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Computers that give people a bad name Computers that give people a bad name
(about 20 hours later)
At Hertfordshire county council we have taken the decision to sell some art that has no clear link to our county (Parks, halls and art sold off to pay for essential services, 14 March). We are certainly not selling off the family silver for some short-term cash to prop up frontline services. Instead we are sensibly generating some additional funding to preserve Hertfordshire and nationally significant pieces of art for future generations of Hertfordshire residents.Terry DourisCabinet member for libraries and archives, Hertfordshire county councilAt Hertfordshire county council we have taken the decision to sell some art that has no clear link to our county (Parks, halls and art sold off to pay for essential services, 14 March). We are certainly not selling off the family silver for some short-term cash to prop up frontline services. Instead we are sensibly generating some additional funding to preserve Hertfordshire and nationally significant pieces of art for future generations of Hertfordshire residents.Terry DourisCabinet member for libraries and archives, Hertfordshire county council
• Dr John Doherty (Letters, 17 March) repeats an old urban myth which I thought had been dismissed years ago. Arthur Clarke’s HAL had nothing to do with IBM. The relationship between the names is entirely coincidental. Clarke was so irritated by having to continually deny the story that he even made HAL’s inventor, Dr Chandra, describe the myth as “utter nonsense” in “2010”. Clarke also demolished the myth in his memoir The Lost Worlds of 2001.David CollinsHarpenden, Hertfordshire• Dr John Doherty (Letters, 17 March) repeats an old urban myth which I thought had been dismissed years ago. Arthur Clarke’s HAL had nothing to do with IBM. The relationship between the names is entirely coincidental. Clarke was so irritated by having to continually deny the story that he even made HAL’s inventor, Dr Chandra, describe the myth as “utter nonsense” in “2010”. Clarke also demolished the myth in his memoir The Lost Worlds of 2001.David CollinsHarpenden, Hertfordshire
• It’s computers like that that give people like me a bad name.Hal DunkelmanCote, Oxfordshire• It’s computers like that that give people like me a bad name.Hal DunkelmanCote, Oxfordshire
• The film 2001 was based on Clarke’s short story The Sentinel which does not mention any computers (Letters, 19 March). The book 2001 was based on the film.Joseph WebberHaywards Heath, West Sussex• The film 2001 was based on Clarke’s short story The Sentinel which does not mention any computers (Letters, 19 March). The book 2001 was based on the film.Joseph WebberHaywards Heath, West Sussex
• Russian officials denying claims of ballot stuffing (Report, 19 March) reminds one of what Joe Stalin said of elections: “It’s not the votes that count but who counts the votes.”Colin LovelaceAnglet, France• Russian officials denying claims of ballot stuffing (Report, 19 March) reminds one of what Joe Stalin said of elections: “It’s not the votes that count but who counts the votes.”Colin LovelaceAnglet, France
• To answer Peter Branston (Letters, 19 March): Just Because.Adrian NewtonHay-on-Wye, Powys• To answer Peter Branston (Letters, 19 March): Just Because.Adrian NewtonHay-on-Wye, Powys
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters
• This article was amended on 20 March 2018 to correct the spelling of John Doherty’s name.• This article was amended on 20 March 2018 to correct the spelling of John Doherty’s name.
Science fiction booksScience fiction books
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