that "Helped develop marketing
    plan for new Ford product, to be called the Edsel" is perhaps not the
    strongest credential a marketing consultant could present.  Or is this
    another unfortunate consequence of downsizing, leaving under-qualified
    people to attempt tasks for which they were never trained?  
    
    In any case, you appear to have neglected most of the potential markets
    that would be added by amending DEC STD 131313 to include chopsticks as
    allowed utinsels.  Millions upon millions of Chinese and Japanese
    toddlers routinely use chopsticks without inflicting injury on
    themselves or others (discounting, of course, deliberate attacks, a
    misuse to which forks, knorks, and sporks are all subject).  I know
    that diversity hasn't been valued in this company for some time, but
    surely our internationalization policy is still broad enough to allow
    some room in our standards for the eating traditions of our valued
    resources in other countries.  
    
    One need look no further than the establishment known as the Ming
    Garden for an example of how well this sort of open system works.  Both
    chopsticks and traditional utinsels of the sort that conform to DEC STD
    131313 are provided.  Customers choose whichever they prefer.  Food is
    disposed of neatly, calorie intakes are adequately met, injury is
    avoided, and everyone is pleased with the choice.  The only negative
    outcome is the occasional smear of duck sauce on a good blouse, and I
    submit that this represents a service opportunity to add dry cleaning
    in the Digital store.  
    
    Open systems are the wave of the future, Jim.  Closed systems such as
    that repsented by DEC STD 131313 in its present form represent a dying
    past.  We have to move forward.  
    
    You are correct, however, to warn against the dangers of getting too
    deeply into the salad fork and dessert spoon business.  I think a
    better approach is to refer such business to a dealer who specializes
    in that sort of thing.  Our standard must, however, allow room for such
    optimizations and enhancements on the part of the customer.  
    
    And a question, since you are the person who most recently viewed a
    copy of DEC STD 131313 -- are the lids that go on hot-beverage cups
    considered "utinsels" within the meaning of the standard?  If not,
    which standard covers the covers? 
    
    --bonnie

I didn't know where to post this, so I looked for the silliest topic.

From:	ROYALT::MR4DEC::ANNOUNCEMENT "Public Service Announcement  16-May-1994
1018"   Mon  5/16/94 11:22 am
To:	@MRO
CC:	
Subj:	U.S. Postal Service Mailbox


	  ****************************************************
          *    THIS MEMO REGARDING US POSTAL MAIL IS FROM    *
	  *    GREATER MARLBORO AREA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT     *
          *                     (GMAPM)			     *
          ****************************************************

Over the past few months Greater Marlboro Area Property Management 
received several suggestions regarding US Postal Mail.  As a result of 
this feedback we worked with the Post Office to relocate the US Postal 
Mailbox that was previously located outside the MRO1-1 lobby to a more 
convenient location.  We strongly suggest, for mailing of your personal 
mail, that you use the box now located adjacent to the DCU drive-up ATM 
machine near the MRO1 helipad.  For ease of access a drive-up shoot has 
                                                     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
been added to the box.

US Postal Mail boxes within the facilities should be used for Digital 
business use only.  We discourage use of these for personal mail.

Your cooperation in this is appreciated.

Thank you.

    
        Re  -1
    
        So what's the problem?  Passes spellcheck, doesn't it?
    
    
        :-)  :-)  :-)      for the humor- and spelling-impaired
    
    
        Peter

re Note 3063.95 by FUNYET::ANDERSON:

> For ease of access a drive-up shoot has been added 
>                      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  
        It just might be more humane.

    >> which is better, a dive-up shoot, a drive-by shoot, or a para-shoot? 
    I suupose it depends on yer altitude.....
    
    

How interesting. Just this week I received via Email a bulletin from
site security about the procedure to use if you're threatened (on-site)
with bodily harm. Im sure this is mostly intended for managers and
personel types involved with executing layoffs. Theyve set up a special
threat repsonse team and all too...sounds like security's version of a
SWAT team.

At any rate this mailbox thing was all planned long ago. Its phase
two of the company reorg. Since the 'shoot' will occur on company
property death benefits would apply. Being as TFSO goes away soon
(phase one ends) The Managment wanted to give employees an
alternative to just being put out on the streets. This way theres
some sort of financial renumeration and The Management still
appears benevolent. This is what Id call a calssic Digital
win-win senerio! Call it TFSO II.

				Happy trails...JimG

TFSO = The Funeral Support Option?

    The Flying Saucer Option...

Very droll Gerald!

You know youve been 'downsized' when your
manager comes by your office with a load of outgoing mail and
gives you detailed directions on which box and how to use it.
The instructions read something like --

1) Insert mail into mailbox slot

2) Immediately look directly into slot making sure
   the cross hairs inside the box line up on your forehead.
   Note: Cross hairs will be properly aligned when they stop
         flashing.

3) Press button on the left hand side of the box labelled 'RESET'

4) If you have repeated this step more than three times contact
   site security for further assistance; otherwise, go back to step 2

��                      <<< Note 3063.99 by EVMS::GODDARD >>>

��How interesting. Just this week I received via Email a bulletin from
��site security about the procedure to use if you're threatened (on-site)
��with bodily harm. Im sure this is mostly intended for managers and
��personel types involved with executing layoffs. Theyve set up a special
��threat repsonse team and all too...sounds like security's version of a
��SWAT team.
    This isn't new -- the "Threat of Violence Management Committee"
    was set up several years ago here in ZK.  (I mistakening
    thought is was the threat of management, violence committee;
    but that was my mistake.

    Anyway, Tom Fitzpatrick the site personnel manager was the
    head of the committee.  He has a new job, and the committee
    chairwoman now sits in LKG.

    Clearly, the committee will be able to act decisivly to any
    threat here in ZK!  

    Actually, I can't figure out what they do -- try and remember
    the number for 911?  Do I dial 8, or do I dial 9?  In all the
    excitement, I kind of lost track myself.  You've got to ask 
    yourself one question, punk --- ooops, that's something else...

    P.S. I saw someone in the ZK lobby with a bullet-proof vest. 
    I thought it was unusualy, but probably prudent.  Turned out
    to be the guy filling the cash machine. 

��personel types involved with executing layoffs. Theyve set up a special
��threat repsonse team and all too...sounds like security's version of a
��SWAT team.


digital                U.S. JOBS BOOK          Digital Internal Use Only


  10DV SPECIAL AGENT                               WC: 4 (Exempt)
      Title: Special Agent                      Shift: 1  Travel: 50%  Hours: 40

Recruiter:  Marty Dorfman                       Requisition Number:  H433484
   E-mail:  POWDML::DORFMAN                                   Date:  11-MAY-94
  LOC/DTN:  MS02-3/F25  223-4593                  Relocation Funds:  No

       Job Site:  MSO MAYNARD, MA
Job Description:
At the direction of the Director, Corporate Security or Manager, Investigative
Services, conducts complex investigation worldwide into significant crimes
against the Corporation, i.e., embezzlement, kickbacks, hijackings, terroristic
activity, computer intrusions, industrial espionage, forgeries, compromise of
proprietary information etc. Conducts internal investigations at the request of
senior mgmt and/or the Law Department. Conducts interviews of employees,
including senior managers, who may be witnesses to crimes and/or have knowledge
of violations of internal Corporation policy. Perform other duties as required.

05/26/94--Computer Industry News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
(c) Dow Jones News Service

              
DIGITAL EQUIPMENT TREASURER WARNED OF A DRAIN ON CASH IN AN APRIL MEMO ---- BY
JOHN R. WILKE STAFF REPORTER OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

             Digital Equipment Corp.'s treasurer warned last month in a memo
          to senior executives that the big computer maker was using up cash
          too quickly.
             Digital, which has reported big losses in recent years, still has
          $1 billion of cash on hand and is racing to put in place a
          restructuring plan that will further reduce costs and conserve cash.
          But the April 22 treasurer's memo stressed the seriousness of the
          situation. 
             "It is not my intent to cry `fire' in a crowded theater, but I am
          feeling rather lonely over here watching the cash flow rapidly out
          of the company," wrote Ilene Jacobs, Digital's treasurer.
             A Digital spokesman said the memo is a confidential document for
          the finance staff that was misinterpreted when it was circulated
          more widely within the company. He said it only reflected Digital's
          cash position early in the quarter, when cash is typically at a low
          ebb in a company. Cash usually rises later in the quarter as new
          sales flow in, he said.
             Still, Ms. Jacobs's letter has a tone of urgency to it: "Quarter
          to date, we have experienced another $275 million to $325 million
          outflow!" It adds that "at our current rate of cash outflow, we will
          be borrowing against accounts receivable within three months."
             While analysts say such short-term borrowing isn't uncommon in
          the computer industry, it would be a departure for Digital, which
          prides itself on conservative cash management and has never before
          borrowed against receivables.
             Digital, which is based in Maynard, Mass., and is the nation's
          third-largest computer maker, has been struggling to rebound from
          three years of losses totaling over $3 billion, including charges.
          The company had reported five quarters of improving results before
          April 15, when it disclosed an unexpectedly large $183 million loss
          for the third quarter ended March 30. Following the loss, Digital
          said it would likely cut 20,000 more jobs, or a fifth of its
          payroll, in a new, two-year restructuring to reduce operating costs.
          Analysts expect a charge ranging from $850 million to $1.5 billion
          to pay for the plan.
             Digital yesterday repeated that it will have enough cash to go
          through the restructuring. John B. Jones, an analyst at Salomon
          Brothers Inc., concurred with that analysis, but he predicts cash
          could drop by more than half before the restructuring is over, to
          $525 million by June 30 next year from $1.26 billion in this past
          March.
             Barry F. Willman, an analyst at Goldman, Sachs & Co., said that
          "it's very possible the company will need additional financing to
          complete its restructuring, especially if results stay under severe
          pressure."
             A weekly cash-management report attached to Ms. Jacobs's memo
          showed a cash balance of between $938 million and $988 million as of
          mid-April. "That's a big drop three weeks into the quarter," said
          analyst Jay P. Stevens of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. But he said it's
          hard to interpret the significance of the drop without knowing what
          other factors are involved. He also said that planned asset sales by
          Digital "are a wild card" and could bring in new cash.
             The treasurer's memo was apparently intended as a wake-up call to
          senior managers within Digital's finance department. Ms. Jacobs is
          regarded as a smart and conservative manager. Her memo was posted on
          an electronic "bulletin board" in Digital's internal network and
          apparently was later circulated within the company.
             Ms. Jacobs addressed the April 22 memo in a later statement,
          dated May 12 and sent out over Digital's network.
             "I understand that my recent memo . . . raised concern among many
          employees," she wrote. "As most of you realize there is normally an
          outflow of cash at the beginning of the quarter, and an inflow that
          begins during the second half of the quarter. The purpose of my memo
          was to ensure that everyone on the finance staff supports the focus
          on cash conservation and is motivated to not be complacent."
             Vincent Mullarkey, Digital's corporate controller, said last
          night that the memo is being taken out of context. "While we still
          have plenty of problems to work out, we're in relatively good shape
          on cash," he said.
        

I'm hurt.  I never saw the memo.

    RE: .113 I didn't see it either. Just goes to show how much of
    my grapevine has been pruned. 

    		Alfred

    I was also chagrined to not have seen the original memo nor the follow-up.
    I guess my network (pun intended) isn't as robust as I thought.
    
    Mark
    

    
    I got the memo, the fact shocked me, such memos are really a very
    confidential info and should not be circulated to random people.
    It was obvious to me that it would leak out sooner or later.

    So that explains the entry today in 1.17 .  Wondered what it wuz for.
    

    My experience is that VPs are generally no better about keeping things
    confidential than anyone else. Most of the "bad" memos that leak to
    the press would never get to the press if senior managers didn't distribute
    them more than is safe.

    			Alfred

    I read some where that we were one level above "junk bond" status, has
    any body else read/heard this?

re .120:

'Tis true.

Totally F*@^ing Sc*(%ed Over

    TFSO -- The Fortunate Start Over


   ...as opposed to those of us who trudge on...