An engineer's perspective

I have learned that certain groups of people tend to view everyday things in remarkably different ways. Most of the engineers, accountants, or math and science types that I have met are very keen on taking a structured approach to everything. Sometimes it just looks ridiculous.

And with that, I give you this week's post, which was sent to me by friend Barb.



Be warned, watching this video may make you want to calculate the aspect ratio of a feline.

Spring is here...

...and everything is turning green!



I'm not exactly sure what kind of vine that is, but I think the car is about to be squashed.

Quote of the unspecified temporal interval

So far I have been speaking of theoretical science, which is an attempt to understand the world. Practical science, which is an attempt to change the world, has been important from the first, and has continually increased in importance, until it has almost ousted theoretical science from men's thoughts. ... The triumph of science has been mainly due to its practical utility, and there has been an attempt to divorce this aspect from that of theory, thus making science more and more a technique, and less and less a doctrine as to the nature of the world. The penetration of this point of view to philosophers is very recent.

- Bertrand Russell

Time is running out!

Only a day left to get your hands on the ultimate train set! I ran across this while browsing ebay for kicks, and I'm pretty sure this is the only time I've encountered anything of this sort in an online auction.

For the uninitiated, live steam model railroading is about as close to the real thing as a model railroad can get. Most live steamers are actually big enough to ride, which makes them much more interactive than your typical electric train set.

For example, every year at the Old Threshers Reunion, one of the displays is a live steam model train ride.

Kids (and some adults) love to line up for rides on this little train even if the ride takes them only takes them about 200 feet and then back again.

Even the simplest live steam operation requires a huge commitment of time and money, and no doubt quite a bit of commitment to the hobby. It's a shame to see someone who has to sell their trains on ebay, and it's even more of a shame to see that there are currently no bids!

I certainly hope that someone buys this and gets to enjoy it for years to come!