23/11/04 (part two)
A new mental challenge for you all (who am I kidding all, I'll be lucky if 2 people read this :-). It's a good 'un - well worth the longish read.
The boss of a major firm is arriving at work one morning, just as the night-watchman is leaving. The night-watchman approaches him, and begins to talk: "sir, please don't catch the 5:22 home, like you normally do. I had a dream last night, and I'm sure it's gonna crash, no-one will survive". Well, the manager is not entirely convinced by this, but he continues with his day, more or less forgetting what the chap had said.
When it came for him to return home, his cab got stuck in traffic, so he didn't reach the station in time for his train. He takes another cab for the journey, despite the cost of this. When he gets home, he catches the end of the 6 o'clock news, and, as the newsreader comes to review the headlines, he discovers that the train had indeed crashed, and everyone had died.
The manager was quite shaken by this, so when he went to work the next day he sought out the night-watchman. He presented him with £100, and said "thank you for warning me, it could have saved my life. But you're fired." Why did he fire the man?
23/11/04
Twas the night before my birthday, and all through the house...nothing happened. This is because my birthday has, by mutual agreement, and a lot of bending of the space-time continuum with a big hammer, moved til next week, during my week off.
Last time I was pondering, somewhat pessimistically, some seemingly irrevocable situations. However, I've since had a solution suggested to me: blow up the problem. This has been shown to solve any problem.
17/11/04
It is exactly 1 week until my birthday, but it is right in the middle of my mock exams :-( However, there is an upside: study leave continues into the next week, but my last exam is on the Monday, so I get almost a week off to pick a date for my postponed birthday.
Thinking more seriously, is it possible to go from one state to another, and yet for it to be impossible to reverse the process? I believe it to be possible, and not just in the obvious chemical context: I draw to your attention Northern Ireland and Israel/Palestine. In both cases a peaceful situation is, through invasion, turned into an unsolvable conflict. No proposal for peace can please much more than 50% or 60% of the populations, and those left dissatisfied are almost certain to continue violence, therefore removing the satisfaction of those happy with the peace.
In answer to the lateral thinking question, the man was a lighthouse keeper.
12/11/04
It is a wonderful feeling to finish maths coursework that's been bothering you for weeks, especially, although I'm not sure why, when it's finished at 2 in the morning before the deadline. Of course, the feeling is improved further when, less than 20 hours later, you receive the science prize for the year.
On a more serious, and less self-indulgent, note, after the death of Arafat, and all that could cause, the re-arrest of Mordecai Vanunu (what a name) seems to me to have gone largely unreported. Does this surprise me? Oddly not... Does this worry me? F*** yes!
6/11/04
I hope the new reversed news layout helps you, IVF (Imaginary visitor-friend).
Finally updated the site of the month, a bit late since the US election has now been and gone. I don't know what to say on the subject - those more informed and qualified have said it all, if your really missed it, then Google is a wonderful place.
On the subject of JCSS, the cast was announced yesterday, and I am Annas (don't start, please). Quite happy with that, all things considered.
Try smiling tomorrow, as you walk along. Smile for no reason. Smile for more of the day than not. Not because it'll do any good, but because I like the idea of you wandering along looking like a p***ock.
2/11/04
Having completed my Duke of Edinburgh expedition, I departed to the Midlands, for a very relaxing canal boat holiday. Whilst this meant I didn't do any homework over half term, it was nevertheless well worth it.
Today I took my second audition for Jesus Christ Superstar...least said soonest mended...
Today also be the day of the US election - to late for me to tell any passing Americans to remove Bush (with extreme prejudice?).
A nice lateral thinking question to finish - the answer will be revealed in a week or so.
A man lives on his own, and one day decides he's had enough. He waters his plants, turns out all the lights, turns off the heating, and leaves his house, never to return. These actions cause the death of seven men. HOW?