tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post112195179323675752..comments2024-03-28T18:17:00.135-05:00Comments on Computational Complexity: Magic is in the Eye of the BeholderLance Fortnowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752030912874378610noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1122500307533498842005-07-27T16:38:00.000-05:002005-07-27T16:38:00.000-05:00Most electrical devices won't work in Hogwarts, be...Most electrical devices won't work in Hogwarts, because there is too much magic around. This certainly includes computers, iPods etc. J.K. Rowling explains why Colin Creevey's camera does work <A HREF="http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/faq_view.cfm?id=81" REL="nofollow">here</A>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1122225772719355782005-07-24T12:22:00.000-05:002005-07-24T12:22:00.000-05:00Perfect Circle by Sean Stewart is the first novel ...<I>Perfect Circle by Sean Stewart is the first novel I've read in which someone uses google</I><BR/><BR/>Really? I've seen lots of novels in which people use google. And I mean why shouldn't they? Any novel written today about people's lives would surely be incomplete without it. (I guess I should qualify that by city folks' lives or something appropriate - I wouldn't expect a novel about a farmhand to have references to computers...). Perhaps it is more unusual in fantasy novels?<BR/><BR/>VarshaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1122098259541145922005-07-23T00:57:00.000-05:002005-07-23T00:57:00.000-05:00Perfect Circle by Sean Stewart is the first novel ...<I>Perfect Circle</I> by Sean Stewart is the first novel I've read in which someone uses google. He writes excellent fantasy, and has collected a couple World Fantasy Awards.the Robot Vegetablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15898299171712864763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1122091479534787972005-07-22T23:04:00.000-05:002005-07-22T23:04:00.000-05:00In a typical NP-complete proof, it's trivial to pr...In a typical NP-complete proof, it's trivial to present an efficient verifier since it has a purported proof as input to check. <BR/><BR/>Similar in spirit, it's easy to say that the mystery can be solved quickly when we already know the answer. <BR/><BR/>My interpretation is that the Prince pretends to be pure blood, which will imply the name is a secret to most people. (Recall that a certain character who knows the Prince does not know this nickname.)<BR/><BR/>Searching the entire alumni record with the word "PRINCE" might fetch the right entry along with a lot of junk. So it might be on page 3 of a google search.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1122056090644253892005-07-22T13:14:00.000-05:002005-07-22T13:14:00.000-05:00Come on, the name is not just a self-styled nickna...Come on, the name is not just a self-styled nickname. And searching the database is not a dead end, not that this info helps the reader...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1122055225333417862005-07-22T13:00:00.000-05:002005-07-22T13:00:00.000-05:00"If Hermione could only google "half-blood prince"..."If Hermione could only google "half-blood prince" she wouldn't have to spend so much time in the library."<BR/><BR/>I won't spoil the surprise, but the book gives enough evidence to support that the name is a self-titled nickname no one besides the Prince knows. So a google search would yield no information. <BR/><BR/>The next logical thing to search the school database for Prince, which is what Hermione ends up doing. This is also a dead end. <BR/><BR/>So no, computers won't help Hermione in solving this mystery.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1122006092326429062005-07-21T23:21:00.000-05:002005-07-21T23:21:00.000-05:00I guess ability to apparate would be better than f...I guess ability to apparate would be better than flying on a broom. And there's still some time before science can give us that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1121995793482801072005-07-21T20:29:00.000-05:002005-07-21T20:29:00.000-05:00They do have radios! In book 2 (I think), there is...They do have radios! In book 2 (I think), there is reference to the wireless (which is radio, I think) on which Harry encounters wizarding bands, for the very first time. And then Dumbledore engages a band (for the Christmas party) in book 4 which many of the kids had heard on wireless and were highly enthusiastic about... <BR/><BR/>ShobhaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1121987633484750242005-07-21T18:13:00.000-05:002005-07-21T18:13:00.000-05:00It's more that I'd have too much fun flying to eve...It's more that I'd have too much fun flying to even want to consider other means of consuming leasure. Or, to use an American phrase, to Play Hard.Macneil Shonlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16382866616548432101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1121977386013475902005-07-21T15:23:00.000-05:002005-07-21T15:23:00.000-05:00" But if I could fly on a broom (or whatever) I pr..." But if I could fly on a broom (or whatever) I probably wouldn't find myself using iPods much at all anyway."<BR/><BR/>How fast is such a hypothetical broom able to go? I think going 50 on a broom would be very uncomfortable. So the trip would still take some time. Or is it just the broom's can only interface with other, less trendy mp3 players?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1121968618057363122005-07-21T12:56:00.000-05:002005-07-21T12:56:00.000-05:00But if I could fly on a broom (or whatever) I prob...But if I could fly on a broom (or whatever) I probably wouldn't find myself using iPods much at all anyway.Macneil Shonlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16382866616548432101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1121962340734966182005-07-21T11:12:00.000-05:002005-07-21T11:12:00.000-05:00ALOT of what the wizards do we CAN dowith technolo...ALOT of what the wizards do we CAN do<BR/>with technology, and in some cases<BR/>BETTER than they can do.<BR/>WHEN are the books supposed to take place.<BR/>There was a Car in Book 2 so it can't be<BR/>THAT far back. <BR/>The SCREAMING LETTERS in book 2 can NOW<BR/>be done by email. And email is faster<BR/>and less messy than having birds deliver<BR/>your mail. Do they use Quill pens?<BR/>I'll take LaTeX.<BR/><BR/>I'm reminded of an episode of LOIS AND CLARK where Perry White the editor tells<BR/>Jimmy Olsen<BR/><BR/>Since you are about to write your first<BR/>news story I'll let you use this<BR/>typewriter that belonged to <BR/>SOME FAMOUS REPORTER-- its been around<BR/>the world.<BR/><BR/>Good symbolic gesture, but I'd rather<BR/>use a word processor. Jimmy used<BR/>the typewriter and seemed happy with it.GASARCHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06134382469361359081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1121956981840383312005-07-21T09:43:00.000-05:002005-07-21T09:43:00.000-05:00How does one get tenure at Hogwarts?How does one get tenure at Hogwarts?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com