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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 293
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 293 |
In honor of the 1st word in the current 7-day theme, I have changed my signature line.
I did this as I sat under a ladder, on a crack, with my fingers crossed trying to repair a mirror I broke while throwing salt over my shoulder. And there goes a black cat across my path!!
"I am certain there is too much certainty in the world" -Michael Crichton
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2 |
Ha! Or maybe it's good luck! Almost off-topic: last night, the 13th of March, musher Lance Mackey won the Iditarod in Alaska, his first win. He was the 13th starter and ran with 13 dogs from his champion Yukon Quest team. In his 6th Iditarod, Lance chose bib #13 because both his father and his older brother won the Iditarod in their 6th attempts, wearing #13!
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 293
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 293 |
Deaf,
You bring up an interesting point. I have made an observation (in my almost 50 years of living) and use it often to amaze people.
We, generally, give significance to such things (as you pointed out above) based on relationships WE FORM about the various incidents. For example, you pointed out so many 13s, yet how many legs did the racer have? How many legs did each dog have? What is the total of 13 dogs' legs? How many miles did he travel?
Often, when playing cards with a group I will make a bold announcement. I say, "The next card will be <blank>*!" I then turn over the top card. Statistically, I have (about) a one-in-thirteen chance. But, when I am correct the crowd is amazed and tell the story for weeks after. If I am wrong (12 out of 13 times) it is quickly forgotten.
This is the principle that fuels (so called) Psychics and those who profess to "Talk to the dead".
Try the little card stunt the next chance you get. You may even amaze YOURSELF!!
*[<blank> can be any card that strikes your fancy. It should be a card you are NOT holding in your hand and has not been played]
"I am certain there is too much certainty in the world" -Michael Crichton
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
I used to do this amazing card trick. I'd fan a deck and ask the victim to "pick a card, any card." The person would pick a card and I'd say, e.g., "six of diamonds." Fifty-one times out of fifty-two the victim would say I was wrong, to which I'd reply, "well, it works about once out of every fifty-two times." One time, after saying "three of clubs" the person showed the card to be the four of clubs. He was so amazed that he had me do it four more times with predictable results. He never did get the idea.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2 |
Very fun - I guess statistics and probability aren't part of the regular math curriculum in schools?
Briefly back to the 13s: a friend just told me that Lance Mackey's son placed 13th in the Jr. Iditarod this year, too! Many lucky people placed serious bets on Lance to win last night based on all those 13s...
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Joined: Mar 2007
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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Mar 2007
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"This week marks our tridecennial. That could mean we are entering our
teenage years, though in Internet years we would be middle-aged or beyond."
Don't we enter our teenage years upon completion of the first twelve? That
would mean that the thirteenth anniversary of our birth marks the beginning of our second "teenage" year.
--Robert
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
but we don't generally call a 12-year old a teenager.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Mar 2007
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Of course we don't! But a 12-year old has completed twelve years and is entering her/his 13th year. On the ocassion of my own 59th birthday I began my 60th year, but it took another year for me to enter my 6th decade.
--Robert
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Yeahbut, a 12.9 year old is not yet 13 and doesn't count as a teen-ager.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 293
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 293 |
This debate reminds me of the discussions around the Year 2000; whether it marked the beginning of the 21st century.
The year 2001 is the FIRST year of the 21st century; since the years began at ONE and not ZERO.
"I am certain there is too much certainty in the world" -Michael Crichton
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
This debate reminds me of the discussions around the Year 2000; whether it marked the beginning of the 21st century.
The year 2001 is the FIRST year of the 21st century; since the years began at ONE and not ZERO. yeah, just try and win *that argument with Mr. Common Usage. -joe (post no bills) friday
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