Re: Stats Gone Wild! Plus Triple-Play Bonus

On 15 May 2008 22:43:14 GMT, Opus the Penguin
<opusthepenguin+usenet@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>Greg Goss (gossg@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
) wrote:
>
>> Bob Ward <bobward@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> 
>>>On 15 May 2008 00:29:01 -0500, M C Hamster
>>><davolson@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Since we're talking random simulations of baseball seasons,
>>>>here's an old column that I posted here, that statistically
>>>>quantified the amazing futility of the Cubs (and White Sox).  It
>>>>is now outdated, since the White Sox won in 2005.  But the Cubs
>>>>odds still basically hold, and in fact are even greater now, 5
>>>>years hence. 
>>>>
>>>>************
>>>
>>>Shouldn't that read "five years later"?  To me, five years hence
>>>means five years from now, in the future.*See #2
>>>
>>>
>>>Definition of Hence
>>>Pronunciation: hens 
>>>adv. 1. From this place; away.
>>>Arise, let us go hence.
>>>- John xiv. 31.
>>>I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
>>>- Acts xxii. 21. 
>>> 2. From this time; in the future; as, a week hence. 
>>> 3. From this reason; therefore; - as an inference or deduction.
>>>Hence, perhaps, it is, that Solomon calls the fear of the Lord the
>>>beginning of wisdom.
>>>- Tillotson. 
>>> 4. From this source or origin.
>> 
>> I would have agreed with you until you tried to cite evidence.  MC
>> described a point in time, then described another point in time
>> five years "from this time".
>
>He described a point five years "from THAT time". "This" time is the 
>one we're in right now. If it weren't archaic, he could have said 
>"Five years thence." But "five years hence" means "five years from 
>now."

No it doesn't, not necessarily and not according to the dictionary
definition of the word "hence".  It means five years from "this time".
In my sentence, "this time" represents the date the column was
written.   It's entirely appropriate for me to refer to the time the
column was written as "this time".

I can completely correctly say "Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo.
THIS represents the end of the Napoleonic era."  I do not have to say
"THAT represents the end of the Napoleonic era".   Having set up that
I'm talking about past events, but using present references because
it's the discussion that we're having that I'm referring to, not the
event itself, I can then say "Five years hence, Napoleon was exiled to
Elba."  

Produce for me a direct refutation of this, from a trusted and
respected source, and I'll consider it.  But my usage is completely
consistent with the dictionary defintions that have been posted here.

-- 
M C Hamster  "Big Wheel Keep on Turning" -- Creedence Clearwater Revival