Knowledge Is Power, And Power Is Cool
If there was ever any proof that you never know when any specific bit of school knowledge or book-learning is going to be helpful, useful, or even lifesaving…
From National Geographic News -
Tsunami Family Saved by Schoolgirl’s Geography Lesson
Nat Geo TV Shows Help Tsunami Islander Save 1,500
These stories made me very happy.
I’m a big fan of knowing things and stuff, and using them when they apply, or applying them when they’re useful, but you never know when that will happen. Lives were saved because a British schoolgirl and an ordinary port employee realized - quickly - what was happening. Because of what they had learned, one on TV, one in boring old geography class.
Hurray for learning! And, among other things, hypotenuses, because I never thought they’d ever be useful, other than for doing my impression of the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. Now I know different.
You can never know enough. I’ve met a few people, male and female, old and especially young, who think they already - or finally - know everything they’ll ever need to know. They couldn’t be more wrong. But there’s just no telling them, because the shop’s closed, the sign’s turned around, the lights are off, and the cash drawer is open to put off burglars.
So go learn something new. And wonderful. And if you never use it for itself, well, at least you know it. Just knowing stuff is cool.