AsktheBuilder.com News - August 11, 2019
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Dear ,
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Did you just subscribe in the past week? TNX as we say in Morse. I'll do my best to save you lots of time and sweet moola in this and future newsletters.
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You might be an older, not age mind you, subscriber. Thanks for sticking around and this issue might astound you. As Kenny Chesney says in his hit song, "only time will tell, but it ain't talkin' ".
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Do You Think Critically?
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What is critical thinking? I define it as stepping back when confronted with a problem and considering the possibilities and secondary reactions to a solution.
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What the HECK does that mean, Tim?????
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Here's an example. You have a roof leak around a chimney and a young roofer shows up to fix it.
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He comes down the ladder after surveying the situation and goes to his truck to get a tube of caulk. You ask him, "Is caulk the best material to stop the leak?"
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He answers, "Oh yes, I've been caulking leaks like this for nine months now with no issues."
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Then it hits you. A voice in your head whispers, "I don't want to ruin your day, but back 200 years ago when they built those cathedrals in Europe with the steep roofs they didn't have caulk. What do you think those roofers did to keep the roof timbers dry?"
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That's some critical thinking.
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Several days ago I got an email from Jim down in Boca Raton, FL. Here's what he said:
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"I've seen advertisements for systems to spray water on A/C condenser units which in theory use evaporative cooling to assist the cooling of the refrigerant in the condenser coils. I can see why it might help but is it a good idea?"
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Jim started the critical-thinking process and then decided to get a second opinion. Good for him! My guess is his gut didn't feel the company was telling the whole truth in their ad.
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I've done expert testimony work for nearly twenty years and you know that a half-truth is a whole lie, right? That's why when I'm sworn in during a deposition or courtroom appearance I have to say, "I swear to tell the truth, the WHOLE truth, and nothing but the truth."
Let's take the next step in Jim's situation. I'd step back and ask these questions out loud. When I do this sometimes, my wife Kathy is convinced she's married to a fool.
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#1. I wonder what the owners manual has to say about spraying my AC condenser unit with water? After all, it does get rain on it, so it might not hurt it!
#2. Hmmm, I wonder if the water coming out of my hose is the same as rain water? After all, I get hard water stains on my faucets inside but I don't recall seeing them on my car after a rain shower? That's interesting......
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#3. I get my water for free (well not totally since I have to pay a tiny amount for electric to power the well pump)Â since I'm on a well but others have city water that might be expensive. I wonder if I'll really be SAVING MONEY on my AC electric bill by SPENDING MONEY in extra water usage?
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If you don't know all the questions to ask when it's time to do critical thinking, I can help you out. Don't forget about my simple private phone consulting service.
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Small Speaker - BIG Sound
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