Some of us may remember a day when ketchup was placed in thick glass bottles with skinny necks. I’d like to meet the person who came up with that idea and kindly ask, “What were you thinking?” 

One of the things I love about engineering is remembering those moments that inspire us to keep learning. For me, most of the time, it was related to somebody trying to fix something that was broken.

It’s not unusual for folks to wax and wane during conversations about experiences that we have had or read about that push the limits of our experience. When I worked as a pump applications engineer, I used to pour over the catalogs and pump curves of all the various manufacturers and think about what each type of pump was capable of.

“Drain carry” is a catchy term for the more technical phrase “The Drainline Transport of Solid Waste in Buildings.” Plumbing contractors and drain-line specialists will understand the challenges associated with clogged drains better than anyone since they are the ones who get the calls and see what gets put down the drain.

In engineering, “shock” is defined as a phenomenon that happens when matter is subject to extreme rates of force with respect to time. 

Getting stuck “between a rock and a hard place” is something that happens to most all of us as we navigate through life. It’s that sinking feeling you get in your gut when you must make a tough decision. 

Accept who you are. Nowadays, we are encouraged to accept everyone for who they are whether we like them or not; and that pretty much goes for everyone.

Modern air travel would not be possible without the advent of the jet propulsion engine. A jet is a high-velocity stream of fluid that is used for a variety of engineering applications.

“One day at a time” is a phrase people use to instill a sense of patience during times of change. It helps someone focus on the moment at hand and do what they can right now.