Indeed, a stunning irony -- but not a coincidence. The professor is a real piece of work, he is. Barf!
In a way, and I know it's arguable, but it does provide evidence that he is indeed trying to create material for a book. This whole escapade is just too similar to the whole body of his career research to be "just an irony" alone.
Come to think of it, instead of trying to find links between Karr and the Ramseys, maybe someone should look for a nexus between the prof and the ramseys. I wonder?