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Groups > alt.folklore.computers > #219451
| From | Andy Walker <anw@cuboid.co.uk> |
|---|---|
| Newsgroups | alt.folklore.computers |
| Subject | Re: Windows 11 is now available |
| Date | 2021-10-10 01:29 +0100 |
| Organization | Not very much |
| Message-ID | <sjtc5d$1rc2$1@gioia.aioe.org> (permalink) |
| References | (3 earlier) <20211007102537.52834272c0e1627486cf1d77@127.0.0.1> <2808cbbc-2334-4e34-a76c-46eee98e7526n@googlegroups.com> <E9Q7J.29660$IO1.14122@fx19.iad> <20211008131315.8c35177ed405b7c338d43a31@127.0.0.1> <isenjiFl7dbU5@mid.individual.net> |
On 10/10/2021 00:40, Bob Eager wrote:
> Ah, but what's XLII - XLII?
That's a very modern [and quite sophisticated] question.
Bob [to an ancient Roman who happens to speak English]: "What is
xlii - ...."
Roman [interrupts]: "Que?"
Bob: "Ah, sorry, you don't have symbols yet. Let's try it in
words. You have xlii."
Roman: "xlii /what/?"
Bob: "It doesn't matter, it's just a number."
Roman: "Of course it matters! If you have xlii slaves, you're
wealthy, if xlii grains of corn, rather less so."
Bob: "OK, you have xlii sheep. A thief takes away xlii of them.
How many sheep do you have now?"
Roman: "Is this a trick question, like the man going to St Ives?
You don't now have any sheep, so the question has no answer."
Bob: "You don't know what the number of sheep is?"
Roman: "If you don't have any, then there is no such number. It's
nearly as daft as asking how many I have if the thief takes away
ccx of my xlii sheep. If you ask me what I own, then do you
expect me to list the things I have or the things I don't have?
I don't have any sheep, thanks to your thief, but I also don't
have any elephants, or any palaces or any bottles of whisky or
any Olympic medals or any lots of other things. Do you also want
me to tell you how much the elephants I don't have are worth? We
could be here for a very long time unless you ask more sensible
questions."
--
Andy Walker, Nottingham.
Andy's music pages: www.cuboid.me.uk/andy/Music
Composer of the day: www.cuboid.me.uk/andy/Music/Composers/Ravel
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Re: Windows 11 is now available "Kerr-Mudd, John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2021-10-07 10:25 +0100
Re: Windows 11 is now available Quadibloc <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca> - 2021-10-07 21:49 -0700
Re: Windows 11 is now available Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-08 04:53 +0000
Re: Windows 11 is now available "Kerr-Mudd, John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2021-10-08 13:13 +0100
Re: Windows 11 is now available Andy Walker <anw@cuboid.co.uk> - 2021-10-08 19:40 +0100
Re: Windows 11 is now available "Kerr-Mudd, John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2021-10-08 20:55 +0100
Re: Windows 11 is now available Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> - 2021-10-08 20:30 +0100
Re: Windows 11 is now available Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-09 08:15 +0000
Re: Windows 11 is now available "Kerr-Mudd, John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2021-10-09 11:37 +0100
Re: Windows 11 is now available Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-09 08:11 +0000
Re: Windows 11 is now available Bob Eager <news0009@eager.cx> - 2021-10-09 23:40 +0000
Re: Windows 11 is now available Andy Walker <anw@cuboid.co.uk> - 2021-10-10 01:29 +0100
Re: Windows 11 is now available Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2021-10-10 17:34 +0000
Re: Windows 11 is now available "Kerr-Mudd, John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2021-10-10 19:39 +0100
Re: Windows 11 is now available J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2021-10-09 20:45 -0400
Re: Windows 11 is now available Anne & Lynn Wheeler <lynn@garlic.com> - 2021-10-08 08:35 -1000
Re: Windows 11 is now available Anne & Lynn Wheeler <lynn@garlic.com> - 2021-10-08 11:57 -1000
Re: Windows 11 is now available Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-09 08:14 +0000
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