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 Forum index » Archive » Archive: Perplex City » PXC: General/Updates
[UPDATE] PerplexCity Sentinel 18th May 2006
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Juxta
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Joined: 28 Aug 2005
Posts: 675

 		[UPDATE] PerplexCity Sentinel 18th May 2006
Garima King wrote:
Thrill-Seeker Jumps from Ascendancy Point

An unidentified thrill-seeker successfully traversed Ascendancy Point's security systems and completed a jump from the building's peak in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The jumper apparently evaded Ascendancy Point's security team and used a little-known maintenance access hatch to get to the very highest point on the building before leaping off and parachuting to safety.

The jumper abandoned the chute and made a hasty retreat into the subway system, police say. "Clearly we have a number of laws broken here. Trespassing, wilful endangerment of innocents, and of course littering," said police detective Harrah Finnegan. "We would be very appreciative if anyone who can identify the culprit would step forward and provide us with information."

Some onlookers, though, say that seeing the jumper was inspiring. "When I first spotted him climbing to the top along the outside, I was terrified," said Brianna Costa, an employee at the Red Hot Bakery. "Then when he jumped I was sure he would hit the base of the building, but he managed to glide out far enough, and then he unfurled a magnificent purple parachute." Costa indicated that the jumper landed in one of the parks along Schloss Street.

The Point's communication director, Jules Northerlie, said that the building's internal security team is already investigating the breach in security. "We can't help but wonder if this were a person with internal access of some kind," she said. "We are treating this as a very serious matter and will be conducting a full internal investigation."

Though Ascendancy Point has declared itself long prepared for this eventuality, no jumper has previously succeeded in evading Point security to complete a jump. The last attempt, according to Northerlie, was in 266 by Clarissa Oh, who was apprehended by building security who had spotted her parachute.


Pete Davison wrote:
View from Earth:
To Err Is Human

"Earth children do not possess the intelligence of their Perplex City counterparts. But this does not answer the question WHY?"

These were the words of Jo Prout, a teacher from here on Earth writing a View from Earth column for the Sentinel called "Education Matters" some time ago. I have a theory regarding her question, speaking as a fellow teacher, and someone who is increasingly despondent at the seeming lack of intelligence of modern young people in our society. Naturally, I may be wrong, and my opinions may not apply to all people, be they Earthling or Perplexian, but over the last three years it is something I have given considerable thought to.

"Failure" has become a dirty word in modern education. Children no longer "fail" to reach a particular standard, they are "working towards" that standard. It is becoming increasingly difficult to fail examinations at the end of courses. Pressure on teachers and educational establishments to constantly "drive up standards" leads many to desperate measures. And each time this happens, a new cohort of children passes through the system, being increasingly pandered to year after year in a bid to feed their self-esteem.

Consider the controversial issue of our examination system, for example. Year after year, upon the publication of students' results from their end of high school examinations, there is a row over the results. The government will claim that results are up yet again, while senior educationalists will argue that the exams are getting easier. Neither are, strictly speaking, correct. What is actually happening is that the grades required to achieve a particular grade are actually lowering each year. In 1988, an eleventh-year student (fifteen or sixteen years of age) would have to have scored 65% on a Mathematics paper set by the exam board OCR to gain a grade C -- the boundary for what is regarded as a "higher" grade. In 2000, the same grade was given for a score of just 45%. So it is not that the papers are necessarily getting easier - achieving the results is getting easier.

The knock-on effect of this is that each new cohort of students quickly comes to realise that they do not need to work as hard as their counterparts from a few years previously in order to get a good qualification. This leads rapidly to laziness and apathy among some. Couple this with copious plagiarism thanks to unattributed quotes from the Internet as opposed to genuine research and you will begin to see where the problems are coming from -- the students do not feel they "need" to work hard because there is so little risk of failure. As a result, many are rapidly losing essential skills such as research, hypothesising and communicating their ideas.

Conversely, my experience of Perplexians so far - and you will forgive me if I am off the mark here -- is that failure is embraced as an opportunity to reflect on what you have done wrong, and learn from the experience. Failing to complete a particular puzzle gives one the opportunity to find out the best ways to succeed the next time you try. I can say with some confidence that the citizens of Earth who are helping you all in the drive to recover the Cube are not afraid of failure, and that we relish the opportunity to puzzle over a conundrum, for weeks if necessary. My only fear is that if this disaster had happened ten years down the line, would the new generation of Earthlings collaborating with the Perplexians be able to handle it?

To err is human. Some of our greatest achievements have been borne out of the most foolish of mistakes, and some of our greatest mistakes were borne from the proudest achievements.


Quote:
Letters
ADVENTURES IN LITERATURE

I'm not sure that this is a letter as such, but nor is it an article. It's a poem called "Homage to the Cube Hunters" by badbarry.

This game moves apace and things go so fast
It's time for a recap and review of the cast.
A cube has been stolen and hidden on Earth
People are hunting for all they are worth.
Ozzies and Yankies, Brits and Canucks
Googling away and looking in books.
Some risk their degrees, their jobs or their necks
For a hundred grand's worth of Perplexian lecks.
Doublecross currently is way in the lead
Oh master of piet, on your nuggets we feed!
Ollie's in second, stalking that cube
And welcoming he was when I was a noob.
Thousands of others are in the hunt now
And here are a few who should take a bow.
There's duckie and jojo bringing insight and glamour
And European Chris, his wit like a hammer
Pounding the posts that are careless or trite,
So watch what you say when that tusker's on site.
Juxta's our voice of reason and calm
Though he explodes when required like a blast of napalm.
There's Beglee from Ireland that land of pure green
A more magnificent ba**ard has never been seen.
That's according to Gaspar our friendly New York
Who keeps us all going, that encouraging squawker.
To Guin and Chimera, respect above all
Soon to you two the Labour shall fall.
If silvers need solving omitchell's the fix
Surely this guy is on Ceretin 6?
Donstobbart's my hero; when first I logged on
The infamous ARG had been downed by The Don.
Bri and Cassandra, Guy P's on the case
Making those boards a much smarter place.
Bri also sets puzzles of cunning and guile
Confounding Cube had us stumped for a while.
Echidna first cracked it, beating boys who are thick
And thanks for the trading, so friendly and slick!
Also to Chayb, whose trades can't be beat
Her corners are always so pointy and neat.
Spugmeistress and Uhtoff have helped out with clues
Pleas for assistance they never refuse.
We mustn't forget our Perplexian team
Some risking their lives in pursuing our dream.
There's Garnet and Aiko and Tippy my dove
She sent me a note and now I'm in love.
Sente's a mystery, trust him or not?
And what about Anna, she's hiding a lot?
Kurt's been fantastic in all that he's done,
So when will he realise that Violet's the one?
Von and Caine are also in play
Helping us out, or that's what they say.
But if they have designs on the Earth, let 'em come
Evil Genius'll batter those alien scum.
Just some of the Cube Hunters I hereby salute
Thanks for making this game such a hoot.
I wish I could mention you all one by one
But Riemann'd be solved before I was done.
Sorry to those I had to omit
It's probably because your name wouldn't fit.
So who'll find the cube, which Tom, Dick or Harry?
One thing's for sure, it wont be badbarry.
badbarry (Barney Edgar), Earth

Ed. Note: This letter has been chosen as the Sentinel's Star Letter of the Week. The author has accordingly received five points on the Perplexcity.com leaderboard, as will future recipients of the Letter of the Week prize.

CURSE OR BLESSING?

I have become victim of a phenomenon caused by the recent opening of communication with your world. I call upon Sentinel readers from Earth to let me know if they share my condition and join a support group. I call it Obsessive Perplexive Disorder (OPD).

It involves an obsession in keeping up to date with all things Perplex City: checking the status of the perplexcity leaderboard every day; checking related websites every few hours; checking Earth-based bulletin boards every few minutes (they have a facility to display messages posted in the last 15 minutes, but that just isn't often enough!); looking out for text messages on my mobile phone and for e-mail messages; acquiring far too many cards and covering my floor with them, scribbling lists on endless sheets of paper in an attempt to make sense of the remaining unsolved ones; worrying that being the third-listed player on the leaderboard in a group of equally ranked players just isn't as good as being first in the group; empathising with members of the Cube Recovery Team at Perplex City Academy - people I have never met and never will; frequent communication with fellow cube hunters on Earth - none of whom I had ever met when this whole business started, but I have even gone as far as meeting some of them (they're all mad, I tell you).

Of course none of the above is true, I'm just writing this letter to get five leaderboard points. Honest. I can give up any time.
Angus Walker/doublecross, Earth

TWINNING
Lend me your Perplexian ears for a moment and contemplate a twinning of a city here on Earth with your very own Perplex City.

It is a cherished Earth tradition to encourage public participation in the promotion of cultural heritage and identity between cities in different countries.

We have many cities for you to choose from, each with their own identity, resulting in a traditional 'way of life' built upon a foundation of history, business, culture and creed.

Already ethereal discussions here on Earth have began, with contributions from myf and Scott that highlight a desire to set up a twinning committee.

One day I hope our cultures can intertwine as a symbol of unity that stretches far beyond the recovery of the cube.
isca, Earth


Quote:
More Headlines
# Serena Enters Games
# Government Needs Style
# Rico's Slow Start


J
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PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 2:42 pm
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_izzy_
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 		great poem badbarry - a well deserved 5 points Very Happy

PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 3:00 pm
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myf
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Joined: 30 Dec 2005
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 		Wahey!!! Thanks, isca! My first mention in The Sentinel Very Happy
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PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 3:15 pm
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perplexed
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Joined: 23 Jul 2005
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Location: Greater London, UK

 		I love the way they make ascendancy point's security system sound so fool proof... its a bloody joke. The ascendancy point security team couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery, let alone a security task force. I mean forget parachuting, what about murder, and their fire alarm going haywire and ruining the Ball, and us hacking into their security sytem for that matter, using such cunning ruses as 'i put my key in the wash'.

The whole idea is ridiculous, I have a mind to write to AP.

Edited for terrible spelling and grammar... I'm going to fail my english gcse Sad
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'take not my words as sacred, for in the Cube alone lies the power and each man must seek it for himself.' - Gyvaan
perplexed, moi? Definitely Razz

PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 3:20 pm
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duckiemonster
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Joined: 10 Dec 2005
Posts: 554
Location: Oxford, UK

 		I'm glamorous! Very Happy

Thank you for a lovely pome, BadBarry Smile
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PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 3:29 pm
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Scott
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Joined: 11 Sep 2004
Posts: 1140
Location: 390 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Rochester NY, 14624, USA

 		aww, poor guy didnt get any fFurther than Schloss street? Let's hope he at least went up the street a good distance. I wouldve thought the joy would be in careening high over many buildings, picking up a good wind to carry you across fFivebridges lane, or easily up into azad park. Still, heckuva cool jump Smile

Oh and nice letters, all Smile cheers Smile
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PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 3:33 pm
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isca
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Joined: 15 Apr 2006
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Quote:
Wahey!!! Thanks, isca! My first mention in The Sentinel


I hope you didn't mind. Let's see if the idea takes off!

Nice one badbarry - I'm one of a thousand others!!

PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 3:33 pm
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Alter Ego
Boot


Joined: 05 May 2006
Posts: 40
Location: UK, Essex

 		For those of you wondering what the jump might have looked like:
http://www.broadbandsports.com/node/160

Those guy's rock! I Salute You! Rock On
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PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 4:12 pm
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bertyb
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Joined: 28 Nov 2005
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 		Sounds a bit like a perplexian version of Felix Baumgarter.....Base Jumper on Earth sponsored by the magic Red Bull.....

On a seperate note...top poem!
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Intriguing!!

PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 5:45 pm
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achenar
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 		Brilliant poem - loved it. Really did. Best way to wake up ever. Smile

Other letters very cool too.

And a bit of noob is poking out of me - that 'my key went through the wash' thing actually happened? I saw it siggified, and just assumed it was a joke. o.o

PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 5:51 pm
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GasparLewis
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Joined: 19 Nov 2005
Posts: 474
Location: vicinty of NYC

 		Aaaaaaw, shucks, Barney. Embarassed / Very Happy

Still, though I can't say i draw any important connections, I think that a stunt jumper parachuting from Ascendency Point is very cool; show that Perplex City isn't just the academia capital; those Perplexian have some real bal er, cojo I mean, hue character.

As someone still in the American public school system, I agree whole-heartedly with Pete's VFE. I look at most of my classmates, and sadly think to myself: "This is the future?"; they are lazy; it's always about just scraping by for most, and lowering the bar just makes it take less. I'm a rarity, to say the least. But, thankfully, there are enough of us who push for the sake of pushing; we'll compensate, far as I can predict. Smile

PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 6:12 pm
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Juxta
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Joined: 28 Aug 2005
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 		The "Key went through the wash" thing did indeed happen - when attempting to social engineer our way into Ascendancy Point - details are here. The conversation was between Ammonite and the Eclipse Security Officer. Smile

J
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PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 6:21 pm
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EvilGenius
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Joined: 04 Mar 2006
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 		Great poem, Badbarry, 'though I have to wonder about the slant rhyme of "Canucks" with "books." Or maybe that's how you folks say things there . . . Smile In any event, you have spared me the indignity of going a whole week without my name being mentioned in the Letters Column (I make this seven weeks) Wink A well-deserved 5 points indeed!
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PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 7:06 pm
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achenar
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Juxta wrote:
The "Key went through the wash" thing did indeed happen - when attempting to social engineer our way into Ascendancy Point - details are here. The conversation was between Ammonite and the Eclipse Security Officer. Smile

J



That's beautiful. Smile I'm going to have to start digging properly through the forums, I think. Sometime, anyway.

Really had just assumed it was a joke made on forum at some point. Should have known better. Wink

PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2006 9:45 pm
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sledgecallier
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Location: Behind the Sofa...

 		Jumping off big conical towers with parachutes? Sounds a bit GTA San Andreas to me...
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PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2006 4:38 am
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