Extreme Values

Extreme Values

4/15/1983   and   2/12/2017

with thanks to Piet Hein

 

 

A. Minimum or Less

 

Yes, I freely admit that I take as a rule

That anyone dumber than me is a fool.

But alas! That implies what is quite plain to see;

That my wisdom, at best, is the least that can be.

 

 

B. Upper Bound

 

Yes, everyone wiser than me is a sage!

That’s a thought I have sadly accepted with age.

But there’s one consolation I take from this rule;

That at worst, I’m the wisest conceivable fool!

         

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gabriel Scandal Rocks Vatican, Mecca

      Gabriel Scandal Rocks Vatican, Mecca             Vatican City – Clerics worldwide have expressed shock and dismay at recent revelations that the Archangel Gabriel is personally responsible for instigating centuries of religious warfare between Christians and Moslems.           The Ayatollah Kahmonney said, “God is great, but if you can’t trust one of His angels, then whom can you trust? Who does Gabriel think he is?”           High Vatican officials agree. Cardinal Mausinker declared, “It’s an outrage. The entire human race has been misled, manipulated, divided and deceived by this so-called holy angel. We thought Gabriel was leading us onward, but instead he was just setting us up. I pray that God, in His wisdom, will note the fallen angel’s actions and take appropriate action.”     ...
Read more

Force of the People

          Force of the People           A Star Wars fanfic   The film begins with a Jedi trainee running away to planet Corbom. He shelters with an eccentric scientist and his shady patron and raffish pals. With the runaway Jedi’s cooperation, the gang extracts some of his midichlorians, which they then breed by the vatful. One injection can give anyone Force powers. They also invent a plug-in module for droids. The powers conferred include telekinesis, telepathy, clairvoyance and danger sense; but also levitation, Force shields and healing powers. Also, resistance to Force choking, and Toydarian resistance to the Jedi mind trick. The shady midichlorian dealer makes big money mass-marketing Force powers to his fellow Corbomites. With the runaway Jedi’s help, they climb a steep learning curve. They innovate; for instance, Force shield plus levitation equals Superman-type flight. The s...
Read more

Cat Waste Explained

       Cat Waste Explained   While cleaning out the litterbox, I asked myself; Why do cats shit?   The answer is, of course; Because you can’t unburn a candle. - that is, because entropy increases. But then this raises the question:   Why can’t you unburn a candle? Because tiny chaos always grows. - which explains entropy as molecular disorder. But then:   Why does tiny chaos always grow? Because later is likelier. - the thermodynamic arrow of time. But then:   Why is later likelier? Because the universe will expand forever. - which links thermodynamic and cosmological arrows. But then:   Why will the universe expand forever? Because far stars fall up. - which links the cosmological arrow to cosmic acceleration. But then:   Why do far stars fall up? Because vacuum sucks. - which links cosmic acceleration to dark energy. But then:   Why does vacuum suck? Becau...
Read more