Skip to main content

Random Thoughts - 3

Fidget spinners (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidget_spinner).  You know, those little devices that spin when held between thumb and index finger. Their only function is to spin around.  They are suggested to relieve stress.  Fidget spinners apparently have a terrible reputation among teachers, who claim they distract students from learning.  Wow!  Students distracted from learning?  Let’s forget drugs, TV, social media, all simply minor annoyances. Germany is destroying 77,000 pounds (38 tons) of these horrible things, i.e. more than half a million of these devil's tools.*  Stomp out those fidget spinners and cure our educational problems!  

I recommend every member of congress be issued a fidget spinner This will give them all something useful to do, to relieve their obvious stresses, and to meet their native abilities. 

There is more.  These spinners teach them one basic physics lesson, that of angular momentum.**  So, fidget spinners are not only a stress-relieving tool, but they teach  basic science.  For many in our Congress, it would be a career complete.

*https://qz.com/1008231/fidget-spinners-confiscated-in-germany-will-be-destroyed-by-customs-officials/

** When your fidget spinner is spinning try to rotate your wrist.  Quite a different feeling from when it is at rest. Your wrist must work a  little harder to move the spinning fidget.  BTW, angular momentum is why we can ride bicycles successfully. 
--------------

North Korea
NOKO claims “sanctions unfair.”  As you know, the US has imposed some sanctions on Chinese banks working with North Korea.  Here's the response from NOKO.


Whoa, President Trump. Whoa, on those financial sanctions.
You gave us only a warning – then a briefing.Y
      You didn’t give us a final warning.
You didn’t give us an ultimate final warning. 
You didn’t give us an ultimate final warning where you count to 10.
You didn’t ever say “Cut it out.”
You didn’t ever say, “You’re grounded.”


   This is totally unfair. You are at fault! I am the victim here.  I’ll show you.
 
 Kim jong un
Petulant-in-chief

------------------

Illinois and Peurto Rico are broke.  Both are billions in debt with unfunded liabilities and with almost no chance of repayment.  PR, with debt of $120B, voted overwhelmingly to be annexed to the United States, becoming the 51st state.  Washington seems uninterested.  Illinois is about $251B in unfunded liabilities and more than $15B in ready unpaid bills with legal restrictions about declaring bankruptcy.  Wherever should be done?


Solution.  Let Illinois annex Puerto Rico.  It’s an new idea, that of one state annexing a territory.  This is breaking new ground, and possibly legal.  It would give them both leverage to extract federal money to bail them out. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

UNCERTAINTY IS CERTAIN

  Uncertainty is Certain G. Donald Allen 12/12/2024 1.       Introduction . This short essay is about uncertainty in people from both secular and nonsecular viewpoints. One point that will emerge is that randomly based uncertainty can be a driver for religious structure. Many groups facing uncertainty about their future are deeply religious or rely on faith as a source of comfort, resilience, and guidance. The intersection of uncertainty and religiosity often stems from the human need to find meaning, hope, and stability in the face of unpredictable or challenging circumstances. We first take up the connections of uncertainty to religion for the first real profession, farming, noting that hunting has many similar uncertainties. Below are groups that commonly lean on religious beliefs amidst uncertainty.   This short essay is a follow-up to a previous piece on certainty (https://used-ideas.blogspot.com/2024/12/certainty-is-also-emotion.html). U...

CERTAINTY IS ALSO AN EMOTION

  Certainty is also a Feeling Certainty is often viewed as a mental state tied to knowledge and confidence, but it also functions as a feeling with distinct emotional and physiological components. While it arises from cognitive processes, certainty also has a subjective and emotional quality that makes it more than just a rational judgment. It provides a sense of assurance and security that shapes human experience in profound ways. Emotional Dimension . At its core, certainty evokes emotions that influence how we perceive and interact with the world. When someone feels certain, they often experience relief, comfort, or empowerment. These emotions are particularly strong when uncertainty or doubt is resolved, offering a sense of closure. For example, solving a complex problem or having a belief validated by evidence brings not just intellectual satisfaction but also emotional reassurance. Subjectivity. Certainty is inherently personal and subjective. It depends on individual...

Lies, Deceit, and the National Agenda

The world you grew up in is no more.  The world of reasonable honesty and reasonable lies has been replaced by abject dishonesty and blatant lies. Lies.  Yes. People have always told them.  You have told them; so have I.   We need lies; they are a foundational structure of social living.  They both deceive and protect.  Children tell them to their parents to avoid consequences, like punishment.  Adults tell them to their bosses, to enhance their position and/or avoid consequences of poor performance.  Our bosses tell them to their boards to suggest business is good, the project is on target, or the detractors are wrong.  The boards tell them to shareholders to protect their own credibility and most importantly, stock values.   Our politicians tell lies to their constituents, though sometimes innocently with them not actually knowing much more than they've been told.  They enhance their positio...