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C00002 00002	∂18-Jan-81  2002	CSL.LAB.DRA at SU-SCORE 	LISP Book 
C00006 00003	∂19-Jan-81  1153	DRA   via SU-SCORE 	book etc  
C00010 00004	∂21-Jan-81  0810	CSL.LAB.DRA at SU-SCORE 	books, compuer literacy, etc. 
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∂18-Jan-81  2002	CSL.LAB.DRA at SU-SCORE 	LISP Book 
Date: 18 Jan 1981 2001-PST
From: CSL.LAB.DRA at SU-SCORE
Subject: LISP Book
To: jra at SU-AI

I understand you are doing yet another book on LISP & such and you might
be in the market for a puublisher.  I've recently taken on a series editorship
for HRW and, hence, would be very interested in talking with you.  My series
is "computer systems engineering" which covers everything from languages and 
such to hardware--a applicative languages book, particularly one with a 
real-world applications orientation would be most welcome.

If you are interested, drop me a note.

	Dennis Allison
--------------------------------------------

lisp etc. book

yes, i'm doing  a book on  lisp, object-oriented, frames,  computation,...
it's a beginning book, dealing with lisp as a way of discussing the  other
characteristics.

it will exist as  an undergraduate course at  santa clara this spring,  it
has its roots in two grad courses i taught(am teaching) there --functional
programming and ai, plus a whole lot more that doesn't directly relate  to
the technical side of computing.  the undergrad version is a middle-ground
approach; this summer  i'm teaching the  technical side in  the summer  cs
inst.  (mckeeman and co.) and am lobbying to teach a philosophical (aka  a
no-bullshit version of computer literacy) version to professionals in  the
humanitities area.

the ultimate  goal  is to  drive  this approach  into  a course  for  high
schools, since most of what appears under the guise of "computing" is pure
crap.

an integral part of  this course is an  interactive computing lab  --local
net of  z-80's.  and  that's the  rub  right  now. i  need  money  to  buy
equipment.  would  HRW consider  supporting an  integrated attact  on  the
educational system?  would they help financially?  in the last two  years,
i've been jerked around by a couple  of publishers and one large mfger  of
computer all "committed to education" and time is running out for  getting
software and course  material written,  so i'm  not open  to bullshit.  if
they're serious, then i'm interested in talking.


john

∂19-Jan-81  1153	DRA   via SU-SCORE 	book etc  
I understand your problems and frustrations though I don't knoe
whether HRW will really be able to do much.  I will try to get
some reading as to the level of support they are willing to provide.  
HRW is really CBS and has the associated resources of that kind of 
corporation--and the very strong profit/loss demands associated with 
it as well.  If you can make a case for your book + ancillary stuff
turning a substantial profit, I would expect they would go for it.  

Let me approach HRW then get back to you .    

Incidentally, as to hardware you might consider looking at the Onyx
box which provides Unix to 8-users with fair to good response time.
Cost is $20K or so for disk (20MB) and software and memory.  Good
OEM and educational discounts.

dra

--------------------------------------------
well if hrw/cbs is interested in making money and getting some 
"brownie points" at the same time, then  the educational market
is a good place to start!  byte, computer, us news, ... even digital design
and cacm are a-buzz about the decline of educational values, the loss
of productivity, the future of cai/cal. education is what i'm after,
and computing is the means.  BUT, when i say computing i don't mean
the superficial crap of basic programming and word processing. that's 
"electronic driver's ed"; i'm talking fundamental principles as in mathematics
and geometry. if they're interested in building curricula 
(particularly math/science) based on computational ideas, then
we're talking about the same thing. the santa clara courses, the summer
cs institute, the scu faculty seminar, and the wccf special session
are all pushing the same direction --towards a reasoned approach to the
phenomenon of computing, and my personal bankruptcy!


... so, please do talk with them. i am leaving  a copy of a
paper of mine --the bankruptcy of basic-- in the "a"-box in mjh;
it addresses some of the issues.

i'm also including in this note a short version  of a proposal i made to
an "educationally oriented" computer firm last sept. they liked it, said it 
could have been funded 6-months prior, but finances were bad then.


				john
--------------------------------------------
∂21-Jan-81  0810	CSL.LAB.DRA at SU-SCORE 	books, compuer literacy, etc. 
Date: 21 Jan 1981 0808-PST
From: CSL.LAB.DRA at SU-SCORE
Subject: books, compuer literacy, etc.
To: jra at SU-AI
cc: csl.lab.dra at SU-SCORE

HRW is interested enough to charter me to do a careful investigation of
your project(s).  There is a corporate goal to do just what you are 
suggesting but they've had substantial problems finding a way to do 
it without being out-of-date by the time they finish planning.  I would
suggest we get together for a short talk & that I get a bunch of 
documentation together on just what it is you want to do and just what
it is you need.  HRW is very profit-oriented which means that there
must be a tangible return on their investment--on the other hand, they 
recognize that the return may be spread over many years.

I'll pick up the paper in MJH and make a hard copy of our correspondence.

I will be gone most of next week.  Perhaps you could find some time
for a short chat Friday morning or today.  If so, drop me a note or 
call me at 497-1452.  I teach 10-11 MWF.

dra
-------

meeting
friday meeting sounds fine.  how about 11 am?
i'm only here at sail  in the morning (4-11am) so a msg this afternoon
won't be seen 'til tomorrow.

i'll call you today  and if i can't reach you.
try 408 984-4358 --dr ruth davis's office at santa clara
    408 984-4482 --eecs office at santa clara --msg
    408 353-3857  --home
    408 353-2227 msg for the lisp co.

i'll write up a more formal description
of the project and supply some support material; my two previous net notes
dont't give much deatil and the language is a bit too graphic  for 
tender corporate ears. 
--------------------------------------------
∂22-Jan-81  0716	DRA   via SU-SCORE 	Meeting   
I'll look for your tomorrow morning.
dra