Chapter 38 Chapter 8 Waiting for Kano

At the end of November 1988, the secretary of the Los Alamos Nonlinear Research Center handed Langton a sealed envelope that looked like an official letter, which contained a letter from the director of the laboratory, Siegfried Hecker. memos: We recently noticed that you have been here for three years on a postdoctoral fellowship and have not yet completed your doctoral dissertation.Pursuant to DOE Section 40-1130, we cannot continue to employ individuals who have received a three-year postdoctoral fellowship and have not received a Ph.D.However, due to an administrative error, we have neglected to warn you in advance that this rule may be violated.For this reason, we have obtained an extension from the relevant departments of the Ministry of Energy. You do not have to return the 1989 postdoctoral fellowship, but unless you have obtained a doctorate, we can only extend your appointment to December 1, 1988.

In one sentence, "You're fired." Langdon ran, terrified, to Gary Doolen, associate director of the Center for Nonlinear Research.Doron told him that it was true, there was indeed such a rule, and Heike did have the right to do so. Until now, Langton still has lingering fears when he recalls this incident.These narrow-minded ghosts made him foolish for two hours before giving him a surprise birthday party.Farmer, who authored the memo and directed the prank, said: "The number specified by the Department of Energy has actually given away the secret. Chris (Langton) is forty years old this year, and his birthday is November 30."

Langton finally came to his senses, and happily enjoyed the birthday party with everyone. After all, not every doctoral candidate will celebrate their fortieth birthday.Farmer even started chipping in among Langton's colleagues at the research center and theory group to buy Langton a new electric guitar for his birthday. "But I do want to motivate Langdon to finish his doctoral thesis as soon as possible, because I am really worried that he will not get his doctorate and become a hidden danger. I suspect that there may actually be some kind of regulation against Langdon." Farmer said.