Unnatural selection

This man is either a genius or just plain crazy. Either way, I think he's my latest hero.

It's not likely that his work will change the world. But I can only hope that, when I retire, I can find something so fascinating to occupy my time.

One percent inspiration....

...ninety-nine percent precision aiming. (Posted from my new apartment for the first time!)

I don't even eat there anymore, but...

But I saw this, and couldn't help but laugh at how true it is. And at how OCD I am to have noticed it, too.

(He gets points from me for using the word "tessellate." Extra points for spelling it correctly. And super-extra bonus points for using it as a verb.)

I don't think it's ever bothered me as much as the cartoonist, but it's nice to know that somebody thinks like I do. So, even if I am crazy, at least I'm not crazy and alone.

Yet, even more interesting is this image someone sent to the cartoonist from an actual Subway location.

Now, I know Subway is franchised, so I doubt this is an official Subway policy. (Otherwise, I'd call it a global conspiracy to offend OCD sufferers.) Still, it seems pretty rotten. And really, have you ever seen a sandwich artist place the cheese slices so that they cover the sandwich without overlapping? Maybe the sandwich "artists" prefer to place them the other way just so they can buck the system. I hear artists get a kick out of that. But rest assured, a sandwich "engineer" would never let that slide. It seems we engineers alone understand that good design is beautiful in and of itself. It doesn't need to make a statement. Why can't we appreciate the elegance inherent in a thing (e.g., a sandwich) that functions just as it should (e.g., cheese in every bite), without any superfluous parts (e.g., "unnecessary dairy overlap")?

In closing, 40 cents for a "life worth living" might seem a paltry ransom. But it's the principle of the thing. You hear me, Jared?

(crazybull4life, I fully expect to hear from you.)

New kid on the block

Well, here it is. The inaugural post. I caved. I just couldn't face myself in the mirror any longer and call myself a computer engineer. How does a person in such a field get by with only living in the real world? (Especially given that people in the field don't do too well at that to begin with.) I'm almost ashamed to be so late to the blogosphere. Almost.

I'm always late to the game. Well, it seems I've been playing catch-up for as long as I can remember, anyway. I didn't get into Harry Potter until book five hit. I've spent the past 4 years reading old Tom Clancy novels. (And that's just his work, not the spin-off series...es he started, but didn't write. I don't think I'll be reading those.) I was late to The Mars Volta, and then had to discover the preceding band, At the Drive-In. Very late to 24. I got caught-up on that (five seasons' worth) just before this past season started. (And, well, I think I'm done with that show.) Now I'm working on The West Wing. Seven seasons -- three down, four to go. I could go on.

So I guess I (or anyone) shouldn't be surprised that I'm just now getting a blog. There are a few reasons I kept avoiding it. I'm lazy. I don't live an exciting life, unlike many I know (who already have blogs, so I can't steal their stories for my own, unfortunately). I don't know many (or even two) people who would be interested in what I might have to write about. But, as I said, I'm lazy, and, at least for this post, I'm avoiding a little work as I type. I just wish I had some clever idea, a unique way of blogging. A way to show what it's like being an awkward nerd like I am. But, alas, I am not the creative type. Darn right-brainers and their articulate...ness and ingenuity. (Thanks, m-w.com, I didn't want to use the word creative again, but couldn't come up with a synonym.)

I still don't know what this blog will be "about." I wonder if I ever will.