Cliches to Live By

[Old CW4]

'The ping-pong ball on a string' story used to be taught in some engineering courses as a reminder not to over complicate designs. It went like this---

Seems a guy's wife sometimes had a problem when parking the family car in their garage when she pulled in too far and bumped the wall. The husband hired an engineer who designed a photo-electric eye system with a flashing light and bell which warned the wife when she had pulled in the correct distance. This system was complicated and expensive.

The husband then went to a shade tree mechanic who hung a ping-pong ball on a string. When the wife pulled in the garage the right distance, the ball 'plonked' on the windshield as a 'stop signal.' This 'system' cost about 15 cents and was cheap, simple, effective, fool proof, and trouble free.

Hence, 'remember the ping-pong ball' was often heard in class when discussing complex mechanical designs.

 

[coote]

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile way and you have their shoes. (Dunno who the author was sorry).

 

[MacHete]

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile way and you have their shoes. (Dunno who the author was sorry).

Jack Handey (sp?)
-of Deep Thoughts fame.

 

[coote]

Thanks MacHete. I like to give credit where it is due.