On Thu, 4 Dec 2003, David Silberstein wrote:
> >> On Thu, 4 Dec 2003, Philip Hart wrote:
> >I believe oracularity is an official trait of Tiassas - see Mark
> >Mandel's page.
> >
>
> Yes, and I think he put "oracle" in there because, prior to /The
> Phoenix Guards/, the only Tiassa we had met with any noticible role
> was that same oracle. Khaavren appears in that same book, but, as
> noted in a prior post, has only a brief and non-speaking part.
>
> In other words, he was generalizing from one example.
>
> At this point, it should really have "Captain of the Phoenix Guards"
> and "Countess of Adrilankha" and "Pyrologist" and, er, something else
> which would be a spoiler for LoCB, under the "Occupation" heading,
> since we have now become acquainted somewhat more familiarly with at
> least 4 more Tiassas (I have left out Roaanac & Roaana & Malypon,
> since I am not sure that "Tiassa Heir" is really an occupation).
Khaavren refers to his house's insight or foresight in FHYA, I believe, as
does Daro. And Pyrology has a strong overlap with oraclism.
> >For once I wish an oracular pronouncement would be just wrong, but
> >it's too much fun for authors to avoid.
> If the pronouncement is wrong, then obviously the oracle was not
> really an oracle.
Yep, or a god intervened, or who knows. As it is we're in butler-did-it
territory.
> >> I have sometimes toyed with the notion that, if one were to be granted
> >> 3 wishes, that the first wish would be to instantly know the
> >> consequences of all of ones actions (and as long as we're wishing,
> >> ones inactions).
> >
> >I believe this runs into paradox - see philosphers on the concept of
> >a Book of Knowledge.
>
> Ah, Goedel. Ruining everything with that darned incompleteness.
I don't think this concerned axiomatic arithmetic - I can look on the web
if you care.
> >> No doubt such an ability would have its own pitfalls.
> >
> >Destroying the universe might be considered a pitfall.
>
> Not destroying the universe might also be considered a pitfall.
An old poem from my days working underground at an accelerator in Geneva
(hence beam - also Slimos refers to the shift safety responsible, PB
and EB were parts of the detector, and the letters designate particles):
Song of the Happy Slimos
Late at night on shift you start to wonder about the beam.
Are electrons claustrophobic? Can you hear the bunches scream
As they hurtle towards each other? Do the Z's have time to pray
For an extra femtosecond before they violently decay?
Do the K's and pi's feel helpless as the magnet makes them curve?
Does PB say to EB, "We must take what we deserve"?
Are aliens kept frozen in the liquid He vats?
Are the tunnels ruled by giant, glowing, radioactive rats?
Are the things that live in darkness in the dirt outside the hall
Slowing gnawing on the concrete? Are we really just in thrall
To the whims of our computers? Does Vax control us all?
Is this data really useful? Does God think it a crime
To investigate his secrets, or are we just wasting time?
If someone destroys the universe, we will start again from scratch.
If you point me towards the fuse I think that I can find a match.