The result of this experiment was inconclusive, so we had to use statistics.
— (Supposedly overheard at an international physics conference)
Because clearly the best thing to do with a time machine is to introduce modern consumer electronics to the 1977 market.
This is what happens when a fireworks factory catches fire.
A witty saying proves nothing.
— Voltaire
Just more evidence the future has arrived…
Anatomy of a subway station: Behind the roof is steel, and behind that, bedrock. This is exposed for maintenance at the Porter Square station in Cambridge, Mass.
Bookland (imaginary place)
Apparently, when the international barcode system for all products (EAN) was being developed, they wanted to make it backwards compatible with the old book barcodes (ISBN). So they created an imaginary country called Bookland, so that books could be identified by ISBN without regard to their country of origin.
As if that weren’t enough, sheet music publishers had their own old barcode system and wanted in on EAN too, so there’s also an imaginary country called Musicland.
It’s a shame neither of these countries have approved my visa application yet, because I’d really love to visit!
There is always a way to do it better—find it.
— Thomas Edison
The rare individual who unselfishly tries to serve others has an enormous advantage: he has little competition.
— Dale Carnegie
Innovation isn’t making something new.
It’s making something new, work.
Because if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter.
— advertisement in an engineering trade magazine
A quadrotor attempts to juggle a ball. (via Carlos Azevedo)
This article was published in 1847 by a religious magazine from Michigan, written by one Richard Thornton. It may be the earliest description (even as a joke) of a technological singularity.
Empty arguments with words cannot compare with a test which will show practical results.
— Ma Jun (3rd century Chinese inventor)
