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The Phrase “Kilroy Was Here” (2017)

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Re: The Phrase “Kilroy Was Here” (2017)

#31

Post by Zuider »

crazydoggers wrote: post #3

> Unfortunately, it was later revealed by one of the show's consultants that the vault footage was "recreated" (i.e., completely made up), which should make you think twice about the historical accuracy of anything aired on this cable channel! More people need to call out the history channel. What a bunch of claptrap they air on that as if it were fact. History is so important to people’s understanding of current eve…

Last I saw of the History Channel, it seemed to be a steady diet of ancient alien theories, and magical artifacts or arcane technology in the hands of the Nazis.

Re: The Phrase “Kilroy Was Here” (2017)

#33

Post by JeremyNT »

mobb_solo wrote: post #22

In his 'obscene' opus set in WW2, Thomas Pynchon proposed that the scrawling of Kilroy was in fact originally part of a schematic representing a "band-pass filter". https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Ki...

V is a fascinating novel, and Kilroy shows up a few times. My mind went here immediately as well, as probably would happen for any reader of this work.

WWII is just one of many eras that V dabbles in. I imagine many on HN with an appreciation for literature and history would enjoy it.

Re: The Phrase “Kilroy Was Here” (2017)

#36

Post by Talanes »

Hasu wrote: post #17
reaperducer wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm willing to bet, that most instances of Kilroy that you find are over forty years old with the majority being over sixty years old. The most recent memory I have of it is from the Styx song Mr. Roboto. That was 1983.

The Nashville Megaman rock opera band The Protomen [1] has a member who goes by the pseudonym K.I.L.R.O.Y. who opens every show. [2] They've covered Mr. Roboto and are heavily influenced by 80s rock culture generally (they did an entire album of Queen covers). They were formed in 2003 but are still very much active. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Protomen [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yM80mAAHqk

I've been waiting for ACT III possibly longer than any other piece of media at this point. At least I'm better off than GRR Martin fans.

Re: The Phrase “Kilroy Was Here” (2017)

#37

Post by Johnythree »

jimmyvalmer wrote: post #13

tldr The expression likely derives from "Foo was here," scrawled by Australian soldiers in the Great War. The precise moniker "Kilroy" is disputed, the prevailing theory crediting a technician James J. Kilroy of Braintree, MA who chalked the "easter egg" epigram on panels of WWII battleships (panels which became inaccessible after the ship was fully built).

I distinctly remember seeing "Foo was here" graffiti drawings on walls (and in school kid's exercise books) over 60 years ago in Australia.

Re: The Phrase “Kilroy Was Here” (2017)

#38

Post by foofoo55 »

mobb_solo wrote: post #22

In his 'obscene' opus set in WW2, Thomas Pynchon proposed that the scrawling of Kilroy was in fact originally part of a schematic representing a "band-pass filter". https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Ki...

That's a band-stop (notch) filter. The inductor lets through low frequencies, and the capacitor lets through the highs. Stuff in between gets blocked.

Re: The Phrase “Kilroy Was Here” (2017)

#40

Post by usr1106 »

I remember seeing on our university VAX in the early 80s in Germany. Either on the screen or on print-outs. Probably more commonly on the screen, but occasionally someone sent it to the printer.

No idea whether a local operator (yeah, there was one sysadmin and 1 or 2 operators for 2 VAXes) or even DEC had installed it.

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