>> Which brings us back to Bell Labs, It was truly a >> unique place, and it's a pity that there's nothing comparable to it >> any more -- we're all poorer for that loss. > > >And if this has nothing to do with paddling, well, Craig started it :P >*************************************************************************** Well, of Course it does! Especially here in NJ where Bell Labs is/was. We also had RCA Labs near Princeton, where TV as we know it was basically developed, and Western Electric had a separate lab here in the Hopewell area. --Jim and Margaret Cawley wrote a series of classic paddling guides called "Little Rivers of New Jersey". When they passed on, a paddling club, members of the Murray Hill Canoe Club, took it over and revised the last published one. Guess where that canoe club was located and who comprised their membership. For that matter, let's go back a little further to the very beginnings of such research. That is likely the General Electric labs in NY. Their star member was Charles Steinmetz, who in many ways established the whole discipline of electrical engineering, especially the mathematical aspects. He lived along the Mohawk River and loved to paddle his canoes there. In fact one was specially outfitted with a drafting board and instruments and he was known just to paddle somewhere on the river and do much of his thinking in that boat... (I recollect a photo of that somewhere.) Joe P. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Joe P wrote about Bell Labs and their connection to paddling. Same here in Illinois, where we had a Bell Lab in Naperville. John Connet worked there. He helped to devise the first automated timing system based on a computer that was used for kayak races. It was a true wonder to look at - all a confusion of wires and things - but it worked most of the time. And John was a pioneer of whitewater racing, slalom boat building and coaching. He got me started in the sport in 1979. Nice memories. Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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