Miracle and mystery, self-denial, public space and dog shit

A mind that preaches conception, birth and life to be a miracle holds death to be a mystery.

I have thought long and hard what to give up for lent this year and concluded that it only makes sense to give up something I tell myself I can’t live without. I can’t live without self-denial. So, I’ve given it up the better to fully experience its absence.

 

Here is a tip for putting together a jigsaw puzzle featuring a cityscape: if there is a piece showing a public space with a blank in it, somewhere in the pile there is a piece with dog shit on it and the corresponding tab.

 

A Concise Introduction to Logic, Patrick J. Hurley, Wadsworth, 2006, 9th ed,. 8.7, II, 20, p. 448

 

1.     (x)[Fx ⊃ (Gx • x = n)] 2.     Gn ⊃ (∃x)(Hx • x = e) ∴ Fm ⊃ He 3.     Fm 4.     Fm ⊃ (Gm • m = n) 5.     Gm • m = n 6.     Gm 7.     m = n • Gm 8.     m = n 9.     Gn 10. (∃x)(Hx • x = e) 11. Hr • r = e 12. Hr 13. r = e • Hr 14. r = e 15. He 16. Fm ⊃ He

ACP 1 UI 3,4 MP 5 Simp 5 Com 7 Simp 6,8 Id 2,9 MP 10 EI 11 Simp 11 Com 13 Simp 12,14 Id 3-15 CP

Ski jumping, running, urban cycling

What has stopped me from getting TV all my life is a well-founded suspicion that there is ski jumping inside it.

When svelte silhouettes come running past me every day I take bets with myself on which is running after the prey and which away from the hunter. My idea of making a living is low-hanging fruit and what the river washes up.

 

The punishment should fit the crime. Example of good legislation: Urban cycling offences to carry a sentence of having to watch snooker championships in slow motion on TV while serving time in solitary confinement.

A Concise Introduction to Logic, Patrick J. Hurley, Wadsworth, 2006, 9th ed,. 8.7, II, 18, p. 447

 

1.     (x)[Ex ⊃ (Hp • x = e)] 2.     (∃x)(Ex • x = p) ∴ He 3.     Em • m = p 4.     Em ⊃ (Hp • m = e) 5.     Em 6.     Hp • m = e 7.     m = e • Hp 8.     m = e 9.     m = p • Em 10. m = p 11. p = m 12. p = e 13. Hp 14. He

2 EI 1 UI 3 Simp 4,5 MP 6 Com 7 Simp 3 Com 9 Simp 10 Id 10,11 Id 6 Simp 12,13 Id

Opinions, facts

Opinion – a statement such as, ‘In my view the earth is round,’ whereas ‘The earth is round,’ is just a quotation.

Opinion – an unnecessary adornment to the life of facts

 

Opinions – placeholders for facts of which some people have more than others and which, with some people, is all they have

 

Facts – placeholder fillers (see above) which, depending on their shape and the shape of the placeholders, either fill the placeholders flush with the sides and edges or rattle around when the placeholder is shaken

A Concise Introduction to Logic, Patrick J. Hurley, Wadsworth, 2006, 9th ed,. 8.7, II, 17, p. 447

 

1.     (x)(Fx ⊃ x = e) 2.     (∃x)(Fx • x = a) ∴ a = e 3.     Fm • m = a 4.     Fm ⊃ m = e 5.     Fm 6.     m = e 7.     e = m 8.     m = a • Fm 9.     m = a 10. e = a 11. a = e

2 EI 1 UI 3 Simp 4,5 MP 6 Id 3 Com 8 Simp 6,9 Id 10 Id

January, cemetery, learning

January – a month in which the opening balance in the annual happiness ledger includes plans, expectations and resolutions on the side of Assets, warnings, fears and doubts on the side of Liabilities, and an absolute zilch under Equity.

Cemetery – the last refuge for a man looking for somewhere where he can walk without constantly having to look over his shoulder. No urban cyclists.

 

Learning – a hugely expensive process involving upturning stones and discovering woodlice 

A Concise Introduction to Logic, Patrick J. Hurley, Wadsworth, 2006, 9th ed,. 8.7, II, 15, p. 447

 

1.     (x)(Rax ⊃ ~ Rxc) 2.     (x)Rxx ∴ c ≠ a 3.     c = a 4.     Raa 5.     Raa ⊃ ~ Rac 6.     ~ Rac 7.     ~ Raa 8.     Raa • ~ Raa 9.     c ≠ a

AIP 2 UI 1 UI 4,5 MP 3,6 Id 4,7 Conj 3-8 IP

Perfection, communication and persuasion, Christmas and fish

I don’t expect perfection in life. I always manage my hopes downwards. But why can’t manufacturers of bath mixer taps include the sweet spot between the water being too hot and not hot enough?

The difference between communication and persuasion is telling people that there will be enough vaccine to go round for everyone who wants to get vaccinated and saying that some people must go without because demand exceeds supply.

 

It’s no accident that fish is eaten during Christmas in many countries – you believe it is good for you but you can never relax until you’ve swallowed the last mouthful.

A Concise Introduction to Logic, Patrick J. Hurley, Wadsworth, 2006, 9th ed,. 8.7, II, 14, p. 447

 

1.     (∃x)Gx ⊃ (∃x)(Kx • x =i) ∴ Gn ⊃ Ki 2.     Gn 3.     (∃x)Gx 4.     (∃x)(Kx • x =i) 5.     Kr • r = i 6.     Kr 7.     r = i • Kr 8.     r = i 9.     Ki 10. Gn ⊃ Ki

ACP 2 EG 1,3 MP 4 EI 5 Sim 5 Com 7 Sim 6,8 Id 2-9 CP