It's obvious

[Bill Le May]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
> Of Joel S. Berson
> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 5:26 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: It's obvious
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> Subject:      Re: It's obvious
>
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>
> I have now recalled another "it's obvious" tale, told to or read by
> me I cannot recall when:
>
> The professor of mathematics is at the lecture hall blackboard,
> writing out a proof.  As he writes one step, he remarks "this step is
> obvious".  He looks again, pauses, steps back, and pauses some
> more.  Then he says "excuse me" and leaves the room.  About 40
> minutes later he returns, says "yes it's obvious", and continues
> writing the proof.
>
> I don't think I'm confusing this with a cartoon; my visual memory is
> pretty strong.

I remember this, too. I want to say it was in an Alan Watts book, but I'm
not sure.

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