ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho

Peter


 > T'was the night before Christmas, and all through the shop,
> > The computers were whirring; they never do stop.
> > The power was on and the temperature right,
> > In hopes that the input would feed back that night.
> > The system was ready, the program was coded,
> > And memory drums had been carefully loaded;
> > While adding a Christmasy glow to the scene,
> > The lights on the console, flashed red, white and green.
> > When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,
> > The programmer ran to see what was the matter.
> > Away to the hallway he flew like a flash,
> > Forgetting his key in his curious dash.
> > He stood in the hallway and looked all about,
> > When the door slammed behind him, and he was locked out.
> > Then, in the computer room what should appear,
> > But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer;
> > And a little old man, who with scarcely a pause,
> > Chuckled: "My name is Santa...the last name is Claus."
> > The computer was startled, confused by the name,
> > Then it buzzed as it heard the old fellow exclaim:
> > "This is Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen,
> > And Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen."
> > With all these odd names, it was puzzled anew;
> > It hummed and it clanked, and a main circuit blew.
> > It searched in its memory core, trying to "think";
> > Then the multi-line printer went out on the blink.
> > Unable to do its electronic job,
> > It said in a voice that was almost a sob:
> > "Your eyes - how they twinkle - your dimples so merry,
> > Your cheeks so like roses, your nose like a cherry,
> > Your smile - all these things, I've been programmed to know,
> > And at data - recall, I am more than so - so;
> > But your name and your address (computers can't lie),
> > Are things that I just cannot identify.
> > You've a jolly old face and a little round belly,
> > That shakes when you laugh like a bowlful of jelly;
> > My scanners can see you, but still I insist,
> > Since you're not in my program, you cannot exist!"
> > Old Santa just chuckled a merry "ho, ho",
> > And sat down to type out a quick word or so.
> > The keyboard clack-clattered, its sound sharp and clean,
> > As Santa fed this "data" to the machine:
> > "Kids everywhere know me; I come every year;
> > The presents I bring add to everyone's cheer;
> > But you won't get anything - that's plain to see;
> > Too bad your programmers forgot about me."
> > Then he faced the machine and said with a shrug,
> > " Merry Christmas to All " as he pulled out the plug


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