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Subject: Pauling's joke
Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2000 20:54:51 -0000
From: Derek Edwards

Hello,

How's this for a rapid response; it's about your exchange of e-mails with Michael Bulmer in November 1997. I'm not really such a slow reader; I've only just found your excellent site.

If you are taking this thing seriously, I guess you should point out that the chance of there being a bomb on board a plane is one thing; the chance of being blown up is quite another. The chance of being blown up depends on:

The chance of one or more bombs being on board and the chance of one of them blowing you up PLUS the chance of getting blown up in some other explosion.

There are too many elements in this that are beyond your control, so my advice is to leave your bomb at home and only blow youself up in the comfort of your own familiar surroundings. (At the very least it'll save on excess baggage.)

All the best,

Derek edwards.

Copyright © 1996-2008 Alexander Bogomolny

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