| The Explanation Of Incredible Things |
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 Pablo Edronkin
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Many believe that gambling is a hazardous thing; it may be indeed if you don't know how to do it, but in reality, it is a way to invest money that, if done properly, entails no more risk than purchasing stocks or government bonds. You have to know something about statistics as a mathematical science; if you understand the odds, you know what you are doing, but if you don't then you are indeed doing a hazardous thing. But there is really no secret in gambling; it's only a taboo, and nothing else. History of humankind is filled with examples where only a lack of knowledge is what marked whole times. Such an example is that of the knowledge and perception about the true shape of planet Earth. We know that it is approximately a sphere, but it was not Columbus the one who discovered that fact: he and other relatively modern explorers merely proved it beyond doubt, but the idea was known at least since 300 B.C. approximately, when Greek astronomers working in at the Library of Alexandria, in Egypt, as the by-product of Alexander Magnus' conquest of that country, calculated with extreme precision the shape and radius of our planet. They began by measuring and studying the shape, angle and length of shadows produced by certain objects in Alexandria during certain days of the year. Then, they travelled southward a known distance and made the same measurements; and then, using only geometry they calculated the variation in those shadows and consequently, the variation of angle of incidence of solar light over the object both in Alexandria and other points. From then on, the shape and radios of Earth was a simple matter. But people could not understand how those living in the south would not fall from the surface; Egyptian scientist knew that for some reason, that would never happen because an Egyptian naval expedition had in fact explored the whole coastal perimeter of Africa, and they had indeed crossed the Equator. It was a closely guarded secret, but they knew. However, not until the renaissance the idea that Earth was not flat was accepted. So, wizards are not wizards after all, but nevertheless, they always win. |
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