On Precision and Poetry
Charles Babbage is famous for designing one of the first computers in the 1820's and the Babbage principle that high-skilled workers should focus on tasks the need their skillset. Babbage once...
Charles Babbage is famous for designing one of the first computers in the 1820's and the Babbage principle that high-skilled workers should focus on tasks the need their skillset.
Babbage once read a poem by Tennyson that he felt was inaccurate, and wrote to Tennyson to correct it:
"In your otherwise beautiful poem, one verse reads,
Every moment dies a man,... If this were true, the population of the world would be at a standstill. In truth, the rate of birth is slightly in excess of that of death. I would suggest [that the next edition of your poem should read]"
Every moment one is born.
Every moment dies a man,
Every moment 1 and 1/16 is born.
Strictly speaking, the actual figure is so long I cannot get it into a line, but I believe the figure 1 1/16 will be sufficiently accurate for poetry."
(This post is in memory of Shah Munjee, one of the many unsung engineering heroes that created the miracle of modern aviation, and a lover of such tales, may he rest in peace).