19th July 2006, 1:30 PM
Sorry but those pen pal letters seem very contrived. "Hi. I am from France. We eat disgusting stinky cheese for dinner EVERY NIGHT, and I wear a striped shirt and beret at all times! I like to mime, and we gave you the statue of liberty, and the only things I can say about myself and my country are in direct relation to your life in America of which I know little to nothing about, because my entire existance is one I consider only in relation to your life! I exist for your amusement at my novelty!"
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)