Re: vibrating bar supported by light string to reduce damping

[Ludwik Kowalski <kowalskil@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>]

An author does not argue with a referee (about a request
like this)  when he wants the paper to be published.

On Friday, Oct 1, 2004, at 15:00 America/New_York, John Denker wrote:

> I wrote:
>
> > > While you're at it, don't forget to cite Thag, the person who
> > > made the first metal bar, and Oona, the person who invented thread.
> > >
> > > :-)
>
> Herbert H Gottlieb responded:
> > the best advice I have ever seen on this network!
>
> 1) I'm glad Herb (and presumably many others) enjoyed my remark.
>
> 2) I realize that sarcasm, like certain wines, doesn't travel
> well, and has some potential to cause harm instead of mirth.
>
> So let me decode my remarks:  The idea of suspending a resonator
> from a filament goes back to the paleolithic (>15,000 years ago).
>    http://www.google.com/search?q=paleolithic+xylophones
>
> So the basic idea predates Thag (metal: 5000 years ago) and even
> Oona (spun thread: probably "only" 8000 -- 10,000 years ago).
>
> If you insist on _metallic_ resonators, try this:
>    http://www.google.com/search?q=bronze-age+gongs
>
> ==============
>
> Email the editor and offer to put in a footnote about prehistoric
> resonators if he thinks it's necessary.  I suspect he'll decline
> the offer.