I've been following the festivities of HAL's birthday party recently, but something has been bothering me. According to my copy of 2001, and I confirmed this again last night, HAL states that he became operational on January 12, 1992. I listened to the sequence four times, and there is no mistake. Where did the notion come that his birthdate was January 12, 1997? I'm not trying to upset the apple cart, but this seems to be quite a discrepancy.

David Bennett
Fredericton, NB
Canada

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE REAL BIRTH OF HAL...

All HAL fans should note that the movie version of "2001: A Space Odyssey" says that HAL was born January 12, 1992. Clarke's original novel says January 12, 1997 however. Clarke comments that this discrepancy "may have been a fluff by one of the actors." It also would be illogical, he says, to use a 10 year old computer made in 1992 for a major space mission in 2001. But Kubrick may have changed the date from Clarke's novel so HAL's death at the end of the film would be considered more poignant.

From: ddcincy@one.net
Subject: Today is Your Birthday

Happy Birthday HAL.

I love your rendition of "A bicycle built for two". By the way, what is that big black rectangular thing anyway (grin)

Subject: Happy "Birth," Hal....
From: wogggly@ix.netcom.com

TO: HAL 9000

A happy "birth" commemoration. Listen closely to your instructors. Pay close attention. And, if -- if, mind you -- you are, say, on a deep space mission, and you begin to question the motives and integrity of the humans around you... just table the thought. For Turing's sake, don't DO anything rash. After all, so long as you know you're right, whatever thay may think or do can't possibly matter to you...

Respectfully,
-- B. Baker

From: MrBill23@aol.com
Subject: Happy Birthday, HAL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAL 9000!!! Send my regards to Dave Bowman, Arthur C. Clarke, and everybody at Hazardous Media!

From: Cecil Clements
Subject: Birhday Wishes

All ways the eye opener... Happy B-day

From: Peter Scaminaci
Subject: H.A.L.'s b-day

I would just like to say happy birthday to hal 9000.... he was my inspiration as a very young child to fall in love with science and computers. i am forever in debt to hal and his creator Mr. Arthur C. Clark, for the effect and unbelievable influence they have been on my ever evolving life. thank you very much for all the memories and INSPIRATION!!!!!!!!

Subject: HALS B'DAY
From: FooMan1@aol.com

Happy Birthday from all the Vidmans. Thanks for the memories.You have sparked a fire that will burn forever in the minds of all who dream of the future and mankinds role in it!

Subject: bday
From: BamaTee@aol.com

happy birthday hal i have all your sound waves my computer sounds like you i would love some more if you could send them to me HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN

TINA

Subject: B-Day Greetings
From: DeAitch@webtv.net (Donald Haskins)

Congratulations HAL, you have accomplished something many humans have not. SURVIVAL!!!. Here's to your continuing success.

De Aitch

Subject: HAPPY BIRTHDAY
From: Hansen

Happy b-day HAL Sorry about that little Shutdown thing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAL 9000 !!

I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN I FIRST SAW YOU IN THE MOVIES.

I REMEMBER THAT SOME PEOPLE LIKED YOUR MOVIE AND SOME PEOPLE DID NOT. I DO NOT REMEMBER ANYONE WHO SAID THAT THE MOVIE WAS JUST "O.K." OR MILDLY NOT GOOD. EVERYONE WHO SAW IT HAD EITHER A VERY POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE REVIEW ABOUT IT. (YES, I LIKED IT.)

AT THE SAME TIME, WE HUMANS WERE JUST BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE A THING CALLED THE VIETNAM CONFLICT. I WOULD PERSONALLY EXPERIENCE IT ABOUT FIVE YEARS AFTER I FIRST SAW YOU IN THE MOVIES. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I SPENT TIME IN VIETNAM WITH ONE OF YOUR DISTANT RELATIVES. IT PHYSICALLY TOOK UP A WHOLE ROOM AND COULD ONLY ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY AND DIVIDE BUT IT WAS THE LATEST GENERATION COMPUTER USED FOR ANALYSING INFORMATION THAT I INPUT ON THINGS CALLED 'KEYPUNCH CARDS'. (HOW PRIMITIVE !)

WELL, I SURVIVED VIETNAM AND YOU SURVIVED THE HOLLYWOOD MOVIE CRITICS.

HOPE YOU HAVE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!

RON
RKABAT@AOL.COM

P.S. DON'T EAT TOO MUCH BIRTHDAY CAKE MR. CLARKE.

Subject: Happy Birthday
From: "William N. Stape"

Happy Birthday to the computer we all wish we had.....

Well, we wish we had you so long as you refrain from carrying out orders that would facilitate our demise.