The World's Largest Computer in 1951

[Njorl]

...and it seems Varuna is a large Kuiper belt object, nearly as large as Pluto.

Njorl

 

[wolram]

Njorl,
you are correct, its a new hobby of mine to associate
celestial bodies with their name sake

 

[wolram]

Njorl,
have you a question? that is within the bounds of thread
participants ken

 

[Njorl]

Oh yeah. Umm...

 

[Njorl]

Contrary to what the name implies, it was made of birch. It was the largest of it's kind ever made. I have a couple hints ready, but this might be enough.

Njorl

 

[LURCH]

Contrary to what the name implies, it was made of birch. It was the largest of it's kind ever made. I have a couple hints ready, but this might be enough.

Njorl

The "Spruce Goose"?

 

[Njorl]

I guess you won't need those hints after all.

Yep.

Njorl

 

[wolram]

do you have one LURCH?

 

[wolram]

this wheel has a diameter of 72 feet 6 inches, (over 22 metres), and a width of 6 feet.

 

[jimmy p]

London Eye (the millenium wheel thingy)

 

[wolram]

good guess jimmy p , but this wheel is much older

 

[LURCH]

this wheel has a diameter of 72 feet 6 inches, (over 22 metres), and a width of 6 feet.

That's that big water wheel in Europe, Isabelle I think it's called.

I like big machines!

Today's clocks are read by site. By what sense did one tell time in early (c. 18^th century) Chinese homes?

 

[wolram]

http://www.isle-of-man.com/information/lwheel.htm

i should take umbrage with you for saying EUROPE
but i forgive you

 

[wolram]

Today's clocks are read by site. By what sense did one tell time in early (c. 18th century) Chinese homes?
i know the chinese had a facination for birds, and i think
some of their clocks had birds tweet the time

 

[zoobyshoe]

i know the chinese had a facination for birds, and i think some of their clocks had birds tweet the time

And so...by what sense would the chinese have sensed the time?

 

[LURCH]

i know the chinese had a facination for birds, and i think
some of their clocks had birds tweet the time

Nope, not by hearing. But you are correct in that properly identifying the device will give the sense.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Aha! Sense of smell! The Chinese would speak of lumps of time as "the time it takes to burn a stick of incense."

 

[zoobyshoe]

Amateur electrical experimentor, Benjamin Franklin, nearly killed himself with electricity once. Not, however, when he flew a kite during an electrical storm, but when he was walking holding two charged Leyden jars, on his way to do what?

 

[wolram]

cook a turkey

 

[zoobyshoe]

cook a turkey

So close, and yet so far. That isn't the specific task he was on his way to perform when he shocked himself. It was, indeed, thanksgiving day, however, and a turkey was to be cooked that day, which is a hint.

 

[Evo]

remove the feathers?

 

[zoobyshoe]

remove the feathers?

No. He was on his way to to something with the two charged leyden jars.

 

[Evo]

you're telling me that shocking a turkey with two leyden jars won't loosen it's feathers?

 

[zoobyshoe]

you're telling me that shocking a turkey with two leyden jars won't loosen it's feathers?

Hmmmm. I can't tell if your suggestion he shocked the turkey is a joke or not. Either way, it is correct. This is how Franklin killed his thanksgiving turkeys.

Your turn, Evo.

 

[Evo]

It's transmitters broadcast on frequencies at 20 and 40 MHz.

 

[wolram]

a turkey broadcasts on 20 and 40 MHz?
ohhhh new question silly me.

 

[Evo]

It's a very special turkey.

 

[wolram]

sputnik, if my old ham radio book is right.

 

[Evo]

sputnik, if my old ham radio book is right.

Damn, you are good!

 

[wolram]

no just an old hobby