The last several quotes and observations are oh, so true. Jonathan Swift was always a first rate observer and satirist, and Washington Irving was far more than the writer of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Thanks, badenwurtca.
Chess for Oldtimers --- Good Idea !
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Badenwurtca: What's with that name, anyway? Baden Wuerttemberg Canada? I ask especially since I've lived in both places, in Blaubeuren and Toronto, Winnipeg, and Ottawa.
Jul 29, 2018
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#2024
Any discussion about stages in life reminds me of one of my favorite "modern philosophers," Jack Handey, whose "Deep Thoughts" about life were featured on episodes of "Saturday Night Live" back in the 1990's. I think these three quotes are among his deepest thoughts:
Whether they live in an igloo, or a grass shack, or a mud hut, people around the world all want the same thing: a better house.
There are many stages to a man's life. In the first stage, he is young and eager, like a beaver. In the second stage, he wants to build things, like dams, and maybe chew down some trees. In the third stage, he feels trapped, and then "skinned.'' I'm not sure what the fourth stage is.
Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: mankind. Basically, it's made up of two separate words - "mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
yeah, jack handey! one of my favorites was when he described someone throwing a dummy (mannequin) off the top of a building. a passerby should take it, 'cause, hey, free dummy.
Jul 30, 2018
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#2026
Fascinating! The way you remembered the Handey quote, Al, (it's the first one I ever saw on SNL) was with a different set-up, but your version still works, because it has the same punchline. Somehow, those last four words are just plain funny.
Here's the original: "If you ever fall off the Sears Tower, just go real limp, because maybe you’ll look like a dummy and people will try to catch you because, hey, free dummy."
(After these 5 more quotes, I promise I'll quit.)
Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful, beautiful flamingo, flying across in front of a beautiful sunset? And he's carrying a beautiful rose in his beak, and also he's carrying a very beautiful painting with his feet. And also, you're drunk.
Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis.
I think the mistake a lot of us make is thinking the state-appointed psychiatrist is our “friend.”
I hope that after I die, people will say of me: “That guy sure owed me a lot of money."
If you ever crawl inside a hollow log and you go to sleep and while you’re in there some guys come and seal up both ends and then put it on a truck and take it to another city, boy, I don’t know what to tell you.
↑ deep thoughts by baddy!
mil, thanks for the correction. you are absolutely right about the last four words!
Aug 5, 2018
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#2031
I recently came across a funny little item from Thomas Sowell: " Once I realised how expensive funerals are, I began to exercise and watch my diet ".
Aug 5, 2018
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#2032
AlCzervik wrote:
↑ deep thoughts by baddy!
--- Thanks for the kind thought Sir, however I'm reminded of the fact that the Cess-Pools at the local Sewage-Farm are also Very Deep ( and we all know what they contain lol ).
i think old chess players have a lower risk of getting dementia
Aug 7, 2018
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#2034
badenwurtca wrote:
I recently came across a funny little item from Thomas Sowell: " Once I realised how expensive funerals are, I began to exercise and watch my diet ".
I've read more than a few of Thomas Sowell's books; he is a man of wisdom and insight. I didn't realize he had a witty streak too.
Aug 12, 2018
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#2036
Here's a confounding variable in exploring the "More Chess ➞ Less Dementia" hypothesis:
Chess players tend to be "smarter than the average bear." Smart people have more skills and resources (e.g., extensive vocabularies) with which to compensate, so as to escape detection in the early stages of dementia. They (OK, forget false modesty -- We) can fool friends and family members and doctors, and even, to some extent, neurological tests designed to detect dementia itself.
But then, operationally speaking, does a high-functioning mildly demented smart person really even "have" a handicap? I like to think not. But then of course, I like to think a lot of things.... 
Aug 12, 2018
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#2038
I'd say "Repeat what?" -- but that's such an obvious, old line.
(..... it is, isn't it? .....)
deep thoughts...
by mil!
You know you are getting on a bit when you know what KFC stands for and you remember when the Colonel was alive ( and when he used to do his own TV ads ).