free will
Today’s question: Given the importance the eldrae place on free will and freedom of action, what’s their take on the idea of weakness of will? Well, let’s ask, shall we? parabulia: A family of mental dysfunctions manifesting as deficiency of qalasĂr. Sufferers manifest decreased energy, inability to
trope-a-day
Laser Blade: Dear gods, no. Firstly and perhaps most importantly, light does not work that way. Most specifically, it does not stop. Apart from that, you could try and fake it with a hot plasma bottle – if you want a melee weapon that sets everything around it, including you, on
blogging from a to z
(No alternate words.) From Academician MĂşĂrĂ Larathyr-ith-Lyrian, Fellow of the Sodality of Commutative Logotecture, Associate Proctor of the Conclave of Linguistics and Ontology, Loremaster of Linguistics, Semiotics, and Memetics, to the Ecumenical Commission of Translation and Conversion, greetings. With respect to the views of the Commission and those expressed by
trope-a-day
Kaleidoscope Hair: As was mentioned back under You Gotta Have Blue Hair, there is a certain shampoo which is specifically designed, via hair-clinging nanites, to let your turn your hair into an active LCD display surface. (For a week or two until it starts wearing off, although you may get
blogging from a to z
(Alternate words: kindergarten, kinetic.) BLACKFALL’S LANDING, KAMEQÓ – [Informational: Until 27 hours previous to message dispatch, the city of Blackfall’s Landing was designated as Ilin Var; such codings may still be in use.] Another coup has rocked the former Whatever of Kameqó today with the ascension of Lord Blackfall,
trope-a-day
Jet Pack: They exist. Mostly used in conjunction with combat exoskeletons or their civilian industrial counterparts, to avoid the, uh, Toasted Buns problem, and also the need for a fairly elaborate harness to avoid a painful and undignified jet-wedgie. (While obviously avoidable with a larger framework that keeps the jets
blogging from a to z
(No alternate words.) “Violet diamond,” said the jeweller, peering at the gemstone through his optronic loupe. “A genuine rarity, if it is. Genuine, that is. Nearly three hundred grains, uncut. High clarity. And – ah, not flawless. One very slight inclusion. Excellent.” “Ah, I — that’s a good thing?” “It is
trope-a-day
Internet Incorporated: Averted in theory: both the Empire’s dataweave and the interstellar extranet are networks of networks, just like the Internet, operating in decentralized fashion, with no central company, organization, government agency, etc., which controls the whole of it. (Except locally in certain repressive polities.) In practice, well, that
blogging from a to z
(Today, two words for the price of one!) The fragrant smoke of jernja cigars drifted across the fantastically carved wooden balcony of the building, one of the many in the Repository of All Knowledge’s complex, where two eldrae were enjoying the changing light as twilight fell across CalmirĂĂ«. “Have
trope-a-day
Which Restroom Dilemma: While not a scheduled or even listed trope for today, in response to recent annoying news from one of the galaxy’s unenlightened backwaters, the Core Worlds Committee for the Promulgation of Social Virtue and Elegance (CWCPSVE) wishes to inform everyone that in civilized parts of the
recommendations
Thinking briefly of things other than today’s challenge, I’d like to draw the attention of interested readers to the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfic Friendship is Optimal. (Trope page here; story here.) Specifically, with relevance to the Eldraeverse where seed AIs are concerned. Namely, inasmuch as
trope-a-day
Holy Is Not Safe: Anything made, shaped, or Vorlon-touched by a weakly godlike superintelligence may be holy, but is also very likely to be powerful enough to be catastrophically dangerous if misused, mishandled, or otherwise generally mucked about with. (Especially things like, say, the Eye of ElmirĂĂ«n, which is to