Prisoner's Dilemma

There is a game, that apparently every Psych 101 student knows, called Prisoner’s Dilemma. I heard it explained on Peter Gzowski’s radio show many years ago and it stayed with me. The version (and there are many) was this:

There are two “players”, you and I. We each hold two aces, red and black. We both play one ace, face up, at the same time. If we both play a red ace, the “bank” gives us each $5. If we both play a back ace, we each give the bank $5. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Play red aces and slowly acquire a pile of money.

There is a hitch. If you play a red ace and I play a black ace, you must give me $100. Now what do you do?

If we trust each other, we continue to play red aces. How much do you trust me? How much do I trust you?

The safest is to continually play black aces and continually pay the bank $5. But no one wins that way, so we negotiate. We come to an agreement not to cheat, to play only red aces. How good is the agreement? Do you trust me? Do I trust you?

This is the dilemma faced by all of us in all aspects of life. Diplomacy. Business relationships. Personal relationships. We all promise to play red aces but there is always the temptation to play a back ace and cash in, quick and dirty.

Isn’t life fun?

Another Birthday Blog

Dana Wyzard turned 60 today and summed up her life in 60 incredible sentences.
http://danajoywyzard.blogspot.com/2009/07/from-zero-to-sixty-in-sixty-sentences.html

She can be funny and bills herself as a humour blogger. But she can also be poignant. The blogs I like best are the ones like today's, when she writes of her life, how she feels, the difficulties she has overcome, her old dog Lucky and how she found Joe, the love of her life . She ends it all with "Life Is Good". She is a very good writer.

Of course, on rare (thankfully) occasions she will write very unkind things about people of other colours and cultures which makes my blood boil and I want to beat her. But I keep going back and reading her posts. Sometimes even the advertising ones she gets paid to write.

Happy Birthday, Dana, you are "halfway home".

Kuchma and Family

Kuchma's family has learned that there is food at our house, so they come to visit. Mama cat is pretty shy around people but little daughter is all brave and playful. Kuchma tolerates her antics and sometimes even plays along. We used to feed Kuchma in the house but he made such a mess he was banished to the front entry. So he has to share.

Pictures

Maxim's Masterpiece

Mid-May - Mid-July. I told you we needed rain.

Assorted happenings

We have our tickets to Canada return bought and paid for. Turkish Airlines and WestJet. Round trip for two of us $2400 CAD. We are in Canada from Sept 12 to Oct 8. I can hardly wait to see my family. It has been way too long.

Papa got his birthday present today. Final installation of his new store bought teeth. He looks good and really seems to like them - they fit comfortably he says. Total cost about 350 CAD for a full set of very good teeth. No idea of cost in Canada. We'll try Pop's teeth with corn on the cob tomorrow. Not sure he'll eat it. He is a meat and potatoes man. Says only pigs eat corn. May have to buy him a steak or something to try them out if he won't eat the corn. Now that IS a test since with no grading system, it could be old cow.

All the "kids" were here for the day. Masha played with Maxim all day, Lena worked in the garden. The rest just enjoyed the day. Maxim showed us a picture he made from shells that he collected by the Black Sea this summer and glued onto a backing. I will go get a picture tomorrow. Wasn't thinking. The kid is so painstakingly detailed in his work for an 8 year old.

We talked about going to Canada and about my kids coming here. Roman and Andrei want all my family here at one time if possible sometime, "for a family picture". That would be nice. It is hard enough to get a family picture in Canada with all in one place.

My dogs love to chase cats but are real cowards if cats chase them. Kuchma took exception tonight to Bobik's playfullness, flattened in the grass and then charged. Never laid a paw on Bobik who took off screaming like he had been attacked by a cougar. Too funny.

Happy Birthday, Little Brother

My youngest brother turns 55 today. This picture shows the difference 50 years makes. He ages well. He is tall and slim*. And not much grey hair for a father of four and grandfather of two.

He owns and operates a massage parlour (sports and therapeutic) and organic food store in the heart of Bible Belt Saskatchewan. He never rubs people the wrong way and everyone who visits him gets a good feeling all over.He lived close to the home farm and got on well enough with Dad to help out in later years. When they passed on to glory, he handled the estate better than any one could have considering his siblings. He still manages the land which stayed in the family but is leased out. He has a wonderful wife, good kids and grandkids. He is active in local events, in particular Little Theatre. All in all, a good man!

Have a Happy Birthday Little Brother and here's to another 55 years.

*I am short and fat. Either I got all the worms mother brought to the nest or he still has them?

Anniversary etc.

Yesterday was Andrei and Tanya's 10th Anniversary, so we invited them for supper. I fired up the Barbie and threw some burgers on to cook. Tanya boiled up corn on the cob (yes, from our garden) and we celebrated in style.

Masha never stops to eat. She and Maxim sat at the table long enugh for him to eat a burger and then they were off again. Tanya took Masha's home to eat before bed time. Kids eat then to avoid going to bed.

Maxim and his Baba Lucia were at the market this morning and he bought a new flower for his Babushka's garden. Lucia was busy transplanting it when I went over to admire the new acquisition. That kid knows the name of every flower on the place.

Friday and Saturday I had some repair work done on the car's rear suspension. Several hours work and the bill was about $130 CAD. Local mechanic. Kia Service who MUST change our oil and check the car over every 15,000 km to preserve the power train warranty charge that much for an oil change.