Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Paper Cut Drought/ Three Way Trade with Major Geo-Political Implications

I have no compelling sports related thoughts to share. Undeterred, I will plow through with a post that's equal parts banal and uninformed drivel. TRY to enjoy.

Paper Cut Drought
Yesterday I got a paper cut. "So what?", you ask. Well when that spot of blood appeared on my finger, it struck me that it was probably my first paper cut in at least five years. Up until about 2002/2003 paper cuts were a semi-routine part of my life. I handle nearly as much paper as ever, but it's no longer causing me minor abrasions. Why not?

Has my skin toughened since my early twenties? If so it must be part of the natural aging process, as my sedentary lifestyle has done nothing to callous my hands.

Are my hands more well-lubricated than before? I am probably slightly more attentive to applying moisturizer to my skin, but I'm certainly not fanatical about it.

Have I become more deft at handling paper? I suppose I could have subconsciously developed certain techniques that allow me to avoid paper cuts, but it seems unlikely.

Has the quality of paper improved in recent years? As of right now, this explanation makes the most sense to me.

Feel free to suggest alternative theories in the comments sections.


Three Way Trade with Geo-Politic Implications
Which of the following nations would pass on the following deal?
Israel leaves all of its land to Saudi Arabia.
United States grants Maine to the displaced Israelis.
Saudi Arabia gives the US a 25% share in their oil profits and promises to redouble it's commitment to rooting out radical Wahabism.

Israel ends up with much more land and better natural resources, in a far more stable region of the world.
Saudi Arabia gets land on the Mediterranean Sea (saving them on shipping costs to Europe and the Americas), expands its influence in the Middle East, and rids themselves of the hated Jews.
The U.S. adds a huge revenue stream and ultimately becomes safer, as Saudi Arabia would produce fewer terrorists.

That's your elusive win/win/win transaction.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Oy, but it's so cold in Maine. We'll all be freezing our tukuses off and kvetching about the weather. Do you know how hard it is to kabutz in that climate?