favorite quote

[nibot]

"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."

- Neil A. Armstrong 2/22/2000 (ref)

Comments

Niel Armstrong

[jqmold.livejournal.com]

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.

Re: Niel Armstrong

[nibot.livejournal.com]

Hi Roger,

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

[jqmold.livejournal.com]

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.

[furzicle.livejournal.com]

In our science class we teach about moon exploration. One of the standard test questions is "Who was the first man on the moon?"

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.