Istanbul's blog

**Posted:** Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:12 pm

Think of a number between 1 and 10. Double it. Add 128. Add 52. Add 72. Divide by 2. Add 1. Subtract the number you first though of and the answer is 127. (According to Emmy Lou.)
Emmy Lou often pulls this stunt or a variation of it on me when she detects signs of Old Timers disease.

I used to count on my fingers but the wily fox caught on and made me put my hands in my pockets. This complicated calculations as I had to now use 11 and not 10, the usual decimal base for math. The upside was I always had a surplus.

Now you are wondering if this is in any way connected to ambitions to get into politics. A platform of guaranteed surpluses would make me a natural for the Chancellor of the Exchequer Ministry. The old Finance Minister thingy will be replaced when we finalise this Quebec Nation thingy.

Some doubters may theorize it is the fat porker MP pensions I am after. Some may think it is the mountains of perks, the elongated forever holidays, the subsidized haircuts. No it is none of these earthly distractions of materialism.
If you promise to keep it mum, do not tell my sweetie Emmy Lou, I will reveal my secret.

It is to gaze wistfully at Rona for a few hours each day.