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david_megginson, to Sliderules
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

Solving 2×2=4 is the for any slide rule with the basic D and C scales, including the :

  1. Adjust the wheels (or slide) to put 2 above 1
  2. Keeping the alignment, read 4 over 2.

Not so hard, was it? There's a lot of unnecessary mystification around , but they're simple tools at heart.

You can also try this with the online simulator at https://cardboard-computer.org

Closeup of a homemade circular slide rule showing 4 on the outer D scale above 2 on the inner C scale.

david_megginson,
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

Currency conversion with a slide rule (circular or straight) is also simple. For example, today 1 British pound is worth 20.9 Mexican pesos:

  1. Put 2.09 above 1.
  2. Keeping the same alignment, read pesos above pounds (or vice-versa) anywhere on the wheel

For example, 450 Mexican pesos is approximately £21.50.

Closeup of a homemade circular slide rule showing 4.5 on the outer D scale above 2.15 on the inner C scale.

david_megginson, to Sliderules
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

I tried a prototype of the with paper glued onto thick, corrugated box cardbord. It's easy to use, but looks messy.

https://cardboard-computer.org

deborahh,
@deborahh@mstdn.ca avatar

@david_megginson oh, just remembered: inkjet ink will blur if you apply with rubbing. So apply wax lightly, thin layer.

deborahh,
@deborahh@mstdn.ca avatar

@david_megginson it's more stable. Not soluble in water. Should be fine.

david_megginson, to writing
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

A relationship that begins with mutual annoyance, insults, and an unwillingness to respect each-others' choice of career and place to live isn't likely to end well. At best, the two people can part with civility and seek out more respectful and sympathetic partners.

On an unrelated note, I can't figure out why keeps rejecting my scripts.

david_megginson, to Sliderules
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

prototype no. 2 (advanced version) solving the problem 5×25=75.

I cut the plastic cursor out of some stiff plastic "clamshell" packaging I pulled from the recycling bin.

Lessons from this iteration:

  1. Be more careful drawing the hairline on the cursor next time.
  2. Precise wheel alignment is very important, and I need to cover that more in the DiY instructions.

I'm going to glue these onto cardboard backings.

david_megginson,
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

@deborahh I get overwhelmed by notifications and clutter myself — modern apps are very noisy (literally and visually) and needy (please pay attention to ME!).

That's why I often make my windows fullscreen on my laptop, so that I won't see anything else, and why I use web sites rather than apps on my phone whenever possible.

deborahh,
@deborahh@mstdn.ca avatar

@david_megginson very few apps have permission to notify me on my smartphone 👍

david_megginson, to Sliderules
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

What's a Thursday without more news? 🙂

  1. There is now a home page with a virtual version that you can drag around manually to solve problems.
  2. The basic and advanced exercise pages now have help deeplinks directly to the relevant sections in the guide.

(I learned a bit making touch events work with SVG on mobile devices.)

https://cardboard-computer.org

david_megginson, to Ottawa
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

How does your garden grow?

Late-March cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, basil, eggplants (aubergines), and zucchini. Hardiness zone 5a/b, east-facing window.

david_megginson, to tea
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

Bliss (n): Masala chai with lots of milk late on a March afternoon.

david_megginson, to Sliderules
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

The is looking spiffy with the @creativecommons CC0 Public Domain Mark attached.

https://cardboard-computer.org

david_megginson, to Sliderules
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

First working prototype of the , calculating the Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything.

https://cardboard-computer.org

david_megginson,
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

The printable templates for the are available now at

https://cardboard-computer.org/templates.html

(There are also PDFs in A4 and US Letter sizes, in case your browser doesn't print properly.)

david_megginson,
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

There is also a detailed guide, including a very short Quick Start for addition and multiplication:

https://cardboard-computer.org/guide.html#quick-start

david_megginson, to Bread
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

After a few months of refining my simple whole-wheat molasses bread recipe, it's hard to remember why sliced supermarket bread was once even an option.

I'll start on this latest loaf tomorrow at breakfast, accompanied by fresh-ground peanut butter, orange juice, and loose-leaf black tea.

david_megginson, to Sliderules
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

My DIY circular slide rule side project — an excuse to improve my knowledge of CSS3 transitions and SVG — progresseth apace.

There is now a simple version (just multiplication and subtraction) and an advanced version (square and cube roots). It will also animate the solutions to random basic problems on either.

Coming soon:

  • advanced problems
  • DIY printables and instructions for assembling your own
  • detailed instructions

https://davidmegginson.github.io/cardboard-computer/

david_megginson, to Trains
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar
johnefrancis,
@johnefrancis@mastodon.social avatar

@david_megginson I kinda want to see indicators like "wheel squareness", "minutes of remaining bearing wear" and "transmission bolt torque" on the operator's console.

david_megginson, to datascience
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

My team is hiring a senior data scientist to work in The Hague, Netherlands (UN staff position, P-4 level).

https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/228402?language=en

david_megginson, to random
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

The IPC acute food insecurity analysis conducted in December 2023 warned of a risk that Famine may occur by the end of May 2024.

… Since then, the conditions necessary to prevent famine have not been met and the latest evidence confirms that Famine is imminent in the northern governorates and projected to occur anytime between mid-March and May 2024.

https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/alerts-archive/issue-97/en/

david_megginson, to gardening
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

12 days after planting, my cherry tomatoes seedlings are growing additional leaves (my other nightshades, eggplants and bell peppers, still have only the original two).

ottaross,
@ottaross@mastodon.social avatar

@david_megginson Nice! First true leaves are a rewarding milestone to reach.

This leads to the tough part for me, getting past the risk of 'damp,' which I learned recently isn't just one specific affliction but a range of fungal nasties that claim seedlings.

I'm probably not doing seed growing this year, but I found watering only from below made a big difference. (ie no water on top of the soil) in case you're facing any of that .

david_megginson,
@david_megginson@mstdn.ca avatar

@ottaross Thanks for the tip. I might try watering from below while they're still in the mini-greenhouses. That should also encourage the roots to grow deep.

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