"I am, and ever will be, a white-socks, pocket-protector, nerdy engineer -- born under the second law of thermodynamics, steeped in the steam tables, in love with free-body diagrams, transformed by Laplace, and propelled by compressible flow."
The version quoted in our paper today was: : “I am, and ever will be, a white socks, pocket protector, nerdy engineer. And I take a substantial amount of pride in the accomplishments of my profession.” Perhaps both versions were part of his total original statement.
Thanx so much for steering me to Armstrongs's talk. I plan to quote from it profusely.
To answer your ? re steam tables: No, not since writing up a lab report in 1949. The same can be said for Laplace transforms, free body diagrams and compressible flow. But, I consider that my exposure to all of them while in school was a vital part of my education.
Niel Armstrong
Date: 2012-08-27 12:47 am (UTC)Perhaps both versions were part of his total original statement.
Re: Niel Armstrong
Date: 2012-09-02 01:07 pm (UTC)I think this is the original--it does contain "both versions":
http://www.nae.edu/Publications/Bridge/TheVertiginousMarchofTechnology/TheEngineeredCentury.aspx
Have you ever had reason to use steam tables?
Re: Niel Armstrong
Date: 2012-09-03 05:10 am (UTC)To answer your ? re steam tables: No, not since writing up a lab report in 1949. The same can be said for Laplace transforms, free body diagrams and compressible flow. But, I consider that my exposure to all of them while in school was a vital part of my education.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-27 02:27 am (UTC)The poor confused kids give all kinds of answers like: Lance Armstron, Neil Armstrong, and--one of my favorites--Louis Armstrong.
This week would be especially challenging for them-- both Lance and Neil are in the paper!
Lance's noteworthiness is a little less admirable.