History - the history of the Lviv group Tertius Gaudens (authors of the Optron newspaper).

 History pages           
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 Optocoupler. Subjective history      
 or                  
 Tertius Gaudens: farewell confession  
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 (C) Igor Bozhenko           
                                        
The Y of each stick has three ends.
   The third end is when it is thrown away.
 (One English boatswain)
                                        
 Home                 
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 This story began in the fall of 1997
yes, when several got together
Lviv spektrumists, creating Lvovc-
what Spectrum group Iron Falcons.
Creation initiator and organizer
this group was Misha Kozakov. He is also
proposed to start publishing a ZX newspaper:
after all, a newborn group needs to produce
drive some software product!    
                                        
 How modestly they remember those bpeme-
nah the authors of the newspaper, she thought not-
large, simple in information design
ration sheet, not strictly attached
to computer topics. Newspaper for yourself
and for yourself.  I wanted to look cool
although the first ee number is actually
looked unpresentable and very
sloppy.                                
                                        
 Nevertheless, the tasks before the newspaper
were raised very serious: obe-
hang around Lvov spektrumis-
com, help them master programming
development and hardware improvements of the Spectrum,
introduce you to the "general Spectrum life"
new", and most importantly - to create Lviv spe-
Ktrymov network. Here are the main hopes
were entrusted with propaganda and dissemination
modems, and since one of the "chi-
external" elements of the modem - optocoupler, then from -
This is where the name of the newspaper came from.         
                                        
NN1-10. Becoming          
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 From the very beginning the alignment was taken
for the best examples of the ZX press. As
a sample of the shell was taken from the newspaper ZX-
News, St. Petersburg.  And rightly so, in my opinion.
What's the use of writing an essay for every newspaper?
their own shell, one another
clumsy?   Wouldn't it be better to keep
Is there some kind of general standard here?
                                        
 From its very first issues Optocoupler
declared itself very powerfully: materials about
Enlight'97 festival, about modems, spec-
pymobckom hardware and software, very smart
held discussion "ZX vs RS". Then
and one of the main themes of Opt-
rona - the history of the Lviv Spectrum.    
                                        
 And it ended with approximately
halfIron Falcons, incl. and Misha Ko-
the chains were "thrown off the Spectrum." About the same
who continued to work on the newspaper, it is necessary
tell separately.                    
                                        
 These people were, of course, different, but
they also had something in common: they were all
very talented and ambitious. That's just-
ko, doing some business and satisfying
by stealing their ambitions in him, they
the matter cooled down.                        
                                        
Vladimir Klimus (Hacker Rasp).His
the family moved to Lviv as a
Rnobyl migrants. So off to school
he finished already in Lvov, where from it
They made a Ukrainian patriot. Vpro-
what (unlike others) he was
able to listen to another point of view. 
                                        
His first hobby was aviation,
the second is the computer, and the Internet has allowed
unite them.                          
                                        
 His first computer (in 1990)
became PK-01 "Lvov", but soon it was possible
he couldn't get enough of this computer
Thus, and already in 1991 he had a first
vy Spectrum - tape "Byte".        
                                        
 As the most powerful programmer among
Falcons, he took up the development of equipment
locksoptocoupler, and at the same time he became
editor-in-chief.                     
                                        
 And he really was a programmer
but very strong, and bore his nickname
not for nothing: there are quite a few hacked (or, as
he said, "saved with a rasp") about
gram was on his account. However, the creation
given them the shell and coloring book of the Optocoupler
he does so until final perfection and
didn’t finish (which for a true programmer
very typical, in my opinion). K him
indisputable merits, in addition to the creation of the Wholesale
Ron, also includes the creation of a network of l-
bobckux spektrumist LvivZXNet and ee
connection to the general ZXNet.                
                                        
 He was a very active “networker”
and those who were carried away, loved to start various
new network disputes and conflicts. And when
this, despite his own assertion
the belief that “the network, communication on the network is
a step towards human degradation", communication is
only benefited him, enhanced him
erudition and intelligence (again, not in
example of other things).                    
                                        
 To the Spectrum it cooled for a long time and
read: from "Spekki Foreva" - to affirmative
Expectations that the discussion "ZX vs RS"was
childishness, and then to recognition
the complete futility of the Spectrum.      
                                        
 The same thing happened with him and with
Optocoupler.  At the beginning - "I will give
I will use all my strength until
Spectrum will live." Then little by little
stopped writing articles for him (by the way
say, excellent), and then completely sa-
got rid of the preparation of materials
for the next number, limiting it
assembly.                                
                                        
 Finally, realizing that on the Spectrum and in
In the optocoupler it has already realized its full potential.
hew, he generally refused to engage in Optical
ron.  All my persuasion to release into the world
accumulated material and make a conclusion
phone number, accompanied by calling
yami to his patriotism and nationalism -
after all, by that time the optocoupler had become the only
the vein comes out more or less regularly
newspaper, and in Ukraine - even in
the only one of its kind - left btyt-
no. However, later he repeatedly
but expressed regret about this
solution and continued to help Optocoupler and
advice and action.  So, on your website
page (rashpil.virtualave.net) - to
At that time, he decided to start doing web programming.
pammupobahuem - he set aside a place andOptro-
Well, I started to remake the optocouplers into
html format, starting with the latest ones, was released -
numbers already formed without his participation (which
would contribute to wider dissemination
sending them via the Internet), but the point is
it was never completed.                  
                                        
 But in general, I must say that, not
despite our age difference
and life experience, I was not shy about looking
yell at him, as they say, "from below
up."                                 
                                        
 He is now graduating from the Faculty of Co-
computer equipment and technologies Lvov-
whom polytechnic.                          
                                        
 Pavel Vysotsky (Gendalf).  At stage
formation of the optocoupler was considered the "main
ideologist." Then he was moved aside
well, having become only “one of the authors”, that
he was undoubtedly offended. And he is touchy
was to the extreme: because of any minor
he repeatedly broke up with Rasp and,
respectively, with an optocoupler; and then
rotated.  Rasp, like a great love
the agent of all kinds of conflicts (which he
he himself often provoked), all this
onlyentertained.  He was also very
proud and envious: with all his might
strived to catch up with Rasplem (or even
surpass him) in terms of his status in the Optocoupler.
                                        
 He was a great connoisseur and connoisseur of
literature - philosophical and artistic.
Hence his “pseudo” (powerful
the magician Gandalf is one of the main characters
Tolkien). And the spelling error in the last
the situation was not corrected because it
has already taken root. By the way, approximately
the same story happened with the name
group: “officially” it was written incorrectly
Vilno - Felcons.                       
                                        
 All his publications have this shade
grumpiness, pessimism and decadence.
At the same time, in his reviews of the festival
works this led to the funny: "laugh-
muck with mud" some kind of festival, in
call for the next one, he will definitely indicate -
Val, that, supposedly, at that festival, oh
which he wrote before, everything was replaced
finally - unlike the current one, which
ry is no good.                 
                                        
 In addition to materials for the Optocoupler, I began
he was writing two fantastic stories at once
novel - yes, he gave it up; wrote twoten
fantastic stories - but that's just
Most of them were left without a stake.
forgings.                                  
                                        
 And for all that in all his writings
lay the stamp of undoubted talent. His
reviews of the demos delighted even
me, who was in the demos, what do they call it?
tsya, “neither ear nor snout.” B pacmatpuba-
in the demos he was able to find such stupid
bins of thoughts that, probably, have not been removed
their authors.                        
                                        
 The way he “grew above himself” is good
can be seen in the example of his game novels: from
a simple retelling of the game - to the "yawning
depths" of philosophical generalizations. Attitude
my attitude towards these materials of his is often
underwent three stages: from a sharp non-
acceptance through “There’s something in this...” to
“But he’s right!”                      
                                        
 Having finally become editor-in-chief,
At first he enthusiastically took up the task
lo;  but soon the enthusiasm dried up, and
became another “nail in the coffin” of the newspaper.
                                        
 Now he is graduating from the Faculty of Law in Lviv.
whomuni.  The fact that he will become the first
a great lawyer, I have no doubt. But
I want to hope that work in the Optocoupler would-
was a good school for him, and in the future
this will help him become the first
great writer.                     
                                        
 Andrey Stegnitsky. He was from birth
for the blind.  However, in the outside world
navigated more clearly than other sighted people:
despite his blindness, he managed
become an experienced computer scientist and active
networker.  He was the one who initiated
inclusion of Lviv in ZXNet and - together with
The rasp is the implementer of this.          
                                        
 And he was simply a replacement for the ZX musician
chatty! May other ZX-mu- forgive me
zykants for my subjective assessment, but
those things that I happened to listen to were not
could not be compared with the "Mouzons"
Andrey. Is that some of his work?
same friend, Andrei Shmatolokha (several
he made his “muson” “to order”,
specially to the corresponding number Op-
throne, although he admitted that he had to work
“to order” is hard. A - after Shma-
tolohoy - "having left the Spectrum", he os-
put out so many "musons" that they were
yay, that would be enough for a good hundredOptro-
new                                    
                                        
 Despite all that, he was far from ahre-
break, and in conflict situations could break
reveal very bad traits of his character
ktepa, forcing the one who had heocto-
the risk of entering into conflict with him,
just regret it.                  
                                        
 Now he, having graduated from the Law Faculty of Lvov
uni, works in one of the legal
consultations in Lviv. He works there
mainly by protecting the rights of people with disabilities, and
at the same time - performs the work of a system administrator. A
in addition, participates in computer work
ary courses for people with disabilities.              
                                        
Recently, during the last parliament
htckux elections, he became famous throughout
Ukraine.  One of the national television
channels showed a report from one of the
biration areas of Lvov, during the co-
whom Andrey, staying there as
observer, said: "I see that here
Voters' rights are being violated!" Don't you dare-
hurry up!  With his “inner vision” Andrey
able to see very, very much -
I say this with all seriousness.  Someone else. Narrating the formation
Optocoupler, we cannot remain silent about two more
tsakh, which, it would seem, have no origin
had no bearing on him.                
                                        
 Vladimir Bulchukei (Wlodek Black),
editor of the Nicron newspaper, Moscow. He, according to
zhalyy, one of the first non-Lviv residents to adopt
til serious attention to our "new-
born", and immediately contacted Rashpi-
Lem, making him a number of significant remarks
information regarding the quality of the newly minted
newspapers.                                 
                                        
 I don’t know whether “as a result”
vii that", but, in any case, "in
then" the quality of the shell and texts
Optocouplers have improved dramatically. And after that
another very authoritative one (as
time) spektrumist and networker - Andrey
Savichev, SPb - responded very highly on the Internet
praises the optocoupler, giving a number of
advice on how to make this newspaper even better
she.  Do I need to talk about how important
Was there such support then?             
                                        
 One of hisadvice - to strengthen the "local
"- I took note, and
then I always tried to ensure that in our
glares were necessarily present
some small details indicating that
that the newspaper was made in Lvov, and
not somewhere in Grodno or, there, in Tash-
kehte.                                  
                                        
 And in the future the activities of these two
persons gave "ample food" for, so to speak,
in other words, "impact" publications of "Optocoupler": but
at the same time, we “repaid our benefactors”
I'll blame you with black ingratitude" (more details
this will be discussed below), what I mean
I still regret it.                     
                                        
 Sergey Filimonov. B Falcons composition'
he did not enter, but was completely independent
telny, so to speak, "bazaar sitter"
cem", which specialized in Spec-
tpymy.  It was through the radio market that I got acquainted
Rasp and Andrey are with him, and that’s exactly
based on his efforts to adapt existing
modems for Lviv conditions
their hopes for the inclusion of Lvov in
ZXNet.                                  
                                        
 Notwithout reason considered himself a "pain"
we are literate,” and therefore, in order to improve
sew quality tekctbo optocouplers, rasp
turned to him for help. This matter
Sergei gave himself up with great enthusiasm, and
The optocoupler soon acquired a reputation as "the most
competent ZX newspaper."                   
                                        
 However, it plays a simple role as a corrector
did not limit himself, and little by little he began to define
share both the style and the very content of the publication
cation of the Optocoupler, so much so that the materials
evil authors upon their publication became
curled indistinguishable from each other in their style
from a friend.                               
                                        
 All this, of course, took away from him
too much effort and time - to the detriment
main activity.  And when Rasp
stopped working on Optocouplers, then Ser-
the gay stopped seeing the point in it, and also
left the newspaper, thereby injecting more
one nail in her coffin.                  
                                        
 Taras Nikolaychuk. Lives and works in
Carpathians - in Nadvirna, Ivano-Frankivsk-
which region. Was a keen spectrumis-
that, and therefore - a regular at Lvov
radio market, where he met Filimo-
new, and through it - and cjust-just
The Optocoupler was born into the world. And
immediately helped the newborn a lot with his
articles.  According to Filimonov, “his
the articles needed much less editing
higher than everyone else." Yes, and in the long term
Shem Taras helped Optocoupler as much as he could - and
articles, and advice, and simply moral
support.                             
                                        
 But, unfortunately, by that time we
got too greedy: for one reason or another
reasons, some materials began to be rejected,
others - “put on the back burner.”
Many of our aircraft did not escape this fate.
tori - both old and new, and Lviv, and
non-residents.  I'm very uncomfortable in front of
Tapacom for the fact that not all of it
We managed to publish the articles before
how the optocoupler ceased to exist.       
                                        
 Sergey Vasiliev (Protein).  Lives in
Chernivtsi, considering them God-damned breath
swarm, completely unsuitable for humans
centuries with his talents. And his talents
indeed, possessed many and varied
different.                                
                                        
 He was a good friend of Rasp, and
onThe optocoupler began to work, starting, like this,
with his N10.                              
                                        
 Literary talent, he, hecom-
hehho, was: from many I have experienced
to hear that his story is based on co-
computer games - one of the best public-
tions of the Optocoupler.  However, I, not being these
games fan, this opinion is not shared
lyal. In my opinion, his other things were
better. Send all Optocoupler articles
artistic intricate epigraphs - it was
his idea, and then they became interested in the same
I'm mothering Nikolaychuk.                  
                                        
 He also had poetic talent.
He composed so many poems that one day
I even offered to release the issue in full
stuly dedicated to his poetry. To this but-
Segrey has prepared a large selection
of their poems, accompanying them with a kind
"fantasy poems in prose." Number
We didn’t do this one, but it’s useful
this idea was that in almost
each subsequent number of the Optocoupler could be
It’s okay to put the one that matches this number by
its theme is a poem by Sergei (exactly
as well as the music “from Andrey”).      
                                        
 But the most important thing istalent is
had the talent of an artist. The optocoupler works with it
clearly became "the only and henobto-
rim": excellent screensavers appeared
columns, each new issue began to appear
corresponding to its main topic
"cover".  At the same time, in my opinion,
the main thing in his works was not heocnopu-
our artistic merits even
idea, thought.                            
                                        
 But, alas, sufficient responsibility
was no different. Then she attacked him
depression and he stopped drawing, then
sent us the drawings when everything
conceivable deadlines have already passed. And when he doesn't
sent us the “cover” for the issue on time,
dedicated to the 200th anniversary of Pushkin (and drawing
but this, as it turned out later,
was the best thing he ever did
lal), we freaked out and decided on this number
don't release it at all. And this happened
the first “death knell” for the Optocoupler.
                                        
 I think that the Rasp is so “looped-
"was" on Sergei, it was his mistake. After all
most of the Falcons, including himself
rasp, they could easily draw a picture-
ku - independently or based on
Sergei's ideas! (Although before Sergei they were
of course, far away). Moreover, a number of artists
nicks (and not onlyLviv) just-ta-
ki was eager to work for the optocoupler, and
The rasp didn't even notice them! Finally,
you could simply turn to
to some artist for permission to use
use his “fe-” as a “cover”
creative" work. In short, the problem would be
la solved.                              
                                        
 In the end, this is what happened:
Sergei little by little left the newspaper (although
his poems continued to be published), and
he was successfully replaced by others.            
                                        
 Tertius Gaudens.  B Optocoupler I'm here
later than everyone else, already when I left,
like that, N15.                              
                                        
 I knew Filimonov from work
those who were keenly interested in his studies at
Spectrum path and was acutely jealous
his newspaper activities. By using-
By doing this, Sergei attracted me to the right
ke articles - to help him.               
                                        
 But did it really help him?  After all
working on a text together inevitably involves
led to endless disputes about
eachphrases in each paragraph of each
articles! As a result, assembling the newspaper takes a long time.
died long after midnight. But then
it was incomparable
pleasure: having sent, finally prepared-
captured pieces to the rasp and completely cut off from
expended effort and doping in the form of "ethyl-
derivatives", you can follow on the screen
nitor behind the growing column, signaling
whining that Rasp is about to become law-
cheat transfer to us fully assembled
another optocoupler, and then see it on
screen!                                 
                                        
 Was such “zeal” justified
not according to reason"? Yes and no. With one hundred
Ron, the quality of the newspaper was high. A c
other - that's the effort, we
the swarm did not notice the obvious mistakes. Work
It became increasingly difficult to work on the newspaper
ee, the intervals between ee releases have become
increase. And the fact that the “bar” is required
We raised our expectations for publications higher and higher
and higher, could not help but frighten off our
potential authors.                    
                                        
 So, in constant disputes and pre-
quarrels between Rasp, Filimonov and
me, and the face of the Optocoupler was born: obligatory
detailed breakdown into headings; topic, general
for the entire newspaper; selection of music, "oblo-
zhki"and verses that corresponded
to this topic; maximum possible
closer to normal printing standards
newspaper and, accordingly, decisively
a strong rejection of “corners”, “emoticons” and
other "network things".