[Jazzbass]

If you're like most people, you probably wonder from time to time "Am I an engineer?" You think "I know a lot about computers, I spend almost all of my time indoors, and I had exactly one girlfriend in high school and college (that chubby chick from the D&D club doesn't count, sorry)." Well, I must admit you make a good case. However, you could just be a geek - not an engineer. It can be difficult to tell the two apart, I grant you.

To find out if you are an engineer or just a regular run-of-the-mill geek, all you have to do is answer one simple question:

What do you think is the appropriate solution to the following problem?

You drink espresso. You buy an espresso machine and realize that you need to time how long it takes to pull a double shot. 25-30s means you did it correctly; too fast or too slow and the shot doesn't taste right and needs to be redone. How do you time the shot?

Solution 1
Steps: 2
Cost: $5
Implementation time: 10 minutes

Implementation:
- Order $5 magnetic egg timer from Amazon
- Stick to front of espresso machine



Use:
- Press start button on the timer the same time you start shot button, press stop timer when done.
- Go back to your WoW game session.

Solution 2
Steps: 20+
Cost: $110
Implementation time: 2 weeks

Implementation:

- Research parts.
- Read datasheets.
- Regret falling asleep in analog circuit design.
- Design circuit.



- Order parts
- Prototype


- Write assembly code


- Test.
- Rewrite code.
- Test some more.
- Build actual circuit


- Design mechanical encasement
- Order parts
- Build encasement


- Modify espresso machine electrically and mechanically for new timer
- Void the shit out of the warranty






- Reassemble espresso machine


To use:
- Press start shot button. Timer starts automatically, stops when the machine is done.