While we lesser creatures spend our lives creating blogposts and commenting on the blogposts of others, greater minds than ours ponder things like the following article from the current issue of Scientific American magazine:
"This Twist on Schrödinger’s Cat Paradox Has Major Implications for Quantum Theory"
which has the even more intriguing subtitle, 'A laboratory demonstration of the classic “Wigner’s friend” thought experiment could overturn cherished assumptions about reality'.
I am clearly out of my element and in over my head. I have never heard of Schrödinger’s Cat Paradox and don't care about Quantum Theory, I don't know what “Wigner’s friend” thought experiment proved or didn't prove, or why it is considered classic, and I have no cherished assumptions about reality that I am aware of.
I'm sure it is very important, but it seems like so much flotsam and jetsam to me.
So why even bring up the subject, you may be asking.
Simple. I want you to read the article from start ro finish and tell me what you think.
Only then can we begin to tackle world peace.
Sunday, August 23, 2020
Thursday, August 20, 2020
As they say on Facebook...
It's Throwback Thursday!
That, friends, is how the Rhymeswithplague family looked in 1980, a mere 40 years ago. I had my famous Afro hairstyle. Before I got it, some people thought I looked like Engelbert Humperdinck and other people thought I looked like Harold Reid, the bass singer in the Statler Brothers Quartet. After I got it, people didn't say much of anything. They were dumbstruck.
Our children, from left to right, were 13, 16, and 15 years old at the time. It is hard to believe that today they are 52, 54, and 55.
Mom and Dad are also getting on up there.
I must tell you that I have not figured out how to insert photographs using New Blogger. Well, I have figured out how it is done, but my particular version of the New Blogger screen does not include all of the Editing Functions. I'm not kidding. Insert Photo and Insert Video are missing.
I had to "Revert to legacy Blogger" to include the photo in this post.
Keep your fingers crossed that I make headway with New Blogger soon because Old Blogger is supposed to be going away at the end of September.
And then, unless things change, there will be no more photographs, Throwback Thursday or otherwise, from this corner of the blogosphere.
Our children, from left to right, were 13, 16, and 15 years old at the time. It is hard to believe that today they are 52, 54, and 55.
Mom and Dad are also getting on up there.
I must tell you that I have not figured out how to insert photographs using New Blogger. Well, I have figured out how it is done, but my particular version of the New Blogger screen does not include all of the Editing Functions. I'm not kidding. Insert Photo and Insert Video are missing.
I had to "Revert to legacy Blogger" to include the photo in this post.
Keep your fingers crossed that I make headway with New Blogger soon because Old Blogger is supposed to be going away at the end of September.
And then, unless things change, there will be no more photographs, Throwback Thursday or otherwise, from this corner of the blogosphere.
Monday, August 17, 2020
Please, sir, may I have another?
I'm talking about puzzling and even unanswerable questions, of course. What did you think I was talking about?
Here are a few:
I'm after different ways of pronouncing the same word, not why zuchinis are called courgettes or why blackberries are called brambles or why trunks and hoods are boots and bonnets.
Rack or wrack your brain (or both) and join in the fun.
Here are a few:
- Why is antelope pronounced 'AN-tuh-lope' but Penelope is pronounced 'puh-NEL-oh-pee'?
- Why is telephone pronounced 'TEL-uh-fone' but Persephone is pronounced 'per-SEF-uh-nee'?
- Why do people in the U.K. say 'DEB-ree' but people in the U.S. say 'duh-BREE'?
- Why do people in the U.K. say 'luh-BOR-uh-tree' but people in the U.S. say 'LAB-ruh-tory'?
- Why do people in the U.K. see Worcestershire and say 'WUSS-ter-sher' but people in the U.S. tend to say 'WERE-CHESS-ter-SHYRE'?
- Why do people in the U.K. see Gloucester and say 'GLAWS-ter' but people in the U.S. tend to say "GLOW-CHESS-ter'?
- Why do people in the U.K. see Cholmondeley and say 'CHUM-lee' and people in the U.S. see Natchitoches and say 'NACK-uh-dish'?
I'm after different ways of pronouncing the same word, not why zuchinis are called courgettes or why blackberries are called brambles or why trunks and hoods are boots and bonnets.
Rack or wrack your brain (or both) and join in the fun.
Monday, August 10, 2020
As Robin once said to his BFF...
"Holy place names, Batman!"
Here's a list of holy-sounding place names that I threw together. Can you identify the ones that cannot trace their origin to the Bible?
What lists have been waiting to spring to your mind?
Here's a list of holy-sounding place names that I threw together. Can you identify the ones that cannot trace their origin to the Bible?
- San Mateo, California
- San Marcos, Texas
- Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico
- St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
- Corinth, Mississippi
- Phillipi, West Virginia
- St. Paul, Minnesota
- St. James City, Florida
- St. Peters, Missouri
- San Antonio, Texas
- St. Joseph, Missouri
- St. Marys, Georgia
- St. Louis, Missouri
- St. Charles, Illinois
- Santa Barbara, California
- Santa Monica, California
- San Miguel, California
- San Gabriel, California
- Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
- San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico
- San Francisco, California
- San Clemente, California
- Santa Clara, California
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
- San José, California
- San Leandro, California
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Mount St. Helens, Washington
- Santa Catalina Island, California
- Saint-Tropez, France
- San Isabel, Colorado
- St. Lawrence Ruver, Canada
- Santa Ynez, California
- St. Simons Island, Georgia
- San Diego, California
- Espiritu Santo, Brazil
- Padre Island, Texas
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Santa Cruz, California
- Joshua, Texas
- Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado
- Mont Saint-Michel, France
- St. Petersburg, Florida or Russia (take your pick)
- Saint Martin (island in the West Indies)
- Saint Kitts (island in the West Indies)
- Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada
- Port St. Lucie, Florida
- St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon (a French Overseas Collectivity near Newfoundland and Labrador)
- Santa Gertrudis (towns in the Mexican states of Coahuila, Chihuahua, Oaxaca, and Vera Cruz; also a breed of cattle)
- San Saba, Texas
- Santa Rosa, California
- Christchurch, New Zealand
What lists have been waiting to spring to your mind?
Friday, August 7, 2020
Bloggia est omnis divisa in partes tres*
According to one source, the "seven deadly sins" (also called the "seven cardinal vices") are lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride.
Their opposites, the "seven cardinal virtues", are chastity, temperance, charity (or generosity), diligence, patience, gratitude, and humility.
Why bring these up now?, you may ask.
I'll tell you why.
Because we need less of the first list and more of the second in our world today, that's why.
Here are 14 Latin words: humilitas, luxuria, gratia, gula, patientia, avaritia, industria, acedia, caritas, ira, moderatio, invidia, superbia, castitas.
Can you match the Latin words with their English equivalents in the two lists?
*Note. The three parts into which my blog is divided -- I can't speak for other blogs -- are the facts, the fun, and the frustration. You heard it here first.
My personal frustration at the moment is that since New Blogger came along I have lost the ability to insert a photograph into a post. All helpful hints will be appreciated.
Their opposites, the "seven cardinal virtues", are chastity, temperance, charity (or generosity), diligence, patience, gratitude, and humility.
Why bring these up now?, you may ask.
I'll tell you why.
Because we need less of the first list and more of the second in our world today, that's why.
Here are 14 Latin words: humilitas, luxuria, gratia, gula, patientia, avaritia, industria, acedia, caritas, ira, moderatio, invidia, superbia, castitas.
Can you match the Latin words with their English equivalents in the two lists?
*Note. The three parts into which my blog is divided -- I can't speak for other blogs -- are the facts, the fun, and the frustration. You heard it here first.
My personal frustration at the moment is that since New Blogger came along I have lost the ability to insert a photograph into a post. All helpful hints will be appreciated.
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
If it’s Tuesday, it is time for another post
...so here it is.
The fact that your correspondent has absolutely nothing to say is beside the point.
The fact that his brain has been slowly turning to mush during these endless months of inactivity due to pandemic-caused quarantines/shelters in place/lockdowns/ever-changing new normals is of no consequence whatsoever.
The fact that the only thing in this post with which some of you might disagree is the word slowly means nothing in the greater scheme of things.
It is Tuesday (except where it's Wednesday), and it is time for another post.
The fact that your correspondent has absolutely nothing to say is beside the point.
The fact that his brain has been slowly turning to mush during these endless months of inactivity due to pandemic-caused quarantines/shelters in place/lockdowns/ever-changing new normals is of no consequence whatsoever.
The fact that the only thing in this post with which some of you might disagree is the word slowly means nothing in the greater scheme of things.
It is Tuesday (except where it's Wednesday), and it is time for another post.
Saturday, August 1, 2020
He ain't heavy, Father, he's my chicken
(Editor's note: The following meme is not original with me. It appeared for the umpteenth time today on Facebook so I decided to capture it and make it available to you. Why should I be the only one to suffer? It is supposed to make you laugh, or at least smile, or nod your head knowingly. This will be easier to do if you live in the United States. If you do not live in the United States, I can only hope that you recognize some of the individuals and then laugh, or at least smile, or nod your head knowingly. --RWP)
Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?
DONALD TRUMP: I've been told by many sources, good sources -- they're very good sources -- that the chicken crossed the road. All the Fake News wants to do is write nasty things about the road, but it's a really good road. It's a beautiful road. Everyone knows how beautiful it is.
JOE BIDEN: Why did the chicken do the...thing in the...you know the rest.
SARAH PALIN: The chicken crossed the road because gosh-darn it, he's a maverick!
BARACK OBAMA: Let me be perfectly clear, if the chickens like their eggs they can keep their eggs. No chicken will be required to cross the road to surrender her eggs. Period.
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ: Chickens should not be forced to lay eggs! This is because of corporate greed! Eggs should be able to lay themselves.
JOHN McCAIN: My friends, the chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.
HILLARY CLINTON: What difference at this point does it make why the chicken crossed the road?
GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road or not. The chicken is either with us or against us. There is no middle ground here.
DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?
BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken.
AL GORE: I invented the chicken.
JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.
AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white?
DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he is acting by not taking on his current problems before adding any new problems.
OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross the road so badly. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a NEW CAR so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.
ANDERSON COOPER: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.
NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.
PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.
MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way the chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price droped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.
DR. SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.
ENEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone.
KING DAVID: O Lord, why dost the chicken cross the road And why art the chicken hawks beset around it? Surely in vain the road is crossed in the sight of any predator.
GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough for us.
BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart-warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road.
ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.
BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken2020, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents and balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken2020. This new platform is much more stable and will never reboot.
ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?
COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?
Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?
DONALD TRUMP: I've been told by many sources, good sources -- they're very good sources -- that the chicken crossed the road. All the Fake News wants to do is write nasty things about the road, but it's a really good road. It's a beautiful road. Everyone knows how beautiful it is.
JOE BIDEN: Why did the chicken do the...thing in the...you know the rest.
SARAH PALIN: The chicken crossed the road because gosh-darn it, he's a maverick!
BARACK OBAMA: Let me be perfectly clear, if the chickens like their eggs they can keep their eggs. No chicken will be required to cross the road to surrender her eggs. Period.
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ: Chickens should not be forced to lay eggs! This is because of corporate greed! Eggs should be able to lay themselves.
JOHN McCAIN: My friends, the chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.
HILLARY CLINTON: What difference at this point does it make why the chicken crossed the road?
GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road or not. The chicken is either with us or against us. There is no middle ground here.
DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?
BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken.
AL GORE: I invented the chicken.
JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.
AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white?
DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he is acting by not taking on his current problems before adding any new problems.
OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross the road so badly. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a NEW CAR so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.
ANDERSON COOPER: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.
NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.
PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.
MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way the chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price droped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.
DR. SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.
ENEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone.
KING DAVID: O Lord, why dost the chicken cross the road And why art the chicken hawks beset around it? Surely in vain the road is crossed in the sight of any predator.
GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough for us.
BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart-warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road.
ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.
BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken2020, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents and balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken2020. This new platform is much more stable and will never reboot.
ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?
COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?
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