up, down, around and around

[woodja]

I was reading the up/down discussion ( www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgeoid.html )
and remembered a cute little commentary on the effects of deforestation. If I remember correctly it was intended as a spoof on certain material published by some environmental extremists (not in any way implying that I believe we have no reason to be alarmed).

The earth spins faster on its axis due to deforestation. Just as a figure
skater’s rate of spin increases when the arms are brought in close to the body,
the cutting of tall trees causes our planet to spin faster due to conservation of angular momentum, with the net result that everything on the planet’s surface weighs very slightly less.

This might explain why I’ve been feeling light-headed recently. Or maybe it’s just the cold medicine.

[Karen_Too]

So you’re saying we can lose weight by chopping down trees? Easier than diet and exercise.

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-k-
Karen Lingel, Physicist