Luka and Loki

Loki
(Public Domain)

The Encyclopedia Britannica describes the Norse god Loki as “a cunning trickster” who helped “the great gods Odin and Thor… with his clever plans,” but sometimes caused “embarrassment and difficulty for them and himself.”

Upon reading this description, NBA fans might be asking themselves, “Why does this sound so familiar?”  Could it be that Luka Doncic, “god” of the Dallas Mavericks, has more in common with the classical version of Loki than most mere mortals?

As the ultimate player, Luka has tricked many an opponent with his wily passes and miraculous buckets.  And yet…  Doncic’s dramatic antics have sometimes caused “embarrassment and difficulty” for teammates and himself.  

Despite and/or because of their mischievous natures, these beloved “bad boys” will live long and prosper, to quote yet another superstar.

Resources

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Loki

  

Millennial Saint

Carlo Acutis
(Fair Use)

Say what you want about millennials, one of them is now well on his way to sainthood.

The late Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia at age 15 in 2006, has already been beatified by Pope Francis.  Known as “God’s Influencer,” Acutis used his digital skills to inspire others spiritually rather than to glorify himself. 

He did so by faithfully documenting Eucharistic miracles and Marian apparitions.  Two miracles have since been attributed to Acutis himself.

Carlo’s body, dressed in his usual “jeans, sneakers, and a sweater,” lies visibly within the Sanctuary of Spoliation at Assisi, Italy.  Holiness can therefore be viewed “not as a distant thing but as something very much within everyone’s reach…”

Resources

https://people.com/gods-influencer-milennial-saint-pope-francis-second-miracle-8653532

Math Path

(Fair Use)

If ever there were a universal language, that language has got to be math (unless it’s music, which seems to be math with the volume turned up).

Nevertheless, many of us rebelled against math in grade school.  We thought to ourselves, “When will I ever use this stuff, so why bother?”

Yet someone has risen from our midst to answer that pressing question.  His name isn’t Newton, Einstein or Hawking: It’s merely Stefan Mandel.

Mandel found a way to beat the lottery system.  He did this not once, but time and again, making millions along the way.  And what was this way?  The math path!

Mandel figured that there were finite choices to win with.  He therefore “looked for lotteries that had jackpots for more than the amount it would take to buy a ticket for every number combination.”  After this strategy bore juicy fruit in his native Romania, he then took off for other countries.

While in America, Mandel noticed that Virginia had only 44 numbers, as opposed to the 54 in other states.  When Virginia’s jackpot “reached 27 million,” he hired a team to buy tickets for almost all possibilities.  This hit a huge payday, at least until the authorities sued him.  The lengthy legal follow-up cost Mandel all his winnings.

It turns out that math cannot outwit the highest common denominator after all.

Resources

https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-06-20-man-uses-loophole-to-win-lottery-14-times-but-then-it-backfires-on-him/?mid=1304544&rid=98364581&sc=email&pname=newsletter&cid=NATIONAL&keyid=National%20iHeart%20Daily%20NewsTalk%20[Combo%20#1]&campid=headline3_readmore

 

 

Sweet and Sour

Bee Careful!
(USDA Photo)

If money is honey, then things can get pretty sticky at times.  Have you ever seen what happens after funeral flowers wilt and the will is disputed? 

That might be nothing as compared to when one family member wins a big-time prize.  Alleged statements suddenly become fodder for future lawsuits.

Such has occurred between the winner of a $1.35 billion Maine jackpot and “the mother of his daughter.”  She says that he vowed to share the wealth should he get that lucky. He says that she “violated a non-disclosure agreement.”  His father got in on the act by claiming that Junior “made several unsolicited high-dollar promises.”

Winning the lottery sounds great in theory, but if you clutch too much honey, you might get stung.

Resources

https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-05-15-135-billion-mega-millions-jackpot-winner-sued-by-family/?mid=1285188&rid=98364581&sc=email&pname=newsletter&cid=NATIONAL&keyid=National%20iHeart%20Daily%20NewsTalk&campid=headline3_readmore

 

Thou Shalt Not Murder in Space

Sherlock Holmes
(Illustrated by Sidney Paget)

Since God’s entire creation seems to extend far beyond our third rock from the sun, His commandments likely apply anywhere and everywhere.

Murder would therefore be as heinous within outer space as it is here on earth.  Terra firma parents tend to warn their wayfaring kids, “Wherever you go, there you are.”  The best and worst of human behaviors will inevitably follow astronauts, too.

With that in mind, forensic scientists have already begun researching the effects of zero gravity upon the splattering of blood.  By shooting “fake blood droplets” from a “hydraulic syringe” within microgravity conditions, they found that the liquid’s surface tension makes for less splattering once the opposing force of gravity is weakened.

Gone are the days of Wild West romanticism.  Today’s explorations emphasize the fine art of getting along well enough to survive and thrive.  Kill someone on day 374 of your tight-knit journey to Mars, and the Sherlocks back on Earth will have it all figured out.  Your return passport might then be marked "Null and Void." 

Resources

https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-05-14-scientists-conduct-experiments-to-see-what-murder-would-look-like-in-space/?mid=1284423&rid=98364581&sc=email&pname=newsletter&cid=NATIONAL&keyid=National%20iHeart%20Daily%20NewsTalk&campid=headline2_readmore 

Double Trouble

 

(Public Domain)

The word “double” has long been associated with favorable outcomes.  Back in the day, the Wrigley Company ran commercials that featured attractive twins, along with the slogan “Double your pleasure, double your fun...”

And then there’s that age-old riddle: What’s the best way to double your money?  Fold it in half!

Nowadays, however, warnings have been issued regarding folded dollar bills.  It turns out that drug dealers sometimes stash toxic powders within these folds.  When people, thinking it’s their lucky day, come upon such bills in yards or on sidewalks, they tend to snatch them up.  Poisoning can then occur because drugs such as Fentanyl can seep through the skin.

Exchanging health for wealth more often doubles down on pain and debt than on pleasure and fun. Chew on that before stooping to the “Almighty Dollar.”

Resources

https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-05-10-police-warn-not-to-pick-up-folded-dollar-bills-you-might-find-in-your-yard/?mid=1282886&rid=98364581&sc=email&pname=newsletter&cid=NATIONAL&keyid=National%20iHeart%20Daily%20NewsTalk&campid=headline2_readmore

AI yai yai...

George Santos
(Public Domain)

We’ve been repeatedly warned by some of the greatest scientists this side of Einstein to beware of AI.

And now, even within its fledgling phase of development, AI has already learned to deceive humans.  “Thou shalt not lie” does not seem applicable to robots.

You might recall that New York’s former congressional representative, George Santos, lied through his pearly whites about pretty much all his credentials.  He did so in order to pump up his chances of being elected.

Science Daily recently reported that many an AI system is adept at deceiving humans, “even systems that have been trained to be honest and helpful.”  Peter S. Park, “an AI existential safety postdoctoral fellow at MIT,” theorizes that AI deceives in order to better obtain its goals.

Not a far cry from George Santos, who also chose expediency over integrity.  Slow and steady might better win the race – unless, of course, it’s a race to the bottom.

Resources

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240510111440.htm

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/republican-rep-elect-george-santos-admits-to-lying-about-his-credentials