If you want to have a flashback to those thrilling days of yesteryear, get a copy of Interpolation by J.F.Steffensen from Dover Publications. ISBN 0–486–45009–0. It's a look at the mathematics behind various interpolation methods. What I remember from my old books of various tables was at the really good ones had a column for the second delta, so you didn't have to just use street linear interpolation. Since I'm a database guy, I frequently have built tables (in the SQL sense) for complicated functions, and had to use some of these old tricks in my queries. Apparently, some of the functions on calculators are also lookup tables with interpolation methods inside the chips for you can't see them.

So poor people will get on a self-driving bus or jitney. If my monthly bus pass cost is less than a monthly car payment, then we are ahead!

I would also add anything by Will Eisner. There is a reason his name appears on those awards. In particular, most of the graphic techniques used both in movies and graphic novels later were developed by Eisner. I'm sort of surprise in the first person to suggest his name here

"You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for the law is too slow. I'll ruin you."
- Cornelius Vanderbilt

My publisher, Morgan-Kaufmann, has people who issue take-down notices to the illegal sites with my books. I keep a "Google Alert" on my name (an advantage of a rare name) so I can notify the company lawyers.

But I find that it is faster to ask the site why they are committing a crime in person or by email. Most will co-operate.

I then find the poster and contact his school. Note to criminal masterminds -- don't post on Facebook, et al or use a school account. So far, I have gotten two crooks kicked out of universities in New Zealand. I also caught an instructor using some of my SQL PUZZLES for class assignments when one of his students sent me a "do my homework for me!" email.

I contact his employer (http://siia.net/piracy) and ask that they fire him. Here in Austin, the Software & Information Industry Association runs radio ads. Once they have probable cause for a warrant, a full software audit is easy to get.

Finally, I keep the name on a list in case I run into him in the database world. Vanderbilt was right. If he wants to cheat me out of my only retirement (want to see my 0.401 account?), I am quite happy to return the favor.

I just did an article in the December issue of GAMES magazine on Golomb Rulers. You ought to be able to get it at any newsstand now.