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Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:40 pm
by Cynthia Wenslow
Got GUT, Randy? :)

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:10 am
by Paul Winalski
Maybe it's a sort of inverse-Heisenberg uncertainty. There are some models of Quantum Mechanics that say a system exists in an uncertain state until an observer comes along, at which point the system resolves into the single state that's observed.

Pots of water seem to behave in the opposite manner. They're in an indeterminate state--about to boil, but not quite there yet--as long as they're observed. Then, the minute you take your eye off them, they snap into the Murphy state--boiling over in the messiest manner possible.

-Paul W.

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:47 am
by Cynthia Wenslow
Between this and the Lucas thing, you are completely cracking me up tonight, Paul! :D

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 2:21 pm
by Thomas
And where does the other sock go after the laundry dries?

Paul's attempt to explain, though admirable, is futile. Only the god of boils knows about the water boil and only the god of pedals knows how many more socks he needs to make a complete set ;)

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 8:37 pm
by Paul Winalski
Thomas wrote:Paul's attempt to explain, though admirable, is futile. Only the god of boils knows about the water boil and only the god of pedals knows how many more socks he needs to make a complete set ;)


Perhaps this is what the Biblical plague of boils was really all about: "for several days all of the Egyptians' pasta pots boiled over unexpectedly, and yea, a great mess was created in kitchens across the land, and the air filled with the smell of burning starch, and the sound of cooks wailing, gnashing their teeth, and rending their garments...."

-Paul W.

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:41 am
by Thomas
Paul Winalski wrote:
Thomas wrote:Paul's attempt to explain, though admirable, is futile. Only the god of boils knows about the water boil and only the god of pedals knows how many more socks he needs to make a complete set ;)


Perhaps this is what the Biblical plague of boils was really all about: "for several days all of the Egyptians' pasta pots boiled over unexpectedly, and yea, a great mess was created in kitchens across the land, and the air filled with the smell of burning starch, and the sound of cooks wailing, nashing their teeth, and rending their garments...."

-Paul W.


That's the story that never got told...

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:23 pm
by TimMc
A watched pot never boils.

Wives' tale.

:wink:

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:30 pm
by Paul Winalski
TimMc wrote:A watched pot never boils.

Wives' tale.

:wink:


Old wives' tails can now be successfully corrected via surgery.

-Paul W.

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:36 am
by Thomas
Paul Winalski wrote:
TimMc wrote:A watched pot never boils.

Wives' tale.

:wink:


Old wives' tails can now be successfully corrected via surgery.

-Paul W.


...and then you can boil them--trouble, bubble and all that...

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:52 am
by Larry Greenly
As Shakespeare said, "Bubble, bubble, toilet trouble," or something like that.

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:36 pm
by TimMc
Paul Winalski wrote:
TimMc wrote:A watched pot never boils.

Wives' tale.

:wink:


Old wives' tails can now be successfully corrected via surgery.

-Paul W.


You know I've heard that.

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:37 pm
by TimMc
Larry Greenly wrote:As Shakespeare said, "Bubble, bubble, toilet trouble," or something like that.


"Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble."

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair."

-William Shakespeare


English teacher here :)

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:42 pm
by Paul Winalski
Paul Winalski wrote:Maybe it's a sort of inverse-Heisenberg uncertainty.


A couple of observations along this line:

* * *

My brother saw this scrawled on the bathroom wall in the bathroom in our college's Physics building: "Heisenberg may have been here."


* * *

Werner Heisenberg got stopped by a cop for speeding.

"You were going really fast," said the cop.

"If that's true, then where am I?" said Heisenberg.


-Paul W.

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:51 pm
by TimMc
"False face must hide what the false heart doth know."

Wm. Shakespeare

Re: I know a watched pot never boils

PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:11 am
by Larry Greenly
TimMc wrote:
Larry Greenly wrote:As Shakespeare said, "Bubble, bubble, toilet trouble," or something like that.


"Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble."

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair."

-William Shakespeare


English teacher here :)


I was referring to Mr. Shakespeare, the plumber.