The World's Largest Computer in 1951

[zoobyshoe]

Point to fingerprints, not to retinal scans. I don't know what that might mean.

 

[wolram]

retinal scan?

cuddly toy for zooby

 

[wolram]

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?

 

[honestrosewater]

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.

 

[wolram]

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.

Oh, flower could be iris...

Flower IRIS

Blood VEINS in eye

 

[wolram]

So what's next zoobyshoe?

 

[zoobyshoe]

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.

 

[zoobyshoe]

So what's next zoobyshoe?

He went looking for iron, but found cement.

 

[honestrosewater]

Just to get it out of the way- Joseph Aspdin.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Just to get it out of the way- Joseph Aspdin.

Not who I was looking for. Does this person fit the clue as well?

 

[Danger]

He went looking for iron, but found cement.

Jimmy Hoffa?

 

[zoobyshoe]

Jimmy Hoffa?

Incorrect!

 

[wolram]

This is driving me nuts as its been on tv and i can not remember, but it was
in the US.

 

[honestrosewater]

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.

 

[honestrosewater]

Jimmy Hoffa?

An A for creativity.

 

[honestrosewater]

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?

 

[zoobyshoe]

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.

 

[zoobyshoe]

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.

 

[wolram]

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.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Im still reeling from that slap by Zooby, so don't listen to me I am punch drunk.

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.

 

[wolram]

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.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Right, then! Let us carry on.

 

[honestrosewater]

Christopher Columbus? This is mainly a wild guess.

 

[zoobyshoe]

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.

 

[wolram]

I think he had an unusual ship named after him

 

[honestrosewater]

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.

 

[zoobyshoe]

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.

 

[honestrosewater]

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??

 

[zoobyshoe]

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.

 

[zoobyshoe]

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.