Archive for the ‘Fun’ Category

Much Ado About Nothing

I disagree that “if you give an infinite number of monkey an infinite number of typewriters, they will eventually produce the works of Shakespeare.”

The statement is meant to demonstrate something about randomness. I disagree with the statement though, because monkeys are not random. They will mostly just bang on the same set of keys and repeat the same sequences. If you give them enough time, eventually they’ll produce the same stuff they produced at the beginning, and none of it will be even close to sensible.

If you had an infinite number of random-letter generators, eventually they might produce the works of Shakespeare. I can’t say that I disagree with that, but I still find the whole concept useless. I don’t know why I am even writing about this topic. I am tempted to write something to relate this statement to something relevant, such as “If you give an infinite number of politicians an infinite number of typewriters, eventually they’ll balance the budget.” or “If you give an infinite number of bloggers an infinite number of websites, eventually they’ll accomplish something.”, but nothing good comes to mind, so I’ll refrain.

There may be some who want to use the monkey theorem to say that given enough time, anything can be produced from randomness. I contend that although that may be the case mathematically, in the real world things are not so random.

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!
You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field,
The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!”
– Psalm 8:3-9

It is Reigning Cats Out There

Ten Reasons Why Cats are Better Than Dogs

  1. Cats do not jump up and put their muddy paws on me.
  2. Cats do not try to lick me.
  3. Noisy neighborhood cats do not wake me up.
  4. Homeowners insurance questionnaires don’t ask you if you have a cat.
  5. Cats can catch their own food and feed themselves.
  6. Cats do not put their noses in inappropriate places.
  7. You can leave a cat for the weekend.
  8. If someone’s large cat starts chasing me when I’m out for a jog, I do not have to worry.
  9. Cats can take care of their own potty needs – no need for you to let them outside.
  10. “Wet cat” is not that bad a smell.

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
– Matthew 7:6

Traverse City Zoo Rules

A couple of summers ago, we went to the Traverse City Zoo.

Here is a picture, which makes clear how you are not to treat the animals.

Zoo Sign

It says, “Please do not aggravate, agitate, annoy, badger, besiege, bother, discombobulate , disturb, distract, disrupt, feed, grate, heckle, harass, harry, irk, molest, persecute, perturb, pester, plague, ruffle, tease, torment, touch, unsettle, upset, vex or worry the animals”

“For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine.”
– Psalm 50:10-11