hopp@nbs-amrf.UUCP (12/16/83)
Does anyone know who coined the phrase:
"Basic research is what I do when I don't know what I'm doing"
I am fairly sure it was one of the early 20th century physicists, possibly
Neils Bohr. Do I have the quote exactly right? Also, when and where was
this phrase first uttered/written? If anyone shows an interest, I will
post the correct citation (as determined by majority vote of responses
and/or confirmation from an authoritative source) to net.misc. Replies to:
Ted Hopp
National Bureau of Standards
(UUCP: umcp-cs!nbs-amrf!hopp)
(ARPA: hopp.nbs-amrf.umcp-cs@udel-relay)dje@pyuxbb.UUCP (12/30/83)
I have another citation for the quote: "Basic research is when I'm doing what I don't know what I'm doing" as being from Werner von Braun. David Ellis / AT&T Bell Laboratories / Piscataway, NJ ihnp4!5941ux!dje
oz@rlgvax.UUCP (THE GREAT AND POWERFUL OZ) (01/02/84)
Gather round while I sing you of Wernher von Draun, A man whose allegiance is ruled by expedience, Call him a Nazi, he won't even frown, "Nazi, Shmazi," says Wernher von Braun Don't say that he's hypocritical, Say rather that he's apolitical "Once the rockets are up, who cares vere dey come down? That's not my department," says Wernher von Draun. Some have harsh words for this man of renown, But some think our attitude Should be one of gratitude, Like the widows and cripples in old London town Who owe their large pensions to Wernher von Braun. You too may be a big hero. Once you've learned to count backwards to zero. "In German or der English I know how to count down, Und I'm learning Chinese," says Wernher von Braun." Wernher von Braun, by Tom Lehrer, played on WOCC (The Rock of OCCC) on the day that he died by order of the news director, The Great and Powerful OZ. By the by, was it supposed to be von Braun who said in "THE RIGHT STUFF" "Our Germans are better then their Germans?" OZ seismo!rlgvax!oz
fair@dual.UUCP (Erik E. Fair) (01/10/84)
The day WHO died? Werhner Von Braun or Tom Lehrer?
death to the abusers of the English Language,
for it is they who shall cause World War III,
Erik E. Fair {ucbvax,amd70,zehntel,unisoft,onyx,its}!dual!fair
Dual Systems Corporation, Berkeley, California
P.S. Yes, I KNOW that Tom Lehrer isn't dead yet. And that WVB is.
That imprecise reference in OZ's article could have alarmed
somebody. Like me, if I didn't know better.