Cold. Cold. Cold.
 
Who knew the absence of something could be so painful? Who knew heat leaving something would feel so bad?
 
Tough it out, Homer, you're a Swede.
 
But you're also born and raised in Southern California.
 
The slushy snow half-resisted, half-tolerated its compaction by his feet. Somehow, Homer thought of mushrooms. His lower legs cut a swath through the yielding snow as his exhalations clouded the air around him. After what felt like five minutes, he saw in front of him a door facing the uncleared sidewalk. He pushed it open.
 
"It's so cold," he complained.
 
An Indian man walked downstairs and extended his hand. "Well, a white guy complaining about the cold, and when it's only 15 degrees too! I'm Abhay Bhushan. And you must be the 'protocols guy' from California?"
 
Homer shook it. "I am."
 
"Well, if that's the case I've got something for you. If you'll follow me, please. There's hot coffee in the room," tempted Abhay.
 
Abhay walked across the lobby, into an elevator, up to the eighth floor, under a sign reading STAFF ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT, through an open door, into a conference room. Homer followed.
 
Abhay clapped his hands. "Alright, I see some of you have started to dig into the coffee and cookies. Don't use up all the sugar and leave some milk for the next guy, please. So here let's talk about the theory of what we'll be demonstrating in practice once the food and drink are finished.
 
"As many of you no doubt know, two years ago a major problem was solved. How to network computers with different operating systems, working in different languages. The Interface Message Processor was invented to remedy this problem. But still, the human issue remained. The TELNET protocol, although extremely useful, does not magically familiarize computer operators with systems other than those they physically work with. Until now.
 
"Until now, the transfer of files has been done through direct usage - when you log into a remote system, and behave like you're a local user of that remote system. The problem is, transferring files is conceptually the same thing whatever operating system is used. It should not be necessary to directly use a remote system to transfer a file from it to a local system. This is a situation that cries out for a remedy.
 
"Fortunately, one is at hand. That solution is indirect usage, and our new protocol for file transfer guarantees that. With it, one needs only familiarize oneself with one set of commands that apply universally, but are translated into the commands of the systems on which they act by those systems.
 
"The File Transfer Protocol moves all kinds of computer programs and data - as long as the type is specified and is one both systems recognize and accept. The only thing needed to identify a file is its file name and directory name - in layman's terms, its title and address. 
 
"Access restrictions on files are recognized for the sender can require a password to transfer a file. It is very simply extendible to all types of systems - as long as it names files and tells how they can be found.
 
"What the IMPs did for computers, the FTP will do for humans. It is our belief and ambition that in the future the FTP will be recognized as one of the chief benefits of ARPANET."
 
A knock on the door.
 
"Is there a Homer Carlson here? There's a phone call from Los Angeles from a Claire Carlson who's looking for him."
 
"There he is," Bob Kahn, a colleague of Homer's, pointed.
 
"She never forgets to call every day. Never," Homer joked as he walked out to the telephone extension.
 
He tried to predict what it would be about. Family drama? Boyfriends? Clem--oh, no, perish the thought.
 
He walked to the extension which was off the hook.
 
"Hello Claire, I'm in a meeting right now and so it's not really a good time. What do you need? How's the family? How are you doing?"
 
But all that came over the line, was sobs.
 
Cold. Cold. Cold.

Who knew the absence of something could be so painful?