I
remember the years before warning labels . . . what I don’t recollect are
lawsuits, angry parents, product recalls, or complete idiots who couldn’t
function without someone, somewhere telling them what to do! I’ve included a
couple of really bad ones in this post today because they’re such good evidence
that common sense is nearly dead.
You’re
going to come across so many people in your life that wish good things for you:
success, happiness, good health, a wonderful marriage, great kids . . . that
list could go on!! And it’s not that I don’t wish these things for you, it’s
just that if I could choose a single gift that I could wrap up and give you . .
. something you didn’t have to work for . . . because those things list above .
. . you can work for them . . . but IF I could choose something, I would give
you the gift of “Common Sense.”
Yeah,
I know . . . that sounds a little weird, doesn’t it?! If only people were born
with common sense; that would solve a number of problems in the current state
of our world. I mean seriously . . . if you use a hair dryer, which runs on
electricity . . . there should be a little voice that helps you connect the
dots (even if you don’t understand all about physics):
1. Hair dryer runs on
electricity
2. Electricity and water are
a deadly combination
3. I’m taking a bath
4. The tub is full of water
5. Electrocution is a
distinct probability
6. I probably shouldn’t use
the hair dryer
If
you want the “Physics Lesson,” here you go:
·
Water in its
purest form is not conductive. Instead, it is the impurities in the
water—salts, dust, and so on—that enables it to conduct electricity.
·
In fact, low
conductivity water (LCW)—which is purified and deionized—has been used for
decades to cool high-voltage equipment such as magnets and klystrons.
·
LCW commonly
flows through accelerator magnets to cool them. These rectangular, copper or
aluminum wires measure up to two inches per side and are coiled in various
arrangements to produce magnetic fields of different shapes and strengths. A
hole in these copper wires carries LCW to remove heat generated by the electric
currents.
·
"SLAC makes
a lot of hot water," said SLAC electrical engineer Martin Berndt, who has
designed magnets and power supplies that use LCW at SLAC for over 30 years.
"It is a great way of removing heat from high-power electrical
devices."
·
The PEP ring, the
SSRL ring and various beam transport lines contain many magnets that use LCW.
Unlike hair dryers, the concern with mixing water and electricity in the
magnets is not electrocution, but corrosion. Lowering the water's conductivity
effectively minimizes this corrosiveness.
·
Without LCW, the
magnets would slowly be eaten away from the inside out and engineers would have
to find another way to dissipate as much as 30 megawatts—16,000 hair dryers
worth—of power every day.
Hopefully
by the time you read this, the people in your life have tried to steer you in
the direction of Common Sense . . . and you’ll try to continue that journey on
your own. However, science tells us that the entire frontal lobe in a human
brain doesn’t completely mature until around age 25 . . . combine this with the
fact that starting about the age of 13 (or so) through the rest of your life,
testosterone will drive many of your actions . . . the result can be some very
poorly made decisions!
You
wouldn’t believe some of the encounters I’ve had through the years of working
with young college students. Kids who have no idea how to complete simple forms
. . . don’t realize they probably shouldn’t use nicknames on legal documents
since it could cause serious confusion (at the very least) or result in
misdirected medical information that could affect their very lives (at the very
worst) . . . don’t understand that, at some point, they need to tell Mom and
Dad to STOP doing things FOR them and let them learn some tough lessons on
their own.
Here
are a few (there are many) of my hopes for you:
I
hope you fail at a young age, so that you learn the way you “shouldn’t” do something
. . . something as insignificant as falling off your bike and skin your knees
42 times before you figure out how to successfully ride it. Remember that the
only person who truly fails is the one who never tries.
I
hope you learn to make decisions on your own, so that you learn “how” decisions
are made . . . something as insignificant as whether or not you cut your hair
into a Mohawk.
I
hope you try new things as often as you can, so you will learn you’re not
limited to your immediate surroundings . . . something as insignificant as
trying food at that Peruvian restaurant down the road instead of settling for
McDonalds. I don’t think there’s ever really a good time for McDonalds!
I
hope you understand that words can be hurtful, and that some things should
never leave your mouth . . . so that you will learn when to hold your tongue.
More often than not it’s best to simply listen! It’s either that or carry a
fork and knife with you . . . harsh words are tough to eat . . . and you will
eat your words one day!
I
hope you learn how to manage your money, so you will know the value of a dollar
. . . that if you start saving at an early age . . . even if it’s only a dollar
a week, you’ll have enough in your bank account to help buy your first car AND your
college experience.
I
hope you develop a strong work ethic, so that you will understand that the
world owes you nothing . . . if you want something, you have to earn it.
I
hope you have tough coaches and even tougher bosses early on, so that you will
learn to perform under the most demanding circumstances to achieve your goals.
Do not confuse “tough” with “abusive” . . . there is a significant difference!
I
hope you set goals, so that you have something to reach for . . . even if you
don’t quite get there. If you put your mind to it, you really can achieve most
anything! Even the most brilliant neurosurgeon in the world likely couldn’t tie
his own shoes in third grade . . . his teacher probably worried he’d never
accomplish anything.
I
hope you find contentment . . . not to be confused with happiness . . . you are
NOT guaranteed happiness . . . only the pursuit of it. Here’s my favorite
definition of that word: “Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want,
but the realization of how much you already have . . . and being grateful for
it.” This, by no means, is a statement about settling for something . . . if you desire something, work for it.
My
biggest hope for you . . . no prayer . . . I pray that you become a Godly man
and develop a personal relationship with Him. Build your faith. Shine your
light into the world.
Oh . . . wait . . . you want to know what a suitable flotation device is? Here you go:
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