On 1 Oct 2006, at 18:29, Adam Nieman wrote:
> At some point in the narrative (can't remember where) Bryson quotes a
> variation of the famous comment from Charles Kettering of General
> Motors:
>
> "First, they tell you you're wrong, and they can prove it. Then
> they tell
> you you're right, but that it's not important. Then, they tell you
> it's
> important, but they've known it for years."
Back in the days when Local Heroes was being made for the BBC, we
used to have a catchphrase in the production office:
"...but the Admiralty said it would not, and could not, ever power a
ship."
We came across this - or minor variations thereon - unbelievably
frequently. Any technology applied to the structure, engines,
fuelling, propulsion, armament or navigation of vehicles would be
shown to the Admiralty, who would decree that the invention was of no
interest to them whatsoever, they were quite happy with sails/wood
hulls/coal/paddles/watches/etc. One can understand what drove Parsons
to tootle around the Spithead review in Turbinia <http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbinia>.
--
Jonathan Sanderson
'If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.' (Pascal)
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