GPaL

WARNING: In this message, I'm gonna ask Jack in a nicely but honest way what the status of GPaL is, since we haven't heard for a long time from Jack. Everytime someone asks this, he's gonna get flamed like hell. Sometimes this was well deserved, if someone said something like 'WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO GET GPAL NOW!'. I don't mind waiting, but GPaL has been postponed several times now, and since the last announced date (17-7) we haven't heard anything. I think that after all the waiting and delays, it's not to much asked to keep us informed about GPaL. ----------------------------------------------- Ok, on the Apex HQ I read this message: And I answered this: Gpal was to be released, after a couple of delays, on 15-7 (I was very happy when I read the GPaL Tonight! message from Jack). Jack didn't make it in time, he had a problem with the installer of GPal, and postponed it to 17-7. Then we got a message that his system broke down, he had to reinstall all his software. And we haven't heard from him since then. Doesn't post messages on R.A.S. and doesn't answer his email. Some possibilities: - Jack's system really broke down and he can't reinstall his software for some reason, and has no other possibility to keep in touch with us, even though he posted a message about his crash AFTER his crash, - or he's too busy with his new job, - or he encountered more problems with GPaL, - or he's waiting for the new patch. (or perhaps waiting for GPL 2 ? ) In either case, Jack, if you're reading this, I really think you should let us know what the status of GPaL is. Yes, you're doing this in your own time, you don't get any money for it, we all appreciate your hard work very much, but we haven't heard from you for about a month now, we're all curious what the deal with GPaL is. I think everybody will understand if you say you're having not enough spare time since you got your new job, but to be honest, I don't really believe that system crash story anymore. How much time does it take to reinstall windows and your software? Certainly not a month? You made lots of promises and raised our expectations very high, I think it's not more than polite to keep us informed now. Will GPaL and GPL ever be best friends Jack? Ok flamers, hit me. I'm sure many of you feel about this situation the same way I do. Andre

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O.k. I was one of the first to ask questions about GPal. I was somewhat flamed, but not too heavily. No problem. But as the weeks go by, there is one question deep in my mind: Could it be, that my fear was right and GPal was about to be a giant hoax? I am not sure, because there are many reasons for Jack to get GPal onto a somewhat secondary priority (or whatever you call it in english ;-)). I've seen lots of people in University stating "Hey, I've got a great new theory. I've got a concept, I've got the methods, I'm gonna write a doct***thesis of historical dimensions. Shoot Kant, here I am!" Mostly - to be honest: all - of the times nothing happened but a lot of hot air. Sadly, GPaL reminds me of those projects. And with all of those projects I was hoping to proved wrong. Same with GPaL. But my own history teaches me to expect not too much, but in fact : *nothing*. Yours- Reaperle

Jack could prove us wrong. At one time, he mentioned 'GPal will not be ready before tonight', so it must have been that GPal was at least partially functional. So if that program is released as a beta release, that would still be fine. Leaving out a lot of features is not that bad. Surely there seemed to be so many features that the task list seemed to continuously stay bigger than the project itself. But unfortunately I must say this is beginning to smell fishy, and Jack is emitting bad vibes. Ruud van Gaal MarketGraph / MachTech: http://www.marketgraph.nl Art: http://www.marketgraph.nl/gallery

Here's a message from Jack, sent to me on 14 july: ---------------------------- I hate to do it to you guys, but I've just rediscovered the meaning of the old phrase: All work and no sleep, Makes Jack an ineffective GPaL programmer. Just stretched out on the couch to grab just a couple of winks, only to wakeup and realize that I'm still fried. Last week when I promised to have GPaLto you by the 14th, I was expecting to start my new job on the 15th. No sooner had I made the commitment to you then my new boss calls and says that he'd like for me to start on the 14th. Suddenly my development effort lost 24 hours, and the no-sleep phase ensued. So the reality is my current state of exhaustion indicates that we better call the 14th the 17th, which will give me all day Saturday to get the install bugs exterminated. Thanks to all the GPaL faithful and to all the generous souls that have come forward to help me test. We'll pick up again on Saturday! Jack Rambo ---------------------------- I don't think that GPaL is fake as some people stated, but I do think that the 'I have to reinstall my software' reason was not the truth. I can't imagine that Jack can't find any way to keep us informed about the status of GPaL. Surely he must have an internet connection at work or at a friend to keep us informed about GPaL. After all these delays I can imagine that he doesn't want to give a new release date, but that Jack doesn't let us hear anything from him after the message above is IMHO not very polite. Ok, shoot me. Andre

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>>O.k. I was one of the first to ask questions about GPal. I was somewhat >>flamed, but not too heavily. No problem. But as the weeks go by, there is >>one question deep in my mind: Could it be, that my fear was right and GPal >>was about to be a giant hoax? I am not sure, because there are many reasons >>for Jack to get GPal onto a somewhat secondary priority (or whatever you >>call it in english ;-)). I've seen lots of people in University stating >>"Hey, I've got a great new theory. I've got a concept, I've got the methods, >>I'm gonna write a doct***thesis of historical dimensions. Shoot Kant, here >>I am!" Mostly - to be honest: all - of the times nothing happened but a lot >>of hot air. Sadly, GPaL reminds me of those projects. And with all of those >>projects I was hoping to proved wrong. Same with GPaL. But my own history >>teaches me to expect not too much, but in fact : *nothing*. >Jack could prove us wrong. At one time, he mentioned 'GPal will not be >ready before tonight', so it must have been that GPal was at least >partially functional. So if that program is released as a beta >release, that would still be fine. Leaving out a lot of features is >not that bad. Surely there seemed to be so many features that the task >list seemed to continuously stay bigger than the project itself. >But unfortunately I must say this is beginning to smell fishy, and >Jack is emitting bad vibes. >Ruud van Gaal >MarketGraph / MachTech: http://www.marketgraph.nl >Art: http://www.marketgraph.nl/gallery

To paraphrase Monty Python: "you come from nothin', end up as nothin'. What have you lost? Nothin'!" Andrew McP

Maybe so, but I have lost some respect.

> > > But unfortunately I must say this is beginning to smell > > > fishy, and Jack is emitting bad vibes. > > To paraphrase Monty Python: "you come from nothin', end up as nothin'. > > What have you lost? Nothin'!" > Maybe so, but I have lost some respect. On the other hand maybe he just has a life outside of RAS, unlike some other saddo's in here. It seems to me that Jack started this project when he was in a bit of slack period, then he starts a new job which is mentally demanding. Low and behold, GPal goes on a back burner, and quite right too. He was doing this as a favour to everyone out there. But unfortunately real life has to take precedent over RAS. Developing a piece of software is not trivial work, certainly not getting to a bug free level ready to release to the bug-hunting hyenas on RAS. If I was doing GPal, hadn't had time to finish it, and was unlikely to get time in the next few months, the last thing I would want to do is to open myself abuse from RAS. For every genuine, appreciative, helpful member of RAS, there is an equally pedantic, nit-picking, abusive one. IMHO. Dave Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

True, but all we are hoping for is an ounce of common courtesy from Jack, regardless of his situation. After the long silence of the last four weeks, it is starting to look like things were not as they seemed, unless he has been ***ped by aliens or marooned on a desert isle or was required by his new boss to take a long canoe trip across the Pacific or some such..... > On the other hand maybe he just has a life outside of RAS, unlike some > other saddo's in here. > It seems to me that Jack started this project when he was in a bit of > slack period, then he starts a new job which is mentally demanding. Low > and behold, GPal goes on a back burner, and quite right too. > He was doing this as a favour to everyone out there. But unfortunately > real life has to take precedent over RAS. Developing a piece of > software is not trivial work, certainly not getting to a bug free level > ready to release to the bug-hunting hyenas on RAS. > If I was doing GPal, hadn't had time to finish it, and was unlikely to > get time in the next few months, the last thing I would want to do is to

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> open myself abuse from RAS. > For every genuine, appreciative, helpful member of RAS, there is an > equally pedantic, nit-picking, abusive one. > IMHO. > Dave > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

So you *respected* Jack when he announced GPaL, did you?

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> > > But unfortunately I must say this is beginning to smell > > > fishy, and Jack is emitting bad vibes. > > To paraphrase Monty Python: "you come from nothin', end up as nothin'. > > What have you lost? Nothin'!" > Maybe so, but I have lost some respect.

Come off it! If Jack popped a message up here before GPaL is ready to "publish" he'd be burnt to a crisp!! And as far as "common courtesy" goes, he didn't receive 100% of that when he fell behind in his schedule, now did he?

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> True, but all we are hoping for is an ounce of common courtesy from > Jack, regardless of his situation. After the long silence of the last > four weeks, it is starting to look like things were not as they seemed, > unless he has been ***ped by aliens or marooned on a desert isle or > was required by his new boss to take a long canoe trip across the > Pacific or some such..... > > On the other hand maybe he just has a life outside of RAS, unlike some > > other saddo's in here. > > It seems to me that Jack started this project when he was in a bit of > > slack period, then he starts a new job which is mentally demanding. > Low > > and behold, GPal goes on a back burner, and quite right too. > > He was doing this as a favour to everyone out there. But > unfortunately > > real life has to take precedent over RAS. Developing a piece of > > software is not trivial work, certainly not getting to a bug free > level > > ready to release to the bug-hunting hyenas on RAS. > > If I was doing GPal, hadn't had time to finish it, and was unlikely to > > get time in the next few months, the last thing I would want to do is > to > > open myself abuse from RAS. > > For every genuine, appreciative, helpful member of RAS, there is an > > equally pedantic, nit-picking, abusive one. > > IMHO. > > Dave > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > > Share what you know. Learn what you don't. > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

Jack certainly did not receive much decent treatment on ras when he missed the release dates he had broadcast, but the what civil response he did receive then was rather overshadowed by the hordes of flamers. There is probably nothing to prevent Jack from doing a "hit-and-run" post that says "soon" or "someday" or "never", since he started the whole GPal thing himself. He doesn't have to respond to the inevitable toasting. Of course, he doesn't really have to say anything. If he does not, though, it will be tough for him to show up on any sim or *** newsgroup without getting singed. Let's just hope he tells us something, then runs for cover..... Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

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> Jack certainly did not receive much decent treatment on ras when he > missed the release dates he had broadcast, but the what civil response > he did receive then was rather overshadowed by the hordes of flamers. > There is probably nothing to prevent Jack from doing a "hit-and-run" > post that says "soon" or "someday" or "never", since he started the > whole GPal thing himself. He doesn't have to respond to the inevitable > toasting. Of course, he doesn't really have to say anything. If he > does not, though, it will be tough for him to show up on any sim or > *** newsgroup without getting singed. Let's just hope he tells us > something, then runs for cover.....

Didn't someone say he'd just got a job or something? He probably doesn't have time to read ras anymore, let alone write GPal! The Real World is out there ... somewhere ... it comes to us all in the end! ;-)

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> > Come off it! > > If Jack popped a message up here before GPaL is ready to "publish" > he'd be > > burnt to a crisp!! > > And as far as "common courtesy" goes, he didn't receive 100% of that > when he > > fell behind in his schedule, now did he? > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

> Come off it! > If Jack popped a message up here before GPaL is ready to "publish" he'd be > burnt to a crisp!! > And as far as "common courtesy" goes, he didn't receive 100% of that when he > fell behind in his schedule, now did he? Maybe Jack has taken a lesson from David Noonan :-), just keep quiet and release stuff when you're good and ready, seems like a sound approach to me -- Beers and cheers (uncle) Goy "Team Mirage" http://www.teammirage.com/ "The Pits" http://www.theuspits.com/

Many of us on ras have full-time jobs, at least, if not jobs plus school plus families. He may not have time to do any productive work on the project, but it doesn't take five minutes to log on, transmit a short message, and log off. If he has not, it is not accidental. It's his choice. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

Just as much as I do any other total stranger - including you. But after all the hype and promises, I would think that he could at least give us some kind of word. He was very quick to jump into threads in the past and point out how great GPaL was going to be, but now there's nothing. Sure, he doesn't owe anyone here a darn thing. But it would be only polite to say something after promising the "essential companion to GPL" within a matter or hours (per his July 14th post) - which was over a month ago. It is this which makes me think a bit less of him. If it had been me in his position, I would have let you all know what the problem was by now- or at least came out and said that it was on indefinite hold. Yes, real life certainly has its demands as we all know, but somehow I don't think that the few minutes it might take to post here is going to break him. And if people flamed him for telling us the truth about where he/it stood, then so be it. You can't please everyone, but you should at least be honest with them. One thing which does bother me is that perhaps he's had some kind of accident or something. Does anybody know if he's alright? The man could be dead and buried by now and we might never know. I heard something like this actually happened in the middle of a debate in another newsgroup, and that people were flaming someone who had passed on. Now that would be a sad situation.

My thoughts exactly.

> Many of us on ras have full-time jobs, at least, if not jobs plus > school plus families. He may not have time to do any productive work > on the project, but it doesn't take five minutes to log on, transmit a > short message, and log off. If he has not, it is not accidental. It's > his choice. Actually I just remembered - I have a job as well! Maybe he's just too embarrassed! ;-)

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> > Didn't someone say he'd just got a job or something? > > He probably doesn't have time to read ras anymore, let alone write > GPal! > > The Real World is out there ... somewhere ... it comes to us all in > the > > end! ;-) > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

There is a possibility that I think no one has mentioned. He may have met a girl that has totally shifted his focus. It happened to me, once.

Its not that I hold him (or you) in any special regard... its just that he, or anyone else, can fall below the "baseline" which I expect from civilized people. I'm willing to give most people the benefit of the doubt until they prove otherwise. But if you wish, I'll make an exception in your case, Bruce. :-) Mind you, that doesn't mean that I'll be trusting you all with my wallet, house keys, or daughter. No exceptions here, I might add (at the risk of further degenerating this thread). <g> But seriously...does anyone know if Jack is alright? I sure hope so.

Exactly, Goy.

Fair enough but I was just curious as to how you could "respect" someone who you didn't know from a bar of soap. After all, he (and I, for that matter) could be mass ***ers or international jewel thieves or serial rapists or even war criminals but you respect us without knowing anything about us. Odd. > > So you *respected* Jack when he announced GPaL, did you? > Just as much as I do any other total stranger - including you.

Perhaps there is no internet connection from his canoe in the middle of the Pacific.....?

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> Many of us on ras have full-time jobs, at least, if not jobs plus > school plus families. He may not have time to do any productive work > on the project, but it doesn't take five minutes to log on, transmit a > short message, and log off. If he has not, it is not accidental. It's > his choice. > > Didn't someone say he'd just got a job or something? > > He probably doesn't have time to read ras anymore, let alone write > GPal! > > The Real World is out there ... somewhere ... it comes to us all in > the > > end! ;-) > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

True. They tend to have that effect, these female objects. Thank God it doesn't happen too frequently.

> Fair enough but I was just curious as to how you could "respect" someone who > you didn't know from a bar of soap. After all, he (and I, for that matter) > could be mass ***ers or international jewel thieves or serial rapists or > even war criminals but you respect us without knowing anything about us. > Odd. Innocent until proven guilty? /ft

Bruce Kennewell wrote I think I know how to locate Jack. Just follow the trail to the end of Bruce's nose and you should come right up to Jack's ass. <G>

Hmmm, another trail... <G> Goy Larsen wrote

Yeah...for sure, Fred. It's just the use of the term "respect" in the context given that I find unusual. I was always taught that respect was earned. > > Fair enough but I was just curious as to how you could "respect" someone who > > you didn't know from a bar of soap. After all, he (and I, for that matter) > > could be mass ***ers or international jewel thieves or serial rapists or > > even war criminals but you respect us without knowing anything about us. > > Odd. > Innocent until proven guilty? > /ft

Maybe he really is just having some quality time away from the NG. > > Fair enough but I was just curious as to how you could "respect" someone > who > > you didn't know from a bar of soap. After all, he (and I, for that matter) > > could be mass ***ers or international jewel thieves or serial rapists > or > > even war criminals but you respect us without knowing anything about us. > > Odd. > Its not that I hold him (or you) in any special regard... its just that he, > or anyone else, can fall below the "baseline" which I expect from civilized > people. I'm willing to give most people the benefit of the doubt until they

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> prove otherwise. But if you wish, I'll make an exception in your case, > Bruce. :-) > Mind you, that doesn't mean that I'll be trusting you all with my wallet, > house keys, or daughter. No exceptions here, I might add (at the risk of > further degenerating this thread). <g> > But seriously...does anyone know if Jack is alright? I sure hope so.

Sorry mate....I wouldn't know the bloke if I tripped over him......even if my nose ended up his arse.

I think it is time we faced the facts that it is not coming. I am not one of those who believes it was all a big hoax, just that it was probably never working correctly and his intentions while good were beyond his capabilities. There is nothing wrong with that, basically he set goals he couldn't acheive. However since he pumped up so many people here, he should at least have the decency to say " Sorry for getting everyones hopes up, but GPAL is dead " Instead of pretending not to come here and write nothing. Actually I think "Jack" has been here alot. You don't spend as much time here as he did and then suddenly don't come back. I don't care what his job is, or girlfreinds, or whatever it only takes a few minutes to lurk through. I'm sure he is here often, probably using another name ( account ). Maybe he has even participated in this thread. Ego would make it hard for anyone to stay away. So "jack" if you read this why not just put it on the table, yay or nay. those anxiously awaitng deserve at least that. Chris

I didn't want to say it that way, because everytime someone asked why GPaL still wasn't released, he'd get flamed like hell. But how you say it is exactly like I feel. I really looked forward to GPaL, and maybe we're all completely wrong and Jack is working right at the moment on a perfectly working GPaL, with lots of never before mentioned features, but I'm affraid that Jack couldn't get it working after all and indeed now is on RAS with an alter ego... Don't get my wrong, I absolutely don't blame Jack for anything, it's just that he raised out expectations very high by mentioning at allmost every thread on RAS that GPaL would be so great. Then he mentioned a couple of dates, and on the latest date (GPaL Tonight!) the only problem he had was the installer. And now we haven't heard anything from him for a month. It would only be nice to hear if he's still working on GPaL, in which case I don't mind waiting for how long it might take to finish it, or if the project has completely stopped. Maybe someone else could take it over from Jack in that case to finish GPaL. But not letting know anything about the status kind of worries me... Andre

> Hmmm, another trail... <G> That <G> could have been bigger Tracey, just wait until the next time I see you in a WG race over at TEN, can you say inner loop ? thought you could :-) Seriously though, the only "wrong" thing Jack ever did was announcing the GPaL stuff, in his case I would have used some of the people I could trust as beta testers, and just kept quiet about it until it was ready...........but then again, the chances of me doing something like this is..........well, not nil, but effing close :-) -- Beers and cheers (uncle) Goy "Team Mirage" http://www.teammirage.com/ "The Pits" http://www.theuspits.com/

Goy Larsen wrote LOL! Not really Goy, that <G> was ear to ear when I wrote that. <G> Oh sure Goy, the only time I'll be on the same section of track with you is on the pace lap. The two things most of us yanks hate are turning right and downshifting. <G> Posting "GPaL Tonight!" was pretty lame when he obviously didn't have a working program. I think he invented the whole thing to get his hands on the 1.1 patch early.

> LOL! Not really Goy, that <G> was ear to ear when I wrote that. <G> Well, ok then :-) LOL, well, I've actually converted to your setup for WG Tracey...... No comments, I don't know why Jack hasn't finished GPaL, and until I know the whole story, I won't pass judgement, over the years I've downloaded so many good utils for free that people have made just to give others more enjoyment from their sims, so I feel the least I can do is give them the benefit of the doubt, for all we know, something serious might have happened in Jack's life that has made him change his priorities, so until I get the complete story, I'm sitting on the fence -- Beers and cheers (uncle) Goy "Team Mirage" http://www.teammirage.com/ "The Pits" http://www.theuspits.com/

Absolutely. Andrew McP