Body mass index
Dear editor:
Your December 2006 editorial introduced a term and a definition for BMI without mentioning that the abbreviation means body mass index.
The definition was in metric, which complicates the exercise a bit. I don't know of anyone among my colleagues who thinks in metric. It is possible to calculate BMI without converting to metric.
You can calculate BMI from weight and height in pounds and feet by multiplying the result you get by 4.88. You can calculate BMI from pounds and inches by multiplying the result by 703. I have put together a spreadsheet to illustrate this. (See spreadsheet below.)
Tom Norman, CPBE
Senior engineer
Burst
Who is Ben Wolfe?
Dear editor:
Recently my husband and I bought some aluminum records. One was labeled “Amos 'n' Andy,” with the call letters WOW, a Nebraska radio station. The record does contain the beginning and ending of an episode of “Amos 'n' Andy,” recorded on March 5, 1931. However, in the middle, after a station identification spot, it cuts to someone singing and playing piano, “from the home of Ben and Helen of the Homemaker's Club.”
I looked in the census for Ben and Helen in that area. I found several, but Benjamin and Helen Wolfe stood out because his occupation was U.S. radio engineer. A Google search revealed that he was awarded an SBE Lifetime Achievement Award. My research suggests he may have passed away in October 1997. Can you help me out more information about him?
Sherry Troupe
Brad Dick responds:
Thank you for the interesting letter. There was a Benjamin Wolfe who worked for the FCC for many years until the early to mid-'90s. His signature appeared on every FCC operator license the commission issued.
Broadcast Engineering didn't begin publishing until 1964, so we don't have records back to the '30s. I examined our issues from June 1997 through February 1998, looking for any reference to his obituary. Unfortunately, I found no mention of him.
If you haven't contacted the station WOW, that might be helpful. A retired manager or chief engineer may be able to provide additional information. And if any readers can shed some light on the trail, please e-mail editor@broadcastengineering.com.
It's all electrons
Dear editor:
The following job description, listed in the JobZone section of the Broadcast Engineering Web site is for a person who builds electrical substations for Wisconsin Electric, a far cry from radio and TV: “The engineer's responsibility will include assignments in design of new substations and modifications to existing substations and related equipment.”
John McKenna
Chief engineer
The YES Network
Brad Dick responds:
Heck, it's all electrons.
John McKenna responds:
Yeah. But ours go a lot faster!
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BMI calculations
I know my height in feet and inches, but don't know it in meters. I also know my weight in pounds, not in kilograms. I calculated the metric from the English, then calculated the conversion factors so you don't have to. For feet, it's
Weight: 70.3203kg 155lb Height: 1.7425m 5ft 9inBMI:22.8937 weight/(height × height) BMI calculated from total feet: Weight: 155lb Height: 5.75ft 4.688091 weight/(height × height) 4.883364 conversion factor BMI:22.8937 BMI calculated from total inches: Weight: 155lb Height: 69in 0.032556 weight/(height × height) 703.2044 conversion factor BMI:22.8937
