Looney Labs Icehouse Mailing list Archive

["P.D. Magnus" <pmagnus@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The rule is sometimes called the "Spock Rule", because it can be 
summarized in this way: Suppose that Mister Spock transported the 
pyramids onto the enterprise. The rule must be such that he could 
evaluate it there on the transporter pad and get the same answer that 
you get when you evaluate it.

The light on the Enterprise might be different than your light at home, 
so shadows aren't relevant.

This thought experiment is just a way of expressing the idea that only 
the pyramids, their configuration, and the surface can matter - but it 
sometimes helps when explaining the rule.