Forum

To start off this month’s column, we’d like to submit this short program for your approval. It was submitted to us by Arthur B. Marzano. Enter it on your TS2068. It is intended for use with a color monitor although you’ll get the general idea with a monochrome one.

10  BORDER 0: PAPER 0: OVER 1: CLS
20  FOR I=1 TO 10
30  LET A=3
40  LET X=RND*255: LET Y=0
50  IF X>=125 THEN LET A=-A
55  INK 4
60  FOR F=1 TO 50
70  PLOT X,Y
80  LET X=X+RND*A: LET Y=Y+RND*4
85  IF F>5 THEN INK 1
90  NEXT F
100 LET H=1
110 LET C=RND*40: LET D=RND*44
120 INK (RND*7)+2
130 DRAW C,D: DRAW -C,-D: DRAW
    -C,D: DRAW C,-D
140 BEEP .005,-C
150 LET C=-C: LET D=-D
160 DRAW D,C: DRAW -D,-C: DRAW -D,C: DRAW D,-C
170 BEEP .002,D+10
180 LET H=H+1
190 IF H=20 THEN GO TO 210
200 GO TO 110
210 NEXT I
220 FOR I=1 TO 7: PRINT AT 19,0; INK F; OVER 0;
    "HAPPY 4TH OF JULY FROM SWN!":
    PAUSE 50: NEXT F
230 PAUSE 0
240 GO TO 10

New SyncWare Kid

Anyone who, as a child, has moved from one neighborhood to another, or had someone new move into their neighborhood, will recognize what I’m going to refer to as the “New-Kid-on-the -Block” Syndrome. It’s always a time of testing and proving for all involved. Your new found peers want to know who you are, where you’re from, and what kind of toys you have. Plus there’s often a few fights just to establish who’s going to be “top dog”. Hopefully we won’t have any fights, but I believe our readers are entitled to some answers about who this “new kid” in the SWN Editor’s chair is.

My name is Jeff Moore. I reside with my wife and two sons at the same address as our new Editorial offices: 602 S. Mill St., Louisville, Ohio 44641. I hold a degree in Electronics Engineering Technology from the Ohio Institute of Technology, Columbus, Ohio. I’m employed by local steel products processing plant. Because I work a “swing” shift at the factory, my office telephone hours will be from 9 AM to 11:30 AM and/or 8 PM to 10:30 PM, depending on the day of the week and/or the week you may call. The balance of the time is for family, sleeping, and eating. There is a telephone answering machine, so please feel free to leave a message. My telephone number is (216) 875-1257.

My “toys” are, of course, my computers. Presently we have the following set up:

• 1) a 2068 w/Aerco FD-68, dual double-sided disc drives, and a Tasman type “B” CIF
• 2) a ZX81 w/Aerco FD-ZX, dual single-sided disc drives, Memotech CIF, and a Byte Back 64K RAM
• 3) a TS1000 w/Compusa FD-102 (the Compusa board is in need of repair- anyone want to help?), Oliger Video, and Oliger 64K RAM
• 4) a “bare-bones” TS1500 w/2040 printer
• 5) I have access to a TS1000 w/Aerco FD-ZX and CIF
• 6) and when my spouse allows me to use it- a QL

Along with the above, mostly due to the generosity of our readers and advertisers, we have a good collection of hardware add-ons that was turned over to me by the former Editor, Tom Bent. We can handle about any software that you care to send.

The past few weeks have been used setting up the new Editorial Office and going through all the material Mr. Bent had accumulated in his two years as editor. According to my calculations, I now have 6.573 more cubic feet of material and hardware stuffed into my office than I have cubic feet of office. Which partially explains the tardiness of this issue. Even so it looks as though the “new kid” is finally organized. Although I’m the “new-kid-on-the-block”, I’ve already set some goals. They are to give you the best magazine on the market for Sinclair/Timex computers. All the time. And as the other guy advertises- ON TIME.

SUM, Time Designs Merge

As in the case of Mark Twain when he said, “The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated”, the rumors of the demise of SUM magazine have also been overstated.

Joe Williamson, Editor of SUM, and Tim Woods, Editor of Time Designs, announced the merger of the two Timex/Sinclair orientated magazines June 30th. SUM will publish its July issue before the merger is finalized, according to Editor Williamson. As a result of the merger, it is anticipated that Time Designs will increase its size by about four pages. Williamson has been added to the Time Designs staff and will be handling hardware projects and reviews.

Time Designs will fulfill any unexpired SUM subscriptions with its magazine. In the case of an individual having a current subscription to both SUM and Time Designs, their Time Designs subscription will be extended by the number of issues remaining on the SUM subscription.