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Babbage, A Look Back

Posted by Hemos on from the recognize-our-roots dept.

A reader writes "System Toolbox just started a new computer history section in an effort to get us geeks in touch with our "roots." The current article in the monthly column focuses on Charles Babbage. The editor and author hope to raise awareness of our past so that scenes like this won't continue to take place. A big hill to climb, but worth the effort."

5 of 261 comments (clear)

  1. Babbage - a geek who made it? by tomknight · · Score: 2, Funny
    "...[Babbage] became the hit of London's social circle and it was often the mark of a party's success or failure as to whether Babbage had accepted an invitation to attend...."

    Ahh, geek as social success.... good to see that some things never change ;-)

    Tom.

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    Oh arse
  2. cluelessness on the "this" link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    "He used a Captain Crunch whistle to generate a 2600 kilohertz tone to get free phone calls..."

    2,600,000 Hz, that's a pretty high pitch!

  3. Charles Baggage - father of the suitcase by jweatherley · · Score: 2, Funny

    Looks like a rogue spell checker got at the system toolbox article:

    While still a young boy, Baggage was concerned with questions of "how" over those of "why.".

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    Reverse outsourcing: it's the future
  4. Re:Just being pedantic.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Absolutely. "Math" ith a Roman Catholic thervith.

  5. Re:Graduates by Martin+S. · · Score: 2, Funny

    What struck me then was what a &ltsnipped&gtflamebait&ltsnipped&gt

    What strikes me is your generalisations; more characteristic of a liberal arts student than scientist of any subject.

    Frankly most of their essays were embarrassing in their childish views, ignorance, poor grammar and spelling.

    Taking of which: Your own grammer is not so hot is it. Even this illiterate CS grad has spotted eleven mistakes in your post.