[[CHARLES BABBAGE stands among his devices.]]

BABBAGE: My latest calculations on the DIFFERENCE ENGINE have proven my theories! I think this old hunk of bolts could really work!

[[One of his associates, let’s say JOSEPH CLEMENT, joins Babbage.]]

CLEMENT: Oh, Babbage! If so, you could revolutionize the world! COMPUTING MACHINES could completely change the way we live!

CLEMENT: Why, if they were commonplace, they might enable commerce! Communication! Information storage to a degree we can scarcely imagine!

BABBAGE: All your FRIVOLOUS pursuits be DASHED! I did NOT invent this so a body might GOSSIP WITH STRANGERS, or BOOK STEAMSHIP TRAVEL REMOTELY!

BABBAGE: This is a device, solely and exclusively, to AUTOMATE THE GAME OF SOLITAIRE.

CLEMENT: But Babbage–! What if one wanted to simulate the sweeping of a field for mines?

BABBAGE: Well of COURSE one might also use it for THAT.

{{header: the purpose of WONDERMARK.COM}}

#953; The Engine of Diversion transcribed by in

[[CHARLES BABBAGE stands among his devices.]]

BABBAGE: My latest calculations on the DIFFERENCE ENGINE have proven my theories! I think this old hunk of bolts could really work!

[[One of his associates, let's say JOSEPH CLEMENT, joins Babbage.]]

CLEMENT: Oh, Babbage! If so, you could revolutionize the world! COMPUTING MACHINES could completely change the way we live!

CLEMENT: Why, if they were commonplace, they might enable commerce! Communication! Information storage to a degree we can scarcely imagine!

BABBAGE: All your FRIVOLOUS pursuits be DASHED! I did NOT invent this so a body might GOSSIP WITH STRANGERS, or BOOK STEAMSHIP TRAVEL REMOTELY!

BABBAGE: This is a device, solely and exclusively, to AUTOMATE THE GAME OF SOLITAIRE.

CLEMENT: But Babbage--! What if one wanted to simulate the sweeping of a field for mines?

BABBAGE: Well of COURSE one might also use it for THAT.

{{header: the purpose of WONDERMARK.COM}}

''Use it to get WORK done?? Ha, ha, my boy, no. You misunderstand severely. This is a device for reading nonsense top-10 lists designed only to sell your attention to advertisers. It's a device to PREVENT you from working.''

#953; The Engine of Diversion

— July 29th, 2013

[ Tags: internet, technology, trivial pursuits ] Permalink: https://wondermark.com/c/953/

Applications open for Genius Northwest – an IRL gaming competition

May 8, 2026 by David Malki !

Last year, I participated in Genius Northwest, a gaming competition inspired by the Korean gameshow The Genius and its ilk.

It’s a reality show without the cameras — a 3-day, all-inclusive weekend retreat structured around a series of challenges and puzzles, in which personalities and dealmaking matter as much as playing games.

It’s truly a remarkable thing. I came in dead last in the competition, but I still had a great time participating.

The event is held annually in the Pacific Northwest (hence the name) and applications are now open to participate in the 2026 competition!

Learn more — and apply — at GeniusNW.com.

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