[ale] Engineering Archaeology

Tue Jan 20 12:12:48 EST 2026

> I'm guessing the statue of limitations has been exceeded his crimes.

when I was in electronics class at Dulaney Senior High I built a transmitter that jammed all the car radios for about 15 minutes in Lutherville, Maryland in 1967.

There!  I got it off my chest!

md

> On 01/19/2026 4:00 PM EST James Taylor via Ale <ale at ale.org> wrote:
> 
>  
> I'm guessing the statue of limitations has been exceeded his crimes.
> 
> 
> >>> lollipopman691 via Ale <ale at ale.org> 01/19/2026, 03:51 PM >>>
> Whoa! IIRC, launching model rockets against ground targets was
> explicitly verboten.
> And in fact still is (
> https://us-west-2.protection.sophos.com?d=nar.org&u=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmFyLm9yZy9jb250ZW50LmFzcHg_cGFnZV9pZD0yMiZjbHViX2lkPTExNDEyNyZtb2R1bGVfaWQ9NjY5MjM0&i=NjNjODRjNjNlNGJiYjI0YTFlODE3NGI4&t=dVRWcnlEQXo4SnQyUE1WM1ZITFhpUXA0M0puemloWTNTQ1dMY25maUZwcz0=&h=e4eaceae79c84a5c9816f97941cea988&s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVYdBQ9j-wR-KkxEPPIPFbQnjFT3tdStWDhWBd8Fyu51Wg
> ), NAR Rule 8.
> 
> GFY!
> 
> - CHS
> 
> On Monday, January 19th, 2026 at 3:26 PM, Jim Kinney
> <jim.kinney at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > I kicked down the door barring the use of calculators in the classroom
> in high school.
> >
> > Sorry. My bad.
> >
> > I had a TI-99-4a that supported the magnetic cards to hold up to 100
> steps. So I demonstrated that I had to know the math to code the math.
> Then I got the plug in modules. I think I had trig and physics/mechanics
> modules and maybe another. It was 1979 and those brain cells are long
> dead.
> >
> > I do recall using the cards and the physics pack plus the Estes model
> rocket engine thrust curve data set to lock in my launch rod angle to
> put my evil scientist model rocket baby ballistic missiles where I
> wanted them to hit. Heavy rocket, light engine. Not trying for apogee
> but for repeatability of low-flight launch.
> >
> > Muahahaha!!
> >
> > Still looking for minions.....
> >
> > --
> > James P. Kinney III
> >
> > Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you
> gain at one end you lose at the other. It's like feeding a dog on his
> own tail. It won't fatten the dog.
> > - Speech 11/23/1900 Mark Twain
> >
> >
> https://us-west-2.protection.sophos.com?d=heretothereideas.blogspot.com&u=aHR0cDovL2hlcmV0b3RoZXJlaWRlYXMuYmxvZ3Nwb3QuY29tLw==&i=NjNjODRjNjNlNGJiYjI0YTFlODE3NGI4&t=dklQeGVjbWR0YXI0RFB4cE10S1NlOHlUMUxVemY3Uyt6OWxYVXp5eVIzRT0=&h=e4eaceae79c84a5c9816f97941cea988&s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVYdBQ9j-wR-KkxEPPIPFbQnjFT3tdStWDhWBd8Fyu51Wg
> >
> > On Mon, Jan 19, 2026, 12:25 PM lollipopman691 via Ale <ale at ale.org>
> wrote:
> >
> >> I believe I am the last generation to actually use a slide rule in
> class. College class of 1980.
> >>
> >> BTW all numbers in OpenSCAD
> (https://us-west-2.protection.sophos.com?d=openscad.org&u=aHR0cHM6Ly9vcGVuc2NhZC5vcmc=&i=NjNjODRjNjNlNGJiYjI0YTFlODE3NGI4&t=WXFWTnd0NXVocGhmY3NjRzBjSUFNNUlNc1RTRWpsUVd2QmRiZmtjR0Ztdz0=&h=e4eaceae79c84a5c9816f97941cea988&s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVYdBQ9j-wR-KkxEPPIPFbQnjFT3tdStWDhWBd8Fyu51Wg)
> are 64 bit IEEE floating point. I just gave an OpenSCAD talk to DC404 (
> https://us-west-2.protection.sophos.com?d=dc404.org&u=aHR0cHM6Ly9kYzQwNC5vcmc=&i=NjNjODRjNjNlNGJiYjI0YTFlODE3NGI4&t=QWJBUVV5b09PdTFqN0FUWGRwekxLVE93WCsvVy9FSmVRajV0cnBSdis3Yz0=&h=e4eaceae79c84a5c9816f97941cea988&s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVYdBQ9j-wR-KkxEPPIPFbQnjFT3tdStWDhWBd8Fyu51Wg
> ). Pretty Fun.
> >>
> >> -- CHS
> >>
> >> On Sunday, January 18th, 2026 at 11:51 AM, Jeff Lightner via Ale
> <ale at ale.org> wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> I owned a slide rule in high school but electronic calculators were
> around by the time I was a senior so I was never terribly proficient
> with it.
> >>>
> >>> The well to do kids were buying the high end TI calculators but I
> could only afford a model with basic functionality. It weighed a lot and
> the battery didn't last long. That was back in the days they would blank
> the display after a few seconds of inactivity, trying to preserve
> battery.
> >>>
> >>> It was just as well though. In my math and science classes we
> weren't allowed to use devices when doing calculations on tests so it
> forced me to do things by hand.
> >>>
> >>> Later in my hospitality/accounting career they initially didn't have
> electronic or computerized systems early on. Many of the financial books
> and reporting I did were done by hand. As time went by electronic
> systems appeared and quickly evolved to computerized systems. I always
> had to laugh when the computer went down as co-worcouldn't check people in or out. I explained that hotels actually
> existed long before such systems so it was in fact possible.
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: Ale ale-bounces at ale.org On Behalf Of jon.maddog.hall--- via
> Ale
> >>>
> >>> Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2026 1:44 PM
> >>> To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts ale at ale.org
> >>>
> >>> Cc: jon.maddog.hall at gmail.com jonhall80 at comcast.net
> >>>
> >>> Subject: Re: [ale] Engineering Archaeology
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "If we applied such logic to when we were starting out - "slide
> rules work just fine, don't need no electricity, storage, keyboards,
> monitors, etc."
> >>>
> >>> Slide rules are an interesting example. Stop and think about the
> incredible application of logarithms being painted on two sticks, then
> slide those sticks back and forth to be able to multiply two numbers via
> adding two logarithms of them.
> >>>
> >>> Genius.
> >>>
> >>> And a fine example of analog mathematics being able to solve
> engineering issues.
> >>>
> >>> Usually only used to calculate to three levels of precision, they
> were "good enough" to do the calculations in an age where three levels
> of precision was about all we could do in any type of
> manufacturing....so why calculate to any greater precision, whether you
> are manufacturing a door knob or a bridge?
> >>>
> >>> Fast forward to floating point arithmetic in a computer. How many of
> us have fallen into the trap of trying to "equate" two floating point
> numbers, only to realize that "two" really has a value of
> "1.999999..something-mumble"
> >>>
> >>> When I was teaching at Hartford State Technical College in 1975 the
> school store was cleaning out their inventory and found about ten
> beautiful "Aristo-Multilog Slide Rules", still in their box, complete
> with leather carrying case and instructions.
> >>>
> >>> The store was selling them for five dollars each, down from their
> original price that was probably close to 100 dollars. I bought all ten,
> then gave them out as prizes to good students, showing them how to use
> them and explaining the significance in computer science. I have two
> left.
> >>>
> >>> I did not expect the students to become as expert at using the slide
> rule as I was, but I was happy to see that they understood the
> significance of the lesson
> >>>
> >>> md
> >>>
> >>> > On 01/10/2026 8:36 PM EST Ron via Ale ale at ale.org wrote:
> >>> >
> >>> > Jeff Lightner via Ale wrote on 2026-01-10 14:50:
> >>> >
> >>> > > In my later years when I would speak to people about “the old
> days”
> >>> > > and things such as RS232-C and/or Hayes modem commands I
> realized
> >>> > > that while it was likely true I’d forget much of the detail it
> >>> > > didn’t mean younger folks would never know more than I’d
> forgotten.
> >>> > > They would instead have no need for what I’d forgotten (for the
> most
> >>> > > part) and eventually would learn things I’d never learn.
> >>> >
> >>> > Insightful comment.
> >>> >
> >>> > Of course, usual disclaimers of "not everyone, not always, not
> >>> > everything" apply:
> >>> >
> >>> > The "kids today" are learning lots of great new things and pushing
> >>> > boundaries in new directions. They're exploring new ways to do
> stuff
> >>> > and aren't sold on "we've always done it this way, so we should
> >>> > continue to do it this way".
> >>> >
> >>> > Too often I see that attitude by other, fellow tech old-timers.
> >>> >
> >>> > If we applied such logic to when we were starting out - "slide
> rules
> >>> > work just fine, don't need no electricity, storage, keyboards,
> >>> > monitors, etc." - I'm sure most of us would've found it
> unconvincing.
> >>> >
> >>> > Let them have their chance, some ideas will work, some won't, and
> it's
> >>> > their world now.
> >>> >
> >>> > Anyway, appreciate the thought provoking post.
> >>> >
> >>> > _______________________________________________
> >>> > Ale mailing list
> >>> > Ale at ale.org
> >>> >
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> >>> > See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
> >>> >
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> Ale mailing list
> >>> Ale at ale.org
> >>>
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> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Ale mailing list
> >> Ale at ale.org
> >>
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> >> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
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