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From: johnl@ima.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.math
Subject: Re: a piece of folk-lore
Message-ID: <108000001@ima.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 25-Sep-85 12:57:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: ima.108000001
Posted: Wed Sep 25 12:57:00 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Sep-85 06:35:26 EDT
References: <1799@psuvax1.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:psuvax1:-179900:ima:108000001:000:629
Nf-From: ima!johnl    Sep 25 12:57:00 1985


The fly-and-bicycle story was often told about Von Neumann, though it
was usually phrased as two trains heading toward each other and a bumblebee
flying back and forth.

According to people I know around Princeton (I grew up there) in later years
people would ask Von Neumann if the story were true, and he'd say "Yes, but
the numbers were harder."  There are many well-documented stories about
Von Neumann's amazing calculating abilities, so it probably is true.

John Levine, ima!johnl

PS:  If you care, see "The Computer from Pascal to Von Neumann" by Herman
H. Goldstine, who worked closely with Von Neumann for many years.


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