Olav Kappert wrote:

>I'm not old enough to go back to the age of the abacus; how about the slide
>ruler?  Do anyone have one ?

I used to have a little plastic one; I think I've managed to lose it. :/

On one occasion when Isaac Asimov came to my school to speak, he related
that his reputation as a visionary, science fiction writer was called into
question when his book on using the slide rule was published on the same
day as the pocket calculator was introduced.

(He may have said "electronic" instead of "pocket.")


Alfredo follows with:

> BTW, if you have a chance to visit Firenze in Italy, go to the science
> museum (which, among other things, has one of Galileo's fingers on
display).
> You will enjoy many amazing mathematical "tools" and "appliances".  There
> are many great museums throughout the world, but this little museum is a
> gem and, being little known, is not crowded at all (even though it is
> just around the corner from the over-crowded Galleria degli Uffizi :-)

Drat.  I had the good fortune of taking a week-long class in Firenze in
mid-June, but managed to miss this little museum (and a host of others).
Alfredo, do you recall the little museum's name?

I had hoped to see much of Leonardo's work, given how much time he spent
in Firenze.  All I found were three paintings at the Uffizi.  Word had it
that most of his work was in Vinci, where he was born, despite the
relatively little time he was there.

Ah well, there's a reason to return (as if one is needed ;) .

--Glenn