KWSN Orbiting Fortress

Sir Hamster of Elderberry · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 11:46 pm Post subject: Some News from the Elderberrys

Among the many things I inherited from my father was his sense of humor, and when I was a teenager we delighted in watching Monty Python's Flying Circus together. He also shared with me his deep interest in science and learning. During science classes in school while I was growing up I always did very well, and didn't understand why some people found it difficult. Only much later did it occur to me that I did well because my dad had already taught me so much. It's handy when your dad is a professor of computer science and a PhD physicist, you learn a lot of cool stuff just being around that sort of thing.

I am sad to report that my father passed away two nights ago. He was in hospice care and went comfortably and peaceful. He had been suffering from dementia, and his mental and physical state declined very rapidly over the past few years. Last week he fell ill, and just didn't have the strength left to recover from it. It was his time, and I'm glad I got as many years with him as I did.

So now you know a bit more about why I post science stories here, especially the silly ones. In honor of my father, I have a special request for my fellow Knights; Go find and read a science article (silly or otherwise), then post a note and a link to it in this thread. My dad would get a kick out of that. Smile

--- Dan

Douglas Earl Eastwood (1924-2009)
aka Sir Elderberry The Elder #ni-2

[ Update: More stories can be found here: http://deememorial.blogspot.com/ ]

Sir Papa Smurph · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:59 am Post subject:

You have my deepest sympathy Sir...

In Honor of your Father

http://www.sillywalksgenerator.com/

I found it while searching for "Silly Science" I think it is appropriate #ni-1

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Sir Tux · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:10 am Post subject:

My condoleances Sir.

Since i also have an elder who is dementing i can really understand what you have been trough. It is terrible to see a person's live-light fade away. It's also hurting to see someone you loved, appreciated, ... turn to the place from where nobody returns.

The article i'll link is not reale scientific, but reading that your father was a professor in computer science i hope he/you will appreciate it anyway.

Once more, my deepest sympapthy.

Erland

http://www.intersystems.com/cache/whitepapers/radcache.html
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Sir Hamster of Elderberry · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:19 am Post subject:

Great stuff guys, Thanks!

Here's one from me, found on XKCD this morning:

If you follow the link and mouseover the original, there is a little message for the programmer types:

Sir Furry Mark · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:29 am Post subject:

Sorry to hear about your loss Dan.

This is quite an old one, but still makes me chuckle...
Vowels to blame for German grumpiness

Mark
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Adam Alexander · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:51 pm Post subject:

I'd like to pass on my condolences, too Dan. Here's a story in honor of your father.

http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2003/09.25/11-ignobel.html
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alpha_fruit · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:44 pm Post subject:

Dan, my friend, my heart is with you at this time.
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Idan · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:52 am Post subject:

My sincere condoleances Sir Hamster of Elderberry...

I will look up for a good/loonie/looney science article in honor of your father.
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Grizzly · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:32 am Post subject:

Ni Dan - so very sorry for you and your family .

In response to your request , I could not find the (a) Web Site that held the story that I wanted , indeed it was an e-mail many years ago to myself from an engineering colleague , and I did post it on the defunct KWSN board (2 versions away) , so you are the most qualified to find the original .
However it concerns the "Chickin' Cannon" from Rolls Royce and British Rail . This is a very abridged version from (refreshed) memory , alas it does not include the "Fun" they had with the compressor and hose .
Here goes

"Whether it is true or not, I don't know, but it is nevertheless Quite Interesting to note, that British Rail once borrowed the infamous cannon!

However, they had a lot of trouble with it - they were trying to use it to test the effect of a bird strike on High Speed Trains. They were worried that drivers could get hurt, and wanted to ensure that birds couldn't penetrate the trains windows.

Unfortunately, every time they used it the bird would smash through the window, through the seat and embed itself firmly in the rear bulkhead. Proof positive, they thought, that bird strikes were ultimately lethal.

They asked, however, how aircraft survived such strikes - and were told that birds rarely penetrated the windows of aircraft flying at any kind of speed - including supersonic jet fighters!

Rolls Royce asked BR where they were getting their chickens from. Tescos (supermarket) was the reply.

Ahh, said Rolls Royce - try thawing them out first or buy fresh chickens - not frozen!!!

Many condolences Grizz .

PS : Edit .Cut and pasted from somewhere else
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PhastPhred · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:42 am Post subject:

Maybe similar to this link?

http://www.qi.com/talk/viewtopic.php?p=39966

Grizzly · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:14 am Post subject:

Sir Hamster of Elderberry · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:39 pm Post subject:

Ah yes! The infamous Chicken Cannon!! I get a belly laugh just thinking of that one. Smile

PhastPhred · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:50 am Post subject:

I think MythBusters had an episode too...

Sir Hamster of Elderberry · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject:

Update:
I set up a blog for more family stories and comments: http://deememorial.blogspot.com/

ni! i!u

Al Dente · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 3:58 pm Post subject:

Condolences.

A use for old computer bits may be in order... http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/20/hp_scanjet_3c_bohemian_rhaposdy/
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Yankton · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 4:06 pm Post subject:

My condolences as well. I'm getting the impression he would have fit in well here. #ni-1

http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2009/pr-15-09.html

Something recent. The smallest planet found outside of our own solar system so far.

Shocked

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mohrorless · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject:

Dan,

I am so sorry to hear about your father (and for my delay in reading this, I have been a bit absent from the forum for a while, RL gets in the way sometimes).

Cherish the memories you have of him and share them with your family and friends. No one is truly gone if they are remembered!

As for your request. Instead of a silly science story, I give you a valuable usefull scientific tool: The silly scientific name guide
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Cow_tipping · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 3:35 pm Post subject:

Sorry to hear this Dan. My deepest condoleances.

Here a good science site with a small quiz to test your science history knowledge. http://www.livescience.com/php/trivia/?quiz=inventions
(I scored 9/15)
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jbyram2 · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:09 am Post subject:

Dan:
My deepest heartfelt condolences and prayers to you and your family. Two of the reasons I fold are my grandparents; one lost to Alzheimers and one to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (aka mad cow for people).

Here's a link to a serious problem with a silly sounding name:

Tin Whiskers
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Sir Hamster of Elderberry · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:00 pm Post subject:

Good stuff everybody. Laughing

PS to the Unix geeks: The next time you use a shell or a script, my dad invented them:
http://www.multicians.org/unix.html
http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?DougMcIlroy

ni! i!u