Where's Waldo?

So I just got this great gift the other day. It was an all-in-one Where's Waldo book that had every Waldo book I've ever known. (Its Wally in England, אפי in Israel, and other names in other places)
I'm already done with two of the five books, but it got me thinking.

First, I began thinking about how busy the page is. There are so many things going on, I could look at the page for half an hour (sometimes longer) and still not take in every detail. I find that I particular like art that captivates your attention. Whether its through colors or detail, I tend to like art that I can spend a lot of time examining the details. Perhaps that why I like impressionism - specifically because the colors are not what you would expect them to be and the image still seems natural.

Second, I was thinking about puns. The clues in the back of the book often are puns relating to the pictures. For example, a flying ace was depicted as a biplane with a playing card (the Ace) in the drivers seat. Why is it that when depicted, puns are funnier than when they are spoken allowed? Why is it clever when represented in a physical form, but in the mental form it is not so amusing?

Think about it.

Cracking Knuckles

Why do people (including myself) crack their knuckles?
Its not like our knuckles hurt and need to crack them. And the "comfort" we receive after cracking them is nothing noteworthy!
Its a common habit that people have, but why do they start in the first place?
I think it has to do with the same reasons people twiddle their thumbs or absently play with things when distracted. Its just something to do with your hands (ultimately becoming a habit).
Moreover, there may be some element of OCD that a person can't just leave one knuckle cracked without cracking all the rest. I think therefore that this reinforces the habit and adds to the reason why people crack their knuckles.
Or maybe thats the reason for me. What do you think?

The Rain Formula?

When I was walking home yesterday, it began to rain. As it progressively began to rain harder and harder, people began running towards their destinations in order to get there less wet.

However, does running in the rain keep you less wet? Perhaps you are in the rain for not as much time, but then you are hitting more raindrops along the way - horizontally. I suppose that if it was really pouring, you might get wet either way - but in a moderate rain, is it better to walk and hit less raindrops, or run and hit more?

There must be some sort of equation that includes distance, speed, amount of rain and the surface area of the person. I don't know if such a formula could be applied to real life (like measuring the amount of raindrops per second - or knowing your surface area...) but I still think it is something worth pondering.

Compliments to the Chef

This has been a "problem" that has been bothering me for some time now.

If two people cook a dish together, who gets the compliments?
a. The person who thought up the overall idea for the dish? (i.e. the person who finds the recipe)
or
b. The person who measures and follows the directions?

Many times, I have cooked meals with others and usually I am the one who just measures and mixes. Then puts in the oven, and sticks a fork in the end dish, and takes it out. But I don't feel that I really did anything. Maybe all the work I put into mixing will effect the texture of a dish, but its overall taste? I doubt it.

Therefore, I think the person who thinks up the dish should get the credit. And whoever mixes and measures is just a sous chef.

Though that's just my opinion. I'm sure there are many who disagree...