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diff --git a/usergrps/uktug/baskervi/8_1/deklett.tex b/usergrps/uktug/baskervi/8_1/deklett.tex new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..96506a2150 --- /dev/null +++ b/usergrps/uktug/baskervi/8_1/deklett.tex @@ -0,0 +1,48 @@ +\author{Jonathan Fine} +\title{Donald Knuth's 60th birthday} +\begin{Article} +Recently I noticed from the \TeX book{} that Knuth would be 60 in +1998. I thought it might be nice to organise a meeting to express +our appreciation. And so I wrote to him, suggesting this. I also +took the opportunity to ask him about his relationship and attitude +to the NTS project. His reply follows. (Photocopies were circulated +to those present at the 1998 AGM.) + +\begin{quotation} +Dear Jonathan, + +Thanks for your letter. + +About birthdays, I believe (with the Beatles) that a 64th birthday is +vastly more interesting than a 60th birthday. Thus I will be looking +forward most eagerly to January 10, 2002. + +However, I am of course delighted that you and others might still +appreciate some of my work after having ben exposed to it for so +long. Thanks for the sentiment. + +About NTS and $\Omega$, etc., I have always encouraged work that +leads to improvements in typography. I want \TeX{} itself to remain +a fixed point forever, warts and all, entirely my responsibility; but +I also believe that anything of nontrivial complexity is inherently +non-optimum. So I look forward to continued improvements by +conscientious people who are dedicated to quality software. (I do +warn them that the task of reaching a decent fixed point is not +easy!) + +Best wishes for a successful AGM. I received my invitation two days +ago and it looks like a splendid meeting has been planned, although +of course I cannot take the time to travel while working on +\textsl{TAOCP}. + +Sincerely, + +Donald E. Knuth +\end{quotation} + +It is at present too early, in my opinion, to make plans for Knuth's +64th (octal 100 and binary 1,000,000) birthday. But in a year, or +perhaps two, we should allow the prospect of such a meeting, to +celebrate his contribution, to come forward in our minds. + +\end{Article}
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