From: KH.Ranitzsch@t... (K.H.Ranitzsch)
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 08:32:30 -0000
Subject: [OT] Dice
Hello everybody The DBM list has at the moment a lively debate on dice and their properties. Some of you might appreciate this particular contribution :-) Karl Heinz > --- In dbmlist@y..., Madcam@m... wrote: > --- In dbmlist@y..., b.j.moyle@m... wrote: Hi: > Hey thats a great Idea ! But how can you tell if a die is male or Ahem, the repoductive system of dice has been the subject of many a scientific paper. Early systems to classify dice were fraught with dififculty as it turns out that dice or in fact polymorphous rather than dimorphous. That is, the male can take one of several distinct phenotypes. Nonethelss, the German author Weier's ground backing taxonomic system "Revision Der Wurfel", published in 1935 is regarded as the best starting point. Alas it is difficult to get a copy. The fluffy dice used by some motorists are an interesting isnatnce of parallel evolution as they in fact, have no relationship to the more common and wide-spread 'wurfelspeil'. Gender of dice is determined in the egg-stage of the nest. Like some crocodilians (the phylogeny of dice and crocodilians remains in fierce debate), temperature is crucial to determining the gender of the dice. Actual determination of sex requires an internal examination of the dice. The genital operculum is protected by a hard plate or 'scutum' over the one-spot. Females have conspicuous ovaries and are often small and drab in appearance. The expert can always tell. Dice fondling is regarded as an unsafe habit due to a parasitic mimic of dice that will inject its eggs under your skin- where they will literally, make a meal out of you. Most wargamers carry sharp knives to expedite the rapid excision of such parasites when they are large enough to be readily located. It is speculated that this parasite injects its host with a hormone that promotes weight gain and a sedantary life style so as to perpetuate the future supply of food for its young. Kind regards Brendan --- End forwarded message ---