
The wiki says that the duck test “is a frequently cited colloquial example of abductive reasoning. Its usual expression is:
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
The test implies that a person can identify an unknown subject by observing that subject’s habitual characteristics. It is sometimes used to counter abstruse arguments that something might not be what it appears to be.”
Why is the search engine DuckDuckGo so named? The wiki has the answer:
DuckDuckGo is an American software company that offers a number of products intended to help people protect their online privacy. The flagship product is a search engine that has been praised by privacy advocates. Subsequent products include extensions for all major web browsers and a custom DuckDuckGo web browser.
Headquartered in Paoli, Pennsylvania, DuckDuckGo is a privately held company with about 200 employees. The company’s name is a reference to the children’s game duck, duck, goose.
Click on the image to search using duckduckgo.
Now for a shaggy dog tale. A duck walks into a pub and orders a pint of beer and a ham sandwich.
The barman looks at him and says, “Hang on! You’re a duck.”
“I see your eyes are working,” replies the duck.
“And you can talk!!” exclaims the barman.
“I see your ears are working, too,” says the duck. “Now if you don’t mind, may I have my beer and my sandwich please?”
“Certainly, sorry about that,” says the barman as he pulls the duck’s pint. “It’s just we don’t get many ducks in this pub. What are you doing around this way?”
“I’m working on the building site across the road,” explains the duck. “I’m a plasterer.”
The flabbergasted barman cannot believe the duck and wants to learn more, but takes the hint when the duck pulls out a newspaper from his bag and proceeds to read it. So the duck reads his paper, drinks his beer, eats his sandwich, bids the barman good day and leaves.
The same thing happens for two weeks. Then one day the circus comes to town. The ringmaster comes into the pub for a pint and the barman says to him, “You’re with the circus, aren’t you? Well, I know this duck that could be just brilliant in your circus. He talks, drinks beer, eats sandwiches, reads the newspaper and everything!”
“Sounds marvelous,” says the ringmaster, handing over his business card. “Get him to give me a call.”
So the next day when the duck comes into the pub the barman says, “Hey Mr Duck, I reckon I can line you up with a top job, paying really good money.”
“I’m always looking for the next job,” says the duck. “Where is it?”
“At the circus,” says the barman.
“The circus?” repeats the duck.
“That’s right,” replies the barman.
“The circus?” the duck asks again, “with the big tent?”
“Yeah,” the barman replies.
“With all the animals who live in cages, and performers who live in caravans?” says the duck.
“Of course,” the barman replies.
“And the tent has canvas sides and a big canvas roof with a hole in the middle?” persists the duck.
“That’s right!” says the barman.
The duck shakes his head in amazement and says, “What the hell would they want with a plasterer?”
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It’s been a very long time since the last AMA. So here goes the latest ask me anything. You has questions, I has answers.
What do you think of Javier Milei? Is he the most ‘libertarian’ leader in history?
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I don’t know for sure but it not likely that Milei is the most libertarian leader in history. He appears to be committed to libertarian ideals and is not afraid to poke the socialists and the WEF people in the eye.
I really like Milei because of his anti-statist attitude. I hope he succeeds. It appears that he is partially succeeding for now.
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What do you think of OSHO?
Have you read his books or watched his videos?
My guess is that you will like him a lot!
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Jinesh, I have not read any of Osho’s books or heard any of his talks. Why? Because whatever little of his thoughts and ideas I have come across, I found to be basic common sense. I did not find anything he said even mildly objectionable and also not profound either.
India has produced a lot of very commercially successful people such as Osho, SS Ravi Shankar, Satya Sai Baba. They serve a market and people willingly part with their money. I am all in favor of all voluntary transactions.
Once in a while I come across a brief video of some point Osho makes. I came across one in which he says, “Democracy is government of the people, by the people, for the people. But people are retards” or something to that effect. Any normal person would have taken about seconds to say that. Osho took a full minute. His baud rate is about 30 when the average person transmits at 300. 🙂
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