Pratchett, Going Postal

Mon, 10 Jan 2005

I recently read Terry Pratchett's newest Discworld novel, Going Postal. The whole book was very good, but even if it wasn't, it all would have been worth it for one single line.

An omniscope is one of the most powerful instruments known to magic, and therefore one of the most useless.

It can see everything, with ease. Getting it to see anything is where wonders have to be performed, because there is so much everything—which is to say, everything that can, will, has, should, or might happen in all possible universes—that anything, any previously specified thing, is very hard to find. ...

Archchancellor Ridcully thumped the side of the thing with his hand, causing it to rock.

It's still not working, Mr. Stibbons! he bellowed. Here's that damn enormous fiery eye again!

Camp, camper, campest

Tue, 5 Aug 2003

With Aquarion going on about CCDE last weekend, I’m reminded of CCDE 2001 which I attended two years ago, and at which I was supremely miserable. It was kind of like a big pub meet, but out in a field in the middle of Suffolk, and I don’t like pubs. I don’t particularly like fields either.

It’s kind of ironic that while CCDE was happening on the other side of the world, unbeknownst to me (but only because I wasn’t paying any attention), I was camping as well, in a completely different fashion.

I’m glad Kevin had fun at CCDE. I don’t know why he was thinking of not going, but I suspect it might have had something to do with me, and I’m glad he went anyway.