The '23 enigma,' common sense and the abyss

Last night a concerned reader, the 'noxious one' previously introduced, was concerned for my emotional well being and took time out from his busy intellectual day to reach out to me.  If you might recall, he was the insightful one that had dismissed the mis enumerated Chapter XXXIX, "Robert Gordon's 7 Days," as having value because there were not any dollar signs in it.....even though Mr. Gann elevates the 7 days to the level of understanding why Jesus rose on the their day (from the Foreword of "The Tunnel Thru the Air by WD Gann"):

You remember him; he was the one incapable of understanding the joint probability of the '6 eeeeee's' in which 6 consecutive e's ending a line have a prohibitively small probability of occurring in a text having a finite population of 15,340 consecutive and ordered lines.  A statistical probability 101 problem that, apparently, escaped the net of his superior knowledge.

Moreover, the noxious one was pleased that I'd found the presence to consider my delusions as discussed in the essay concerning the '23 enigma.'  Perhaps it proved to himself that I'd admitted my error in my investigations of the works of WD Gann and my imaginings.  Perhaps it proved to himself his eminence in cautioning me not to go down the 'rabbit hole' for fear that I would befall of the waste of my time, a valuable commodity, in search of that which he, the noxious one, had already proven worthless.

Maybe so, maybe not.  I'll decline accepting the testimony of one who ignores the subject WD Gann point blank who told his audience that the greatest lesson, the lesson of life over death, is in Chapter XXXIX.  It seems silly that he should follow my investigation given that his intent seems only to find  fault rather than to 'consider' whatever value there might be in this blog.  Talk about a rabbit hole.

As well the noxious one expressed his surprise that I'd so relate my investigation to the deductive science of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; that common sense properly attributable to a  CPA should be so lacking in me.  [Actually, 'common sense' is quite subjective.  I prefer, as a CPA, 'mathematic sense' because it connotes the universal and objective truth of mathematic proof...but that's me.]  Again, the noxious one expounding, just as he did with the concept of joint probability, about something with which he seemingly hasn't the first 'clue' of meaning (the fine definition of "deductive science" outlined by Sherlock Holmes).  Proverbs 17:28:

It boils down to the contemporary thought that one not knowing of what he speaks should not open his mouth and "remove all doubt."  It is with this thought that I open Drudgereport and find:

Ah, man so involved in his self proclaimed greatness that he can save the world without the intervention of Grace.  That which was created without the involvement of man can be destroyed by the greatness of Man and saved by the greatness of Man. Sadly, the "Scientific American" recently led with its cover banner "How Man Conquered the World."  Such hubris and self promotion.  Whose is the greater delusion?  Where is Rabi Cahn and Isaiah 9:10 when I need him?

As I'm contemplating this I'm also watching my alma mater in their annual struggle with its arch but respected football rival and great university of Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia.  And then I realize that, on the line is the second longest present bowl streak of any University, and the longest of any coach, that of the retiring Frank Beamer and 23 wins.  As if to mock me, there's that 23 number about which only Friday I'd written.  As I try to read the thoughts of the great WD Gann, is it as if those thoughts are looking back at me?  Two quotes from Freidrich Nietzsche:

And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you. 

and

The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher 

esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.

Is the abyss looking back?  Can one be delusional when he considers the possibility of his delusion?  And what of thinking differently?  Is the one considering another's thoughts outside the likeness of his own the bigoted and closed minded in condemning the one who's thoughts diverge from the norm?

I'm entirely comfortable that I am not wasting my life on a rabbit hole of delusion because I've learned and experienced from WDG more than I thought I'd ever experience...period.  If the 'answer' is never mine, I'm still far better for the journey.  As for the 'noxious one,' Mr. Gann warned us many times of that type of person; he was Robert's doubting father, Robert's mocking and hateful brother, he was the "butters-in" found on pages 48 and 49 of TTTTA:

So it is that I believe I've found the "Older hand" in WDG and, while he teaches in enigma, I'll beat my head against that headboard until the 'game afoot' is resolved or I've failed.  I'll be the better for it either way.

Alas, I have the 'judge' who wastes his time reading my thoughts and advises me not, for my good, but for his self aggrandizement.  To him I would say (and have said), that his is not to assume the eminence and judge but to read and simply 'consider' as the great Lord Byron said.  To judge presents the argument of Socrates in "Apology."  Socrates realized his wisdom among men because the great experts among men readily expressed their grasp of the greatest knowledge and wisdom; something reserved only to God.  Socrates knew he was the wisest among men because he alone among them knew that he did not know that which was reserved for God.  

How does this all end?  Virginia Tech won a close one against arch rival, the great University of Virginia, to give retiring soon-to-be Hall of Fame Coach, Frank Beamer, his record of consecutive bowl appearances by a head coach, and preserve VT's second longest consecutive bowl streak (behind Florida State) at 23.  And what was the score?

23 - 20

And my birth month and date?  February 21 or reduced and concatenated to...23.

Sometimes, the abyss looks back?

Offered for your consideration and not as context for argument and self promotion.  Better yourself for quiet consideration and not for the crude diminishing of others.

Jim Ross