14. One evening while sitting in the Blue Moon Tavern drinking beer with Jerry Pournelle, we figured out the speed of light in furlongs per fortnight. Starting with 299,792,458 meters per second, we came up with

1,802,617,499,785.2541.

(One trillion, eight hundred and two billion, six hundred and seventeen million, four hundred and ninety-nine thousand, seven hundred and eighty-five point two five four one). Actually, we figured it out to twenty decimal places, but decided that was probably the practical limit of required precision. Besides, our vision was getting a bit fuzzy by then. And Jerry's wife, Roberta, came in and looked at us funny.

Don Firth