3 ms·

There's a story about him buying one of the very first available transistors in the late 1950s in order to predict roulette outcomes.

• srean 1y ago
  Yes. His autobiography is such an interesting read. Gives us a glimpse into how it was to grow up during the great depression.
  • lordnacho 1y ago
    One thing I took note of was that he was a chemistry nerd in school. It seems like the subject of nerd culture changed from waaay back when he was a kid being chemistry (you could make bombs), to electronics such as radio (you could do ham radio), to computers and then programming (video games). Nowadays you won't find anyone who can tell you how chemistry works, and a few old guys will tell you how to solder your own electronics, but everyone will be able to tell you how to code a website.
    • srean 1y ago
      Good observations on shifting nerdismo. On the otherhand, how can one not yield to the temptation of synthesizing some harmless nitrocellulose in the chemistry lab, or some flash powder. "Experimenting" with the flash powder set my socks on fire while I was temporarily blinded. I was not expecting that. Fun times.
    • robocat 1y ago
      > nerd culture Yeah: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43742108 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43742108 Was also perhaps career focused on latest tech?? For example my granddad did structural engineering, my father studied chemical engineering, I did electronic engineering