Automate Saving the World

MUMPS - 30 characters, circa 1966 (ANSI standard first in 1977)

My first attempt at code golf, here we go!

f  w "4 8 15 16 23 42" h 6420

MUMPS is still a popular language for EHR software, created by Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Most known implementation is Epic Systems in Verona, WI.

Bourne shell, 47 45 bytes

while echo 4 8 15 16 23 42;do sleep 6420;done

TECO, 53 bytes

TECO (Text [previously Tape] Editor and Corrector) is a text editor originating in 1962. It can also be used to run standalone programs. It's the state-of-the-art editor for PDPs, VAXen, etc.

According to the TECO manual, the ^H command gives the time of day. Make sure to check your operating system and power supply, as the unit of time may vary according to your machine:

OS/8:      ^H = 0
RT-11:     ^H = (seconds since midnight)/2
RSTS/E:    ^H = minutes until midnight
RSX-11:    ^H = (seconds since midnight)/2
VAX/VMS:   ^H = (seconds since midnight)/2
TOPS-10:   ^H = 60ths of a second since midnight
(or 50ths of a second where 50 Hz power is used)

The following program works on systems where time of day is measured in seconds/2:

I4 8 15 16 23 42
$<HT^HUA<^H-QAUDQD"L43200%D'QD-3180;>>

Note that ^H and $ should be entered by striking, respectively, CONTROL-H and ESCAPE.

The numbers in the program can be adjusted for the following machines:

   (number)        43200     3180
RSTS/E              1440      106
TOPS-10 60 Hz    5184000   381600
TOPS-10 50 Hz    4320000   318000
OS/8             goodbye, world...