[ale] Engineering Archaeology

[Jon "maddog" Hall]

>A little while later, I was in a used bookstore and found a handbook Isaac
Asimov wrote in 60's. I still haven't learned how to use it! Maybe when I
retire?

You mean this one?

https://archive.org/details/easyintroduction00isaa

Asimov not only shows you HOW to use it, but he tells you WHY it works and
even shows you how to build your own.

Very much like Open Source Software.

md

On Mon, Jan 19, 2026 at 8:47 PM Joe Morris via Ale <ale at ale.org> wrote:

> Not so long ago, md wrote:
> > "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.
>
> Years ago my dad gave his old slide rule from college and tried to teach
> me the basics.
> A little while later, I was in a used bookstore and found a handbook Isaac
> Asimov
> wrote in 60's. I still haven't learned how to use it! Maybe when I retire?
>
> --
>   Joe Morris                       Atlanta history blog
>   joe at jolomo.net                   http://atlhistory.com
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> https://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mail.ale.org/pipermail/ale/attachments/20260120/97168883/attachment.htm>