rbudrick

Funny, I feel the same way about Amelia Earhart and Chupacabra, but some people still are interested in those. For those that aren't interested in the topic at hand, why post here? If nothing else, I suppose such posts keep the thread alive, so carry on serving the opposite purpose intended. -Rob

You just quoted yourself. This right here is how portals to alternate realities are created Reminds me of that time I ran a GBC emulator on a Palm IIIc and the GBC emulator was running an NES emulator...in black and white. I went back in time at about one frame per minute. At that rate I should find out exactly what was buried on the site about 6,437,114 years after the sun burns out. Damn! I would just barely miss it! Astronomically speaking, of course. This is not considering the collision of the Milky Way with Andromeda, nearby supernovas destined to happen well before this (wiping out our planet, even from many light years away), the expansion of the sun, guaranteed collision with NEOs, and a bit of human (or whatever species come after us) error with our weapons and other bullshit. If only I could have overclocked that damn Palm IIIc, I could have saved the world. Years from now, people will say I tried to warn the world, but it was too late. Why won't anyone listen!!?? Perhaps this post will find the right eyes centuries from now and save your ancestors. They will thank me then and you should now. That, and your ancestors should really fucking dig up that damn landfill. This means YOU futurefolk! Hey, what year is it now? Is it working? -Rob

I say we all charter busses from our various locations, and we can all meet there and start digging. I own some land in Deming, so we can set up camp there. Ok, I'm not serious.... but seriously... But seriously, we could tunnel our way to the old landfill -- that way we'd be underneath the concrete, and it would be easier to get to all those E.T. carts! O_O Of course, now I hear Chief Wiggum from "The Simpsons" saying, "No, no, stupid. Dig up!" ^_^ Tunneling through a garbage dump. Ahhh, the good old days. Best Idea EVER. -Rob

The good news is, gold doesn't corrode or tarnish, so whether they are crushed or not doesn't matter. -Rob

Err, umm, we can't. All 12 games are built in. #11 is the only game without a jumper card to access it. Perhaps if some guts were replaced one could create new configs. You'd have to be damn good, though. It's not like the games can be programmed, as they are all analog. -Rob

I think it must be Silicon Valley's proximity to San Francisco. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Sunnyvale is full of engineers, artists, and unconventional lifestyles. Maybe there's some connection! There's definitely a lot of overlap in the games industry out here... - KS Good point, but were all these folks working/living in the same area? -Rob

Responding to an old thread, yes, I know. I just wanted to say, it seems a fairly good number of programmers of retro games had sex change operations. I can't think of any specific names, but I think I've heard of at least three others. Anyone else have input on this? -Rob

Hmm, other games with endings, let's see: E.T. Mountain King Pitfall-has an end, but no really an ending---maxing the score on just about any other Activision game does the same thing, but that's different. Star Master I suppose some of the sports games like Boxing or Realsports Volleyball, etc, but then it's weird territory because there's no real ending sequence, which Pitfall falls in too. So, there's games you can "beat" and then there's games with ending sequences. -Rob

It's cool to see that video interview, but there's still no release date stated, or even a general range of a date. This soap opera is getting scary! -Rob

Wow, I really didn't think my question would be posted to the auction, since it really has nothing to do with the item. However, it does raise valid concerns. I never really intended to post a list of owners in the book I'm writing (which is coming along slowly as shit...never any free time), but info like this being made public is probably not a good idea so as to protect the owners. So, I may not have even thought of the danger had this auction not been posted. So, I know I don't technically have to, being a hard-hitting journalist and all (HAR HAR HAR...that'll be the day), but I would like permission from the Atlantis II owners to put their names in the book, should I ever get around to finishing it. Please let me know. HAR HAR again. I remember reading about it, and I think I made some notes in the file I keep info on "other competitions" in, but it wasn't extensive. 5th Ghost, what was the innaccuracy in the info posted on your cart? -Rob

I know people tend to groan at "how much is this worth" threads, and I do too, but I posted a very similar thread on the DP boards here: http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread...519#post1230519 I was really hoping for your expert opinions here, so I'm looking forward to reading them! Thanks! -Rob

Well, there's correcting someone spelling and grammar and being a dick, and there's kindly pointing out mistakes in the writing skills of someone representing the community in a letter to an important source. A tackfull letter might get you sued, because tacks can hurt people. I would recommend a tactful letter and see where it takes us. Just picking on ya dude...I don't really give a crap, lol. -Rob

So they are saying that a highway, which is probably between 40 and 80 feet wide, just happens to run over the exact, relatively small bit of that massive landfill that the goods are buried under? I find that very, very hard to believe, and also suspect. The fact that most officials do not want to talk about it reeks of something badly. I can not accept that merely at face value just because some official said "BECAUSE I SAID SO, AND THAT'S FINAL." It could be as simple as they don't want folks nosing around and digging stuff up there because it's a legal liability if someone got hurt. Or, it could be as far fetched as a conspiracy...like Atari didn't bury as much as they said and paid some BFI and/or city officials off, heh heh. ;-D -Rob

Well, I'm not going to read that whole thing, but the word Bribe only came up twice in that argument and was not relevant to this discussion. With that said, every politician gets funded for campaigns by campaign contributions from those that feel like giving them money. Sure, there's certain restrictions on amounts you may offer and such, but they don't get their free millions by sitting around and waiting for it to fall from the sky. Potahto. -Rob

You say bribe like it's something illegal. Certain contributions some may call bribes, but are 100% legit. You say Bribe, I say Potahto. -Rob

Only if those minors requested their records be closed. Otherwise, they should still be public record. So, that maximum possible size of the concrete slab is 70x70 feet, and likely much smaller. Good to know. I still think a campaign contribution will get you a nice archaeological digging permit...especially if done with university students. I'd bet some professor could make a very legitimate project out of this for his students. -Rob

I commend him for using the Google 3D feature, but since there's a van on that mountain, he's found something far more important: The biggest van ever. Or, that's just a dirt mound with a similar resemblance to the mountain range. -Rob

Oh, man...good question. I assume they do, but if they don't they can't say shit if the owner lets you dig. -Rob

I think the only way we'd ever get a permit to dig is if we agreed to take the trash in question out of their landfill, and pay them to do it. A big contribution to a local politician's campaign fund would probably do the trick. Hell, if they were so worried about the stuff being buried there back then, they'll be glad to get rid of it. What a messy job that would be! Even then, it's a big longshot, and a lot of friggin trash, but quite possible, I'd think. -Rob

Right. That, and the exact GPS coordinates of the 45 (square?) yard area they were buried in mght be nice. So who's this guy that went to the landfill with a videocamera? -Rob

(whistles) BUMP (whistles) -ROb

When you consider an entire city's population dumps trash there, along with huge companies like Waste Management, there's no reason that the atari stuff isn't under 30 feet of trash by now. They just keep piling that stuff, you know. What year did they close that place? Think of how many years of trash were dumped on top of it by then. That's a deep pile for sure. I highly doubt they are near the surface, considering how damn deep most landfills are. Most go very deep indeed. Like almost quarry deep. -Rob

Well trash scavenging may not have been prohibited it in 1983, but it may be now. Also, since it's technically not a dump anymore, and possibly a park, legally, then you probably can't just go there with a shovel or backhoe and start digging. Again, I say we need a lawyer to work this with us. But this Peter Block dude sounds like a great source! Who's going to call him now? Besides, landfills can be HUGE. There could easily be 20 feet of trash for acres piled on top of the spot the goods were buried. -Rob

Has anyone actually contacted the editor or a writer of the paper? -Rob

The super secret "need to know" theory is just a way to explain the lack of evidence...which is easily and logically explained away anyways, it probably didn't happen. Maybe, But peoples' suspicions were hardened by the town worker being so hush about it...making it sound like a secret, as though he wasn't allowed to divulge certain details. -Rob