MFS, Caltrans: we withdraw it all

MFS, Caltrans, we take back everything we’ve ever said belittling you for taking a decade, or whatever it is going to be, to get a new toll system running in the Bay Area. We feel your pain. We empathize. All is understood.

It’s a miracle the 50th issue of TRnl ever reached you. Indeed as we write this we’re not sure it will. System problems. Started with a hard drive (HD) collapsing. Of course we’d backed up, but gawd we’d backed up so many different zip-disks it was a nightmare putting our publishing software together again. And the little missing bits take forever to reconstruct. The system profiler on this computer tells us we have 253 applications and 150 extensions and lord knows how many plug-ins and drivers. A lot of our fonts got screwed up. But we got a new main text font – see left.

While the old computer was away in the shop, we tried to get a newer computer to work. And installed new OS, newer versions of apps. Big mistake! Never modernize, is for now our deeply felt advice. Just be thankful for what you’ve got. Modernization is far more pain than it’s worth. The worthy 6-yr old HD went to heaven. We went to hell.

This has prompted us to rethink frequency. 10 times/year is too much. We’re going bimonthly, 6 times/year unless, and until, we can get a collaborator. Subscriptions will be extended to the 10th issue.