From: Mark A. Harris
Date: 6/16/2003
Subj: Nathan Childers

Thought you might find it ironic that the name of the article was “The Real Deal”.

http://www.jazzreview.com/articleprint.cfm?ID=1538

Also it’s quite funny that the article seems to be written by Nathan Childers, yet he’s writing in the 3rd person, even quoting…himself? Very strange indeed…

Yes, indeed. There is a certain class of crank that writes about himself in the third person, as though he were writing the sort of thing that ought to be written about him. On the other hand Presidential candidate Bob Dole was famous for saying “Bob Dole says”. Then again, can one really trust a Republican who touts Viagra?

I am pleased to see the musical Nathan Childers is upholding the traditions of his name.

From: Joe Boxhorn
Date: 6/22/2003
Subj: The geezer exam

You may need to recalibrate the geezer exam to control for the effects of knowing a bit about history. It gave me what I hope is a false positive. I scored 19, and I’m only 46! Given that I have colleagues who still call me kiddo, it is patently unfair to pass from youth into geezerhood without ever being an adult.

Of course, it could be that geezerhood is just a state of mind. But that is too frightening to contemplate.

Knowing a bit about history is a sign of incipient geezerhood. Are you quite certain that your colleagues aren’t struldbrugs?

From: Jean T. Scott
Date: 6/19/2003
Subj: Larry “Fats” Goldberg Pizzaria

Never visited his pizza restaurants but I am sure they were good.

Unfortunately, I read that Larry “Fats” Goldberg died in February 2003 of Alzheimers. This may explain his selling of the pizza restaurants.

That is all I know.

Thanks for the info. Every bit helps.

From: anne tarte
Date: 6/11/2003
Subj: informayion

please, what does AWOL stand for? thanks for your answer.

AWOL = Absent With Out Leave

You need leave (official permission) to leave a military base or ship. If you go on liberty (free to go off base) and don’t get back in time you are AWOL. If you never come back you are a deserter.

From: Bill Roberts
Date: 5/26/2003
Subj: BS in math

Just found your site. Love “Science!??. ” Add this if it pleases. http://www.aps.org/apsnews/articles/11273.html

I think I shall. It fits right in.

From: Bob Frazier
Date: 6/1/2003
Subj: MellerDrammer

When did you tread the boards at the old Meller Drammer? Was it in the days of Jim and Nancy Buterbaugh? I also worked the old place in 1965.

Interesting to come across someone else who worked there.

I was a little bit before you – it was either the summer of 1960 or 1961. One of the things that I didn’t think of doing when I was much younger was to write down the names of everyone in the groups I was in and the times when things happened. It’s not that these things are important in their own right – it’s just that when one has entered one’s anecdotage it spoils anecdotes when you keep interrupting yourself with failed attempts to recall a name or place. This is a rather longwinded way of saying that I no longer remember the name of the couple that ran it during my time.

I don’t know if the Meller Drammer is still there. I don’t suppose that it is but I shall stop in Rockerville the next time I am in the Black Hills.

From: Jeff Keogh
Date: 5/21/2003
Subj: Christian Forums

I discovered your site some years ago, and found your essay “The Small and Stupid Gods” to be well written and thoughtful. I’m a member of ChristianForums, and thought that many of the members there would also derive some enjoyment from reading. I hope you don’t mind, but I have posted there a link to your site (the essay in particular).

The thread is located at http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?s=&postid;=984007#post984007

I don’t mind at all. However I saw that you (or someone) had posted a copy of the essay. That I also don’t mind. However if you could add a note that it is copyright 1998 by Richard Harter, I would very much appreciate it. I see that I neglected to put a copyright notice on the page. Bad me.

In any event, I am pleased that you enjoyed the essay.

From: btolun
Date: 5/14/2003
Subj: Responding Evolutionist Propaganda

Please welcome a new website. This frequently-updated website undertakes to respond the evolutionist propaganda that you are likely to come across every morning in the media. One day you see an imaginary tree of evolution, another a fraud drawing claiming to picture your ape ancestors. You see no concrete proof, just tales full of fancy words. Since it is a fact that the scientific findings of the last two decades contradict the theory of evolution. Yet, you don’t have to believe in these brainwashing stories opposing the fact of creation anymore. In this website you will find the exact responses to each one of the propaganda. Truth is unavoidable. It comes out despite all efforts to hide it… If you would like to be further informed and receive the first newsletter of this website, just reply to below address. [email protected]

Sorry to say, but I don’t want your no doubt excellent newsletter. After all there are a profusion of creationist websites, all of which peddle twaddle. Why should your site be any better than the rest of them.

From: Hillel
Date: 5/28/2003
Subj: i need some help in algorithem

1. to find an index i (in array of n elements) according to a value x (to find the index of the value-suppose, there are no collisions) in O(log i) if i<n/2 else in O(log(n-i)) ?

I get the impression that you are a tad confused about how to use the order (big O) function. However:

A. If the contents of the array are not ordered the average cost of finding the index of x (if it is present) is O(n).

B. If the contents of the array are in sorted order the average cost of finding the index of x (if it is present) is O(log n).

The actual index i of the value does not enter explicitly in the result.

From: Swanee Hochhalter
Date: 6/2/2003
Subj: Accident?

Hi Harter,

I tell you your story was great, and you tell me that I spelled a word wrong…Hey, that’s my relationship with my mother! Swanee

Oh dear, that was very bad of me, wasn’t it. Think of it this way – I made you think of your mother, and that, after all, is a good deal. Every child should think of their mother now and then.