On the other hand, for those of us who think that what actually happened is interesting, I highly recommend Dava Sobel’s book about John Harrison, Longitude.
In 1914 the Germans were sinking U.S. ships in the North Atlantic. It was a turkey shoot because the Germans had the U-boat and we didn’t. Somebody asked the American folk philosopher Will Rogers what we ought to do about it. He thought about it a moment and said, “Well, I think you should boil the ocean.” The man was incredulous. “Boil the ocean?” “Yes,” said Rogers. “I think if you heated up the Atlantic ocean, the submarines would rise to the surface and you could capture them.” “But how do you boil an ocean?” the man asked. Rogers responded, “I’ve given you the solution. It’s up to you to work out the details.”
Ida No over 4 years ago
Yeah, that’d be cool. Especially for Blackbeard, because you’d be so deaf from the explosions that you’re never hear him coming.
some idiot from R'lyeh Premium Member over 4 years ago
Gotta say, that would make me more likely to study history, not less, unless this is some kinda Br’er Rabbit setup.
You can read Mr. Ditton’s proposal here:
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/ecco/004806274.0001.000?rgn=main;view=fulltext
Algolei I over 4 years ago
I prefer the clock. Have you ever looked at the inside of a working clock? I could just stare at them for hours!
And I have. I know this because I had a clock handy.
Differentname over 4 years ago
Shout out to all my Harry Turtledove peeps in the house! Woot! Woot!
Kaputnik over 4 years ago
On the other hand, for those of us who think that what actually happened is interesting, I highly recommend Dava Sobel’s book about John Harrison, Longitude.
gnome over 4 years ago
Good ideas make history because there are so few of them…
Darth Stevious over 4 years ago
I am so tired this morning I tried to read the hover t ext…
Ed The Red Premium Member over 4 years ago
In 1914 the Germans were sinking U.S. ships in the North Atlantic. It was a turkey shoot because the Germans had the U-boat and we didn’t. Somebody asked the American folk philosopher Will Rogers what we ought to do about it. He thought about it a moment and said, “Well, I think you should boil the ocean.” The man was incredulous. “Boil the ocean?” “Yes,” said Rogers. “I think if you heated up the Atlantic ocean, the submarines would rise to the surface and you could capture them.” “But how do you boil an ocean?” the man asked. Rogers responded, “I’ve given you the solution. It’s up to you to work out the details.”
PoodleGroomer over 4 years ago
Loran was the radio solution of the same concept until GPS came out. They all needed a more accurate clock.
Stephen Gilberg over 4 years ago
Again, why?