Our thousandth member!

[Caliban]

... I am delighted to welcome a new member!

But why do we think "a thousand" is significant? Why are we so curiously in hock to a decimal system that we choose to give 'significance' to the figure of 'a thousand'? - I am sure our 999th member was - and our 1001st member will be - just as 'significant' - and just as welcome ! .

.

Good old vindepaysd'hock !! Vin, did your pulse never quicken as a lad, as the mileometer in the family Silver Ghost ticked up through the 900s... to clock over in a joyous burst of zeros to the clear blue sky of a new '1,000' or '10,000' ? Mine did (except it was a Morris Minor)

Perhaps your youthful eyes were glued to your illustrated volume of Montesquieu instead



Welcome to Pearce in any event!

[vinteuil]

Vin, did your pulse never quicken as a lad, as the mileometer in the family Silver Ghost ticked up through the 900s... to clock over in a joyous burst of zeros to the clear blue sky of a new '1,000' or '10,000' ?
Perhaps your youthful eyes were glued to your illustrated volume of Montesquieu instead

... much more likely to have been Montesquiou rather than that old bore Montesquieu...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_de_Montesquiou

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montesquieu

I recognize and recall your reference to the mileometer, and certainly behaved in just such a way: but subsequently had a wise maths tutor (who also taught me the pianner... ) who enlightened me as to the arbitrariness of our chosen decimal system ( he strongly advocated the merits (divisability etc) of a duodecimal system... ) and ever since have somewhat abreacted to the inane delight many have in celebrating tens of things...

[Don Petter]

Welcome to Pearce in any event!

Hear! Hear! (Waves paper) Pearce in our time!

[Caliban]

... much more likely to have been Montesquiou rather than that old bore Montesquieu...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_de_Montesquiou

Mais oui, mais oui, quel lapsus de ma part, mon cher (*taps ash from cigarette*)

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

It is not chance that rules the world. Ask the Romans, who had a continuous sequence of successes when they were guided by a certain plan, and an uninterrupted sequence of reverses when they followed another. There are general causes, moral and physical, which act in every monarchy, elevating it, maintaining it, or hurling it to the ground. All accidents are controlled by these causes. And if the chance of one battle — that is, a particular cause — has brought a state to ruin, some general cause made it necessary for that state to perish from a single battle. In a word, the main trend draws with it all particular accidents

...yep including the 1000th member [ten and decimal are not arbitrary, look at your hands, though gloved, still ten digits do sit there to count upon ...]

[vinteuil]

...

It is not chance that rules the world. Ask the Romans, who had a continuous sequence of successes when they were guided by a certain plan, and an uninterrupted sequence of reverses when they followed another. There are general causes, moral and physical, which act in every monarchy, elevating it, maintaining it, or hurling it to the ground. All accidents are controlled by these causes. And if the chance of one battle — that is, a particular cause — has brought a state to ruin, some general cause made it necessary for that state to perish from a single battle. In a word, the main trend draws with it all particular accidents

yours is a good Montesquieu quote. He was of course French: no wonder therefore that also -

He goes so far as to assert that certain climates are superior to others, the temperate climate of France being ideal. His view is that people living in very warm countries are "too hot-tempered," while those in northern countries are "icy" or "stiff."

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

well m ....quiou looks as if he would agree with that typology

[Anna]

That picture is somehow how I imagine vints .......

[cloughie]

Pearce, welcome to the boards - not seen many postings - hope you're not overawed by the fanfares!

[Caliban]

That picture is somehow how I imagine vints .......

It's DEFINITELY how I imagine him!!