This applies to right forepaw.=20
The left forepaw is used in exactly the same way, except that the =
numbers on this paw are four claws shifted to the left. In other words, =
multiplied by 16.=20
Just on forepaws a lion can count up to 15*16+15=3D255. Rear paws are =
used the same way, also shifted.=20
Two lions standing next to each other can count to much higher numbers, =
whilst a whole pride can handle a maximum number far higher than any of =
our computers.=20
A pride of lions can also use parallelisms to count faster.=20
Because of problems with extending just some claws, many lions use their =
whole fingers like humans do. The lions can also write digits by making =
pawprints in mud, which can keep the calculations safe for a long time =
after drying.=20
After rains, lions can often be seen walking slowly and thoughtfully =
back and forth in mud. This has nothing to do with the removal of =
parasites living on their paws as previously surmised; they are in fact =
completing complex calculations aimed towards solving the conundrum =
surrounding Special Relativity and Gravity whilst simultaneously =
considering how best to lure some game into the clearing thereby =
avoiding a long run.
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<META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
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<TITLE>OT - Friday Silliness</TITLE>
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<DIV><SPAN class=3D435162817-25112005><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Are=20
you channeling Douglas Adams?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> =
owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM=20
[mailto:owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Tony=20
Quinsee-Jover<BR><B>Posted At:</B> Friday, November 25, 2005 12:08=20
PM<BR><B>Posted To:</B> ds<BR><B>Conversation:</B> OT - Friday=20
Silliness<BR><B>Subject:</B> OT - Friday =
Silliness<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><!-- Converted from text/rtf format -->
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Introducing… </FONT></P>
<P><U><B><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The Lion Numeric =
System</FONT></B></U>=20
</P><BR>
<P><B><I><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Lions can =
count</FONT></I></B><I></I> </P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>After long and intensive behavioural =
analysis of=20
lions (</FONT><I><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>panthera =
leo</FONT></I><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2>), scientists have discovered a surprising fact. =
Lions are=20
able to understand terms at a high abstraction level (i.e. numbers). =
It is not=20
clear how and when lions acquired this fascinating skill, however many =
fossils=20
prove lions were able to count a long time before the first humans =
developed a=20
brain bigger than an orange - which is the lowest mass allowing =
abstract=20
thinking. We can safely deduce from this therefore that humans can no =
longer=20
be considered as the first intelligent species on Earth. =
</FONT></P><BR>
<P><B><I><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The LNS</FONT></I></B><I></I> =
</P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The Lion Numeric System (LNS) is very =
sophisticated=20
in comparison to the system used by humans.</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The decimal numeric system as used by =
humans is=20
based on the number of fingers on two hands (or toes on both feet) - =
10 -=20
which almost every human being possesses. Humans tend to use fingers =
(or toes)=20
to help them count. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>On the other hand, whilst a lion =
forepaw has 5=20
claws, its back paws have 4 claws each. A further problem facing lions =
is that=20
one of their forepaw claws - the dewclaw - is placed higher on the =
paw, making=20
it somewhat difficult to use. (As an aside, humans used to have their =
thumbs=20
high up their wrist, which explains the origin of the DEWey decimal =
system.)=20
However, this fact didn't force the lions to simply develop an octal =
numeric=20
system, which would have been far less practical than decimal. This =
simply=20
wasn't satisfactory for the king of the jungle. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The LNS is much better than a simple =
octal system=20
and allows lions to easily count up to very big numbers. In fact, a =
lion can=20
count up to an incredible 65535 just on his four paws - that's =
something=20
humans can only dream about. </FONT></P><BR>
<P><B><I><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>How do they do =
that?</FONT></I></B><I></I>=20
</P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The answer is simple. Lions use all =
combinations of=20
extended/retracted claws on each paw. With four claws, this makes 32=20
combinations - which is equal to the numbers 0 to 15 on each paw. Yes, =
for a=20
lion, numbers 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are each considered a single =
digit!=20
</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The conversion of LNS to the human =
decimal format=20
is actually very easy. From the point of view of the counting lion, =
the claw=20
on the right (</FONT><I><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>LSC - Less =
Significant=20
Claw</FONT></I><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>) has a value of 1, the =
second from the=20
right has value of 2, the second from the left has value of 4 and the =
left=20
claw (MSC - Most Significant Claw) has value of 8. The total sum of =
values=20
belonging to each extended claw is the number shown on the paw. =
</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>This applies to right forepaw. =
</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The left forepaw is used in exactly the =
same way,=20
except that the numbers on this paw are four claws shifted to the =
left. =20
In other words, multiplied by 16. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Just on forepaws a lion can count up to =
15*16+15=3D255. Rear paws are used the same way, also shifted. =
</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Two lions standing next to each other =
can count to=20
much higher numbers, whilst a whole pride can handle a maximum number =
far=20
higher than any of our computers. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>A pride of lions can also use =
parallelisms to count=20
faster. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Because of problems with extending just =
some claws,=20
many lions use their whole fingers like humans do. The lions can also =
write=20
digits by making pawprints in mud, which can keep the calculations =
safe for a=20
long time after drying. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>After rains, lions can often be seen =
walking slowly=20
and thoughtfully back and forth in mud. This has nothing to do with =
the=20
removal of parasites living on their paws as previously surmised; they =
are in=20
fact completing complex calculations aimed towards solving the =
conundrum=20
surrounding Special Relativity and Gravity whilst simultaneously =
considering=20
how best to lure some game into the clearing thereby avoiding a long=20
run.</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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