How to Boil an Egg

Interesting how something so universally similar can be done so very differently.

I remember when I was in grade eight, I had the best computer studies teacher. In fact, he let his students just call him Uncle instead of Mister or Sir. He taught me some computer fundamentals that carried over into life principles.

The computer is only as smart as it’s user…

Back in the day when computers where new the very fact of trying to comprehend the mechanics of said device, was like asking someone to communicate with aliens. The task seemed impossible. Then I heard this principle, and it simplified the whole concept and so life at its root became only as smart as its user. So, I have chosen to educate myself before I decide to leap, for the most part. Since that day the computer has developed into a life of its own and honestly resembles more an alien life-form than ever, but the core principle still remains. It is only as smart as its user. Some users just choose not to invest in said alien.

Now back to boiling an egg. In said grade eight class we were given the assignment to write down a step-by-step recipe on how you would boil an egg. Now we as humans take a lot for granted, and I mean a lot. For example, if you were to boil an egg what would your first step be? Would you take the pot out of the cupboard and if so, would you reach up or down or to the side? Would you open the cupboard door to the left or the right? Would you grab the pot with your right or left hand? Then to get the egg. Is it in the fridge and on which shelf? Again, which hand would be used when and so we go on. Needless to say, that an easy 10-to-15-minute task in step-by-step recipe form could easily turn into a book. The exercise was to teach us the basics of how computer code works. Forget all the ones and zeros and first think of what you would like to say to the computer, the task you wish it to perform. A program is only as smart as it’s writer.

We have come a very long way with all those ones and zeros and in a way, some of us have made those numbers our idol. I mean we allow ones and zeros to infiltrate every part of our lives. We have gone from a simple alarm clock to wake us in the morning to an alarm to remind us to breath. Can you just imagine writing a step-by-step recipe to tell someone how they should be breathing? Think biology.

How do you like your eggs? I like mine a little soft in the center, so I would put them in hot water with some salt, then set the stovetop to a fairly high temperature and set the timer for 10 minutes. Perfect eggs! I can’t even imagine what a one-minute egg looks like and honestly, I’m okay not meeting that alien.

But even in something as simple as cooking an egg, we as humans once again exhibit our proclivity to be different. We have embraced each other regardless of how we like our eggs boiled. I mean have you ever heard of someone not liking you because of how you boil your eggs. The mere thought is absurd and yet some judge others on way less. What would a step-by-step recipe on how to judge your neighbor look like? I wonder how you would start such an assignment. Would it begin with how you get out of bed? What is your first thought when you wake up? How do you get out from under the covers? Do you exit left of right? We can keep going, but in the end the question is when do we decide to discriminate? When and where do we draw lines?

How do you boil your egg?