“Why didn’t they fly the eagles to Mordor?” Or, the arrogance of simple solutions

It usually starts with “why don’t (didn’t) they just ____?”

(1) There’s a complicated situation. (2) There’s also an easy and obvious “answer” to the problem.

“Stop using carbon-based energy!”

“Tax the rich / Feed the poor / ’til there’s no rich no more.”

“Pay teachers more.”

“Teach the unemployed to code.”

Is there a name / label for this sort of simple-minded “solution”?

Trashmen’s lives matters

I’m working at home these days, so I see everything that happens on my street during the day. One of the things that bothers me is the trash and recycling trucks.

They go too fast, but worse than that, the guys who pick and empty the cans ride on the back and hold on. That can’t be safe. But is it legal? Are the waste management companies just breaking the rules to be more efficient?

In the big picture I guess it really doesn’t matter. They’re just men, so they’re expendable.

Thoughts on lists of “must read” books

  • If it doesn’t include the Bible, it’s questionable.
  • I always wonder whether the titles are on the list because they’re great or to fulfill some sort of quota.
  • Sometimes you see a very strange entry. E.g., on this list — The 30 Must Read Book of All Time — what is The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman doing there? It’s not even Gaiman’s best book, let alone great. (The misspelling in the title is a clue that it might not be the best list.)
  • Is the list based on popularity, or on what some group of alleged experts says?

“Sound of Freedom”

Mrs. C and I watched “Sound of Freedom” yesterday. It’s a disturbing look into the ugly world of child trafficking.

I’m skeptical of statistics from organizations that are promoting a cause, but it appears there’s been a large increase in child trafficking, and almost nothing is being done about it. I hope the movie does something to change that.

One question I had while watching the movie was how a parent can prove that a child is theirs. If law enforcement believes a child is being trafficked, how can they know?

Sometime in the near future, they’ll probably be able to do an instant DNA check (if that’s not ruled an unconstitutional search), but today, how can law enforcement be certain of such relationships?