Swiss Cheese Model, Murphy's Law and Feng Shui

As the Archbishop said to the Selfish Gene…

Archbishop: It’s Friday the 13^th.

Selfish Gene: So?

Archbishop: Bad things might happen.

Selfish Gene: Superstitious nonsense.

Archbishop: You believe in Murphy's Law.

Selfish Gene: That’s not superstition. That’s science.

Archbishop: How so?

Selfish Gene: Example: Swiss cheese model. When the holes line up, the bad event flies through, unhindered … you’ve got a Murphy situation. Like the Air France 447 incident. Scientific explanation for bad luck.

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Voice-over

A new Murphy Law? The holes in Swiss cheese will be in alignment at the worst possible moment.

Feng shui has science behind it too. Don’t build a house where, if you open the front door, you can see clearly through to the back door. The good energy will rush through the house without stopping.

While we're about it, how about a new feng shui law? Arrange the holes in slices of Swiss cheese so there is no clear through path.

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Laughing at Murphy

Two approaches to Murphy…

I’m too strong for Murphy. He never comes near me.
Hmmm. You were checking your phone while driving and then ran into the back of a truck? And then the next day your phone stopped working? And then because your phone wasn’t working you missed a job interview? That’s not Murphy? I would have just said Murphy jumped out onto the road.
Not Murphy. Coincidence!
That’s what Murphy is. Coincidental cluster of bad luck. A series of unfortunate events.
Anyway, I’m stronger than Murphy.
You don’t fight Murphy by trying to be stronger than him. You LAUGH at him. That’s why there are Murphy’s Laws. ”Whatever CAN go wrong, WILL go wrong.” You laugh out loud. Murphy HATES that. He runs away and hides. As long as you keep laughing he stays away.
He comes back?
He comes back when you get stressed and stop laughing at life. He loves playing around with serious and stressed-out people.  Easy meat for him. Laughing people aren’t.

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Voice-over
Expressions signifying being in denial:
Superlatives. “I’m too strong…”
A counter explanation: “Not Murphy! Coincidence!”

But laughing at Murphy may also be another kind of denial. He’s unpredictable. “If you predict a Murphy event will happen, it will not.”
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