I know this has been mentioned...
But SKunkworks by Ben Rich and someone else is a wonderful example of "seat of the pants" development in a high-speed and highly technical world works. It also has many examples where people saying "I Know that this is right, trust me" are trusted. REAL engineering without red tape.

It also coveres a few political and beaurocratic things which bore me, but there are fine examples of what happens when people try to make engineers accountable for everything they do. Death by paperwork.

Essentially the book can be seen as a build diary of some of the most innovative aircraft that the public are privvy to.

As an Engineer I'd recommend this book to anyone. Kids, Lasses, and people who know nothing of engineering. It's a great read.
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Wed 21 May 2008, 13:18, 32 replies)

are you lookin' a spangin', Humpty?
Lasses?
Are you sure our little brains could possible take it? :)
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:24, closed)

CHCB
I can only think about kittens.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:26, closed)

Now now CHCB
it's well known that if women's brains fill up beyond a certain level they overheat and they have to go and buy shoes until it cools down.

*runs and hides*
(Bazongaloid, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:29, closed)

OMG!
Is that why I keep buying shoes?!


Bloody hell.

I'd better stay away from engineering and the like then.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:32, closed)

Yes indeed
you should concentrate on proper women's things that men find hard. Like washing up, painting your nails and phoning people up "just to chat".

I often wonder how I've managed to keep my girlfriend as long as I have.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:35, closed)

@al
The thing that amazes me is that they can do all of these things at the same time.

So long as there's no map reading involved.

Which reminds me - why does satnav always have a woman's voice? I mean, would you trust your wife/girlfriend/sister etc to read a map?

*hides to avoid backlash from women who don't appreciate semi-tongue-in-cheekness of above comments*
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:43, closed)

words...
almost fail me. Except they don't, because I'm a girl.

If men are so good at mapreading, how come it takes so many of them a very long time to locate the clitoris?

"At the next... curve... turn: left."
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:44, closed)

Maps!
Ha!

Naming no names...but someone nearly got lost in the woods the other week.

And it wasn't me.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:45, closed)

I got punched
when I pointed out that my satnav had two settings. One where the map stays with north pointing up and the little pointer rotating, and the other with the map rotating and the pointer staying static and explaining (no doubt slowly and patiently in "that" tone of voice) that the difference was mens and womens maps.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:46, closed)

@CHCB
Give me a map of a fanny and I'll find it in no time.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:48, closed)

Getting lost in the undergrowth
Eh? What?
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 21 May 2008, 13:48, closed)

@K2k6
so the feedback in a woman's voice isn't enough?
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:51, closed)

@CHCB
Heh - market opportunity there for "Clitnav" systems*

* Would probably take the form of great big glowing stick on arrow
( Fireflier La la la la, not listening on, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:51, closed)

@CHCB
No, because like I said we wouldn't believe you.

Which, admittedly, in this case would be a mistake!
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:53, closed)

I have never had a problem
finding a clitoris. In fact I have often been told to leave it alone and concentrate on other areas.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 21 May 2008, 13:58, closed)

I've never understood why guys have such a problem finding the clitoris
It's not like there's a lot going on down there. Just 2 holes and some flaps.
( girlinthehole, Wed 21 May 2008, 14:05, closed)

Jesus would you listen to you lot whine?
Clits are piss-easy to find. All you needs is a bloke who actually knows they exist.

But while we're at it, how come NO LASSES EVER seem to know about giving a good blow job. TEETH woman are SHARP.

Moreover.. If you bloke doesn't find it, SHOW HIM instead of whingeing about it: you're only grumbling yourself out of a good time.

Yes CHCB, Lasses. It's an interesting book. If us blokes can manage to read "The DaVinci Crock" the you lasses can read this. Besides... you drive beat-up hunks of crap across deserts, don't pretend you haven't got a clue...
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Wed 21 May 2008, 14:11, closed)

Humpty
No, no, no, no - The Da Vinci Code wasn't written for girlies - far too many ideas in there for our little heads.

If you can manage to read anything by Marian Keyes and still produce a coherent argument for *anything* afterwards, then I'll be impressed.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 21 May 2008, 14:31, closed)

ermmm
*shamefacedly admits to reading everything marion keyes has written*

*realises he is no longer part of this group*

*cries at the loss of his new friends*
(Bazongaloid, Wed 21 May 2008, 14:34, closed)

Al
But...but...

She can't control her authorial point of view....one paragraph she thinks she's all omniscient, the next she's all first person, then third person...the woman's writing is a mess! And her editor ought to be shot.

Technically it's drivel.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 21 May 2008, 14:39, closed)

Oh hang on
I didn't say I thought it was great writing, actually I frequently found myself wanting to kill every character in the books. It's just that I can't put it down.

It's like an addiction. A sad tragic chick-lit addiction.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 21 May 2008, 14:48, closed)

Ok then...
Scratch the DaVinci Codpiece...

try.... ANYTHING by Paulo Cornholio.



EDIT: *points and laughs at Al*
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Wed 21 May 2008, 14:50, closed)

@Humpty
It does sound an interesting book; my response was bemusement that you might think women wouldn't read it because it was about engineering (thus defining potential non-readers as "Kids, Lasses, and people who know nothing of engineering")...

You wouldn't *gasp* stereotype, would ya? ;)

On a completely unrelated matter: ...he has the skilled hands of a professional musician and an excellent sense of direction, plus I know exactly what to do with my tongue to make him very vocal. In a good way.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 21 May 2008, 15:29, closed)

@CHCB
I'm sure you'll ninja this away, but, "he has the killed hands of a professional musician".

Where does he keep them, and why do you enjoy the use of corpse parts in your lovemaking?
(Bazongaloid, Wed 21 May 2008, 15:31, closed)

ninja'd
but he probably does have the killed hands somewhere. Roofspace, I reckon.

*tries to make sex life sound exciting rather than a tedious stream of multiple, simultaneous orgasms*

Never knock necrophilia.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 21 May 2008, 15:32, closed)

"Never knock necrophilia."
I never do...
( Cawl, Wed 21 May 2008, 15:36, closed)

Being an aviation geek and all...
Lasses can do aviation engineering here's proof:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Shil
ling's_orifice

*edit* bugger... Try this linky instead

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatrice_Shilling

A genuine 1940s unsung heroine, much beloved by Spitfire and Hurricane pilots hamstrung by fuel starvation when diving after pesky Messerschmitts - there's some scope for wordplay there but I'm too engrossed in work to go rooting for it.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 21 May 2008, 15:36, closed)

^
She sounds awesome. Quite, quite awesome. I hope she chose the name of her invention herself.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 21 May 2008, 15:47, closed)

CHCB
Oh that's not the end of it by any means. Check out here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Barnato_Walker

Truly inspirational. Debutant turned Spitfire pilot.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 21 May 2008, 15:54, closed)

Fantastic!
Ada Lovelace is one of my favourites.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 21 May 2008, 15:56, closed)

Ada Lovelace
Amazing woman, she saw potential in Babbage's Analytical Engine that remained unrealised for over two centuries.

Mustn't forget this lady:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentina_Tereshkova

And my personal favourite:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerrie_Cobb
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 21 May 2008, 16:04, closed)

@PJM
Ye gods, The Rolls Royce Merlin using an SU carb ?
It's a wonder they ever left the ground.
( DukeEuphoria Comes highly reccomended, Wed 21 May 2008, 17:08, closed)