I'm really loving this book, largely because I find the characters so identifiable. I'm constantly reminded, especially by the Waterhouses, of xkcd, a webcomic that is repeatedly quoted by nerds because it's so ubiquitous. The entire archives of this comic should be required reading for anyone who considers themselves to have an even remotely nerdy bent, but a few seem to speak to Cryptonomicon in particular. (Make sure you hover your mouse over the comic and read the alt-text for an additional punchline/explanation of the really obscure punchline.)
Useless
Riemann-Zeta
Cryptography
Alice and Bob
Candy Button Paper
Small Talk
Should I be disturbed that I understand these?
"'What I'm saying is that this does set me apart. One of the most frightening things about your true nerd, for many people, is not that he's socially inept-because everybody's been there- but rather his complete lack of embarrassment about it.'" (646)
I think this is hilarious, and coming from a high school where the unofficial name for its students was "Whitnerds," I think it's absolutely true. Like Randy, I was probably one of the "least intelligent" or "least focused" out of all of those kids...and man, some of those kids really were nerdy in ways that still give me nightmares.
I went to a school with a lot of nerds too-- in some ways I was one. I've always really liked how nerds were completely unembarassed about their oddities. I think it is remarkably refreshing!