Skip to main content

And the Answer Is...


The greatest contribution of the USA.  The USA has produced remarkably to the world over the past century or two.  Include construction, metals production, electronics, machinery, nuclear energy sources, aviation, medicine, and more.  Which is the greatest? 
And the answer is … 

Agriculture.  American scientists have developed the disease resistant crops, fertilizers, and farming methods currently feeding the world.  Without all this chow there would be no now – as we know it.  
----------------
Today’s math problem.  Let’s say the prime interest rate is 5%, and it goes up to 5.5%. Clearly the interest rate is up by 0.5%.  But, in going from 5% to 5.5% the increase is really 10%.  So which is it? Up by 0.5% or up by 10%? 
And the answer is…

Both.  It depends on what and how you’re counting.  In the 0.5% increase we are discussing the net increase in the borrowing percentage.  But in the 10% increase we are discussing the percentage increase of the percentage.  The confusion is with the double use of the symbol “%”, one to be the units of the quantity and the other to measure its relative change. 
--------------
How dark is dark?  For cosmologists to explain their current observations of the universe, they have required at least 96% of its substance to be called “dark,” meaning we can’t see it but only detect its gravitational effects.  What is this stuff?
And the answer is…

Nobody knows.  Indeed, you don’t know and really can’t know if there is dark matter in your morning cup of coffee.

A little humor... I'm not really overweight. I'm just overburdened by dark matter. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Please Comment.

Popular posts from this blog

Behavioral Science and Problem-Solving

I.                                       I.                 Introduction.                Concerning our general behavior, it’s high about time we all had some understanding of how we operate on ourselves, and it is just as important how we are operated on by others. This is the wheelhouse of behavioral sciences. It is a vast subject. It touches our lives constantly. It’s influence is pervasive and can be so subtle we never notice it. Behavioral sciences profoundly affect our ability and success at problem-solving, from the elementary level to highly complex wicked problems. This is discussed in Section IV. We begin with the basics of behavioral sciences, Section II, and then through the lens of multiple categories and examples, Section III. II.     ...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mediocrity

 Once of the worst things that can happen to a young person is to be told their mediocre performance is good. For me, I was told the opposite, that my efforts would end me in failure. That was a spur that dug in deep. I would prove him wrong.  And I did.  Do not praise mediocrity, no matter how much it makes you feel good or your target. 
Post a Comment
Read more