mhoye2d ago
A picture of Margaret Hamilton, programmer for the Apollo space program, standing next to not one single microsoft error message or bluetooth problem.
Steve Bellovin2d ago
Show threadMrAlanCooper

@mhoye

In 2017 Margaret Hamilton was inducted into the Computer History Museum's Hall of Fellows. On that occasion I was privileged to accompany her on a private, docent-guided tour of the Museum's public display.

She looked about the same as she does in these pictures from the 1960s, albeit a little grayer; a bright, diminutive grandma.

But she was very humble and human. At one point we rounded a corner into the Apollo section. Prominently in the front of the exhibit was a reproduction of your left-hand photo. Upon seeing it, Margaret stopped and exclaimed, "Oh my gosh! Is that me?"

Apr 6 at 8:53pmWeb
Show threadMrAlanCooper2d ago

@mhoye

As Margaret explained it to me, NASA wanted the lunar lander's actual landing to be 100% automated with no manual override. She disagreed, and insisted on implementing an override. NASA didn't like the idea but Margaret just went ahead and wrote it.

Of course, on Apollo 11's final approach, the lander was headed for a field of giant boulders. Neil Armstrong used Margaret's code to override the computer and manually divert to the actual, safer, landing point.

Show threadbarsoomcore2d ago

@mralancooper @mhoye what a legend.

As I have written before:

Margaret E Hamilton
Her name is Margaret E Hamilton
She wrote 400,000 lines of code
Without one bug, without one bug

Show threadAdam Shostack  2d ago
@mralancooper @mhoye There’s a great history of the debate in a book “Digital Apollo.” I would love to have heard her story!
Show threadMrAlanCooper1d ago
@adamshostack @mhoye Thanks for the pointer. I just ordered the book.
Show threadDeborah Preuss, pcc 🇨🇦1d ago
@mralancooper @inthehands @mhoye what a great story!
Show threadFish Id Wardrobe ⁂1d ago
@mralancooper @mhoye and now i love her even more.
Show threadJames Baker 🍁2d ago
@mralancooper @mhoye The kid and I are big fans…
Show threadarclight1d ago

@GrumpusNation @mralancooper @mhoye And before anyone asks, these are from the Badass Women of Science (Hirsute History) series by Amorphia Apparel https://amorphia-apparel.com/womenofscience/

(I am responsible for pointing the artist to Ivan Kurchatov whose beard game was undefeated https://amorphia-apparel.com/hirsute/igor-kurchatov-a-soviet-nuclear-weapons-scientist-shirt/#!/)

Amorphia Apparel | women of science Shirts

Your cart contents

Amorphia Apparel
Show threadJames Baker 🍁1d ago
@arclight @mralancooper @mhoye Ha ha, indeed! And the Margaret Hamilton was made by request, as the Amorphia designer often asks for ideas and suggestions.
Show threadMrAlanCooper1d ago
@arclight Thanks for posting this.
Show threaditgrrl 2d ago

@mralancooper @mhoye she’s a genuine legend, what an amazing opportunity! 💕

this may be of interest… 👇

https://infosec.exchange/@itgrrl/115189867897132911

itgrrl :donor: (@[email protected])

Attached: 4 images @[email protected] @[email protected] well since you mention it… I also made these stickers 🙃 the switch & the stickers (& a life-size standee of Margaret Hamilton & a DSKY) were for a display on the Apollo Guidance Computer that I put together for a recent vintage computer fair here in Canberra 💁‍♀️

Infosec Exchange
Show threadMrAlanCooper1d ago

@mhoye Aha! Pix or it didn't happen!

It turns out that my wife snapped a picture of that memorable moment. Margaret Hamilton was a very bright and gracious person.

If you look closely at the left end of the display rail in front of the exhibit you can see the famous photograph of Margaret standing beside her tower of printed code.

Show threadMike Sax23h ago
@mralancooper Oh wow! 🙌🏽
Show threadRon Jeffries23h ago
@mralancooper
Such a great honor!
Show threadDen of Earth1d ago
@mralancooper @mhoye
Might one ask: were you the docent?
Show threadMrAlanCooper23h ago
@DenOfEarth @mhoye
Thanks for asking. No. I was also inducted into the Hall of Fellows that evening.
Show threadDen of Earth3h ago

@mralancooper @mhoye
I incline myself in un-ironic reverence. I too am from the era of tractor feeds, paper terminals and (punch-)card readers, but I was more an assembler of things, whereas you are a maker of things. Respect.

Hey the banner photo on your profile, is that a railroad control panel? Heavy rail or scale model?

For what it's worth, I saw this recently: a behind-the-scenes visit of a Mini-World with their own train controls. Enjoy?
https://youtu.be/0XX2K0YNnDQ

France's Largest Indoor Miniature World (& How They Are Helping To Build London's)

YouTube
Show threadMrAlanCooper2h ago

@DenOfEarth That green monster in my profile is the CTC panel for Bruce Chubb's rather well-known Sunset Valley Lines taken--I think--in 2007 in Grand Rapids MI. I was there for the annual NMRA thing and the op session was part of OPSIG.

It's custom designed and built for SVL but it is very true to a prototypical American Switch & Signal CTC control board, many of which still control the flow of trains on American railroads. It controls the track and signals, not the trains, and it is managed by the Dispatcher.

I have run model CTC panels on other model railroads but not on that one. I was just photo-bombing a legendary panel that day.

Show threadMrAlanCooper2h ago

@DenOfEarth RE: Lyon's giant model railroad.

That is something you find in countries that:

A) respect passenger trains.
2) own passenger-carrying railroads.

The USA foolishly believes only in private railroads and doesn't believe in passenger trains at all.

Show threadDen of Earth2h ago

@mralancooper
Canada is only slightly ahead of the game in the government's current efforts to plan a high-speed rail link between some of the larger cities, though naturally the opposition is already calling for its demise.

The current train situation is difficult, as the rails are owned by freight companies, and the passenger trains must yield to them, often being delayed for hours.

I can only hope the above will somehow dodge all the slings and arrows, and come to pass.

Show threadDen of Earth1h ago

@mralancooper
You are correct in your observation of miniatures and train-loving countries, as the best of both can be found in the Netherlands.

The national train company, NS, not only has vast bicycle parking, but you can also use your train card to rent a bicycle from the company's own fleet to complete your journey.

And in the Hague there is Madurodam, a wonderful miniature world with quite a spread of Dutch houses, trains, working airport (with taxiing aircraft), canals, bridges, etc.

Show threadMrAlanCooper43m ago
@DenOfEarth Taras Grescoe is a good chronicler of high speed rail in Canada (and elsewhere).
Show threadDen of Earth31m ago
@mralancooper
Noted, thanks!