Awesome ads for Stihl out of Australia from the very talented team at WhybinTBWATequila.
The number of possible unique chess games is much greater than the number of electrons in the universe. The number of electrons is estimated to be about 10^79, while the number of unique chess games is 10^120. The longest chess game theoretically possible is 5,949 moves.
“
| — | If this is true, mind will be splattered. |
The most skilled artisan in the sultanate presented the Sultan with a fabulously beautiful chessboard, intricately made with carved ivory, rare woods, and precious stones. It was so exquisite the Sultan offered the Artisan whatever price he named.
The Artisan asked for one grain of rice. The Sultan was shocked. The Artisan continued – one grain of rice for the first square on the chessboard; one day later, two grains for the second square; two days later, four grains for the third, and the same simple doubling for the remainder of the 64 squares on the chessboard.
Laughing, the Sultan agreed. “So I am to pay you a few grains of rice for all your wondrous work?” he asked. “It is sufficient for me, Your Majesty,” was the Artisan’s reply.
The Sultan directed his Treasurer to award the Artisan one grain of rice that day, a second grain tomorrow, and additional grains daily according to the Artisan’s wish. The Artisan received his single grain gratefully, departed, and the Sultan forgot about him as he enjoyed playing against his courtiers (who always lost) with his chessboard.
Dutifully, the Artisan showed up at the Treasurer’s office every day to receive his meager award of rice. On the 12th day, he received about two handfuls – 2,048 to be exact – and ignored the Treasurer’s sneer.
The sneer was still there on the 16th day, when he received little more than a single pound of rice[1]. By the 21st day, the sneer was gone, replaced with a curious frown, for the Treasurer had to give the Artisan 35 pounds of rice – over a million grains. By the 24th day, the frown was replaced by worry – for the Artisan received 280 pounds of rice.
Two days later – the 26th – the look was fear and panic, for the Artisan had come for over one thousand pounds of rice. The Treasurer had, days ago, switched from counting in grains to pounds – and now realized that soon the Artisan would be owed all the rice in the entire sultanate.
“This cannot go on,” he told the Artisan. “Tomorrow it will be 2,000 pounds.” “2,200,” the Artisan corrected him. The Treasurer continued. “That means four days from now, the 30th day, it will be almost 18,000 pounds. This must stop.”
“But by the 30th day,” the Artisan objected, “we haven’t even reached the second half of the chessboard.” Then he smiled. “That’s when it gets really interesting.”
“What do you mean?” asked the now-sweating Treasurer.
“Have you ever seen a bird flying low to the ground and getting a little bit higher and a little bit higher as he flies, then suddenly he starts to fly straight up? Well, my little rice bird has been flying low, and starting to get higher and higher so you’ll owe me 2,200 pounds tomorrow, 17,600 pounds in four days, and over 70,000 when we reach half the chessboard in six days – which will be over two billion grains of rice, by the way.
“But, Mr. Treasurer, we’re just getting started. Two billion? That’s nothing. By the 41st day – 15 days from now – you’ll owe me 365,000 more pounds of rice than the 1,000 you owe me today, or over one trillion grains of rice.
“By then, my little rice bird has only begun to fly straight up. By the 51st day – just 25 days from now – you and the Sultan will owe me 379 million pounds of rice, just for that month [that day, actually]! That’s over one quadrillion grains of rice.
“By the time my little rice bird reaches the 64th square, she’ll be in far outer space – for you and the Sultan will owe me three quadrillion pounds of rice, or 9 quintillion grains – more rice than there has been or ever will be in the world. Not bad starting out with that one single grain you laughed at two months or so before.”
The Treasurer fainted. When he awoke, the Artisan was gone. So he went to explain things to the Sultan – who had him immediately beheaded. Then the Sultan called for the Artisan. “My heart says I should execute you as I did that stupid treasurer,” said the Sultan, “but my head says I should have someone as smart as you to take his place.”
The Artisan accepted so quickly and calmly it was as if this was what he expected all along.
Source: http://rakkav.wordpress.com/2010/04/09/rice-on-the-chessboard/
Darling, if you want to talk bollocks and discover the meaning of life you’re better off just downing a bottle of whisky. At least that way you’re unconscious by the time you start to take yourself seriously…
Absolutely Fabulous promotional shots :: via starpulse.com
AbFab - my no-longer secret guilty pleasure.
First of a two-part shoot for Rhiannon Higgins’ contemporary jewelry project. She makes one-of-a-kind pieces that are so wonderful to the touch that I could not resist sneaking up to the brooch table and feeling all the different glazes, leathers, silicons and latexes melt into my fingertips.
This particular piece - a glossy-glazed bone china necklace tied with hemp cord - is “about the burden of beauty. The necklace is so long it challenges its wearability, which is an analogy of what women put themselves through in order to fit into the aesthetic demands of their society.”
Model: Rosie Atkinson
Being twenty and feeling your own inexperience bear down upon you is a feeling I would like to get through with a speedy-boarding pass. Except there is no such thing (the pass, not the feeling unfortunately). It seems very much akin to navigating in an underground cavern with no map and less light. Lots of stony, sharp walls and snarling little critters chewing at your ankles. Worst of all, you have a sneaking suspicion that you’re the only idiot to not have received the map, and everyone has exited triumphantly and are now frolicking in the Greater Pastures of Glory.
A clumsy affair, navigating this tricky period in life. Like confused cattle, ending up stamped with a sell-by date and a trip to the slaughterhouse…
Before I baffle myself with my own BS (pardon the language), I will say goodnight, and may everyone enjoy the light if they’ve found it!
“If you maintain this speed, you could read Leo Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’ in 4h 20mins, ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ in 34mins, ‘Lord of the Rings’ in 3h 31mins, the Bible in 5h 44mins.”
Now if only one could make my memory 805% more efficient, there would be no stopping me.
http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/technology-research-centers/ereaders/speed-reader/
