🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1991Jul25.234317.23841@watson.ibm.com> metzger@watson.ibm.com (Perry E. Metzger) writes:
>Is there any evidence that, in a studio where such changes
>are possible, that a simple "never touch the red knob" from the
>studio engineer would not be sufficient? 

Not a radio studio, but...

Twice now, we've had users bring down one or more of our file servers
because they were trying to get a 1/4" tape out of the drive.  How,
you ask?  The tape drive is on the front of the CPU cabinet.  Above
the CPU is a keyswitch which controls power to the entire rack (CPU &
disks).  Despite being told how to load and unload tapes from the
drive, each of these people decided perhaps the key has something to
do with it and turned it.

This is equivalent to the "never touch the red knob", I think.  The
argument is not whether the key/knob should be there, but whether the
average person (not engineer or system manager) is likely to play with
it.

>Incidently, in the average kitchen, there are devices like knives and
>gas burners that are capable of killing and maiming, but few people
>find it necessary to license people to cook.

No, but in a resturaunt, where bad hygiene can impact many people, you
have periodic inspections and certifications by the local government.

I'm not saying licensing of programmers (or anything else) is good or
bad.  The point is that goverments often feel it necessary to step
in to protect the "public" from someone doing something stupid or even
malicious.

Something like the runaway x-ray machine, however should be taken care
of by testing of the whole apparatus, harware interlocks to prevent high
emissions even if the software requests it, and perhaps government
licensing of the _machine_ or certification of the test procedures,
_not_ licensing the programmer.

The thing to find out about the NJ bill and the people behind it is
how much of their motivation is greed (license fees) versus some idea
about protecting the public.  Knowing that, you know how to counter
attack.

While all this discussion has been going on, what's been happening in
NJ?  Can anybody post the text of the proposed bill or anything
substantive about what they intend to do?
-- 
David Bernholdt			bernhold@qtp.ufl.edu
Quantum Theory Project		bernhold@ufpine.bitnet
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL  32611		904/392 6365