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Sunday, December 14, 2008

What if... #14

What if all screws on this planet would suddenly dissolve?


This post is part of the 2008 advent series "What if..."

26 comments:

  1. This would be another step to improve womans
    "rights". There would be one occasion less to
    prove the not so well known difficulty of
    most women to instinctively "know" right-
    or lefthand rotation.:=(
    Regards
    Georg

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  2. FIRST Robotics would cease to exist and millions of students would then be left becoming football players instead of engineers, scientists, etc... (Although, if there are no screws, can someone throw a spiral football pass?)

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  3. Hi Georg,

    "There would be one occasion less to
    prove the not so well known difficulty of most women to instinctively "know" right-
    or lefthand rotation.:=("

    As this relates to spin I would have thought all that was necessary to remember was a "rule of thumb". In as both genders have these in common I don't understand the difficulty once you label your thumbs. Perhaps the solution then is to have genetically labeled thumbs:-)

    Best,

    Phil

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  4. What a disaster! Everything would fall apart. And so many empty holes... ;-) (sorry I was trying hard not to go there but couldn't resist) lol

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  5. In as all screws are simply the rotation of an inclined plane through the third dimension Archimedes would be very disappointed :-) Also we are in enough trouble as it is by having too many with only having their screws loose.

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  6. You know there may be something deeper to consider here, for there is “string theory”, "loop quantum gravity theory", while might be explained with a super symmetric screw theory. Perhaps all should “turn” there attention to this possibility :-)

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  7. .....you'd realize how important "superior adhesives" should have been developed?

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  8. "I don't understand the difficulty once you label your thumbs"
    Phil,
    You are right indeed!
    The problem is not limited to women,
    just more common among them.
    I saw men who got some piece of wood
    in their right fist, a key in the left hand for military exercise.
    Then sargents commanded something like
    "turn wood!" or "turn key" (In German of
    course, I do not know English commands)
    Such "not instinctively right/left knowers"
    were one or two in about 100 men, afaIr.
    Regards
    Georg

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  9. ....and then you wouldn't have to worry about a person's "screw being loose" but more concerned with the "tactile experience" they can have as the adhesive quality inherent is demonstrated in touching things.:)

    Imagine then, a world where the residue of association by objective defined fingers, actually leave subtle residue trials as you let go?

    Best,

    ReplyDelete
  10. .....and then, a philosophical question arises about the, "glue that binds all things" and having raised this insight to a "new plateau of thinking" one may have solved string theory?

    Never mind thumbs now enclosed in fists/palm.

    By repeating the mantra of "right/left, it becomes entrained in the body thinking, and thusly, "an automaton." We can do this habitually quite easily anyway, so it shouldn't take long to assume the sleeping life, and thusly respoond reactionary with ever having to be told once given the command.

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  11. Hi Plato,

    The utility of screws is that anything that can be put together may be also be taken apart and thus gives us recourse as to eliminate our mistakes, as to improve without the need to waste. Thus for me it would be more in line with nature in being driven by economy for all that’s required is to know in advance which way to turn :-)

    Best,

    Phil

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  12. Hi Phil,

    So how do you keep your balance?

    Best,:)

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  13. Hi Plato,

    “So how do you keep your balance?”

    I depend on gravity, for all one then must distinguish (with the rule of thumb) is up from down :-)

    Best,

    Phil

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Phil,

    But you know in a pendulum there are extremes?:)

    If one can create a "legal entity" then why not another?

    Best,

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Plato,

    “If one can create a "legal entity" then why not another?”

    In terms of creation where in our own reality one screw is dominant that all that it amounts to is “righty tighty and lefty loosey”. If there is anything wrong with how we use screws it is that this is not universally the same and leads at times to our unintended undoing’s :-)

    Best,

    Phil

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Phil,

    I guess empirically if one is to assume the status of your "taking apart," then I can see where a proper screwdriver is used for the proper head:)

    Best,

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Plato,

    “I guess empirically if one is to assume the status of your "taking apart," then I can see where a proper screwdriver is used for the proper head:)”

    I prefer a Robertson (a Canadian invention) which guarantees getter torque and is less likely to slip or strip :-)

    Best,

    Phil

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Phil,

    I said, "assume your empirical method, which I don't, undertanding
    that this is a "what if" and I am using an adhesive.:)

    So, how would you use "rotational symmetry," as you are taking apart? With "balance inherent" you can never initiate this manoeuvrer?

    Best,

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Plato,

    “So, how would you use "rotational symmetry," as you are taking apart? With "balance inherent" you can never initiate this manoeuvrer?”

    Perhaps this serves to strengthen for some who contend that what has been joined no one can take apart. For me it relates more to those who think they know has or what would be required of those who would like to have such ability. In short I think more is needed in the discovery of the tools necessary to be able to decide such a question and will admit I’m as you point out stuck with assumptions; which although in many ways remain unsupported have proven to have purpose and therefore work for the good. Of course I realize that Plato was one of the first to be so assured:-)

    I would suggest then we should go no further as it could possibly lead to us stripping this thread:-)



    Best,

    Phil

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Georg,

    I truly enjoyed your story and can remember myself when being very young as also being at first so confused. It is interesting to note therefore that handedness for many if not all is a learned ability and not innate. This has always fascinated not just me but many who realize that in nature it appears to be innate rather then learned and that on some other plane it could be the opposite or can it and still be real?

    “It is open to every man to choose the direction of his striving: and also every man may draw from Lessing’s fine saying, that the search for truth is more precious than its possession. “
    -Albert Einstein

    Best,

    Phil

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  21. Does DNA count as a screw ;-) ?

    Cheers, Stefan

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Stefan

    "Does DNA count as a screw ;-) ?"

    Yes and come to think about it doubly so:-)

    Best,

    Phil

    ReplyDelete
  23. Regarding "dissolving screws": The Vatican announces that Pope Benedict has decided that condoms will henceforth be considered acceptable provided that they are fully soluble in water and "similar fluids".

    ReplyDelete

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