Design Flaws and Watched Pots

Carter’s reading Danny Dunn again- this time on his own. I sat down next to him to hear his thoughts on Danny’s latest adventure.

Carter: You know, if you had a giant superconductor, you could attach it to the front of a car and the car would never hit another car.

In fact, if you were wearing a watch, and you tried to touch it, it would push your arm back and away.

sits for a while, imagining said car

However, if it were a superconductor, you couldn’t really attach it to a car, could you?

Then later, I came home from my run to find Carter staring at a pot of water on the stove.

Me: You watching for it to boil? Testing the old theory?

Carter: What?

Me: A watched pot never boils?

Carter: (feigning patience) No, Mom, I’m keeping the macaroni from burning. That saying isn’t true. Watched pots always boil.

Me: What?

Carter: Tom said so.

Me: What?

Carter: Tom of the Nelson-Lairds.