"Time flies like an arrow," is an English phrase often used to illustrate syntactic ambiguity.[1] In this connection the sentence is often seen as part of the elaboration: "Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana".
Contemporary English speakers unambiguously understand the sentence to mean "As a generalisation, time passes in the same way that an arrow generally flies (i.e. quickly)" (as in the common metaphor time goes by quickly). However, the matter is more difficult in the formal interpretation of natural language; formally the sentence is logically ambiguous and alternatively could be interpreted as meaning, for example:[2]
- (as an imperative) Measure the speed of flies like you would measure that of an arrow - i.e. (You should) time flies as you would time an arrow.
- (imperative) Measure the speed of flies like an arrow would - i.e. (You should) time flies in the same manner that an arrow would time them.
- (imperative) Measure the speed of flies that are like arrows - i.e. (You should) time those flies that are like an arrow.
- (declarative) Time moves in a way an arrow would.
- (declarative, i.e. neutrally stating a proposition) Certain flying insects, "time flies," enjoy an arrow.
In addition, the sentence contains semantic ambiguity. For instance, the noun phrase "Time flies" could refer to all time flies or particular time flies, and "an arrow" to all arrows, a particular arrow, or different arrows for different flies; compare "Fruit flies like a banana", "Fruit flies ate a banana", "Fruit flies live on a banana". Likewise, the noun "Time" could refer to the magazine.
Whew! All that just to get to this week's collection of cartoons, all of which are timely, in one way or another.
1. Held over from last week's Sunday Funnies
This one showed up on March 22 right after I had posted the Sunday Funnies.
2. Early Safety Testing
What goes around comes around.
3. Unplanned Obsolescence - Phone-ethics #1
You talkin' to me?
4. Generational Divide - Phone-ethics #2
5. That was then; this is now, and hopefully extending into the future.
Donut Disturb!
6. That was then; this is now, but hopefully never, ever again.
Most Americans don't realize that, except in Rhode Island, freedom of religion did not in any way imply tolerance of or toward any religious beliefs that differed from those held by the founders of a given colony. Religious tolerance replaced exclusionary religious freedom as the law of the land only after it became apparent to the Founding Fathers that such a shift was necessary in order for the United States to function as as a single nation among the nation states of the world. Even so, many Americans would prefer a country in which their specific religious beliefs were given preferential treatment over those of others.
In Georgia, Indiana, and a few other states, legislators are promoting "Religious Freedom" laws designed to do just that. They allow businesses to refuse sale of goods and services to individuals based on the business owner's religious beliefs about prospective customers who wish to buy from them and pay with United States dollars.
Passage of these laws tear at the fabric of The United States and fly in the face of the motto: e pluribus unum, which may be found on the Great Seal of the United States that appears on every piece of currency issued by the Treasury Department.
7. Heady Historical Humor From The Department of Mythological Serpentine Logic
8. Looking Ahead
9. Still Waiting...
This has not yet become a problem for me and this blog.
10. Rebel Without A Clue
Stuck in the past and wedded to ignorance and bigotry.
11. Time Is Money Meets Location, Location, Location
12. Sculptured, Monolithic Humor
Today's first cartoon took aim at last Sunday's rodent-themed edition. This one points arrow-like in the opposite direction. A bit of geographical, historical, and hysterical knowledge will help you "get" it.
Final Pun-tification: The colorful objects on the ground are sometimes called caclkeberries. That qualifies them as fruit. And although they are not bananas, they definitely have appeal.
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