Subject: Ackanomic Digest V1 #64
From: [email-masked] (Ackanomic Digest)
To: ackanomic-digest

Ackanomic Digest         Sunday, June 23 1996         Volume 01 : Number 064

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 08:52:53 +0300 (EET DST)
From: Uri Bruck <[email-masked]>
Subject: Returning from vacation

It is Sunday morning, and I am announcing that I am returning from
vacation.

Nicolo Flychuck

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 96 4:25:19 EDT 
From: [email-masked] ()
Subject: Ackanomic: Proposal 910

Proposal 910 - Sun Jun 23 04:25:19 EDT 1996
Overuse of R451
/dev/joe  (Joseph DeVincentis)

1. Amend Rule 112 'At Least One Mutable Rule'.
   Change the word 'inpermissible' to 'impermissible'.

2. Amend Rule 218 'Registered Players'.
   Change the word 'parrticipate' to 'participate'.

3. Amend Rule 306 'The Magic Potato, Creation of'.
   Change the word 'chosing' to 'choosing'.   
   [[not 'choking', as ispell suggested. :-) ]]

4. Amend Rule 414 'The Office of the Tabulator'.
   Change the word 'Tabluator' to 'Tabulator'.
   Change the word 'priveledge' to 'privilege'.
   Change the word 'Delagates' to 'Delegates'.
   Change the word 'priveledges' to 'privileges'.

[[Don't amend 451 to change 'mispelled' to 'misspelled'. 
  This is the cute kind of thing that gives flavor to the game,
  and it looks intentional.]]

5. Amend Rule 457 'Vacationing'.
   Change the word 'help' to 'held'.
  [[ in 'The duties of any offices help by the player shall be performed...' ]]

6. Amend Rule 463 'Voting Options'.
   Change the word 'determing' to 'determining'.

7. Amend rule 508 'Justices Rock'.
   Change the word 'Presidental' to 'Presidential'.

8. Amend rule 514 'Contracts, Creation of'.
   In part (i), change the word 'recieved' to 'received', and change the
     word 'indentical' to 'identical'.
   In part (v), change the word 'existance' to 'existence'.
   Change the word 'non-Enforcable' to 'non-Enforceable' each time it
     appears (parts (iv) and (vi)).
   Change the word 'Enforcable' to 'Enforceable' each time it appears
     (parts (ii), (iii), and (v)).

9. Amend rule 542 'Creation Political Parties'.
   Change the word 'Politcal' to 'Political'.

10. Amend rule 545 'Notes and Comments'.
   Change the word 'doube' to 'double'.
   Change the word 'completly' to 'completely'.
   Change the word 'expilcitly' to 'explicitly'.  
   [[This rule needs other fixes]]

11. Amend rule 551 'Contracts, Preventing Abuse'.
   Change 'non-Enforcable' to 'non-Enforceable' in part (i)b)4).
   Change the word 'Enforcable' to 'Enforceable' each time it appears
     (parts (i)a) (twice), (ii)a), and (ii)c)).

12. Amend rule 554 'Tammany, Creation of'.
   In part (v), change 'recieved' to 'received'.
   In part (viii), change 'inadvertantly' to 'inadvertently'.

13. Amend rule 566 'Tools IV'.
   Change the word 'atributed' to 'attributed'.

14. Amend rule 569 'Overturning Judgements'.
   Change the word 'apeal' to 'appeal' each time it appears (6 times).
   Change the word 'frivously' to 'frivolously'.
   Change the word 'appelate' to 'appellate'.

15. Amend rule 570 'Player Names'.
   Change the word 'refering' to 'referring'.
   Change 'aphanumberic' to 'alphanumeric' (in the comment at the end).
   Change 'superceeds' to 'takes precedence over' and 'Register' to
     'Registrar' in the sentence "This clause superceeds any
     mutable rule which would deny the Register these duties and
     rights."

16. Amend rule 571 'Changing Player Names'.
   Change the word 'anounces' to 'announces'.
   Change the word 'sents' to 'sends'.

17. Amend rule 578 'Retracting CFJ's'.
   Change the word 'CFG' to 'CFJ'.

18. Amend rule 583 'The Ambassador, Creation of'.
   Delete '[sp?]'.  [[ This was after 'endeavour'. ]]

19. Amend rule 589 'Invoking Judgement'.
   Change the word 'inherintly' to 'inherently'.
   Change the word 'ammend' to 'amend' both times it appears.

20. Amend rule 593 'The Inventor, Creation of'.
   Change the word 'concensus' to 'consensus'.

21. Amend rule 604 'After a Name Change'.
   Change the word "CJF's" to "CFJ's".

22. Amend rule 607 'File Clerk, Creation of'.
   Change 'recieving' to 'receiving' in part (iii)a).
   Change 'Enforcable' to 'Enforceable' each time it appears
     (parts (iii)b), (iii)c), (iii)d), and (iv)b))
   Change 'non-Enforcable' to 'non-Enforceable' in part (iv)b).
   Change 'precendence' to 'precedence' in part (v).

23. Amend rule 615 'Speaker, Creation of'.
   Change 'precendence' to 'precedence' in part (iv).

24. Amend rule 648 'Confirmation Procedure'.
   Change 'comfirmed' to 'confirmed'.

25. Amend rule 666 'End of Cycle'.
   Change 'Chartruese' to 'Chartreuse' each time it appears (twice).

26. Amend rule 682 'For Personal Glory'.
   Change 'apear' to 'appear'.
   Change 'enaction' to 'enactment'.

27. Amend rule 683 'ExtraNomic Entites.'.
   Change the title to 'ExtraNomic Entities'.

28. Amend rule 709 'Gaol, Creation of'.
   Change 'silmultaneously' to 'simultaneously'.
   Change 'superceeds' to 'takes precedence over'.

29. Amend rule 710 'Criminal Justice'.
   Change the word 'TRANSFERRENCE' to 'TRANSFERENCE'.
   Change 'superceeds' to 'takes precedence over'.

30. Amend rule 712 'Gaoler, Creation of'.
   Change 'Priviledges' to 'Privileges' in part (iv).

31. Amend rule 721 'R. Organizations'.
   Change 'Acaknomic' to 'Ackanomic'.

32. Amend rule 726 'R. Party Hall'.
   Change 'represenatative' to 'representative'.

33. Amend rule 767 'Nothing Important'.
   Change 'spontaneous' to 'spontaneously'.

34. Amend rule 775 'Church, Creation of'.
   Change 'anouncement' to 'announcement' in parts 2d (twice), 7c, and 8e.
   Change 'infomation' to 'information' in part 2d.
   Change 'duites' to 'duties' in part 4d.
   Change 'apublic' to 'a public' in part 8e.

35. Amend rule 779 'Succession Proceedings'.
   Change 'ineligable' to 'ineligible' in part 4a twice.
   Change 'regretablly' to 'regrettably' in part 5a.
   Change 'equivelent' to 'equivalent' in part 5a.
   Change 'superceeds' to 'takes precedence over' in parts 5a and 5b.
   Change 'privelege' to 'privilege' in part 5a.
   Change 'Permissability' to 'Permissibility' in part 5a.

36. Amend rule 786 'Gadgets, Creation of'.
   Change 'Privelege' to 'Privilege' in part (iii).
   Change 'offerred' to 'offered' in part (iii)e).
   Change 'Priveleges' to 'Privileges' in part (iv).

37. Amend rule 790 'Fat Lady, Creation of'.
   Change 'Acknomic' to 'Ackanomic'.
   Change 'untill' to 'until'.
   Change 'This rule take precendence' to 'This rule takes precedence'.

38. Amend rule 797 'Festival of Torkola'.
   Change 'superceeds' to 'takes precedence over' in parts 4 and 5b.
   Change 'distributation' to 'distribution' in part 5b twice.
   Change 'priveledges' to 'privileges' in part 5b.
   Change 'priveledge' to 'privilege' in part 5b twice.

39. Amend rule 798 'Palindromes are Inherently Amusing'.
   Change 'accessable' to 'accessible'.

40. Amend rule 826 'Acid Rain Dance, Creation of'.
   Change 'decription' to 'description'.
   Change 'Immediatly' to 'Immediately'.

41. Amend rule 829 'Handling Paradox Wins'.
   Change 'permissable' to 'permissible'. 

42. Amend rule 867 'Eggs and Fruit'.
   Change 'Chartruese' to 'Chartreuse' each time it occurs (5 times).
   
43. Amend rule 870 'Self Deleting Text'.
   Change 'superceeds' to 'takes precedence over'.

44. Amend rule 894 'Map, Creation of'.
   Change 'boundries' to 'boundaries'.
   Change 'non-existance' to 'non-existence' twice.

45. Amend rule 906 'Restrictions on Points'.
   Change 'thier' to 'their'.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 13:15:03 -0700
From: Malenkai <[email-masked]>
Subject: Acka: RFC: Rotating Justice

We have now had 3 proposals fail which attempt to define a procedure
for "rotating" CFJ duties, ie, attempt a more even distribution of CFJ
assignments, or at least assure every player gets to be judge once in
a while.

I am attempting to guage whether its the *idea*, or *implementation*,
that people have been objecting to.

I strongly favor rotating justice for the following two benefits: It
can bring in diverse opinions, and can get less active players more
involved in the game.

I thus would like comment on if people like the *idea*, and any comment
on an *inplementation* which would gain broad based support.

Malenkai

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 96 13:43:09 -0400
From: this is not a name <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Ackanomic: Proposal 910

>Proposal 910 - Sun Jun 23 04:25:19 EDT 1996
>Overuse of R451
>/dev/joe  (Joseph DeVincentis)
>
>1. Amend Rule 112 'At Least One Mutable Rule'.
>   Change the word 'inpermissible' to 'impermissible'.
[etc, etc, etc]

Spelling errors are part of the beauty of the rule set. That's why we 
have R451. Vote NO on 910. Protect the rules.

this is not a name
[email-masked]
Historian
File Clerk
Priest, Church of the Markovian Dream
Party Hall Swinger for (None Yet)

- --
        Mike Epstein     [email-masked]     Long Island, NY
         "I would have made a good Pope." --Richard M. Nixon          
http://www.nyiq.net/~epstein/          Finger for PGP 2.6.2 public key

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 96 13:44:32 -0400
From: this is not a name <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Acka: RFC: Rotating Justice

Malenkai wrote:
>I strongly favor rotating justice for the following two benefits: It
>can bring in diverse opinions, and can get less active players more
>involved in the game.

As do I, for the same reasons.

I liked the proposal with the judging index (or whatever it was called) 
starting at 4. So I can't speak for people who opposed it.

this is not a name
[email-masked]
Historian
File Clerk
Priest, Church of the Markovian Dream
Party Hall Swinger for (None Yet)

- --
        Mike Epstein     [email-masked]     Long Island, NY
         Roses are red / Violets are blue / Some poems rhyme
http://www.nyiq.net/~epstein/          Finger for PGP 2.6.2 public key

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 13:45:03 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Joseph W. DeVincentis" <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Ackanomic: Proposal 910

> >Proposal 910 - Sun Jun 23 04:25:19 EDT 1996
> >Overuse of R451
> >/dev/joe  (Joseph DeVincentis)
> >
> >1. Amend Rule 112 'At Least One Mutable Rule'.
> >   Change the word 'inpermissible' to 'impermissible'.
> [etc, etc, etc]
> 
> Spelling errors are part of the beauty of the rule set. That's why we 
> have R451. Vote NO on 910. Protect the rules.

Spelling errors are, in general, part of the ugliness of the rule set.
Rule 451 is a crutch, so that a misspelled word in an important rule
doesn't break the entire game.  My proposal will leave the word "mispelled"
in Rule 451 as it is, because that kind of error in that rule is cute, and
perhaps intentional.

There are a few spelling errors on that list that somebody might argue
are ambiguous, making rule 451 not apply, and in the extreme case might
cause some rules to function improperly.

Vote YES on P910.

Note that I'm not planning on submitting a spelling-fix proposal every time
a misspelling enters the rules.  This is just to catch up on 5 months of
bad spelling by everybody.  Note that over 100 spelling errors in 45 of
our 145 rules are included in this proposal.

- --
/dev/joe   Joseph DeVincentis   [email-masked]
Postmaster    President    Web-Harfer    Acting Registrar
Swinger for Nobs    Living in /dev/house    Wearing a Prosthetic Forehead

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 14:11:50 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Joseph W. DeVincentis" <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Acka: RFC: Rotating Justice

> We have now had 3 proposals fail which attempt to define a procedure
> for "rotating" CFJ duties, ie, attempt a more even distribution of CFJ
> assignments, or at least assure every player gets to be judge once in
> a while.

> I am attempting to guage whether its the *idea*, or *implementation*,
> that people have been objecting to.

For me, it's implementation.

OK, here are the three proposals, summarized:

P748 (Malenkai)
  A player who has been selected as a judge is ineligible to judge again
  until there's a time when no player is eligible to judge some CFJ.
P811 (Niccolo Flychuck)
  This one creates a Judgement Index for each player, and each player's
  chance of being selected as a judge is proportional to his JI.  When
  a judge is selected, his JI decreases by 1; if no player's JI is 4 then
  all JI's are increased by one.
P862 (Niccolo Flychuck)
  This one would not allow a person to be selected as first judge for 3
  CFJ's after one he has been selected to judge, or as second judge for
  2 CFJ's after one he has been selected to judge.

I voted against 748 because I didn't like the possibility of there being
a time when only one player is eligible to be selected as the judge for
the next CFJ.

I voted against 811 because I thought it was too complicated.

I voted for 862, although it isn't perfect -- it doesn't take into account
the fact that judges may be selected for CFJ's out of order, i.e., it
should also say that a player may not be selected as the second (or
third, etc.) judge on a CFJ if he's already been selected as first judge
for one of the next 3 CFJ's or as second judge for one of the next two.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 14:39:43 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Joseph W. DeVincentis" <[email-masked]>
Subject: Acka: Official: Awards Ceremony

As President, I am exercising rule 549 to award Blue Crosses to those
players eligible for them.

Robert Sevin did not have a Blue Cross at the end of his term as President,
so I hereby award him one.

Mohammed did not have a Blue Cross at the end of his term as Senator, so
I hereby award him one.

Calvin N Hobbes and Malenkai have each had more than 20 of their proposals
pass.  I hereby award each of them a Blue Cross.

These players may now begin their work toward Silver Stripes.
According to rule 549, "for each 10 additional proposals submitted by
a Blue Cross owner and subsequently adopted by AckaNomic, that Blue Cross
owner shall be awarded a Silver Stripe."

It looks like this means that only proposals submitted after the awarding of
the Blue Cross (i.e., proposals numbered 911 and higher) will count toward
silver stripes.  

I will update the web pages appropriately.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 17:36:37 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Joseph W. DeVincentis" <[email-masked]>
Subject: Acka: Registrar's Archive for R570

The new rule 570 includes the following:
    "A new player may not choose the name of previous player, unless
     they are the player who held that name previously. e.g., no
     new player could take the name pTang1001001sos unless they
     were really the Mark Nau who held that name previously. It is
     a duty of the Registrar to make sure the player's chosen name
     complies with this Rule, and the Registrar has the final right
     to approve or deny the chosen name. This clause superceeds any
     mutable rule which would deny the Register these duties and
     rights."

In order to determine compliance with this rule, I have made a list of
all known Ackanomic players from the proposal and CFJ archives and the
Registrar's reports I have saved, etc.

This report is available at 
http://wilma.che.utexas.edu/~devjoe/acka/playarch.html
and there is a link to it from the bottom of the normal registrar's page.

In addition to the 24 current players, I found 39 former players with
Ackanomic names, 14 players with no recorded Ackanomic name, and 6
other names formerly used by current or former players.  Where known,
I included the last known e-mail address used by each player.  I did not
find e-mail addresses for 10 players.

Anyone who knows anything that needs to be added to this list, particularly
for the early days before I joined the game, please let me know.

 = = = = = = = = = = 

Current Players

Bascule              = Matt Black = [email-masked]
Brinjal              = Simon Clarke = [email-masked]
Calvin N Hobbes      = Thierry Joffrain = [email-masked]
chess piece face     = Paul Swan = [email-masked]
De'ghew              = John Spickes = [email-masked]
/dev/joe             = Joseph DeVincentis = [email-masked]
Dr McSpong           = Julian Richardson = [email-masked]
fon                  = Adrian Smith = [email-masked]
Kelly Martin         = Kelly Martin = [email-masked]
Malenkai             = Randy Hall = [email-masked]
Merlin the Happy Pig = Stephen Wilson = [email-masked]
Mohammed             = Jason Orendorff = [email-masked]
mr cwm               = Eric Murray = [email-masked]
Niccolo Flychuck     = Uri Bruck = [email-masked]
Pascal               = Jason Reed = [email-masked]
Robert Sevin         = Mitchell Harding = [email-masked]
Robin Hood           = Robert Shaw = [email-masked]
Simon Marty Harriman = Andy Swan = [email-masked]
snowgod              = Phil Ackley = [email-masked]
Techno               = Jerome Herrman = [email-masked]
The Great Old One    = Sean Crystal = [email-masked]
ThinMan              = John Bollinger = [email-masked]
this is not a name   = Mike Epstein = [email-masked]
Wayne                = Wayne Sheppard = [email-masked]

Former players

A Cross Stick        = Darren Reid = [email-masked]
Bob                  = Maren Williams = [email-masked]
CarsesraC            = Jeroen M.W. van Dijk = [email-masked]
cobber               = A.R. = [email-masked]
CrLf                 = Marek Jedlinski = [email-masked]
Dante                = Ashley Ponsoll = [email-masked]
Device               = Dave Mackenzie = [email-masked]
Flunky               = Stewart Beatt = [email-masked]
Freejack             = Sam Brown = [email-masked]
Gaby                 = Gabriel Campos
Gumby                = Neil Griffin = [email-masked]
Holder of Spheres    = Laraine Seller = [email-masked]
ILIOS                = Alex Harisiadis = [email-masked]
jeff                 = Jeffrey Manson = [email-masked]
Lucky Grills         = Peter Barger = [email-masked]
Magika               = Wes Contreras
Meme Complex         = J.C. Graham = [email-masked]
Mr X                 = Niclas Persson = [email-masked]
Narcisse             = Hapexamendios = [email-masked]
Nick                 = Nicholas Barnard = [email-masked]
Nihil                = Neil Philip Corcoran = [email-masked]
Nimix                = Jay Mix = [email-masked]
NumberSix            = Ben Gold = [email-masked]
Pechemo              = Aaron Jeffrey Gage = [email-masked]
Perfect Tommy        = Eric Sebesta
Pogie                = Eric Pogrelis = [email-masked]
pTang1001001sos      = Mark Nau = [email-masked]
Red Herring          = Matt Clark Robbins = [email-masked]
Ross Bohlen          = Paul Leonard
Rusty Tapwater       = Art Peel
SnafuMoose           = Stephen F. Roberts = [email-masked]
Skouididedli         = Jean-Francois Robichaud = [email-masked]
Spammy               = Jake Mosely = [email-masked]
Spooner              = gabriel white = [email-masked]
Tera Ypsilon         = Martijn Faassen = [email-masked]
Thanatos             = Dave Mescher = [email-masked]
The Governor         = Dan Marsh = [email-masked]
WAMPHYRI             = wamphyri = [email-masked]
What A Guy           = Ben Schaffer = [email-masked]

Former names of current or former players

Bobalugah Rajiboo    = Sean Crystal (now The Great Old One)
DevJoe               = Joseph DeVincentis (now /dev/joe)
Fon_Ahimnorsty       = Adrian Smith (now fon)
Gelwin               = John Spickes (now De'ghew)
Meletus              = Sam Brown (later became Freejack)
             warm    = Julian Richardson (now Dr McSpong)

Players with no recorded Ackanomic Name

                     = Aziz Al-Afaliq = [email-masked]
                     = Austin Appleby
                     = Andrew Baumann
                     = David Chapman
                     = Steven Fornal = [email-masked]
                     = Bill Horrocks = [email-masked]
                     = Jerry Kassebaum = [email-masked]
                     = Ted Metzler = [email-masked]
                     = Shane Peddle = [email-masked]
                     = Anthony Polito
                     = Wally Raisanen = [email-masked]
                     = Christopher Smith = [email-masked]
                     = Stephen Will TANNER = [email-masked]
                     = Jeff Zeitlin

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 19:20:09 -0700
From: Malenkai <[email-masked]>
Subject: Acka: Invoking R 762

Wayne wrote,

>Here are the voting results for : 887
>  Proposal 887 - Sun Jun 09 02:41:52 EDT 1996
>  Respect the Dead (and close a loophole)
>  Malenkai  (Randy Hall)

>Proposal PASSES

>Malenkai gains 10 points.  66 -> 76

By R 762, I am claiming The Great Trombone of Ackanomia.

Malenkai

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 18:51:59 -0500
From: Kelly Martin <[email-masked]> 
Subject: Re: Acka: CFJ 187 (Kelly) 

"Malenkai" == Malenkai  <[email-masked]> writes:

Malenkai> Techno has declined to judge the following. It has been
Malenkai> reassigned to Kelly Martin, who has 3 days to except or
Malenkai> decline the appointment:

i accept (not "except") appointment.  judgement will be returned in
due time.

k.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 20:38:09 -0700
From: Malenkai <[email-masked]>
Subject: Acka: CFJ 190 (Calvin N Hobbes)

Calvin N Hobbes has been selected to judge the following. He has 3 days
(+ 3hrs, 15min by that Sunday rule) to except or decline the appointment:

Clerk of the Courts
 
Call for Judgement 190
  Subject: Frobnotz the Pyraic Frobnotzer
Initiator: Malenkai
    Judge: Calvin N Hobbes (selected 24-Jun-96 20:45h New York Time)

Statement:

The Blueprint for the Pyraic Frobnotzer specifies illegal behaviour for
Gadgets that would be created from it, and thus should be destroyed per
Rule 594, clause (ii).

Malenkai's Reasoning:

(The Blueprint is reproduced after the reasoning for reference).

Gadgets created from the Blueprint (hereafter called Frobnotzers) have 
behaviour that is in conflict with R 105 (Immutable):

      "Any proposed rule change must be written down (or otherwise
communicated in print media) before it is voted on. If adopted, it must
guide play in the form in which it was voted on."

Specifically, the Frobnotzer's ability to swap noun phrases in the rule
set would violate the above rule. Clearly the Frobnotzer's ability is in
direct conflict with this rule. Its Blueprint must therefore be destroyed.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Announced at Fri, 21 Jun 1996 11:14:39 -0500 (CDT)
Blueprint: Pyraic Frobnotzer 

      A Pyraic Frobnotzer has two nodes (positive and negative.) They are 
made of titanium (+) and
      green jumblium (-), and never wear out. 

      The owner of a Pyraic Frobnotzer may attach one of its nodes to any 
noun phrase anywhere in the
      rule set, by announcing the action publicly. The identity of the noun 
phrase in question must be
      clear and unconditional, though. This can be done repeatedly, and a 
node can be moved from one
      noun phrase to another in this way. 

      The owner of a Pyraic Frobnotzer may also set it off by announcing that 
action publicly-- unless
      the Pyraic Frobnotzer is broken. When a Pyraic Frobnotzer is set off, 
it starts to hum. It will stop
      humming the next time it is broken or destroyed. 

      When a Pyraic Frobnotzer has been humming for five days, the following 
happens: If the Pyraic
      Frobnotzer's two nodes are attached to two noun phrases which are both 
plural or both singular,
      then those two noun phrases trade location within the rule set, and the 
Pyraic Frobnotzer is
      destroyed in a magnificent gout of golden flame. Otherwise, the Pyraic 
Frobnotzer chokes,
      sputters, whines, and dies; it is then broken. 

      A Pyraic Frobnotzer is a mechanical Gadget. When it is first created, 
it is not broken.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 20:43:43 -0700
From: Malenkai <[email-masked]>
Subject: Acka: CFJ 187 verdict

The following, CFJ 187, has been judged FALSE:

Clerk of the Courts

Call for Judgement 187
  Subject: Recursive rule
Initiator: De'ghew
1st Judge: Techno (Declined to Judge)
2nd Judge: Kelly Martin (selected 22-Jun-96 01:30h New York Time)
Judgement: FALSE

Statement:

Ackanomic play cannot continue.

De'ghew's reasoning:

        Rule 666 must be invoked "Whenever there is a winner declared".
Because a winner has been declared, the procedure outlined in R666 must
have been executed.  The first several steps of R666 read as follows:

a)  Ackanomic play is suspended.
b)  All Chartreuse Goose Eggs and Right-Handed Grapefruit are eliminated.
c)  The winner is declared the winner of the current cycle . . .

        Upon the execution of step c, a winner is declared and R666 must
be invoked.  R666 is therefore recursive.  Ackanomic play has never been
resumed and is therefore still suspended.  Ackanomic gameplay cannot
continue.
        I contend that this constitutes a Win by Paradox.  I win this
cycle.

Kelly Martin's Reasoning:

There are a number of arguments that can be made regarding the effect
of Rule 666's apparent self-invoking nature.  Some of them have been
made in other CFJs, and I leave those matters to be Judged by other
Judges.  However, I need not consider those arguments in order to find
this CFJ FALSE.

If the Statement is TRUE, then, at the time this CFJ was allegedly
made, Ackanomic play was not possible.  This is itself a
contradiction: both the making of a CFJ and its judging are aspects of
Ackanomic play, so if this CFJ is TRUE, then it was impossible for to
have been made, and it is impossible for it to be judged.  However, it
is my finding of fact that I am presently engaged in the process of
judging this CFJ, thus playing Ackanomic.  Clearly, therefore,
Ackanomic play is possible (even if, perhaps, illegal), and the
statement is FALSE.

It is possible that I am mistaken in believing that I am engaged in
Ackanomic play by writing this Judgement.  However, I am at a loss to
ascertain what activity this might be, if not Ackanomic play.

A Judgement of FALSE is hereby entered on CFJ 187 on this, the 23rd
day of June, 1996.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 20:13:26 -0500
From: T Joffrain <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Acka: CFJ 190 (Calvin N Hobbes) 

>Calvin N Hobbes has been selected to judge the following. He has 3 days
>(+ 3hrs, 15min by that Sunday rule) to except or decline the appointment:

Yes! I'm writing it as we speak!

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 20:22:44 -0500
From: T Joffrain <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Acka: CFJ 188 (Calvin N Hobbes) 

I forget the address of the person I'm supposed to send this to, and don't
have the time to look it up.

I accept to rule on this CFJ, and do so immediately.

>Call for Judgement 188
>  Subject: R666, take two
>Initiator: De'ghew
>    Judge: Calvin N Hobbes (selected 22-Jun-96 01:30h New York Time)
>
>Statement:
>
>Continued Ackanomic play is both legal and illegal.
>
>De'ghew's Reasoning:
>
>        R666 is executing an infinite number of times every instant.
>Because of this, gameplay is both suspended and resumed at every time
>after and including the initial invokation of R666.  Thus, player actions
>are both legal and illegal.
>        This constitutes a Win by Paradox.

Reasoning

First, let me say that R666 says that "play is suspended". This does not
mean legal or illegal. However, it is true that it may make certain actions
void or indeed illegal, depending on how "play is suspended" is defined.
Unfortunately, we are never given this definition in the rules.

Does the rule imply "everything" is to be suspended? Since we have continued
to distribute CFJs (as this one) and are continuing to discuss things in the
public forum, and are using political parties, etc, then we must admit that
by tacit agreement, there are certain things which have not been suspended,
and certainly not the rule set.

In any case, "Ackanomic play", [and even "the game of Ackanomic"] can
certainly continue.

But looking further even at the wording of the CFJ, it claims that play is
"BOTH legal and illegal". If by that the author meant "simultaneously" both,
then that is not the case. The structure of the rule clearly specifies an
order of action, and however short - if any - each time when play is
"suspended", they are clearly defined. In any event, it never renders the
game "illegal", or even "legal" for that matter.

And even if the game was suspended for ad infinitum, then that would be
definitive state, not a paradoxal one.

Since a game that is suspended and "unsuspended" at very short (or very
long, we do not know) time intervals does not mean that the game itself is
legal and illegal, there can be only one conclusion.

Decision

I rule this CFJ to be FALSE

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 04:24:38 +0300
From: Uri Bruck <[email-masked]>
Subject: Acka: Anouncement  Newspaper 

I am anouncing the establishment of a new newspaper.

The name of the newspaper is    'Kolot Ackanomia'

' Kolot' should be pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable, and
is Hebrew for voices.
If you were to pronounce it with the emphasis on the first syllable, it
would wimply mean 'cokes', and while '* is it', it has nothing  to do with
that newspaper.

While Kolot Ackanomia will contain some news summaries, it  places its
emphasis on political commentray, or news with commentaries. Occasional
interviews, and highly focused debates, will also be no stranger to Kolot.
Articles will distributed over the mailing list, or a specific mailing
created for that purpose, if such a list will be created. Recent articles
(latest issue) will be accessible on a web page. I will announce the URL
later this week.

Kolot will not be afraid of tackling the issues.

Nicolo Flychuck

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 04:24:36 +0300
From: Uri Bruck <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Acka: CFJ 187 verdict 

At 08:43 PM 23/06/96 -0700 , Malenkai  wrote:
>
>
>Kelly Martin's Reasoning:

>
>It is possible that I am mistaken in believing that I am engaged in
>Ackanomic play by writing this Judgement.  However, I am at a loss to
>ascertain what activity this might be, if not Ackanomic play.
>
>A Judgement of FALSE is hereby entered on CFJ 187 on this, the 23rd
>day of June, 1996.
>
>
The fact that CFJs and judgement are part of Ackanomic play, does not
preclude the possibility that they may be anything other than Ackanomic
play, therefore the fact that you are judging a CFJ, in insufficient by
itself to conclude that you are indeed engaged in Ackanomic play. Striking a
note on a piano is a characteristic of performing in a piano recital, but
one can certainly strike such notes, with no intention of ever performing in
such a recital, neiter with any pretentions fof performing such an activity.
I must agree, however, that if this is activity is not Ackanomic play, that
I would at a similar loss at comprehending what it actually is. Hence, I'm
not appealing this.

Nicolo Flychuck

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 20:30:26 -0500
From: T Joffrain <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Acka: CFJ 190 (Calvin N Hobbes) 

>Call for Judgement 190
>  Subject: Frobnotz the Pyraic Frobnotzer
>Initiator: Malenkai
>    Judge: Calvin N Hobbes (selected 24-Jun-96 20:45h New York Time)
>
>Statement:
>
>The Blueprint for the Pyraic Frobnotzer specifies illegal behaviour for
>Gadgets that would be created from it, and thus should be destroyed per
>Rule 594, clause (ii).
>
>Malenkai's Reasoning:
>
>(The Blueprint is reproduced after the reasoning for reference).
>
>Gadgets created from the Blueprint (hereafter called Frobnotzers) have 
>behaviour that is in conflict with R 105 (Immutable):
>
>      "Any proposed rule change must be written down (or otherwise
>communicated in print media) before it is voted on. If adopted, it must
>guide play in the form in which it was voted on."
>
>Specifically, the Frobnotzer's ability to swap noun phrases in the rule
>set would violate the above rule. Clearly the Frobnotzer's ability is in
>direct conflict with this rule. Its Blueprint must therefore be destroyed.
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Announced at Fri, 21 Jun 1996 11:14:39 -0500 (CDT)
>Blueprint: Pyraic Frobnotzer 
>
>      A Pyraic Frobnotzer has two nodes (positive and negative.) They are 
>made of titanium (+) and
>      green jumblium (-), and never wear out. 
>
>      The owner of a Pyraic Frobnotzer may attach one of its nodes to any 
>noun phrase anywhere in the
>      rule set, by announcing the action publicly. The identity of the noun 
>phrase in question must be
>      clear and unconditional, though. This can be done repeatedly, and a 
>node can be moved from one
>      noun phrase to another in this way. 
>
>      The owner of a Pyraic Frobnotzer may also set it off by announcing that 
>action publicly-- unless
>      the Pyraic Frobnotzer is broken. When a Pyraic Frobnotzer is set off, 
>it starts to hum. It will stop
>      humming the next time it is broken or destroyed. 
>
>      When a Pyraic Frobnotzer has been humming for five days, the following 
>happens: If the Pyraic
>      Frobnotzer's two nodes are attached to two noun phrases which are both 
>plural or both singular,
>      then those two noun phrases trade location within the rule set, and the 
>Pyraic Frobnotzer is
>      destroyed in a magnificent gout of golden flame. Otherwise, the Pyraic 
>Frobnotzer chokes,
>      sputters, whines, and dies; it is then broken. 
>
>      A Pyraic Frobnotzer is a mechanical Gadget. When it is first created, 
>it is not broken.

Reasoning

The rule set is a very private domain that contains the rules by which our
existences in Acka are to by governed. The sanctity of these very rules is
protected by R105 by ensuring all rule changes are to be written down and
voted upon.

It would be not only illegal to go against R105, but also dangerous.
Therefore, by R594/1, it must be destroyed. [May the guardian of the rule
set have mercy on your blue print.]

Decision

I rule this CFJ to be TRUE

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 20:35:37 -0500
From: T Joffrain <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Acka: Official: Awards Ceremony 

>Calvin N Hobbes and Malenkai have each had more than 20 of their proposals
>pass.  I hereby award each of them a Blue Cross.

[gushing out of emotions]
[hand shake]

"Thank you"

[waving to the crowd]
[what crowd??]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 21:46:37 -0700
From: Malenkai <[email-masked]>
Subject: Acka: CFJ 188 Verdict

The followinng, CFJ 188, has been judged FALSE.

Clerk of the Courts

Call for Judgement 188
  Subject: R666, take two
Initiator: De'ghew
    Judge: Calvin N Hobbes (selected 22-Jun-96 01:30h New York Time)
Judgement: FALSE

Statement:

Continued Ackanomic play is both legal and illegal.

De'ghew's Reasoning:

        R666 is executing an infinite number of times every instant.
Because of this, gameplay is both suspended and resumed at every time
after and including the initial invokation of R666.  Thus, player actions
are both legal and illegal.
        This constitutes a Win by Paradox.

Calvin N Hobbes reasoning:

First, let me say that R666 says that "play is suspended". This does not
mean legal or illegal. However, it is true that it may make certain actions
void or indeed illegal, depending on how "play is suspended" is defined.
Unfortunately, we are never given this definition in the rules.

Does the rule imply "everything" is to be suspended? Since we have continued
to distribute CFJs (as this one) and are continuing to discuss things in the
public forum, and are using political parties, etc, then we must admit that
by tacit agreement, there are certain things which have not been suspended,
and certainly not the rule set.

In any case, "Ackanomic play", [and even "the game of Ackanomic"] can
certainly continue.

But looking further even at the wording of the CFJ, it claims that play is
"BOTH legal and illegal". If by that the author meant "simultaneously" both,
then that is not the case. The structure of the rule clearly specifies an
order of action, and however short - if any - each time when play is
"suspended", they are clearly defined. In any event, it never renders the
game "illegal", or even "legal" for that matter.

And even if the game was suspended for ad infinitum, then that would be
definitive state, not a paradoxal one.

Since a game that is suspended and "unsuspended" at very short (or very
long, we do not know) time intervals does not mean that the game itself is
legal and illegal, there can be only one conclusion.

Decision

I rule this CFJ to be FALSE

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 21:49:06 -0700
From: Malenkai <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Acka: CFJ 188 (Calvin N Hobbes)

T Joffrain wrote:
> 
> I forget the address of the person I'm supposed to send this to, and don't
> have the time to look it up.
> 

All CFJs and verdicts should be sent to [email-masked]. That will
preserve temporal sequencing, save bandwidth, (as I always republish
them), and preserve consistency.

Malenkai

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 21:51:11 -0700
From: Malenkai <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Acka: Anouncement  Newspaper

Uri Bruck wrote:
> 
> I am anouncing the establishment of a new newspaper.
>
> Nicolo Flychuck

The Financier should adjust your account for the start up cost. I forget
how much it is, I beleive it is A$20.

Malenkai

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 22:12:38 -0700
From: Malenkai <[email-masked]>
Subject: Acka: CFJ 190 Verdict

The following, CFJ 190 has been judged TRUE. I note that the Blueprint
for the Pyraic Frobnotzer is destroyed per R 594.

Clerk of the Courts
 
Call for Judgement 190
  Subject: Frobnotz the Pyraic Frobnotzer
Initiator: Malenkai
    Judge: Calvin N Hobbes (selected 24-Jun-96 20:45h New York Time)

Statement:

The Blueprint for the Pyraic Frobnotzer specifies illegal behaviour for
Gadgets that would be created from it, and thus should be destroyed per
Rule 594, clause (ii).

Malenkai's Reasoning:

(The Blueprint is reproduced after the reasoning for reference).

Gadgets created from the Blueprint (hereafter called Frobnotzers) have
behaviour that is in conflict with R 105 (Immutable):

      "Any proposed rule change must be written down (or otherwise
communicated in print media) before it is voted on. If adopted, it must
guide play in the form in which it was voted on."

Specifically, the Frobnotzer's ability to swap noun phrases in the rule
set would violate the above rule. Clearly the Frobnotzer's ability is in
direct conflict with this rule. Its Blueprint must therefore be destroyed.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Announced at Fri, 21 Jun 1996 11:14:39 -0500 (CDT)
Blueprint: Pyraic Frobnotzer

      A Pyraic Frobnotzer has two nodes (positive and negative.) They are
made of titanium (+) and
      green jumblium (-), and never wear out.

      The owner of a Pyraic Frobnotzer may attach one of its nodes to any
noun phrase anywhere in the
      rule set, by announcing the action publicly. The identity of the noun
phrase in question must be
      clear and unconditional, though. This can be done repeatedly, and a
node can be moved from one
      noun phrase to another in this way.

      The owner of a Pyraic Frobnotzer may also set it off by announcing that
action publicly-- unless
      the Pyraic Frobnotzer is broken. When a Pyraic Frobnotzer is set off,
it starts to hum. It will stop
      humming the next time it is broken or destroyed.

      When a Pyraic Frobnotzer has been humming for five days, the following
happens: If the Pyraic
      Frobnotzer's two nodes are attached to two noun phrases which are both
plural or both singular,
      then those two noun phrases trade location within the rule set, and the
Pyraic Frobnotzer is
      destroyed in a magnificent gout of golden flame. Otherwise, the Pyraic
Frobnotzer chokes,
      sputters, whines, and dies; it is then broken.

      A Pyraic Frobnotzer is a mechanical Gadget. When it is first created,
it is not broken.

Calvin N Hobbes Reasoning:

The rule set is a very private domain that contains the rules by which our
existences in Acka are to by governed. The sanctity of these very rules is
protected by R105 by ensuring all rule changes are to be written down and
voted upon.

It would be not only illegal to go against R105, but also dangerous.
Therefore, by R594/1, it must be destroyed. [May the guardian of the rule
set have mercy on your blue print.]

Decision

I rule this CFJ to be TRUE

------------------------------

End of Ackanomic Digest V1 #64
******************************