Comments on: Valentine’s Day Version of “Gift of the Magi”! http://www.thedirk.com/2008/02/06/valentines-day-version-of-gift-of-the-magi/ Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:25:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Robert http://www.thedirk.com/2008/02/06/valentines-day-version-of-gift-of-the-magi/#comment-20972 Robert Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:27:04 +0000 http://www.thedirk.com/2008/02/06/valentines-day-version-of-gift-of-the-magi/#comment-20972 Too late! You've changed it, making me look like a fool, and thus YOU are the winner! FOILED AGAIN!!! Darn you, the Dirk! Too late! You’ve changed it, making me look like a fool, and thus YOU are the winner! FOILED AGAIN!!!

Darn you, the Dirk!

]]> By: Robert http://www.thedirk.com/2008/02/06/valentines-day-version-of-gift-of-the-magi/#comment-20971 Robert Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:25:38 +0000 http://www.thedirk.com/2008/02/06/valentines-day-version-of-gift-of-the-magi/#comment-20971 Actually, I think I've heard it said that O'Henry made the same mistake in the original. Except the currency at the time was different, so he really didn't make the mistake. There's probably no reason to change it (unless you really want to!). Plus if you change it, my comment will look like that of an idiot! ;) Actually, I think I’ve heard it said that O’Henry made the same mistake in the original. Except the currency at the time was different, so he really didn’t make the mistake.

There’s probably no reason to change it (unless you really want to!). Plus if you change it, my comment will look like that of an idiot! ;)

]]> By: Dirk http://www.thedirk.com/2008/02/06/valentines-day-version-of-gift-of-the-magi/#comment-20968 Dirk Fri, 15 Feb 2008 22:10:24 +0000 http://www.thedirk.com/2008/02/06/valentines-day-version-of-gift-of-the-magi/#comment-20968 Thank you, but that was obviously one of my famed currency jokes. No, actually, I will change it. Thank you. Thank you, but that was obviously one of my famed currency jokes.

No, actually, I will change it. Thank you.

]]> By: Robert http://www.thedirk.com/2008/02/06/valentines-day-version-of-gift-of-the-magi/#comment-20965 Robert Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:48:32 +0000 http://www.thedirk.com/2008/02/06/valentines-day-version-of-gift-of-the-magi/#comment-20965 Nice! But I have to take issue with this: > Fourteen thousand dollars and eighty-seven cents. That was > all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. If they've got 87 cents, then the number of pennies divided by 5 would have to have a remainder of 2. (If X is the amount and P is the number of pennies, then X mod P = 2). Examples: 2 pennies, 7 pennies, 12 pennies, 17 pennies, etc. So they couldn't possibly have 60 cents in pennies. 62 or 57, yes. 60, no. Yeah, Dirk, I know what you're thinking right now. "Ah, but I didn't say that this took place in the USA. Perhaps Della and James live in some country where they have two-cent pieces!", which, if true, would let you unpaint yourself out of your corner. But no! James and Della have 401(K)s, bank at B of A, and eat at Baja Fresh. And that's just in the first three paragraphs. So unless you can find a different country that has 401(K)'s, B of A's, Baja Fresh, AND two-cent pieces, then your story is clearly set in the USA, and I have demonstrated my superior brain power, and am the winner of our little contest. Nice! But I have to take issue with this:

> Fourteen thousand dollars and eighty-seven cents. That was
> all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies.

If they’ve got 87 cents, then the number of pennies divided by 5 would have to have a remainder of 2. (If X is the amount and P is the number of pennies, then X mod P = 2).
Examples: 2 pennies, 7 pennies, 12 pennies, 17 pennies, etc. So they couldn’t possibly have 60 cents in pennies. 62 or 57, yes. 60, no.

Yeah, Dirk, I know what you’re thinking right now. “Ah, but I didn’t say that this took place in the USA. Perhaps Della and James live in some country where they have two-cent pieces!”, which, if true, would let you unpaint yourself out of your corner. But no! James and Della have 401(K)s, bank at B of A, and eat at Baja Fresh. And that’s just in the first three paragraphs. So unless you can find a different country that has 401(K)’s, B of A’s, Baja Fresh, AND two-cent pieces, then your story is clearly set in the USA, and I have demonstrated my superior brain power, and am the winner of our little contest.

]]>