[ale] Engineering Archaeology

[lollipopman691]

I learned from that book when I was in elementary school and recently found a used copy, which I now own ( somewhere in the Ever Shifting Pile ).

- CHS

On Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 at 3:17 PM, Jon "maddog" Hall via Ale <ale at ale.org> wrote:

>>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
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