Blinkenlights
Stop the gefingerpoken
Gotta have a little humor in your professional life. Do you know the story of blinkenlights?
Blinkenlights was a pseudo-German sign the computer hackers at Stanford, c. 1959, put up in their computer room, apparently to ward off ill effects of any (ge)finger-pokin’ muggles.
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.
German hackers rebutted with a version of their own in Pseudo-English:
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.