There are only three important numbers:

0 - when there are zero of something it is not possible

1 - when there is one of something then it is possible

more than 1 - when there are more than one of something then there is choice, and the possibility of many, many more

What is interesting is the transitions between them: when zero becomes one the impossible suddenly becomes possible, when one becomes two then suddenly there are multiple possibilities and you have to wonder if there are more... The N+1 Theory, to link back to the original article.

Some interesting values, that will get really interesting if they change:

0 - number of confirmed alien civilisations

1 - number of planets known to harbour life

more than 1 - number of potential partners who could be "the one"

I once heard an Olympic gold medalist say "You can't go from practicing five hours a day to ten, but can you go to five hours and ten minutes?"

Of course there are limits to everything. It's just not very often you are at your limit.

I once heard the great South African batsman Barry Richards explain a similar trick he used. When he first goes out to bat, he will tell himself "Look, I am good enough to make 10 runs against any bowling attack in the world" - and he would concentrate on getting those 10 runs only. Once he reaches 10, he'd tell himself the same thing again, and concentrate on the next 10 runs. He made 80 first class centuries in his career.

Ya, that's the "N+epsilon" or "open set" theory

I couldn't figure out what to blog about, so I blogged about N+1...That's N+1!

nicely done.

I want what all men want, I just want more. -Achilles

The problem is, that pretty much all men want more.

Apply this technique for exercise/yoga :)

"Pure optimism sprinkled with tenacity" - that's a pretty good definition of a start-up, when you think about it.

In the Marines I was taught that there's always one more thing you can do to improve your situation.

That's what I do when I'm stuck on a programming project or unsure where to start: identify one thing that will improve the situation, and then do that thing. Repeat until done.

This sounds a lot like the "Even Steven" schtick from Seinfeld.

Somewhere in here is a song for long bus rides.

I read of a similar scheme.

Whenever you think you have N copies of data you should consider you have N-1.

Here's why : Your work is on your computer and thumbdrive, one dies. Now you have only 1 copy with no backup.