Monday, January 05, 2015
Notes on an overheard conversation between two people assembling a table saw
“It says to use four screws, but there are seven holes in this rail.”
“So?”
“So? There are more holes than screws.”
“Perhaps they use the rails for different table saws.”
“Okay, but they don't say which holes to use.”
“You use the holes that line up. See? That hole lines up, and that one, and that one, and that one.”
“But … but … how do you know this stuff? It's because you're an engineer, right?”
“Yup. College. It's a painful procedure where they physically implant engineering books into the head of engineering students.”
“Pbbbbbbbt.”
“You're welcome.”
“Okay, hand me that fence.”
“Here you go.”
“This is supposed to go between the table and the rail.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“There's no way it can fit. A piece of paper can't fit between the table and the rail. But place it like this and it still reaches across.”
“But the instructions say that bit is supposed to fit between the rail and the table.”
“Hmm … perhaps that bit sticking down was placed on backwards … ”
“No, I think it's correct.”
“Really? Let me see the instructions … ”
“See?”
“Oh. Oh!”
“Oh?”
“Yes, oh. I put the rail on wrong.”
“Do tell … ”
![[The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades]](https://www.conman.org/people/spc/about/2023/1023.t.jpg "The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades")