"Unlock Special File Zebra."
Oct. 31st, 2008 05:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
libertangoDon't explain computers to laymen. Simpler to explain sex to a virgin. Wyoh couldn't see why, if Mike knew where Alvarez kept records, Mike didn't trot over and fetch.
I gave up. "Mike, can you explain?"
"I will try, Man. Wyoh, there is no way for me to retrieve locked data other than through external programming. I cannot program myself for such retrieval; my logic structure does not permit it. I must receive the signal as external input."
"Well, for Bog's sake, what is this precious signal?"
"It is," Mike said simply, "'Special File Zebra'" -- and waited.
"Mike!" I said. "Unlock Special File Zebra." He did, and stuff started spilling out. Had to convince Wyoh that Mike hadn't been stubborn. He hadn't -- he almost begged us to tickle him on that spot. Sure, he knew signal. Had to. But had to come from outside, that was how he was built.
-- Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
I gave up. "Mike, can you explain?"
"I will try, Man. Wyoh, there is no way for me to retrieve locked data other than through external programming. I cannot program myself for such retrieval; my logic structure does not permit it. I must receive the signal as external input."
"Well, for Bog's sake, what is this precious signal?"
"It is," Mike said simply, "'Special File Zebra'" -- and waited.
"Mike!" I said. "Unlock Special File Zebra." He did, and stuff started spilling out. Had to convince Wyoh that Mike hadn't been stubborn. He hadn't -- he almost begged us to tickle him on that spot. Sure, he knew signal. Had to. But had to come from outside, that was how he was built.
-- Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
