The World's Largest Computer in 1951

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The discussion centers around two significant machines: the ENIAC, an early computer that was 10 feet tall, weighed 30 tons, and required 150 kilowatts of power, and the Russian Ekranoplan, a ground effect vehicle that could travel over 400 km/h and weighed 540 tons. The ENIAC utilized a vast number of electronic components but had less processing power than a modern pocket calculator. The Ekranoplan, developed by the Soviet Union, operates just above water using a shock wave principle, allowing it to travel over various terrains. The conversation also touches on trivia and historical facts about these machines, highlighting their unique engineering and capabilities. Overall, the thread showcases a blend of technical details and engaging quiz-like interactions.
  • #1,501
Point to fingerprints, not to retinal scans. I don't know what that might mean.
 
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  • #1,502
zoobyshoe said:
retinal scan?

cuddly toy for zooby
 
  • #1,503
honestrosewater said:
But how does that work with the first clue or flowers or blood? I really don't get the first clue if it isn't something to do with fingers or prints...

the first clue was to point you in the direction of identification.

Do you think it a crap clue?
 
  • #1,504
wolram said:
the first clue was to point you in the direction of identification.

Do you think it a crap clue?
No, I'm just complaining. Mostly about my not guessing it. It was a fine clue. :smile:
 
  • #1,505
honestrosewater said:
But how does that work with the first clue or flowers or blood? I really don't get the first clue if it isn't something to do with fingers or prints...
Or maybe with him not getting credit? I don't get the clues together. :confused:

Oh, flower could be iris...

Flower IRIS

Blood VEINS in eye
 
  • #1,506
So what's next zoobyshoe?
 
  • #1,507
wolram said:
the first clue was to point you in the direction of identification.

Do you think it a crap clue?
If you plug in the substitute words, you get:

Point to fingerprints, not to retinal scans.

This leads us to believe there's yet another step, when, apparently there isn't.

Also, the way you wrote it with no punctuation, suggests HonestRoseWater's first idea, which is that it is an instruction not to point to Foulds in a certain way. I thought for a while this meant the answer had to take the form Do not point to fould's as a charlatan or as a failure or whatever way it turned out to be.

Then, it occurred to me you meant "Point to Foulds, not this way." (notice the comma) meaning not in some other direction.

So, yeah, a lot of dead ends in the clue that we couldn't have overcome without your promptings.
 
  • #1,508
wolram said:
So what's next zoobyshoe?

He went looking for iron, but found cement.
 
  • #1,509
Just to get it out of the way- Joseph Aspdin.
 
  • #1,510
honestrosewater said:
Just to get it out of the way- Joseph Aspdin.
Not who I was looking for. Does this person fit the clue as well?
 
  • #1,511
zoobyshoe said:
He went looking for iron, but found cement.
Jimmy Hoffa?
 
  • #1,512
Danger said:
Jimmy Hoffa?
Incorrect!
 
  • #1,513
This is driving me nuts as its been on tv and i can not remember, but it was
in the US.
 
  • #1,514
zoobyshoe said:
Not who I was looking for. Does this person fit the clue as well?
Not sure about the iron part- he patented Portland Cement. I figured it was too easy but wanted to be sure.
 
  • #1,515
Danger said:
Jimmy Hoffa?
:smile: An A for creativity.
 
  • #1,516
wolram said:
This is driving me nuts as its been on tv and i can not remember, but it was
in the US.
Was it an explorer, archaeologist, inventor? What other profession could it be?
 
  • #1,517
wolram said:
This is driving me nuts as its been on tv and i can not remember, but it was
in the US.
Yes! It was in the US.
 
  • #1,518
honestrosewater said:
Not sure about the iron part- he patented Portland Cement. I figured it was too easy but wanted to be sure.
The iron part is important to the story. This is an obscure chapter is the life of an anything-but-obscure man. His quest for a new source of iron lasted nearly 20 years.
 
  • #1,519
honestrosewater said:
Was it an explorer, archaeologist, inventor? What other profession could it be?
Im still reeling from that slap by Zooby, so don't listen to me I am punch drunk. :smile:
 
  • #1,520
wolram said:
Im still reeling from that slap by Zooby, so don't listen to me I am punch drunk. :smile:
I believe the British may have a completely different sense of etiquette than we do. I never have any idea when I'm overstepping British standards for this. Talking to Brewnog I sometimes suddenly realize I've said something that would be taken as insensitively expressed over there while no one here would blink an eye.
 
  • #1,521
zoobyshoe said:
I believe the British may have a completely different sense of etiquette than we do. I never have any idea when I'm overstepping British standards for this. Talking to Brewnog I sometimes suddenly realize I've said something that would be taken as insensitively expressed over there while no one here would blink an eye.
Its our british humour, to make someone think we have been hurt, its sort
of the opposite to the stiff upper lip old boy thing, so don't worry Zooby we
are a thick skinned race, the only thing that really offends us is if you don't
stick your little finger out when drinking tea.
 
  • #1,522
Right, then! Let us carry on.
 
  • #1,523
Christopher Columbus? This is mainly a wild guess.
 
  • #1,524
honestrosewater said:
Christopher Columbus? This is mainly a wild guess.
Not Columbus. This person went looking for iron. He happened to find a source of cement, and decided to make use of it. He continued to work on the iron project, as well. He did not create or patent cement, just found a lot of it.
 
  • #1,525
I think he had an unusual ship named after him
 
  • #1,526
zoobyshoe said:
Not Columbus. This person went looking for iron. He happened to find a source of cement, and decided to make use of it. He continued to work on the iron project, as well. He did not create or patent cement, just found a lot of it.
Yes, but I'm not sure if it was iron for building or eating. I'm not asking, I'm just saying.
 
  • #1,527
wolram said:
I think he had an unusual ship named after him
He was famous enough for that to have happened, but I'm not aware that it ever did. I can't confirm or deny this guess.
 
  • #1,528
The only other explorer of Americas I can think of is Ponce de Leon. Maybe more in a minute.
Okay, it says Vazquez settled the Carolinas and I know Noth Carolina limestone was used a lot in construction??
 
  • #1,529
honestrosewater said:
Yes, but I'm not sure if it was iron for building or eating. I'm not asking, I'm just saying.
Iron for industry: he wanted masses of it.
 
  • #1,530
honestrosewater said:
The only other explorer of Americas I can think of is Ponce de Leon. Maybe more in a minute.
You have invented this clue yourself. I never said or implied he was an explorer of the Americas. All I said is he went looking for iron.
 
  • #1,531
zoobyshoe said:
You have invented this clue yourself. I never said or implied he was an explorer of the Americas. All I said is he went looking for iron.
I know, I'm just thinking out loud. Maybe I should stop that. But you did say it was in the US?
 
  • #1,532
honestrosewater said:
I know, I'm just thinking out loud. Maybe I should stop that. But you did say it was in the US?
Absolutely. And he was a US Citizen from birth.
 
  • #1,533
Meriwether Lewis?
 
  • #1,534
honestrosewater said:
Meriwether Lewis?
Much too early in US history. No.
 
  • #1,535
Henry Ford?
 
  • #1,536
wolram said:
I think he had an unusual ship named after him
I just googled this and there is, in fact, a non-standard seagoing vessel named after this man.
 
  • #1,537
honestrosewater said:
Henry Ford?
No, but you're much closer to the target dates. Look a little earlier in time.
 
  • #1,538
D.O.S, i don't want to answer this as i haven't a good clue.
 
  • #1,539
wolram said:
D.O.S, i don't want to answer this as i haven't a good clue.
Just write down the initial of his first name. That will be a clue for Honestrosewater, and will probably confirm to me you know the answer.
 
  • #1,540
Maybe a Civil War era vessel? :redface:
 
  • #1,541
zoobyshoe said:
Just write down the initial of his first name. That will be a clue for Honestrosewater, and will probably confirm to me you know the answer.
If i am right it is D
 
  • #1,542
honestrosewater said:
Maybe a Civil War era vessel? :redface:
No, the vessel wasn't commissioned till long after he died.

He is so famous, you'll be amazed when you find out. This cement/ iron thing that he pursued for 20 years was basically a money pit and financial failure for him. Precious few people know of this chapter of his life.
 
  • #1,543
wolram said:
If i am right it is D
No...Sorry! You have had the wrong person in mind.
 
  • #1,544
Lincoln? Eh, I have given up the not thinking out loud thing. :-p
 
  • #1,545
honestrosewater said:
Lincoln? Eh, I have given up the not thinking out loud thing. :-p
No. You're back to being too early.
 
  • #1,546
david o saylor was my guess
 
  • #1,547
Thomas Edison, Theodore Roosevelt

Little note: Edison's submarine had a piano on it. Hah.
 
Last edited:
  • #1,548
honestrosewater said:
Thomas Edison,
Yes!
 
  • #1,549
See, if you just guess enough... :smile:
 
  • #1,550
I think people should have a clue ready when they answer the question
 

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