Commodore is so badly overstocked with machines these days that it's having to give them away. Why, only last week it donated two gratis to a lucky beneficiary Somewhere in the South of England.

Since the recipient of these two machines was none other than the Prime Minister, and since the systems were the one millionth and two millionth boxes to roll off the Corby production line, Commodore might argue that the gift was more in the nature of a memorial than a clear-out. But Mrs. Thatcher obviously wasn't impressed - she immediately passed the machines on to the Pope John School in Corby.

Which raises an interesting question, in a roundabout sort of way. The background is that a young Commodore employee called Carmella Polcaro, said by the company to be 17, helped to make the presentation to Mrs. Thatcher. The company further says that "Carmella has worked for Commodore in Corby for 18 months."

This sounds like a return to Victorian values, and Carmella must think herself lucky that she isn't being sent up chimneys. The school leaving age in this country is 16. Carmella's 17 years, minus the 18 months she's worked for Commodore, leaves something in the region of 15.5.

Is Commodore, the holder of the Royal Warrant, dishing out machines to the Pope John School on the one hand and enticing its pupils with job offers on the others?

After a slow start to the year, the software scene has picked up recently with some titles that look good enough to stick around for a while. But that isn't enough for the pranksters at Coventry sofware house PSS. They seem to regard it as their mission in life to brighten the gloomy days of everybody involved in the home computer business.

Their latest bid for stardom is the release of "a frightening conflict simulation" called Theatre Europe, in which the curtain comes down on us all.

Overwhelmed by your response to the last Laughline competition, we're striking while the iron's hot - here's another chance to win £20 for the funniest caption or speech bubbles to go with another photograph.

If it helps, the pic was taken inside manufacturer Maxtor's European repair shop, but don't let that cramp your style. It can be anywhere you want it to be (but we won't accept recycled cow jokes).

Send your entries to PCN at 62 Oxford Stret, London W1A 2HG - we'll announce the winner in issue 109.

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