Thermodynamics Reference wanted

[Ginarley]

Hi all

Most people are familiar with the cute paraphrasing of the laws of thermodynamics to:

1. You can’t win.
2. You can’t break even.
3. You can’t get out of the game.

Does anyone know where this came from originally? Someone suggested it was Asimov but I don't know anything further and would like to track it down.

On a related note, can anyone recommend a good text that covers thermodynamics with a particular focus on macro-energy systems (such as boilers, motors, etc).

Cheers!
Ian

 

[Terry]

Asimov Online has this:

You Can't Even Break Even
Original Title: In the Game of Energy and Thermodynamics, You Can't Even Break Even
Subject: energy and the second law of thermodynamics
First Published In: 1971, Smithsonian
Collection(s):

* 1973 Today and Tomorrow and . . .

 

[Ginarley]

Asimov Online has this:

You Can't Even Break Even
Original Title: In the Game of Energy and Thermodynamics, You Can't Even Break Even
Subject: energy and the second law of thermodynamics
First Published In: 1971, Smithsonian
Collection(s):

* 1973 Today and Tomorrow and . . .

Hmm after a google search it seems that reference is a favourite of the creationists lol

I wonder if the rest of that phrase is in that document... I'll try and track it down.

 

[Dr Adequate]

Hmm after a google search it seems that reference is a favourite of the creationists lol

It's a dreadfully vague statement about a subject they've never studied ... what's not to love?

 

[Schneibster]

You might want to try Arthur Bloch. He was well known for collecting such trivia, and had a book (I might have a copy around somewhere, but don't hold me to that) called "Murphy's Law and other reasons why things go wrong." He wrote some short fiction and may have won a Hugo early on for something or other.

 

[Brian the Snail]

It's usually called Ginsberg's Theorem, after the beat poet Allen Ginsberg.