Thursday, October 17, 2002 9:54 am 

Dr. Finbar Pursues Mary Poppins (but she is far above him). 


Good morning,

Just letting you know that the Dr. Finbar Trio will not be showing its 
face in public this week (we need time to fix our broken bass guitar). 
And next week, Sam will be in South Africa, so unless we can arrange a 
videolink, you might just have to suffer through another Finbarless 
week.

Though, actually, the fact that Sam is heading overseas has started me 
thinking. Having considered this matter for some time now, I have 
something startling to reveal.

Working Hypothesis: Space Time Research, the company that employs Pete
and Sam, is actually a front for a paramilitary organisation, or at the
very least, a covert intelligence-gathering service.

Consider the evidence:

(1) Sam's work sends him on lots of trips to different international
locations. But he never says much about what goes on while he's away.
Sounds suspicious to me.

(2) When Sam and Pete think no one is listening, they talk very quietly
using strange words. In fact, I've been secretly taping their
conversations. I took the tapes to a language expert. She said the
language they are speaking is C++. Yet more evidence.

(3) Notice that the name "Space Time Research" provides excellent cover
and deflects prying questions. Consider the following scenario:

Woman at party sees Pete. Thinks to herself, "What a cute guy. I must 
introduce myself."

Woman: "Hello."

Pete: "Hello."

3 minutes later...

Woman: "So where do you work?"

Pete: "I work for Space Time Research."

Woman (thinks to self): Oh no - this guy is obviously a theoretical 
physicist. I must get out of here right away!

Woman: "It was a pleasure to meet you, ah, well, I have to go water my 
fish."

Admittedly, the case I've presented here isn't conclusive. But there 
must be more evidence out there... I'm sure of it.

Oh, and in case any of Pete and Sam's employers are tapping the line,
I should say that this message is not meant to reflect poorly on them.
I assume that they are both model employees. Nor is it meant to reflect
poorly on the name "Space Time Research", which is a lovely name for a
company, or indeed, even for a child. Most importantly, nor is it intended
to get me killed, which it may well do, if, as I suspect, STR is a front
for a paramilitary organisation.

Neil (for DFT).