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  • Re: Jim Butterfield

    From Robert Bernardo@3:770/3 to All on Saturday, August 15, 2020 09:59:09
    Yes, I met Jim Butterfield twice.

    Truly,
    Robert Bernardo
    Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
    Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

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  • From Tristan Miller@3:770/3 to Robert Bernardo on Saturday, August 15, 2020 23:01:18
    Greetings.

    On 15/08/2020 18.59, Robert Bernardo wrote:
    Yes, I met Jim Butterfield twice.


    And what were he and your meetings like? Care to reminisce?

    Regards,
    Tristan

    --
    =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    Tristan Miller
    Free Software developer, ferret herder, logologist
    https://logological.org/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

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  • From Jim Brain@3:770/3 to All on Sunday, August 16, 2020 14:54:09
    FWIW, I met and visited with Jim in person and virtually over the years.
    I think the last time was in 2006 at one of the C4 shows (here's the
    two of us (I'm on right) in 2005 at the SWRAP show:

    https://www.lyonlabs.org/commodore/swrap2005/butterfield-party.jpg

    I also found a pic of us at the 2005 C4 Expo:

    https://postimg.cc/TKBfdcSN

    I found Jim to be absolutely pleasant and not predisposed to focus
    conversation on computers or Commodore. He could converse on pretty
    much any topic, though he was happy to regale with stories about his interactions with CBM through the years.

    Probably the most interesting thing about Jim is his normalcy. I don't
    think Jim was an uber coder or somehow revolutionary (sorry to burst
    bubbles). He was a capable programmer, had a knack for explaining
    things to people (in books, talks, etc.), and somehow had picked up some connections with Commodore in years where those connections amplified
    his reach.

    IN the years he attended the shows, his talks were rudimentary, but
    humorous, and he did not go out of his way to court celebrity. He
    seemed happy just to be "another one of the group" interested in the
    machines. Compare to Steve Punter, who was genuinely dismissive when he attended WoC 2004 and people were asking about the Punter protocol or
    the apps he wrote. Jim probably was internally wondering why people
    were still clinging to an ancient machine with little computing power,
    but he never voiced any discontent.

    Obviously, his physical appearance added to the legend. Not everyone
    can pull off that mustache. His Canadian dialect and mannerisms no
    doubt helped.

    He and I chatted on topics technical and cultural in the times I visited
    with him.

    I think, though, it'll be tough to get much response to this inquiry.
    Jim liked to just blend in, and we let him. As such, the interactions
    and discussions don't stand out.

    Jim Brain

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  • From Tristan Miller@3:770/3 to Jim Brain on Sunday, August 16, 2020 22:57:47
    Greetings.

    On 16/08/2020 21.54, Jim Brain wrote:
    FWIW, I met and visited with Jim in person and virtually over the years.


    Thanks for sharing your memories, Jim!

    By the way, I don't expect you remember, but the two of us corresponded
    briefly by e-mail back in 1995. You very patiently explained to me the
    details of the Doodle file format and arranged for a copy of Commodore
    Hacking #11 to be sent to me -- but not before conspicuously warning me
    that the file was a whopping 170KB and suggesting that I might want to
    have it split up into smaller pieces for transmission!

    Regards,
    Tristan

    --
    =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    Tristan Miller
    Free Software developer, ferret herder, logologist
    https://logological.org/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: Agency HUB, Dunedin - New Zealand | Fido<>Usenet Gateway (3:770/3)
  • From Jim Brain@3:770/3 to Tristan Miller on Sunday, August 16, 2020 18:38:07
    On 8/16/2020 3:57 PM, Tristan Miller wrote:
    Greetings.

    On 16/08/2020 21.54, Jim Brain wrote:
    FWIW, I met and visited with Jim in person and virtually over the years.


    Thanks for sharing your memories, Jim!

    By the way, I don't expect you remember, but the two of us corresponded briefly by e-mail back in 1995. You very patiently explained to me the details of the Doodle file format and arranged for a copy of Commodore Hacking #11 to be sent to me -- but not before conspicuously warning me
    that the file was a whopping 170KB and suggesting that I might want to
    have it split up into smaller pieces for transmission!

    Regards,
    Tristan


    I do remember conversations with a Tristan (it's a somewhat unique
    name), but time has erased the specifics. I hope I was helpful...

    As to the concerns, it's rather impressive how things have changed in
    the intervening years. However, while they have changed, there's still
    plenty to share concerns about in this hobby. Now it's how many carts
    can be placed in an X-Pander, whether EasyFlash 3 works on the C128, etc.

    Jim


    --
    Jim Brain, brain@jbrain.com

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  • From J.B. Wood@3:770/3 to Jim Brain on Monday, August 17, 2020 07:20:38
    On 8/16/2020 3:54 PM, Jim Brain wrote:

    FWIW, I met and visited with Jim in person and virtually over the years.
     I think the last time was in 2006 at one of the C4 shows (here's the
    two of us (I'm on right) in 2005 at the SWRAP show:

    https://www.lyonlabs.org/commodore/swrap2005/butterfield-party.jpg


    Nice pic of Jim B., Jim, but why is he wearing Jeri Ellsworth's name
    tag? What's going on here? "Enquiring" minds want to know ;-) Sincerely,


    --
    J. B. Wood e-mail: arl_123234@hotmail.com

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  • From Daniel@3:770/3 to Tristan Miller on Monday, August 17, 2020 12:56:09
    Tristan Miller <psychonaut@nothingisreal.com> writes:

    Greetings.

    On 16/08/2020 21.54, Jim Brain wrote:
    FWIW, I met and visited with Jim in person and virtually over the years.


    Thanks for sharing your memories, Jim!

    By the way, I don't expect you remember, but the two of us corresponded briefly by e-mail back in 1995. You very patiently explained to me the details of the Doodle file format and arranged for a copy of Commodore Hacking #11 to be sent to me -- but not before conspicuously warning me
    that the file was a whopping 170KB and suggesting that I might want to
    have it split up into smaller pieces for transmission!

    Regards,
    Tristan

    What a great memory. Too bad you don't have the old email exchange. It
    would be a hoot to read his description of the doodle format.

    --
    Daniel

    Visit me at: gopher://gcpp.world

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: Agency HUB, Dunedin - New Zealand | Fido<>Usenet Gateway (3:770/3)
  • From Tristan Miller@3:770/3 to Daniel on Monday, August 17, 2020 22:35:08
    Greetings.

    On 17/08/2020 21.56, Daniel wrote:
    Tristan Miller <psychonaut@nothingisreal.com> writes:
    On 16/08/2020 21.54, Jim Brain wrote:
    By the way, I don't expect you remember, but the two of us corresponded
    briefly by e-mail back in 1995. You very patiently explained to me the
    details of the Doodle file format and arranged for a copy of Commodore
    Hacking #11 to be sent to me -- but not before conspicuously warning me
    that the file was a whopping 170KB and suggesting that I might want to
    have it split up into smaller pieces for transmission!

    What a great memory. Too bad you don't have the old email exchange. It
    would be a hoot to read his description of the doodle format.


    Who says I don't have the old e-mail exchange?

    Regards,
    Tristan

    --
    =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    Tristan Miller
    Free Software developer, ferret herder, logologist
    https://logological.org/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: Agency HUB, Dunedin - New Zealand | Fido<>Usenet Gateway (3:770/3)
  • From Daniel@3:770/3 to Tristan Miller on Friday, August 21, 2020 22:52:21
    Tristan Miller <psychonaut@nothingisreal.com> writes:

    Greetings.

    On 17/08/2020 21.56, Daniel wrote:
    Tristan Miller <psychonaut@nothingisreal.com> writes:
    On 16/08/2020 21.54, Jim Brain wrote:
    By the way, I don't expect you remember, but the two of us corresponded
    briefly by e-mail back in 1995. You very patiently explained to me the
    details of the Doodle file format and arranged for a copy of Commodore
    Hacking #11 to be sent to me -- but not before conspicuously warning me
    that the file was a whopping 170KB and suggesting that I might want to
    have it split up into smaller pieces for transmission!

    What a great memory. Too bad you don't have the old email exchange. It
    would be a hoot to read his description of the doodle format.


    Who says I don't have the old e-mail exchange?

    Sorry, didn't mean to ruin your day. My bad.

    --
    Daniel

    Visit me at: gopher://gcpp.world

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  • From HowlinAl@3:770/3 to Chicken Head on Saturday, August 22, 2020 17:02:35
    On Friday, September 20, 2019 at 8:48:10 PM UTC-4, Chicken Head wrote:
    So I have to ask...has anyone here met Jim Butterfield?

    I had my chance at the World of Commodore-Amiga Toronto, 1992. But I didn't. I still regret it. I think Jim was one of the most important boosters of Commodore technology...although I do think he still favoured the 8-bit machines
    over the 16-bit ones.

    The AHK Gang! Live on Riot.im. When we feel like it.

    I had a few conversations with Jim Butterfield at a gathering in Louisville, KY, and then again a year or two later in Chicago. He was pretty outgoing and it seemed to me that he enjoyed all the attention he got. I thought he was super charming. I
    remember him giving a presentation, and it was pretty basic stuff. POKEing BASIC into RAM and changing the keywords, etc. But he was amusing, and, hey, it was Jim Butterfield. It was a highlight for me.

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