Freethought & Rationalism Archive

ecco · 01-25-2002, 07:14 AM

What are the odds that in a televised doubles tennis match a bird would fly across the court just as a ball was being hit across the net. What are the odds that the bird would be flying at exactly the same height off the court as the ball. What are the odds that the bird and the ball would come to occupy the same exact space at the same exact time? It was replayed on a local sports show last nigh�in slow motion. The bird did not survive.

Mageth · 01-25-2002, 07:21 AM

Randy Johnson pegged a fast-flying bird with a fastball last year, IIRC. The bird went out in a puff of feathers.

What is the probability of that happening? 1.0, since it happened.

Baloo · 01-25-2002, 08:40 AM

My "miraculous" story...

No exaggerations, no added detail, this story is by far one of my favorite to tell. The setting: Four college frineds and I are packed into a car, on our way to get a bite at Wendy's. As we get to the street where we would have taken a left to get to Wendy's, I realized I needed to stop at my bank for some cash. So I spoke up at the last second, and told Murdock, the driver, to take a right instead. There were groans all around, but nobody wanted to cover my lunch, so we took a right.

Sure enough, we get over a crest of a hill, only to see a slow, lumbering freight train crossing the road. I'm sure you don't need my words to imagine how much sh*t everyone started dishing out at me... Out of desparation, and because I enjoy messing with people's minds, I said, "Don't worry guys, there's only 12 cars left" (the setting was such that you could only see two cars back). With nothing better to do, we all started counting aloud... 12... 11... 10... and, I shit you not, no adjustments necessary, no "almosts" or "off-by-ones" about it, our count reached "1" on the final car of the train. A stunned silence ensued, made all the more amusing by my acting totally and utterly unsurprised by the event. "See," I said calmly, as though nothing remarkable had just happened, "what did I tell you?".

Of course, only I knew that I had pulled the guess straight out of my ass, and I also knew that the incident would have been quickly forgotten, were my guess wrong. However, because I faked so much unwavering certainty, and such lack of surprise at being right, I'm proud to say that I gave those four guys one of the best mind-f*cks ever.

Mageth · 01-25-2002, 08:53 AM

I was flyfishing one day on the Pedernales River(pronounced, in texanese, "per-duh-nal-es") last summer. I waded out into some still water. A few minutes later, I reached to my pants pocket to get my water bottle, when, to my despair, I discovered it had floated out of my pocket and down the river. I looked for it in vain, but couldn't find it.

Fifteen later I walked downstream a few hundred yards and stepped out to a small rock a few feet from the bank. I fished for a bit, then looked upstream and saw a bottle bobbing in the current. The damn thing kept coming, turned towards me, and floated RIGHT UP TO THE BASE OF THE ROCK I WAS FISHING ON AND STOPPED. It was my water bottle.

Definitely proof that there is a god! Or perhaps that water bottles are sentient.

StrongMan · 01-25-2002, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by beekay:
<strong> My wife takes a story like that as evidence for a God. I can't really refute this convincingly hmmmmmmmmmm

</strong>

You mean this is the best that God could do? Not very convincing.

MortalWombat · 01-25-2002, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Darwin's Finch:
<strong>. We even share the same first name. </strong>

Imagine that, two people named Darwin's.

Darwin's Finch · 01-25-2002, 01:32 PM

I know. My parents thought they were being original.

moonshadow · 01-26-2002, 03:00 AM

One time as a child I was doing some offshore fishing with my brother using some heavy sea rods. Woops my brother lost his grip and cast the whole damn rod into the ocean. I non-chalantly proclaimed that I'd get it back. I proceeded to walk about twenty or so feet in the direction that the current usually pushes things. One cast, and I hooked the foam-like handle at the very edge. I wasn't surprised. I knew of offshore currents as I spent most of my life on the beach. Coincidence? No way, I was just smart enough to act before the tide carried it out too far. <SEG>

First post.

Marduk · 01-26-2002, 06:44 AM

My one friends little brother was asking endless dumb questions, after awhile my two friends were getting sick of it and he asked one more "how many....(I forget what) but both of my friends said at exactly the same time 476,192!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

01-25-2002, 07:14 AM	#21
ecco Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: SE Posts: 4,845	What are the odds that in a televised doubles tennis match a bird would fly across the court just as a ball was being hit across the net. What are the odds that the bird would be flying at exactly the same height off the court as the ball. What are the odds that the bird and the ball would come to occupy the same exact space at the same exact time? It was replayed on a local sports show last nigh�in slow motion. The bird did not survive.

01-25-2002, 07:21 AM	#22
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Randy Johnson pegged a fast-flying bird with a fastball last year, IIRC. The bird went out in a puff of feathers. What is the probability of that happening? 1.0, since it happened.

01-25-2002, 08:40 AM	#23
Baloo Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 417	My "miraculous" story... No exaggerations, no added detail, this story is by far one of my favorite to tell. The setting: Four college frineds and I are packed into a car, on our way to get a bite at Wendy's. As we get to the street where we would have taken a left to get to Wendy's, I realized I needed to stop at my bank for some cash. So I spoke up at the last second, and told Murdock, the driver, to take a right instead. There were groans all around, but nobody wanted to cover my lunch, so we took a right. Sure enough, we get over a crest of a hill, only to see a slow, lumbering freight train crossing the road. I'm sure you don't need my words to imagine how much sht everyone started dishing out at me... Out of desparation, and because I enjoy messing with people's minds, I said, "Don't worry guys, there's only 12 cars left" (the setting was such that you could only see two cars back). With nothing better to do, we all started counting aloud... 12... 11... 10... and, I shit you not, no adjustments necessary, no "almosts" or "off-by-ones" about it, our count reached "1" on the final car of the train. A stunned silence ensued, made all the more amusing by my acting totally and utterly unsurprised by the event. "See," I said calmly, as though nothing remarkable had just happened, "what did I tell you?". Of course, only I knew that I had pulled the guess straight out of my ass, and I also knew that the incident would have been quickly forgotten, were my guess wrong. However, because I faked so much unwavering certainty, and such lack of surprise at being right, I'm proud to say that I gave those four guys one of the best mind-fcks ever.

01-25-2002, 08:53 AM	#24
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	I was flyfishing one day on the Pedernales River(pronounced, in texanese, "per-duh-nal-es") last summer. I waded out into some still water. A few minutes later, I reached to my pants pocket to get my water bottle, when, to my despair, I discovered it had floated out of my pocket and down the river. I looked for it in vain, but couldn't find it. Fifteen later I walked downstream a few hundred yards and stepped out to a small rock a few feet from the bank. I fished for a bit, then looked upstream and saw a bottle bobbing in the current. The damn thing kept coming, turned towards me, and floated RIGHT UP TO THE BASE OF THE ROCK I WAS FISHING ON AND STOPPED. It was my water bottle. Definitely proof that there is a god! Or perhaps that water bottles are sentient.

01-25-2002, 01:32 PM	#27
Darwin's Finch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Gardnerville, NV Posts: 666	I know. My parents thought they were being original.

01-26-2002, 03:00 AM	#28
moonshadow New Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: occupying my own space/time Posts: 1	One time as a child I was doing some offshore fishing with my brother using some heavy sea rods. Woops my brother lost his grip and cast the whole damn rod into the ocean. I non-chalantly proclaimed that I'd get it back. I proceeded to walk about twenty or so feet in the direction that the current usually pushes things. One cast, and I hooked the foam-like handle at the very edge. I wasn't surprised. I knew of offshore currents as I spent most of my life on the beach. Coincidence? No way, I was just smart enough to act before the tide carried it out too far. <SEG> First post.

01-26-2002, 06:44 AM	#29
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	My one friends little brother was asking endless dumb questions, after awhile my two friends were getting sick of it and he asked one more "how many....(I forget what) but both of my friends said at exactly the same time 476,192!

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.