Today's Discussion Question:

Imagine that you drive a 2-wheeled vehicle to work every day. About 6 miles each way, in the open air, rain or shine.

Now, imagine that you have a pocketful of change. Quite a bit of it. It's not enough to buy a pizza or anything, but you could probably buy lunch at McDonalds. With the McFried Apple Pie.

And finally, imagine that as you're speeding to work on a long stretch of road where all the green lights are really working in your favor, you sense some of the change falling out of your pocket and clattering onto the pavement. How much money would you have to think you lost before you stopped and went back for it?

I realize that part of this hinges on the perceived value of your money. In America for instance, you're not likely to have anything more valuable than quarters, which are just barely useful these days. But some countries have higher-value coins. My pockets often fill up with 10NT coins which are worth about 35 cents US but have a much higher psychological value here. Ten New Taiwan Dollars could buy you, for instance, a fresh cup of ice tea, a plastic soap dish, a newspaper, a ball-point pen, or 5 local phone calls. But there are also 50NT coins, and you'd probably go back for even one of those. Wouldn't you?

Well? How much would you lose before you went back for it? Keep in mind it didn't just land where it fell out of your pocket. It hit the ground at 60KPH and bounced while you raced forward, watching it skitter away in your rear-view mirror.

For extra credit, factor in the possibilty that it's not daytime, but nighttime.