h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

That wasn't Google, that was memory.


Geggs

I rather suspect it was Pratchett, myself.

B

I'm sure Xeno's paradoxes came up in my 'History of Mathematics' lectures at Uni.

Or was it Zeno? I thought Zeno was the Discworld version.


Geggs

Wrong way round.

You may, may just be heading along the right rails, though.

B

Well, that slight mistake proves it was memory. Fallibility, y'see. To err is human.


Geggs

OK - Zeno's paradox is about slicing things up; Achilles never catches the tortoise because the tortoise has always moved a bit more before Achilles reaches him. Achilles runs 10 times as fast as the tortoise - the tortoise is 100 yards ahead.
By the time Achilles has run 100 yards the tortoise has run 10. By the time he's run 10 the tortoise has run 1. By the time he's run 1 the toroise has run 10th, etc. The fallacy is that time is segmented between the two, in reality Achilles breezes past the tortoise.

What any of this has to do with the parachute jump I don't know.

Well, the ankle has got an achilles tendon, so I'd say you're definitely on to a winner there, McKay.

The answer is right there, in front of your face. Nothing to do with Achilles.

Does the name Epimenides ring any bells?

B

Yes Epimendes Paradox - "All Cretans are liars" - therefore as Epimendes is a Cretan if he is telling the truth he breaks his own statement, but if he is lying his statement is worthless anyway.

However I'm not seeing it as the satement comes from outside the group - the ambulance driver - and includes the exception - bar one.

But that doesn't apply to Private Parts' statement, as he says "They're all liars!" rather than "We're all liars!"

Hmmm. Rumination continues.


Geggs

I think I'd ask one of the proven liars whether or not Private Parts is the honest doc. If he said yes, Major Jump would be my man - if he said no, I'd hold on to Private Parts...

Oh Jeezus christ.

Wish I'd never started this now.

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What are the occupations of these soldiers?

Why might you be taken to a military hospital while skydiving?

Why does one soldier's testimony defy the logic of everyone else?

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Technically, TECHNICALLY, I've already heard the correct answer at least three times...

B

Okay, you've landed in an army base? You are in the military yourself? Is it the same country's military as that of the doctors?


Geggs

There's no xenophobia involved, despite earlier mention of Xeno.

What do we call soldiers who jump out of planes? What might their medics be called? **sigh**

B

Paratroopers?


Geggs

Or, for short?

B

Paras.


Geggs

Who would, presumably, have paramedics. Who would be in the ambulance rather than the hospital.


Geggs

I'm glad I threw in the towel early, because I've never heard of paratroopers being referred to as "paras" for short. No amount of creative thinking would help to span a cultural gap.

Oh, well.

Let's try replacing 'paramedics' with some sort of synonym, shall we?

B