You have to know an engineer....

 Sometime in the 16th century during the Inquisition, three men, a
 baker, a banker and a mechanical engineer were sentenced to the
 guillotine for their crimes.  Each was given the choice of being
 placed in the stock facing either up toward the blade or down
 toward a basket.

 The baker was first and, understandably choose to face away from
 the blade.  After he was properly positioned, the executioner
 pulled the handle to begin the heavy blade on its deadly decent.
 As it neared the bottom, a loud grinding sound was heard,
 followed by a resounding CLUNK, with the blade stopping within
 inches of the baker's neck.  Because the law prohibited a second
 attempt at the excution, the baker was released from the stock
 and sent away a free man.

 The blade was raised and the banker placed into the stock, also
 choosing to face downward.  Again, the executioner pulled the
 handle, and again the blade ground to a halt just prior to
 relieving the banker of his head.  He too was removed from the
 stock and set free.

 Again the blade was raised and the engineer's time had come.  He
 choose to look upward, saying that he could think of no final
 vision more fitting than a mechanical device in motion.  He was
 placed in the stock according to his wishes.  Just as the
 executioner was reaching for the release, the engineer cried,
 "Wait!  I think I see the problem."
.