Chris writes: > David > > > > Now where have I heard that phrase before? > > > > about the time character sets were extended to 7 bits to allow > > the luxury of both upper and lower case. > > That could never have happened: the paper tape was not wide enough! it was, it was (by the end of the era we were using _8-track_ tape!!!). it was just that the computers didn't have the capability of packing anything other than 6-bit characters. > I suppose you are going to tell me that I am wrinkly enough to have > lived through those troubling times. you don't fool me. even _i_ am old enough. > Would that be pre or post-Beatles? yes. proposed (but never set) question[*]: "explain, as to one who thinks there is no problem, why character sets are difficult" roger needham, ca 1970 robin [*] would have been to the diploma in computer science and numerical analysis. we didn't have a _degree_ in comp. sci. back then.