I was having trouble with my computer. So I called Richard, the 11-year old next door whose bedroom looks like Mission Control, and asked him to come over. Richard clicked a couple of buttons and solved the problem.

As he was walking away, I called after him, "So, what was wrong?" He replied, "It was an ID ten T error."

I didn't want to appear stupid but nonetheless inquired, "An 'ID ten T error?' What's that, in case I need to fix it again?"

Richard grinned. "Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error before?" "No," I replied.

"Write it down," he said, "and I think you'll figure it out." So I wrote down: I D 1 0 T

I used to like the little imp.