A duke was hunting in the forest with his retinue of men-at-arms and servants; he came across a tree. Upon it, archery targets were painted, and smack in the middle of each was an arrow. “Who is this incredibly fine archer?” cried the duke. “I must find him!”
After continuing through the forest for a few miles he came upon a small boy carrying a bow and arrow. Eventually the boy admitted that it was he who shot the arrows plumb in the center of all the targets.
“You din’t just walk up to the targets and hammer the arrows into the middle, did you?” asked the duke worriedly
“No, my lord. Ishot them from a hundred paces. I swear it by all that I hold holy.”
“That is truly astonishing,” said the duke. “I hereby admit you into my service.” The boy thanked him profusely. “But I must ask one favor in return,” the duke continued. “You must tell me how you came to be such an outstanding shot.”
“Well,” said the boy, “first I fire the arrow at the tree, and then I paint the target around it.”
-From the book: the collapse of chaos
A Texan was driving in the Israeli desert. He was feeling thirsty, and he noticed a tiny house in the distance, so he drove up and knocked on the door.
The owner, a wrinkled old man, let him in and gave him a glass of water.
“Do you own this place?” asked the Texan, making polite conversation.
“Yes.”
“Why do you live out here in the desert?”
“I raise chickens.”
The Texan looked around him. “How big is this place, anyway?”
“Hmmm-it must be about twenty yards at the front. And at the back, it’s maybe sixty! Well, fifty, atleast.”
The Texan grinned. “Back in the States,” he said, “I own a ranch just outside Dallas. I get up at dawn, and I get in my car and drive. I keep driving all day, right into the evening. And I still don’t reach the boundary of my ranch.”
“Oh dear,” said the old man, “I once had a car like that.”
—From the book: the collapse of chaos
A party of economists was climbing in the Alps. After several hours they became hopelessly lost. One of them studied the map for some time, turning it up and down, sighting on distant landmarks, consulting his compass and the sun.
Finally he said, “Okay, see that big mountain over there?”
“Yes?” asked the others eagerly.
“Well, according to the map, we’re standing on top of it.”
-From the book: the collapse of chaos.
Two dinosaurs, small, gentle plant-eaters, were browsing on the leaves of a small bush when one of them suddenly froze in terror.
“Eeeegh! Look what’s just arrived!”
The other one turned round to see what the fuss was all about.
“Aaaagh! A Tyrannosaurus rex! And it’s seen us! We’re dead meat!”
When it turned back, the first dinosaur was heading for the horizon as fast as its short stumpy legs could carry it. “Don’t be silly!” the second dinosaur yelled at the retreating figure. “You can’t outrun a tyrannosaur!”
The first dinosaur looked back over its shoulder and grinned wickedly.
“No!” it shouted. “But I can outrun you.”
-From the book: the collapse of chaos
