It’s nice to see somebody with a technology background challenging Senator Hatch. I realize you went to the U and all, but I’m sure there are groups down here at the Y that would love to hear you speak anyway . Perhaps you can work something out–I for one would be sure to attend!

As for you story about the discovery of chess, George Gamow in his book “One Two Three…Infinity” early in his discussion of Big Numbers, tells it a bit differently. According to Professor Gamow, the recipient of the invention was King Shirham of India and the inventor was Sissa Ben Dahir, his Grand Vizier. The grand vizier is reported to have asked for wheat to be placed on the chess board (not rice) and the result of the geometric progression that satisfies Sissa Ben Dahir’s request is 1 + 2 + 2*2 + 2*2*2…and so on until 2^63 is reached. The total comes out to be 18,446,744,073,709,551,615, a 1 followed by 19 digits! A slightly different number than you report, but who’s to quibble over a few billion billions! The way things are headed under the Republicans, this will approach the national debt while wages tumble, fat cats get tax breaks and Abramoff ferries congressman and senators to vacations abroad, where the real money will be.

Good Luck!

Your story is a bit incorrect. You write:

“The king didn’t realize the power of exponents. Considering the first square had one grain of rice, the remaining squares had 2 to the 63rd power of rice.”

In fact, the first square had 1 == 2^0 grains of rice, the second square had 2 == 2^1 grains of rice, the third square had 4 == 2^2 grains of rice, …, and the sixty-fourth square had 2^63 grains of rice. So, all 64 squares had a total of (2^64 – 1) grains of rice, and hence “the remaining squares” had (2^64 – 2) grains of rice — almost twice your claim!

Don’t Worry

I hear such a commotion about our leaders lost values system; pre-emptive war on false premises, government supported torture, rendition, secret prisons, spying on our own citizens and taking from the poor to give to the rich. I say forget about it, that was 2005, a non-election year.

That’s right folks, 2006 is an election year, which means the Republicans return to “Family Values”. Prior to November you will see the agenda development, so watch out you gays, pro-choicers and other immoral factions, it’s that time again, who will it be this year.

It is that great period when we all come together, forget our torturous misdeeds, and George W. thinking spying on us is ok, forget Cheney fighting for the right to torture, forget Frist and his inside trading, forget DeLay and his corrupt ways, forget Cunningham’s greed, forget FEMA, and go after same sex marriage, bad mouth the French and vilify Hollywood, since that is what is really important. And Senator Buttar, he can hardly wait to wrap his bigotry in a American Flag, it’s like Halloween for the ignorant.

Sure “Family Values” issues fall off the agenda about the second week of November, but hey, nothing lasts forever, enjoy the façade, and remember 2008 will be another big year and we all enjoy a good con job.

Roy Blackburn
Ivins Utah
435-673-8373
reblackburn@msn.com