Thanks to everyone for volunteering to write a TOS program that will
calculate PI.  Now.... to make it a bit interesting!

THE STUART A. LYSTER PI CALCULATION FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES.....

A $50 (Canadian) cash award to the person who writes a program (using
ANY of the current algorithms - it is the programmers choice) that will
calculate PI the "fastest" (see #5 below).  The winner will be decided
upon the following 7 grounds - the winner will be decided upon by
Stuart Lyster - his decision shall be final and unappealable (not in
quality, but in process!);

1) The program shall calculate the value of PI accurately using at
   least TOS 1.4.  In case of a tie, the program that is compatable
   with later versions of TOS (including MultiTOS and GENEVA) will be
   declared the winner.

2) The program will include the ability to write the value of PI to
   the screen AND a disk (a hard disk is preferable, as someone might
   eventually want to calculate beyond the 720K size of a floppy). 
   Writing the value to a printer is optional - but would be great
   for parties.

3) The program will indicate by a screen display WHICH algorithm is
   being used, and WHERE in the iteration process the program is
   currently working.

4) The program shall write to screen/disk/printer (see #2) the
   accurate digits of PI as they become established.  (No fair simply
   reading the value of PI from a file and writing them to the
   screen.  Cheaters who do this will have their computer infected
   with the "Jimmy Bakker" virus - a virus which promises to feed
   hungry children with your donations, only to have the money
   channelled off to Heritage USA!)

5) The $50(Cdn) will be awarded as follows:
         - $15(Cdn) to the programmer of the program which calculates
             PI to 100 digits (accurately) the fastest.
         - $15(Cdn) to the programmer of the program which calculates
             PI to 1000 digits (accurately) the fastest.
         - $20(Cdn) to the programmer of the program which calculates
             PI to 10000 digits (accurately) the fastest.
   Obviously, if a program does all three, then the total prize is
   yours!
      The program will be timed using my 520ST (1 meg) using TOS 1.4.
   The decision of Stuart Lyster is final.  You may appeal to a
   higher celestial power if you think it will do any good.

6) Programs must be in the possession of Stuart Lyster by Oct 31st,
   1993.  Stuart Lyster assumes no responsibility for programs he
   does not receive, even though someone "swears to God it was sent
   two weeks ago!"
      Programs can be sent by disk to:

   THE STUART A. LYSTER PI CALCULATION FOUNDATION,
   13800 Blackburn Avenue,
   White Rock, BC  V4B 2J6   (Tel (604)536-5389)

   ... or by UUCODE through Internet.  Remember, Stuart is a complete
   idiot when trying to use UUCODE, so the Postal Service is probably
   your best bet.
       Winners will be announced in November 1993, and the cheque(s)
   will be in the mail then.

7) It is understood by everyone submitting a program, that their
   program will exist in the Public Domain for free distribution.  If
   you do not want you name associated with the program, please say
   so!

Why do this?

Why not.  Besides, the calculation of PI is a way of testing the
calculating integrity of a computer, which has to do millions of
operations flawlessly to get it right.  A PI Calculating program is a
good bench test.

It is either that, or we ST owners will have to get a life.  Me, I'd
rather watch digits flash by my screen.
