Liamsi Malles
Works alone in his study
With his vintage DOS computer
His input device armada
And his books
He studies the Illuminati
Secret societies
Ancient law, the occult
Power of numbers
Geometry and the stars
He shares an insight
That few can see
Shares it with the few
Who dare to look
Liamsi believes in dreams
Views both light and dark
As interdependent
Believes that darkness
Contrasts our faith
Without it
What light could shine?
We all play our part
Or have played our part
Or are waiting to play our part
The point is
Liamsi believes
16001
Written in the stars
Mathematics department, MIT
Phillip Sanders summons the team
Daniel, Miss Lydia
I asked you here because
I think we’ve found our answer
I sent off an email
Actually I sent several
But this response from Vintage Tech
I think you need to see
His name is Liamsi Malles
And he mentioned you by name
Or almost Miss Lydia
He said you were in his dream
I was too
The rest of it didn’t make sense
Perhaps it might to you
Have a look
I know the bench he’s talking about
The people sitting opposite
Are Randall Sparks and myself
Mr. Sparks is still in England
But the sun or stone steps?
I have no idea what they mean
Liamsi offered several options
He didn’t seem anxious
Or motivated to assist
As you can see
But he does seem connected
As if it were written in the stars
He’s right L
About the voting machines
But I don’t think we want to go there
Danny I’m shocked
Where’s your faith in government?
Same place as yours
I’m uneasy about his dream
Yet he says he thinks I’m the man
Or could be
So he’s not sure
And the bench vision
Well that’s remarkable isn't it?
Spooky is what it is Phillip
But he is in some way connected
You’re right about that
And I believe the man in his dream
Must be Mr. Sparks
He’s the one I’m helping
Is there a rest of this story
I should know?
Yes Phillip
But it’s a very long story
And it gets complicated
It gets worse?
The more you know
Suffice to say
We need this Liamsi on board
And he’s already involved
Can we trust him L?
Probably not Danny
But he knows
So if we bring him in
At least we can watch him
And then there were five
So do we bring Liamsi here
Or do we go to him?
Can we get him here guys?
We need a lot of room
I suppose we can Miss Lydia
If Daniel can secure a lab
Why is Mr. Sparks in England?
He’s on holiday with his fiancée
He helped me find the hard drive
It was in England
They stayed on for a bit
Liamsi won’t come here for free
We’ll need funding for him
Daniel we need to do this together
Joint project between departments?
Are you sure Phillip?
I thought it was all academic
Oh I’m curious now
I want to see behind the curtain
Academic or not
16002
Sparks data punch
So what should we call it Phillip?
Our little project?
How about ‘Sparks data punch’?
That sounds good
Not too revealing but technical
I like it!
What do you think L?
It’s fine with me Danny
Then ‘Sparks data punch’ it is
Daniel if you could initiate
The project acquisition request?
Then I’ll get hold of Liamsi
And see what's required
To get him here
Miss Lydia
When will Mr. Sparks return?
Since this is his project now
A few days?
I’m sure it won't be too long
He’ll return before the cards arrive
16003
How many cards?
And where are they Miss Lydia?
Saint Paul Minnesota
There are two storage units
We moved boxes all day
We stacked boxes
Eight wide by five high
By ten deep by two units
Each unit had a box missing
So take away two
You moved the boxes?
Yes, it’s a long story
Seven hundred ninety-eight boxes?
Correct Phillip
That was our count
Each box was filled with cards?
Actually yes and no
Eight punch card packs per box
I believe
We brought two cards with us
That makes sense
Punch cards shipped
In two thousand card packs
That’s a lot of cards!
Yes Phillip tons of cards
Can the project fund freight
And some airfare?
Some freight Miss Lydia?
That’s a lot of freight!
I’m guessing box weight
At thirty to thirty-five pounds
That’s twenty-eight thousand
It's about fourteen tons
Freight will cost a small fortune
Couple thousand at least
Expensive project Daniel
We’re going to hear about it
Yes but we can handle it
It’s what we do
As for the airfare L
Since you’re not on staff
We’ll have to hire you
To get the cards here
Airfare will be separate
It's a reimbursable expense
So keep your receipts
Thank you D
We need fourteen tons
Of punch cards right Daniel?
Yes fourteen tons of cards
For ‘Sparks data punch’
(Daniel smiles)
We could do it with less
But it wouldn't cost as much
And you’re right Phillip
We’ll hear plenty
16004
Liamsi@VintageTech.com
Liamsi
We need you onboard
We want you as part of our team
Just you
No one else should know
We will procure the funding
What we need to know is
How much will it cost
To get you and your equipment
Here to MIT?
Sharpen your pencil
And give us your best estimate
psanders@mit.mathematics.edu
16005
Psanders@mit.
mathematics.edu - 2
Dear Phillip Sanders
I will be happy to join your team
Services cost $2500.00 per week
Plus $700.00 per week lodging
Plus $700.00 per week meals
I can be there in 7 days
Upon confirmation
I will cover transport costs
Looking forward
To working with you!
Liamsi@VintageTech.com
16006
Liamsi@VintageTech.com 2
Dear Liamsi
Right then
We will pay you $1400.00 per week
With an additional $700.00
For food and lodging
We need you here yesterday
There will be a flight scheduled
In your name on our dime
We will cover the cost
To ship your equipment
Do we have a deal?
psanders@mit.mathematics.edu
16007
Psanders@mit.
mathematics.edu - 3
Yes we have a deal
How long do you think it will take?
liamsi@VintageTech.com
16008
Liamsi@VintageTech.com 3
That will depend on you
And your equipment
Approximately 12,784,000 cards
Resources will be at your disposal
And free Twinkies
You will be here for the duration
psanders@mit.mathematics.edu
16009
Returning home
Randall is renewed
Abingdon
Marked fresh beginnings
With Susan
Strolls on the Thames
Hands inseparable
Nights amore
Brief instant
Nothing else mattered
They were free
From worry
Shadows
More than that
It was possible
To forget about home
A nightmare in waiting
That won’t sleep
Before he arrives
The nightmare
Has a name
‘Sparks data punch’
16010
Good to have you back
Sparks
Randall calls Lydia
using the disposable phone
L it’s Randall
You were right
It was the best week of my life
And Susan’s too
Thank you!
Good to have you back Sparks
The drive worked
And the data is unlocked
The project’s named after you
‘Sparks data punch’
A punch card expert is flying in
It’s all happening
I’m heading to Saint Paul
To ship the cards
We’ll go to MIT
So you can meet the team
When I get back
16011
Cray-1 to today
By Randall Sparks
It began in the sixties
With the CDC 6600
Control Data Corporation
Then the CDC 7600
It ended with the CDC 8600
Out of those ashes
Thanks to Jim Thornton
A star was born
The CDC STAR-100
Times were tough in 1972
So when Seymour Cray
Went to William Norris
CEO of CDC
The answer was ‘no’
The STAR had vectors
And promise
But it also had limits
Much to do with the world
Involves the stars and limits
And what is being done
To exceed them
Facing up to challenges
And maintaining balance
Seymour Cray and his team
Left CDC and started HQ anew
They also studied and exceeded
The limits of the stars
And the Cray-1 was born
With phrases such as
MIPS
Million instructions per second
And MFLOPS
Million floating point operations
Per second
Words like
Registers, pipeline and scaling
Memory and Integrated Circuits
Acronyms, abbreviated short-hand
Such as CPU, IC, I/O and SRAM
Sprang up from the ground
Today what once took rooms
Freon gas and copper cooling plates
And bent machine frames
With short twisted wires
Can fit neatly in a thimble
Or in your hand and dial someone
Half-way around the world
It all started with those
Words, phrases and acronyms
From Los Alamos National Labs
To Time Square New York
We press on to tomorrow
With the past in our pocket
So you tell me
Was it worth it?
Sparks - on the record
For the record
16012
The freight
Will arrive Tuesday
Hi Danny, it’s Lydia
I’ll be home tonight
The cards will get there Tuesday
Has Liamsi arrived yet?
Tomorrow he gets in
We’ll pick him up at Logan
Sparks is back from England
I think we should all meet there
Can Phillip make it?
I’ll let him know
I’m sure it’s fine
Say one o’clock?
One o’clock
Very funny L
(she laughs)
One’s fine Danny
See you then
16013