Would you like to live forever?

[Mefiante]

Just a small niggle, though. If I'm not mistaken =

Um, not quite.  Strictly speaking, the symbol “∞” has no precise mathematical meaning and is a catch-all for magnitudes that may grow beyond any finite limit without regard for their type.  Therefore, expressions involving “∞”, such as “(∞ – 1)”, are too loose to have any significance beyond indicating that something’s bigger than can be expressed with any finite quantity.  The technically correct expression would be “א_o = א_o – 1” because א_o is the cardinality of all sets of countably infinite things — i.e., those that can be put into one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, …).

'Luthon64

[AcinonyxScepticus]

Thanks Mefiante for the clarification.  That's a much better way to put it.

 

[Mefiante]

De nada, though I’d’ve left well enough alone had I been aware of your reply before posting.  3G is especially slow today.

'Luthon64

[Brian]

My mother of 94 died on Saturday . When you compare her size to what she used to be I cannot help but wonder what became of the rest of her that just seemed to disappear into thin air! The atom theory doesn't seem to make sense but I know it's the way it is!

[Faerie]

My mother of 94 died on Saturday .

I'm so sorry!!! Moms are special.

[GCG]

jeeslike brian, that was a good innings!  alas, nobody lives forever.  still doesnt make it less sad.

[Brian]

Thanx Faerie & GCG...yes they are special: I always feel that when a mother dies, the world is a little worse off: all one hope for is that her offspring honour her memory and live up to her expectations.
Incidentally, she wished to be cremated and in Windhoek where she died, it apparently takes 5 months to be cremated! My sister lives on a farm outside the city and I said we have a lot of wood there! Is it bad of me to think that?

[Faerie]

My sister lives on a farm outside the city and I said we have a lot of wood there! Is it bad of me to think that?

Does it make you FEEL bad?  Who cares what others think? It all comes down on how you feel about it.

I, for one, would prefer the cheaper option every time.

[Brian]

I guess it's my xtian upbringing (My mother was a Calvinist disciplinarian while my Dad was an Atheist and when he died my sister, also an atheist, placed a piece of firewood on his chest in the coffin and said: "Dad I guess where you're going to you may need that!")

[GCG]

unfortunately cremation is not as easy as building a bonfire.  it's actually not the most awesome job in the world to cremate people.  just take my word for it.  the result of the insane heat is not a neat pile of ash.  some extra work is needed.
personally, i would like a sky burial, or feed me to the lions.  or dump my ass in the ocean.  or if there is simply no other way, cremation.  coffins are the most claustrophic shit ever invented.  the idea of spending my years-after in a box in the ground, shudder.
i did cremate my dead bearded dragon once.  it was very emotional.  it gives great closure.  i buried my most beloved cat in the garden, and i still feel like a dog for leaving him behind when i moved.
cremation is the way to go.  cant imagine why it would to take so friggin long to do it though.

[GCG]

[st0nes]

unfortunately cremation is not as easy as building a bonfire.

Tell me about it.  We wanted to cremate my mother-in-law, but the crap we got from the council was unbelievable.  Apparently they've got a bylaw that says you've got to wait for the old cow to die first.  Friggin' beaurocrats.

[Hermes]

Tell me about it.  We wanted to cremate my mother-in-law, but the crap we got from the council was unbelievable.  Apparently they've got a bylaw that says you've got to wait for the old cow to die first.  Friggin' beaurocrats.

That's where the Barney Bernato style burial at sea comes in so handy.