dBirch Blog: 2006

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Ockham's Razor

"entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem,"

or

"entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity.."

also

"...one should not increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything..."

e.g. Keep it simple.

William of Ockham (1285-1349)

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Sweet Betsey

Oh, do you remember Sweet Betsey from Pike
Who crossed the wide prairie with her lover Ike?
With two yoke of oxen, a big yellow dog,
A tall Shanghai rooster, and one spotted hog.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay,
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.

Out on the prairie one bright starry night,
They broke out the whisky and Betsey got tight;
She sang and she shouted and danced o'er the plain,
And made a great show for the whole wagon train.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay,
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.

The Injuns came down in a wild yelling horde,
And Betsey was skeered they would scalp her adored;
Behind the front wagon wheel Betsey did crawl,
And fought off the Injuns with musket and ball.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay,
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.

They soon reached the desert, where Betsey gave out,
And down in the sand she lay rolling about;
While Ike in great terror looked on in surprise,
Saying, "Get up now, Betsey, you'll get sand in your eyes."
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay,
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.

The wagon tipped over with a terrible crash,
And out on the prairie rolled all sorts of trash;
A few little baby clothes done up with care
Looked rather suspicious - though 'twas all on the square.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay,
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.

The Shanghai ran off and the cattle all died,
The last piece of bacon that morning was fried;
Poor Ike got discouraged, and Betsy got mad,
The dog wagged his tail and looked wonderfully sad.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay,
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.

They swam the wide rivers and cross the tall peaks,
And camped on the prairie for weeks upon weeks,
Starvation and cholera and hard work and slaughter,
They reached California spite of hell and high water.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay,
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.

Long Ike and sweet Betsey attended a dance,
Where Ike wore a pair of his Pike County pants;
Sweet Betsey was covered with ribbons and rings.
Said Ike, "You're an angel, but where are your wings?"
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay,
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.

A miner said, "Betsey, will you dance with me?"
"I will that, old hoss, if you don't make too free;
But don't dance me hard. Do you want to know why?
Doggone you, I'm chock full of strong alkali."
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay,
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.

Long Ike, and sweet Betsey got married of course,
But Ike, getting jealous, obtained a divorce;
And Betsey, well satisfied, said with a shout,
"Good-by, you big lummux, I'm glad you backed out."
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay,
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.

Oh, do you remember Sweet Betsey from Pike
Who crossed the wide prairie with her lover Ike?
With two yoke of oxen, a big yellow dog,
A tall Shanghai rooster, and one spotted hog.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay,
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.