Talk:Hal Abelson

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[edit] Hal Abelson did give permission.

I have a copy of the email if anyone would like one.

Copied this from Talk:Hal Abelson/temp, posted there originally by Hcatlin: --Delirium 02:36, Dec 6, 2003 (UTC)

Ok, I got this email from Dr. Abelson.


Sure thing.

Nice of you to ask.

== Hal

In reply to the message:

   Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2003 11:59:41 -0500
   From: "Hampton Catlin" <hampton.catlin@furman.edu>

   Dr. Abelson-

   I was playing around with the Wikipedia and noticed that there
   wasn't an entry about you. I figured that an entry about you would be
   nice, so I was wondering if you could give me permission to use the
   biography posted on your site in the text of the Wikipedia entry.

   Thanks,
   Hampton $(*&$.

[edit] "Giants" Quip

The article currently attributes the "shoulders of giants" quip to Dr. Abelson. When I wrote my thesis, I (like many others I'm sure) put it in as a frontpiece. However, when I later found Dr. Abelson on-line, I e-mailed him to check if the quote did, in fact, originate with him. His reply was :

Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 22:32:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: Hal Abelson <hal@murren.ai.mit.edu>


That's me.


Actually, I didn't originate the quote: It was first said by a guy
named Jeff Goll, my roommate at Princeton, who used it in his
undergraduate thesis. But I once told it to someone (I don't remember
who) who posted it to the network attributed to me, and the
attribution has stuck.


Hope your thesis advisor enjoys it :)


== Hal

I'll edit the article to reflect this. --Plumbago 11:24, 12 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Class of 1922?

Is Dr. Abelson really from the class of 1922? If that refers to his bachelor's degree, and the school system at that time was approximately like the present school system, that means he was born around 1900. I have trouble believing he's over a hundred years old (especially given the photo on his home page, which is in color so it must be recent, and the video of him learning to walk - consumer video cameras didn't exist until somewhat recently). Since it comes out as exactly 1900, it looks like one of those jokes about their age that older professors seem to enjoy. I'm removing this info; if someone can confirm his age or birth, please do so. --Geoffrey 04:43, 27 December 2005 (UTC)

P.S.: Since this claim is repeated elsewhere, perhaps there is a technical meaning of "Class of 1922 Professor" that is not commonly known? Or perhaps it's just copied verbatim from his webpage? If he received a degree in 1922, it's clearer to say so next to the degree. If he didn't exist in 1922, we need to give his birthyear. --Geoffrey 04:53, 27 December 2005 (UTC)
I suspect the string "Class of 1922 Professor" is a special title, probably referring to a chair endowed by the class of 1922. The actual class members are probably mostly deceased now, while their money continues to earn interest. Stan 05:51, 27 December 2005 (UTC)
Class of 1922 Professor of Computer Science and Engineering is indeed his title; the class endowed a chair. I restored his full title to the article. EthanHunt 03:29, 10 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] RMS and Couches

Image:Orc.png
Happy Hal Abelson ?

Richard Stallman reportedly enjoys sleeping on Dr. Abelson's couch.

Oh, RMS sleeps on everyone's couch; he's a total couch-slut. The dude is homeless and squats his MIT office, but that somehow lacks the personal charm of Adrian Lamo. (Not that RMS isn't a bang-up guy or anything!)
The question is : « Did these two friendly Orcs sleep together ? » <and happily dreaming about metallic sheep ;] > Yug 01:48, 23 February 2007 (UTC) All my respect for this two kings