Goal Posts

By pgn
@pgntwo (22408)
Derry, Northern Ireland
February 7, 2016 8:26am CST
"Just when you think you know all the answers, they go and change all the questions." (Unknown) How many times have you been in that situation? You spend days, weeks, collecting all the info needed to complete a task, only to find that the target changes, the goal posts get moved, and you've to change direction and reset your sights in order to be in with any chance of success. As the late, great British author, Douglas Adams, has observed: “There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable." (The Restaurant at the End of the Universe) Exasperating, maybe - but bizarre is probably good. At least it is not as daunting, or as repetitive, as the proverbial eternal painting of the Forth Road rail bridge (just outside Edinburgh, pictured).
9 people like this
9 responses
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
8 Feb 16
It is beyond any human power and ability to discover and explain the universe, only God, its creator can do it.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
9 Feb 16
@pgntwo yes because many are obsessed with fame and honor, and many people want to prove they are great and worse some even want to be greater than God.
2 people like this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
8 Feb 16
It doesn't stop people trying... Heard about CERN's Large Hadron Collider? Or Stephen Hawking?
Stephen Hawking Delivers a touching account of what we know about the Universe and thoughts of where the human race is headed.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
9 Feb 16
@salonga For some, the world is not enough...
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112879)
• El Paso, Texas
8 Feb 16
Dang, that looks like it's too big, I'd hate to get stuck in the middle of that with no gas.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112879)
• El Paso, Texas
8 Feb 16
I've never been on a bridge like that so how long is it @pgntwo ?
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
8 Feb 16
It's not the longest bridge in the UK, but it does cross the Firth of Forth just north of Scotland's capital, Edinburgh. And it is almost entirely made of steel, lots of paint...
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
8 Feb 16
@rebelann Almost 8,300 feet long:
Forth Bridge was the most prominent steel structure when it became operational in 1890. The cantilever railway bridge was built across the Firth of Forth at Queensferry, west of Edinburgh.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
7 Feb 16
It happens all the time in the workplace, They keep telling you how important you are to the company. and then they say that they have to reduce headcount, and you are going to lose your job soon.
2 people like this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
7 Feb 16
Or "now", rather than "soon", alas.
1 person likes this
@nezavisima (7408)
• Bulgaria
7 Feb 16
nice picture and nice bridge I liked. Really is whenever you think that everything you know things are turning a hundred and eighty degrees and became very confused. have a nice day!
2 people like this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
7 Feb 16
The bridge is so long that by the time it has been painted once, it is time to start at the beginning to paint it again. It is a stunning bridge to travel across.
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
13 Feb 16
I studied for my degree in philosophy by going through the exam papers and questions set in previous years - one question was in every year so I smugly had my answer all prepared for it - they dropped the question from my year's test - I still passed though
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
13 Feb 16
@pgntwo totally agree - they measure your performance over three hours rather than a whole year of study leading up to it
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
13 Feb 16
The luck of the draw, I guess. I am reminded of a quote I saw in an article once, by a former head teacher from somewhere or other: Measuring intelligence by exam results is like measuring digestion by turd length. It is somewhat arbitrary...
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
7 Feb 16
That definitely sounds like something from a Douglas Adams book.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471541)
• Switzerland
7 Feb 16
This happens all the time. Interesting theory the one of the Universe, I do not believe we will ever discover, unless we all think that is absolutely random.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
7 Feb 16
Quite astute, was Douglas Adams. He used to love deadlines, especially the whooshing sound they made as they flew past him...
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
7 Feb 16
It can be so frustrating when that happens. Great photo by the way. I would hate to have to paint that as soon as they finish the have to start it all over again! Great eh!
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
7 Feb 16
A true never-ending story. Or saga.
1 person likes this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
9 Feb 16
I guess no wonder God had to hide some of these things from us
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
9 Feb 16
The thing is: some are hidden in plain sight...
1 person likes this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
9 Feb 16
@pgntwo Oooh yeah
1 person likes this