Andrew Moore's Blog, page 55

Addender

The term "totality matrix," however, is still available so far as I'm aware.

Addendum

I need a new religion because I've been thrown into despair at not getting to use the phrase "path of totality" for something much cooler.

Solar Eclipse

We're all supposed to believe in a new religion now, right? Nobody's told me which one yet. Surely some prophet somewhere called that the day would be a tiny bit darker for a little while.

A Question of Succession

The king summoned his three sons to determine who was best suited to have the kingdom pass into his hands. First he asked the eldest, "What are the duties of a king?"
"Googagoo."
Second he asked the middle son, "What is the meaning of justice?"
"Ugaa!"
Third he asked the youngest, "How is peace best maintained?"
"Gagooga?"
Perceiving that none of his sons were worthy on account of being babies, he designated as his heir the man he thought most capable of ruling after him. His subjects rejoiced at his wisdom and the secure future they saw.
Moral: Hereditary rule is a terrible practice.
The heir increased his support with the people and within the palace until he felt secure in his influence. Then he murdered the king and took the throne. However, he misjudged, and the kingdom fell into years of ruinous strife.
Moral: Hereditary rule may have been dismissed too quickly back there.
At last a great man rose above the chaos and settled the land, afterwards ascending to the kingship. He ruled excellently, his son ably, and his grandson squandered the treasury and turned everyone against him.
Moral: No idea.
Finis

Thoughts on Millennia

I mean the hot new strategy game, which you might not know, because it's called Millennia. In the modern era, don't you have departments to make sure your game's title is reasonably searchable? I haven't played it, so that's my only thought.

Science Corner

Q. How does a warrior handle atmospheric reentry?
A. By surfing down on his shield.
Q. He doesn't have a shield.
A. By surfing down on his two-handed sword.
Q. He has two swords.
A. Skiing.

Addender

What year sounds really old? 1969.

Addendum

Maybe the new Dune movie has been out for some time now, but I wanted to talk about the future. What year sounds futuristic? I'm not sure I can accept anything before 3000. Maybe 2800 would do it, though that has an Atari kind of ring that diminishes it. 2940 might be the earliest future year.

Dune: Double Indemnity Is Out

So when do we reboot Dune with a bold new vision? 2031? Man, that still reads like a future year. I blame Phantom 2040.

Asymmetrical Literature

It's the latest fad! Books for two readers. One reads the dialogue and the other reads everything else. That way a pair of people create a new story experience through their decisions. Do they read it out loud? Does one of them hide information? Transformational. The technical hurdles are easy. You just make the ebook two files, one for player one and the other for the lesser partner.