I like actual Rube Goldberg-type devices.
Anyway, years back we had a Cal State Northridge junior interning in our department. Super-smart. Uber-nerdy. Great to have around for that one summer. He came in 3rd in a local Rube Golberg device contest. This being SoCal, his entry (which was clearly superior and should have won) was noticed by people close to the Late Night with David Letterman show. Yes. LA and NY do talk to each other. He ended up designing three RG devices for the show. They all got used. His passion was robotics; he may have designed the show’s list-delivery device, but I don’t know for sure. He ended up getting a full scholarship to the University of Chicago for an advanced degree.
