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From: gwyn@brl-vgr.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.math
Subject: Re: Interesting Numbers (New Proof)
Message-ID: <1518@brl-vgr.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 7-May-84 17:57:48 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-vgr.1518
Posted: Mon May  7 17:57:48 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 11-May-84 07:24:36 EDT
References: <1281@uvacs.UUCP>
Organization: Ballistics Research Lab
Lines: 23

Your second formulation of the "proof" about uninteresting numbers
shows a striking similarity to the "Prisoner's Dilemma":

	A judge, known by all to be absolutely truthful, when
	sentencing a prisoner to death says to him:

	"You will be executed one day next week, and you will not
	be able to predict in advance with any certainty the day
	of your execution."

	Executions are known to take place only in the morning.

	The prisoner is glad to hear this!  He now reasons,

	"I cannot be executed on the last day of the week, because
	I would be able to predict that with certainty if I have
	survived the previous days.  Similarly, I cannot be executed
	on the next-to-last day, since I have ruled out the last day
	and could therefore know in advance again; and so forth.
	Clearly, I cannot be executed on any day of the week since
	I have ruled them all out, one by one!"

	Boy, was he surprised when they came Wednesday to execute him.