Now that I'm out of Cabinet and twiddling my thumbs, I've decided to start a new thread modelled on many others I've seen across NS.

Essentially, I invite you all to seek wisdom from me, by entrusting me with your deepest questions. I will then impart my wisdom upon you all, so you may go forth armed with my all knowing truths.

Or, you can just ask me any stupid question, and I'll try to come up with some sort of answer. It can be philisophical, political, personal, or banal or completely off the wall. It can be RL or NS related. Whatever the type of question - I'm game and open minded.

And, if it turns out that this is the stupidest thread ever, it will quickly fall its way to the bottom of the page, and we'll never speak of this again...

This could be entertaining. I hope it doesn't sink to the bottom of the Forum. I'll start then...

O wisened Oracle: I seek you knowledge as to why humans, as a species, seemingly destroy everything they create.

(Predictable I concede, but an opener nontheless)

Wow. Deep.

There are many theories as to why humans seem to cause so much harm to the world around them. Some suggest that the competitive nature of competing civilizations and nations is to blame. Others will blame a Capitalist mode of wealth accumulation. Others still blame an unyielding faith in science to create long term solutions that remedy the messes humans create in the short term. Another factor is human life spans - it is easy to start to destroy something when you will receive all of the benefits in the short term, and other generations will suffer the consequences in the long term.

The common thread in all of this is selfishness. It would seem that too many humans, in general, are self interested maximizers:
- They will use what they can before a competing group uses it before they get to;
- They will develop wealth for themselves in the short term, unconcerned of longer term implications;
- They will rationalize over production and over use of resources arguing that science will magically solve any future problems; and
- they know full well that in most cases, they'll be dead long before their actions impact them, hence there is no consequence for acting in a quasi-destructive manner.

Even when it comes to philosophies, ideologies, creeds and religions, humans have a competitive and selfish need to be "right", which results in much bloodshed and destruction of one another, even if such bloodshed is usually opposed to some of the basic fundamentals of the said philosophies, ideologies, creeds and religions.

In essence, our relatively short lifespan allows us to be selfish and act to the detriment of this planet, for we know we'll be dead long before we have to suffer the consequences of most of our actions. This culture of selfishness then breeds hatred between competing peoples, which causes destruction not only to our natural environment, but to social constructs like societies, nations, governments and civilizations.

That was way more cerebral than I thought it would be.

O Great Bweezy, Knower of All Worthy of Knowingness,

Why does today's dinner always taste better as tomorrows leftovers?

It is all an illusion. Leftovers do not taste better than the same-day meal. Allow me to demonstrate:

Today's meal may require the considerable EXPENSE of 30-90 minutes of prep time, while tomorrow's leftovers require nothing more than 30-90 seconds in a microwave - it is a meal that is FREE of effort.

The illusion of enhanced taste of leftover is a manifestation of the ratio of effort in meal preparation as compared to each unit of flavour and taste. Overall flavour compared to the ratio of time, money and energy expended upon the preparation of the leftover meal is much higher.

Essentially, it is an illusion. Leftovers do not taste better. Rather, each unit of flavour compared to the overall expense of time and effort in preparing the leftovers is greater, thereby giving you the illusion that the leftovers taste better.

O wise oracle, when will the NHL lockout endith?

A tentative deal will be reached December 2, 2005. Games will resume the week of January 15, 2006. Unless the NHL goes ahead and uses replacement players in September of 2005, and several hundred players cross the line - in which case all bets are off.

There's a fortune in minerals just floating around in the asteroid belt. So how come no-one has decided to grab themselves a piece?

(For a treatise on the economics, see A Step Further Out vols 1&2 by Jerry Pournelle)

The economics of such mineral exploitation are all wrong at the present time - the costs of retrieving such minerals exceed the revenues to be generated by such exploitation. Secondly, there are no clear rules or laws which permit anyone to claim ownership of such mineral rights, making exploitation of space minerals that much riskier from a profit standpoint.

Oh great know-it-all with the grumpy pants :hail:

please tell me; how may entropy be reversed? (re: great Asimov short story) ;)

Sorry - this turned into a double post. Why don't members have the ability to delete posts in the OOC forums??

For so much power is not meant to be entrusted in the hands of the people...

(wait, was that a question to me, or was it rhetorical? B)

The question above it was for you (silly oracle). The other question was part rhetorical and part a hope that the admin would take it under advisement.

I direct the subject to the following resource, which provides an answer to your question.

http://www.halexandria.org/dward145.htm

Oh great oracle...

what is the answer to life, the universe, and everything?

Lelana

Life only has true meaning when you devote your life to discovering your inner Bweezy.

:huh:

:blink:

:unsure:

:ph43r:

O brainy Bweezy, why must things end?

Who will be the Greatest Canadian? -_-

I think mine's called Stan.

Oh mighty Oracle, when will all the stupid people realize I'm right and they're wrong?

Surely you're smart enough answer that yourself, right? :P

:lol:

Bweezy, why does my head hurt right now? :(

Much like you cannot have life without death, you cannot have a beginning without an end. It is a necessary consequence of the linear existance of those who dwell within this dimension.

I am the greatest Canadian. To quote another Canadian, I am the best there is, the best there was and that best there ever will be.

But because I'm don't suck up to the CBC, they'll have you believe it is Pierre Trudeau.

They never will, for they are stupid, and will always lack the necessary capacity to realize this fact.

You lack proper hydration. Drink some water. Either that, or lay off the hooch.

:lol:

This is a two part question oh wonderful oracle. First, why is there air? secondly, why did I break every rule I set for myself(i was planning to not get drunk... or high for rhat matter, but no, I did not.)

Wonderful Oracle, why cannot I not enjoy the benefits of a full nights sleep like most people?

I want to know the answer to MrPopo's too... might help me ...

anyway,

O Mightly Oracle, would it be back if i stole the idea of this thread and used it on TWP forums?

(i knowyou said you have seen this same idea.. still i am wondering)

1. There is air because the temperatures of this planet are such that several elements occur only in a gaseus state. Couple with gravitational forces, it creates air.

2. You break every rule because you put a premium on short term fun, and are either willing to risk the long term consequences, or have not thought of the long term consequences of your actions. Or maybe you're just undisciplined, in which case, I suggest you get your ass down to boot camp on the double!

This is likely attributable to a number of factors.
1. Your diet likely contributes -stay away from the caffeine and stimulants.
2. Your biological clock is likely out of whack - if you are prone to staying up late, it will interfere with your good night's sleep. Learn to go to bed at a regular, early hour.
3. If you have a mental illness, such a depression, your sleep will likely be affected. If you believe to be depressed or suffer from another related disorder, talk to your physician. He or she might be able to help.

Most likely, you have a deep dark secret, weighing heavily upon you, preventing you from sleeping. I think now is the time for you to confess about that weekend you had with the 12 pack of Molson's, the bad of doritos, the tub of vaseline, and the Llama from the zoo...

I stole this idea from other forums, including the SP's "Ask Fudgie Anything". As such, I have no objection, given that I this, in itself, is a rip off of someone else's idea.

I suppose if your religion forbids stealing, you shouldn't do it. However, I am not encumbered by such a consideration, and went ahead and took the idea for my own purposes.

Therefore, depending on your belief system, my path may not be appropriate for you.

Oracale, why do the weekends go by so fast?

because they're 250% shorter than the rest of the week.

Oracle, will you do my homework for me?

Huh. And here I thought the answer was 42.

No, for the path to true wisdom is through overcoming personal challenges. That, and I think you should get off your lazy ass and do it yourself :P