Metcalfe's law states that the value of a telecommunications network is proportional to the square of the number of connected users of the system (n^2).
I had the privilege of a pleasant chat with Bob Metcalfe over breakfast at a conference a couple months ago (he saw my brass rat and struck up a conversation). He is a really smart, down-to-earth guy.
That is very cool. Having a conversation with a brilliant mind like him is a great experience to have. Now I am curious about the brass rat and how helpful it is in networking.
The brass rat is actually a gold beaver.
It is the class ring from MIT (dating back to 1927; here is a bit of its history). Every class designs their own, but they all have the beaver on the top and the great dome on one side.
Bob was class of '69. I was class of '91.