blinkenlights

/blink'*n-li:tz/ Front-panel diagnostic lights on a computer,

especially a dinosaur. Derives from the last word of the

famous blackletter-Gothic sign in mangled pseudo-German that

once graced about half the computer rooms in the

English-speaking world. One version ran in its entirety as

follows:

ACHTUNG! ALLES LOOKENSPEEPERS!

Das computermachine ist nicht fuer gefingerpoken und

mittengrabben. Ist easy schnappen der springenwerk,

blowenfusen und poppencorken mit spitzensparken. Ist nicht

fuer gewerken bei das dumpkopfen. Das rubbernecken

sichtseeren keepen das cotten-pickenen hans in das pockets

muss; relaxen und watchen das blinkenlichten.

This silliness dates back at least as far as 1959 at Stanford

University and had already gone international by the early

1960s, when it was reported at London University's ATLAS

computing site. There are several variants of it in

circulation, some of which actually do end with the word

"blinkenlights".

In an amusing example of turnabout-is-fair-play, German

hackers have developed their own versions of the blinkenlights

poster in fractured English, one of which is reproduced here:

ATTENTION

This room is fullfilled mit special electronische

equippment. Fingergrabbing and pressing the cnoeppkes from

the computers is allowed for die experts only! So all the

"lefthanders" stay away and do not disturben the

brainstorming von here working intelligencies. Otherwise

you will be out thrown and kicked anderswhere! Also: please

keep still and only watchen astaunished the blinkenlights.

See also geef.

[Jargon File]