[thevillagechief]

> When Jeff gives a seminar at Stanford, it's so crowded Don Knuth has to sit on the floor. (TRUE)

That's actually funny and cool if true. I think what's even more impressive is that this stuff was all pre-AI boom.

[dekhn]

Yes, Jeff told me this one personally. Knuth came in right before the talk started and the room was full. I think somebody later gave up a seat for him.

[scottlamb]

It probably is. I think the same thing happened when Randall Munroe (of xkcd fame) gave a talk at Google. I was there, it was crowded, and Don Knuth showed up. 90% sure he sat on the floor.

[nooks]

Friends and I nabbed front-row seats to the Munroe talk; after a time we were asked to take seats a few rows back to make room for Knuth and others. He definitely did not sit on the floor.

[svat]

FWIW the XKCD talk at Google is here (wow, 18 years ago! I remember watching this video when it was posted): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJOS0sV2a24 (Knuth comes up to ask a question at 21:30) (Can't tell from the video where he was sitting otherwise, though there are definitely at least some people sitting on the floor.)

[flir]

I would definitely give up my seat to Don Knuth.