Eccentricity?

[DyerStraits]

The word eccentric does of course have borderline negative connotations and synonyms, but, according to every dictionary I'm aware of, "crazy" is not one of them. The world is chock full of people who lacked to courage or desire to be unique and eclectic. Eccentricity is usually indicative of intelligence, cultivation, broad-mindedness, creativity and in general a prosperous Life Well Lived. Being identified as the last eccentric may sound like a back-handed compliment, but it probably isn't. Somebody has to keep Boring at bay--might as well be you.

[David Thorpe]

It's a matter of perspective. From my point of view, centric isn't all it's cracked up to be. Scientifically, it's no more than an infinitesimal point on a bell curve.

[be da veva]

I've always been concentric. I'm like an onion.

So, you've got layers ? ? ? Like a cake ? ? ?

(Shrek reference...) ;)

[orionpyoung]

So, you've got layers ? ? ? Like a cake ? ? ?

(Shrek reference...) ;)

I knew someone would beat me to it!

[rmccool]

I knew someone would beat me to it!

Which is marginally better than being beaten for it.

[PiperOfThePlains]

I'm probably one of the strangest people in my city. My interests are not like theirs, and that's okay. People used to think I was a little odd, and I was fine with it. Even at the highland games up in Estes Park I go to every September, they think I'm a bit odd. Then again, I was wearing Norman (my Egyptian Jackal full mask sporran with zebra skin tassels)...

Be proud! It's a complement!

[ChromeScholar]

Rutabaga...

[tulloch]

It sounds like you are me. What is eccentric about it is that you are doing it in Florida! Hot for tweed, no?

[KD Burke]

It sounds like you are me. What is eccentric about it is that you are doing it in Florida! Hot for tweed, no?

We've actually had a chilly winter. Of course, now Spring is well underway and temperatures today are expected tro reach 85 Fahrenheit or about 29 Celsius. Too warm for tweed today!

Earlier today I was struck by the idea that eccentrics, in the form of cams, are among the oldest and most useful of inventions. Crank shafts, another form of eccentric, turned by steam-driven pistonsare at the heart of the industrial revolution.

Getting a concentric device to function is considerably more challenging. It wasn't until 1884 that Parsons was able to demonstrate a working steam turbine and a full 10 years went by before the Admiralty was cudgeled into admitted the merits of the design.

So, the logical conclusion is that it is easier to get something useful from an eccentric!

[Jim Simmons]

Possibly it is the fountain pens with different, odd shades of ink in the pocket?

I am reminded of a version of a Quaker saying.

"Everyone in the world is quite mad, except for me and thee. And sometimes I have my doubts about thee."

To which I many times add my doubts concerning me.