25 May
2009
25 May
'09
7:52 p.m.
When I was a lttle kid, I asked what "spindle" meant, and why there
was
any need to say, "Do not fold, spindle, staple, or mutilate."
When I was a youngster (18), I worked at the Australian National
University in the research School of Physical Sciences. I was a trainee
in the Electronics Unit. We got to repair Altairs, and Imsais, and
Intel MDS systems - drool now - I had no idea how much I would miss
them when they went.... Real machines - None of these fancy switch mode
power supplies.... BIG caps... BIG transformers...
These machines were used extensively to control experiments. We also
has a wonderful mechanical engineering department that 'could make
anything!'.
One of the silly memories I have is turning 18. One of my presents from
the guys was a new accelerator pedal for my car, that contained a small
hole in the pedal. Mounted under the small hole was a spindle that
would protrude through the hole when the accelerator was pressed harder
than 80% of its travel.
Kind of a active, biometric feedback system, designed to reduce the
acceleration rate of my car..... I don't know what they were
complaining about :-P
It is funny what a single word can make you remember!