[MLUG - DISCUSSION] Lost knowledge (was: Broadband besides DSL or cable)

[Mikhail Kovalenko <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Jonathan King wrote:
> 
> On Tue, 1 May 2001, Finn, Michael wrote:
> 
> > We have lost the ability to manufacture the guns (16" variety) used on the
> > now mothballed Iowa class battleships. We no longer have the knowledge,
> > equipment or skilled workers to do it. Now that given, we could easily
> > "relearn" it, so we haven't forgotten the base knowledge, just some
> > specifics...
> >
> > And though we can build a pyramid, we aren't sure exactly how it was done...
> > again, close, but not quite fitting your quandary.
> 
> The only things I could come up with on short notice that fit were all
> very artsy-like and trade secrets.  So, everybody agrees that part of the
> "sound" of the Stradivarius violin derives from the strange lacquer that
> was used to finish them, but nobody has the recipe or figured out what the
> secret is.  That one is amenable to solution, maybe.
> 
> Human languages and cultures die out, of course, but that's not quite
> right, either.
> 
> Now, I was *shocked* to find out the other day that today's undergrads
> were never taught how to perform the procedure we were taught as "casting
> out nines".  In other words, consider the following arithmetic problem:
> 
>       238943
>     * 423423
>      -------
> 101173861889
> 
> I can tell that this is the wrong answer in about 4 seconds without
> a calculator of any kind.  So much for "progress".
> 

Would you like to explain a bit more here? The correct answer is
101173961889, according to my calculator :) What is "casting out nines"?

More on topic -- someone recently has figured out the secret of Damascus
steel. Pretty impressive. But again, it's knowledge, not an object.

The utility of the pyramids' many internal chambers is still mostly a
mystery. I don't know if they were actually used for anything. I think
that many people soon will not know what a sickle is and how to use it
:)

-- 
Misha Kovalenko
Webmaster               Columbia College
Tel.: 573-875-7314      1001 Rogers
Fax: 573=875=7320    Columbia, MO 65216 USA
Please be much notice! http://www.engrish.com
--
To manage your subscription, go to http://mlug.missouri.edu/members/edit.php

Archives are available at http://mlug.missouri.edu/list-archives/