South Pacific
As of the 23rd May 2022 this website is archived and will receive no further updates.
understandinguncertainty.org was produced by the Winton programme for the public understanding of risk based in the Statistical Laboratory in the University of Cambridge. The aim was to help improve the way that uncertainty and risk are discussed in society, and show how probability and statistics can be both useful and entertaining.
Many of the animations were produced using Flash and will no longer work.
In 1963, whilst serving in a destroyer in the Far East, we visited Tahiti. Later in a bar in Papetee, I was introduced to a middle aged Englishman who was obviously enjoying his stay on the island. It transpired that he regularly "wintered" in the Pacific with his elderly mother before returning to UK in the spring.
He said he lived in Cockermouth, and I replied that I knew nothing about the town, except that my wife's bridesmaid lived there, and her (then) maiden name was Wylie. Imagine my astonishment when he said
" I sold my previous house to the Wylies"!
No connection between two total strangers meeting by chance thousands of miles away in the middle of the Pacific. Some coincidence!
Regards,
Gerry Burnan Cdr RN (rtd)
Date submitted:Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:04:32 +0000Coincidence ID:5572
