Why Won't My Idea Float?

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The discussion revolves around the decision to take summer classes versus taking a break. One participant expresses a desire to take classes, viewing them as a privilege and a productive use of time, while another suggests that self-study or even a job could be alternatives. The conversation touches on the value of work experience, even in less desirable jobs, and the importance of social skills gained through such experiences. There’s a back-and-forth about the merits of learning independently versus traditional classroom settings, with some participants advocating for volunteer work as a productive summer activity. The tone shifts to humor and lighthearted banter about creative but impractical ideas, such as floating bowling balls and quirky inventions, showcasing camaraderie despite differing opinions. Overall, the thread highlights the tension between academic pursuits and the value of practical experience, all while maintaining a playful atmosphere.
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taking the summer off sounds nice. I think I'm going to take 3 classes this summer, though. so much for vacation.
 
Didn't your mother ever teach you not to run with an... er... intermittent line of dashes?
 
Nice for you!
 
Basically, MIH, I do not see things the same way you do. Classes are a privilege, not a duty. Not taking classes is a painful waste of time.
 
BicycleTree said:
Basically, MIH, I do not see things the same way you do. Classes are a privilege, not a duty. Not taking classes is a painful waste of time.
whoa - hang on there! I never said what you are suggesting. Yes, taking classes are a privilege and one for which I'm grateful - otherwise I wouldn't bother. I work 40 hours a week and drag my tired butt to classes on nights and weekends. It makes me long for a little break sometimes - like a nice summer getaway. :smile: That's all I am saying.

If you don't want to go all summer without classes, then can't you sign up for some?
 
Hurkyl said:
Didn't your mother ever teach you not to run with an... er... intermittent line of dashes?
:smile:

BicycleTree,
Why not study on your own? You could cover Cormen et al or the like over the summer. If you want credit, does your school do credit by assessment (prior/experiential learning)? You could possibly earn credit for what you learn that way. You may also want to look into taking classes at a nearby college as a visiting or transient student.
 
honestrosewater said:
:smile:

BicycleTree,
Why not study on your own? You could cover Cormen et al or the like over the summer. If you want credit, does your school do credit by assessment (prior/experiential learning)? You could possibly earn credit for what you learn that way. You may also want to look into taking classes at a nearby college as a visiting or transient student.
Yes, I am planning to learn on my own. I don't know if I'm going to be getting any credit for it but I couldn't stand to be twiddling my thumbs all summer.
 
BicycleTree said:
Yes, I am planning to learn on my own. I don't know if I'm going to be getting any credit for it but I couldn't stand to be twiddling my thumbs all summer.
The general solution to that problem is: Get a JOB! :biggrin: At least that's what my mom always told me.
 
  • #10
A job would also be like twiddling my thumbs. I am not qualified enough yet to get a job that would actually give me valuable experience. A few thousand bucks is not a good substitute for a summer where I'm not learning anything.
 
  • #11
BicycleTree said:
A job would also be like twiddling my thumbs. I am not qualified enough yet to get a job that would actually give me valuable experience. A few thousand bucks is not a good substitute for a summer where I'm not learning anything.
Every job is valuable experience. Even if you're working at your local fast food place, you learn something about customer service, restaurant sanitation (or how badly it is lacking, depending on the place), dealing with co-workers, etc. There are always middle and high school students who are struggling with summer school who could use a good math tutor.

But, if you're fortunate enough not to need a job, then you could instead do volunteer work. Volunteer for something like Habitat for Humanity and learn how to build a house; you gain some valuable skills, hands-on knowledge of how those engineering principles you learn in the classroom get applied in reality and do someone some good in the process. Or find a youth center that could use someone to help kids with computers. You can decide how many hours to volunteer, and spend the rest of the time in self-study. Heck, you could volunteer or get a job at a library. If you're prone to spending time there anyway, might as well spend a few hours a day shelving some books.

There are always ways for someone with an active mind to find something to do that keeps both mind and hands occupied that does not necessarily require book learning.
 
  • #12
I think that I could spend my time most productively by actually learning things. You have no idea of my situation. Don't offer advice to people you don't know.

My discrete math text says in the introduction that is has about 3 full courses of material in it, and I've only done one of those. I could go through that. I could gain experience with Java and C++. I could get a more advanced text on formal logic. I could learn more calculus and work through the rest of my statistics textbook. I could learn about operating systems and networking. There are many possibilities. But no... serving fries would be way more educational than learning real analysis... what was I thinking... thanks for setting me straight on that.
 
  • #13
BicycleTree said:
I think that I could spend my time most productively by actually learning things. You have no idea of my situation. Don't offer advice to people you don't know.

Sorry, I assumed that because you were posting here, you were seeking advice. I'll remember not to give you advice in the future.
 
  • #14
My main reason for posting here was to make sure everyone is aware of my pain. :-p Anyway, you should note... all there is left of the original post since shortly after I posted it is a line of dashes.

Advice is not always bad. However, you should not give advice when you don't understand the full situation you are giving advice about.
 
  • #15
BicycleTree said:
My main reason for posting here was to make sure everyone is aware of my pain. :-p Anyway, you should note... all there is left of the original post since shortly after I posted it is a line of dashes.
I did note that, and never saw the original post, so I didn't respond until you continued discussion. I was only commenting on your later comments. I assume you deleted the original because you changed your mind about discussing whatever was there.

Advice is not always bad. However, you should not give advice when you don't understand the full situation you are giving advice about.
You don't have to take my advice, and I didn't tell you there was only one thing to do. It was more a list of some alternatives, on the chance that a different perspective might help you find a solution to whatever problem you're "in pain" over. You can take it or leave it, but it was offered in an effort to be helpful.
 
  • #16
BicycleTree said:
I think that I could spend my time most productively by actually learning things. You have no idea of my situation. Don't offer advice to people you don't know.

My discrete math text says in the introduction that is has about 3 full courses of material in it, and I've only done one of those. I could go through that. I could gain experience with Java and C++. I could get a more advanced text on formal logic. I could learn more calculus and work through the rest of my statistics textbook. I could learn about operating systems and networking. There are many possibilities. But no... serving fries would be way more educational than learning real analysis... what was I thinking... thanks for setting me straight on that.
None of these things will teach you how to socialize with people. That is also an important skill.
 
  • #17
Huckleberry said:
None of these things will teach you how to socialize with people. That is also an important skill.
In this case, I think that would be a lot like teaching a bowling ball to swim.
 
  • #18
Well, I like Moonbear and BicycleTree and hope there's no bitterness between you two. :smile:
 
  • #19
honestrosewater said:
Well, I like Moonbear and BicycleTree and hope there's no bitterness between you two. :smile:

Nope, no bitterness, at least not on my end. :smile: Though, it seems BT and I just don't manage to communicate well here. I write one thing, and he seems to interpret it as something else; I really don't know how this keeps happening, but there's no malice intended. I just chalk it up to life; sometimes other people just see things differently from ourselves.
 
  • #20
Danger said:
In this case, I think that would be a lot like teaching a bowling ball to swim.
You could always cut them in half and hollow them out and seal them back up, maybe adding a layer of lead on the inside as ballast to keep the original weight. If there were enough air inside the bowling ball then it would float, and it would still function normally as a bowling ball too.

Should I get a patent for floating bowling balls? I can't tell you how many I've lost in water traps.
 
  • #21
Huckleberry said:
You could always cut them in half and hollow them out and seal them back up, maybe adding a layer of lead on the inside as ballast to keep the original weight. If there were enough air inside the bowling ball then it would float

No it wouldn't!
 
  • #22
someone beat you to it huck:

http://www.science-house.org/whatsnew/nsta01/nsta01bowl6.jpg
 
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  • #23
Oh darn! I thought I was going to be a millionaire.
That guy steals all my best ideas.
 
  • #24
I know that dude. He stole my inflatable dartboard idea! Jerk!
 
  • #25
And he stole my reversible glasses idea too. I think we should sue.
 
  • #26
Huckleberry said:
And he stole my reversible glasses idea too. I think we should sue.
oh no!
And my wicker blender idea - he took that, too! :mad: That was my ticket outta here! :cry:
Don't worry, I am going to find us a lawyer, Huck!
 
  • #27
And my ergonomic armpit desalinator. That was going to pay for my college. I say we egg his car. :mad:
 
  • #28
key his car, egg his house.


well, you can egg his car too...


AAAAHHHH! He stole my waterproof coca-cola can idea! break his winsheild too!
 
  • #29
Moonbear said:
Nope, no bitterness, at least not on my end. :smile: Though, it seems BT and I just don't manage to communicate well here. I write one thing, and he seems to interpret it as something else; I really don't know how this keeps happening, but there's no malice intended. I just chalk it up to life; sometimes other people just see things differently from ourselves.
Who do you think you're kidding? How short is your memory?
 
  • #30
Huckleberry said:
You could always cut them in half and hollow them out and seal them back up, maybe adding a layer of lead on the inside as ballast to keep the original weight. If there were enough air inside the bowling ball then it would float, and it would still function normally as a bowling ball too.
Hehe - want to try that again? If its density stays the same, it still won't float.
 
  • #31
Math Is Hard said:
oh no!
And my wicker blender idea !
I wanted to let you know how great the wicker blender works! Well, it was a bit messy at first, with liquid flying everywhere, but since I got the inside lined with lead, it's a dream. :approve:
 
  • #32
Evo said:
I wanted to let you know how great the wicker blender works! Well, it was a bit messy at first, with liquid flying everywhere, but since I got the inside lined with lead, it's a dream. :approve:

Want to blanch those tomatoes before pureeing them to make sauce? Just spray on an asbestos coating, and you can use it for stuff right off the stove without getting burnt. An extremely versatile kitchen tool. :biggrin:
 
  • #33
Moonbear said:
Want to blanch those tomatoes before pureeing them to make sauce? Just spray on an asbestos coating, and you can use it for stuff right off the stove without getting burnt. An extremely versatile kitchen tool. :biggrin:
Ooh, I could spray baked potatoes too! Those are always too hot to handle! Perhaps we should pass these useful kitchen tips on to little franzbear.

One way to preheat a gas stove quickly is to blow out the pilot light and let the oven fill with gas, then quickly toss a lit match inside. :approve:
 
  • #34
Evo said:
I wanted to let you know how great the wicker blender works! Well, it was a bit messy at first, with liquid flying everywhere, but since I got the inside lined with lead, it's a dream. :approve:

I'm so glad to hear from another satisfied customer. :approve: By the way, I can't tell you enough how thrilled I've been with my Evo-matic Heated Toilet seat. (I got the glow-in-the-dark model - fabulous!)
 
  • #35
Math Is Hard said:
I'm so glad to hear from another satisfied customer. :approve: By the way, I can't tell you enough how thrilled I've been with my Evo-matic Heated Toilet seat. (I got the glow-in-the-dark model - fabulous!)
Ah yes, the deluxe model with the automatic seat lowerer. :approve:

Has anyone seen the new toilet paper commercials about "uncomfortable bathroom moments"? The pet fish being flushed, the woman falling into the toliet in the middle of the night (been there, done that), the clogged toilet erupting into the girls face. :-p
 
  • #36
yomamma said:
http://www.science-house.org/whatsnew/nsta01/nsta01bowl6.jpg
[/URL]
That one on the left isn't a bowling ball. If you look closely at the logo on the other side, you'll see that it is in fact a Superbounce Fireball with a glandular disorder.

Huckleberry said:
You could always cut them in half and hollow them out and seal them back up, maybe adding a layer of lead on the inside as ballast to keep the original weight.
The term 'ballast' implies that it's on one side to maintain orientation. Methinks you might have difficulty hurling a strike with that.

Huckleberry said:
I can't tell you how many I've lost in water traps.
Well it's no wonder, you goof! You're using the wrong bat. Aluminum is just for the endzone. You're supposed to use wood for anything past the hog line.

Math Is Hard said:
I know that dude. He stole my inflatable dartboard idea! Jerk!
:smile: :smile:

yomamma said:
key his car, egg his house.


well, you can egg his car too...
Or you could key his eggs...

russ_watters said:
Hehe - want to try that again? If its density stays the same, it still won't float.
Give him a break, will ya? He was only a sailor. What could he know about bouyancy? They save that stuff for officers.
 
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  • #37
Danger said:
Or you could key his eggs...
QUOTE]
that's...clever? :redface:
 
  • #38
russ_watters said:
Hehe - want to try that again? If its density stays the same, it still won't float.
Well, there goes another awesome idea. Reality is always getting in the way of my imagination. I guess I'll go back to GD. Oh, wait :mad:

Seriously though russ and brewnog, thanks for pointing that out. If I had stopped to think about it, or bothered looking it up then I wouldn't have to be embarrassed. That never botherred me much, and in this case it is all in good fun.

How about a nuclear submersible bowling ball? That would be much funnier.
 
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