There was a farmer who owed a debt to an ugly old man. The old man proposed that if the farmer's daughter married him, the debt would be eliminated. However, the daughter and farmer did not want this. The old man said the daughter could pick a pebble from a bag - if it was black, she must marry him, and if it was white, she did not have to marry him. However, the daughter noticed he had placed two black pebbles in the bag. Rather than pick a pebble, she dropped the one in her hand on the ground, mixing it with others. She then removed the other pebble from the bag, proving it was black, so the first must have

1. A Story about two pebbles Over photos of China!

2. The difference between logical thoughts and “lateral” thoughts.

3. There was once in a small village a farmer who owed an important sum of money due to be repaid to a very ugly old man.

4. The farmer had a very pretty daughter that the old lender was sweet on, the lender proposed a deal:

5. He said he would annul the debt if he could marry his daughter

6. .Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified about this proposition

7. So, the old lender suggested hazard should determine the outcome of his proposition.

8. He told them he would put two pebbles one black and one white in an empty money bag,

9. And, the daughter would pick, without looking …

10. One of the two pebbles.

11. 1) If she picks a black one, she must marry me And the debt to her father is eliminated…..

12. 2) If she picks the white pebble, she doesn’t have to marry me and the debt is also eliminated

13. 3) If she refuses to pick a pebble, her father will go to jail

14. While speaking, the old lender leaned forward and picked up two pebbles.

15. As he was picking them up, the daughter with a sharp eye…

16. Noticed he had picked up two black pebbles and put them in the money bag

17. But, she said nothing.

18. The old lender asked the daughter to pick a pebble out of the bag

19. This discussion was taking place on the road in front of the farmer’s house and the road was paved with pebbles

20. Imagine for an instant what you would have done.

21. What would you have suggested the daughter to do?

22. If we analyse the situation, there are 3 possibilities :

23. 1) The daughter refuses to pick a pebble

24. 2) The daughter picks out both pebbles revealing the old lender cheated

25. 3) The daughter picks out a black pebble and sacrifices herself by marrying the old « coot » and saves her father from emprisonment

26. Take a moment to reflect on this situation

28. This story means to illustrate a point…..

29. The difference between logical thought and so called “lateral”thought.

30. The daughter’s dilemma cannot be resolved equitable manner

31. By traditional logic

32. Think of the consequences of each of the three possible options.

33. So, what would you have done ?

34. Here is what the young woman did :

39. She plunged her hand in the bag picked a pebble and, clumsily, dropped it on the ground

40. before it could be determined wheter it was black or white, it mixed with other pebbles on the ground

41. Ah ! Gosh! I sure am clumsy, said the young woman….

42. But no matter: if I remove the other pebble from the bag ….

43. We will know which pebble I had picked first dont you think?

44. Since the second pebble was black,,

45. The first had to have been white

46. . The old lender didn’t dare announce his cheating, ….

47. The young woman transformed a seemingly impossible situation

48. Into a very advantageous ending !

51. Moral of the story:

52. A solution exists for most problems

53. It’s just that we don’t always know how to examine every angles of the situation

54. M ay 2011 be full of positive thoughts and wise decisions!

60. FIN Bonne journée