So I'm reading an annotated version of Alice in Wonderland, and the topic of the immortal riddle "Why is a Raven like a writing-desk?" We all know that originally there was no intended answer, but Lewis Caroll later invented the answer "Because it can produce a few notes, tho they are very flat; and it is nevar put with the wrong end in front." Note that "nevar" is "raven" backwards.
The annotated version presents the following alternate answers. What's your favorite?
"Both have quills dipped in ink."
"Because it slopes with a flap."
"Because without them both 'Brave New World' could not have been written."
"Because one has flapping fits and and the other fitting flaps."
"Because one is good for writing books and the other better for biting rooks."
"Because a writing-desk is a rest for pens and a raven is a pest for wrens."
"Because 'raven' has five letters, which you might equally well expect to find in a writing-desk."
"Because they are both used to carri-on decomposition."
"Because they both tend to present unkind bills."
"Because they both have a flap in oak."
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Zeke: It comes nateurally to him.
mudshark: I don't expect Nate to make sense, really -- it's just a bad idea.
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Adam Savage: I reject your reality and substitute my own!
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Crow T. Robot: Oh, stop pretending there's a plot. Don't cheapen yourself further.
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