Subject: The burnt-out EE speaks (again)

Well, I just thought I'd make some more observations, repeat some others,
and put it all into digest form for your deleting ease.

The first difference between a pure scientist and an engineer is the
perception of the common coat hanger. The scientist hangs his/her coat on
the coat hanger. The engineer throws his/her clothes on the floor as all
the metal coat hangers have been used to fix things. The only coat hangers
remaining in the closet are those damn plastic ones that are near useless.
One does not become an engineer until he/she has overhauled a large jet
engine using only a coat hanger and a bottle of scotch (makes for a good
degreaser). My $1400 bike is currently shimmed using coat hanger for lack
of a $30 part. That is engineering. Please note that duct tape doesn't
qualify here. Any fool can use duct tape, even a business major.

The second is the way one views their education. The common scientist will
cite the universities attended and the number of degrees obtained. The
engineer will show you his workshop and the model airplane collection
dating back to age 6. The scientist will point to a wall full of diplomas
and awards. The engineer will point to the spot where he/she knocked out a
wall to make room for that pool table.

The third is sense of humor. The scientist has none. The engineer has a
rather large sense of humor, but his/her jokes are only understood by
other engineers. This is the main reason for technological universities.

The fourth is the range of knowledge. Although the average engineer may
not be a machinist(sp), he/she can still work a lathe or mill. The average
research scientist will get his/her tie or watch caught in the device and
fumble around for 30 or 45 seconds trying to find the shutdown button. The
engineer can understand large parts of the scientist's work, while the
scientist is unlikely to understand even minor points of the engineer's
work, such as the use of a cover letter.

The scientist only has to deal with the guy giving out fed grants and
himself. The engineer deals with every other moron on the planet.