Talk is C heap

I arrived at my office here one morning not long ago, and was startled to find 28 new messages—I usually have two or three—on my phone answering machine. With some trepidation, I played the first message:

"Did you know there are around 220 phone carriers in New Hampshire, and one of them, Atlantic Connections, offers free in-state calls..." Click.

The unmistakable voice of old friend Nelson Ham, the long-time caretaker-philosopher of the Dartmouth Grant.

Something was up. "...but the thing is, the calls are free only if they're under 35 seconds." Click.

"Don't you think that's remarkable? So you see, talk IS cheap." Click.

"Yes, I know you're not in. Your message keeps telling me that." Click.

"In fact, you should get rid of that message. You're costing me ten seconds of free time." Click.

".. .but just think of the poor people who are actually paying when they call...." Click.

"Think of how that wasted money adds up." Click.

I listened through 18 more messages, shaking my head but grateful that no flies have settled on Nelson since he gave up caretaking the Grant seven years ago. He's still scheming.

"Well, it's 1:30 in the morning and my phone is getting tired." Click.

"Whoever said there's no such a thing as a free lunch was wrong...." Click.

"You just have to take it in small bites."

Nelson Ham: advocate for free Speech