chrisvenus: answered via msg.
j4: 32 1/4 inches.
senji: answered via msg.
rejs: because it's fun, or passes the time, mostly.
evath: I sometimes find I'm alone even in company, so not necessarily. But not always.
tithonus: I don't really know what's good and what's not.
this book might be worth a try.
I also started writing
Welcome to Macintosh, or: So you've just bought a Mac. Now what?", though it's been languishing for a while. :-)