Later, as shadow home secretary, with her devout Catholicism informing her political positions, she [Ann Widdecombe] had opposed gay marriage, opposed the equalization of the age of consent for men, opposed abortion, but hadn't opposed the death penalty – a hanger and a flogger, she wanted that brought back.

Well I wrote to Ann Landers and Dear Abby too / And sought their advice as to what I should do

Overall, experience in the two decades that followed the publication of Dijkstra's letter showed the folly of producing goto-laden code.

She listened with care, shaking her head in agreement from time to time.