AUSTRIA-HUNGARY (Andy Jamieson)
A(Tri) s GERMAN A(Tyr) - Ven; A(Vie) - Tyr (FAILED); A(Ser) - Rum (FAILED); A(Gal) - Ukr (FAILED); F(Gre) - Bul sc (FAILED)

ENGLAND (Jim O'Neil)
A(Yor) - Bel (FAILED); F(NTH) c A(Yor) - Bel; F(Nwy) - StP nc (FAILED); F(ENG) s A(Yor) - Bel (CUT, DISLODGED TO IRI)

FRANCE (Paul Lacey)
A(Pic) - Bel; A(Bur) s A(Pic) - Bel; A(Mar) - Pie (FAILED); F(Bre) - ENG; F(MAO) s F(Bre) - ENG

GERMANY (Greg Jacobson)
A(Hol) s FRENCH A(Pic) - Bel; A(Tyr) - Ven; F(Swe) - SKA; F(BAL) - Swe; A(Kie) - Ber

ITALY (James Douglas)
F(TYS) - GoL; A(NAf) - Spa (MISORDER); A(Pie) - Tyr (FAILED); A(Ven) - Tri (FAILED, DISLODGED - DISBANDED NRO)

RUSSIA (Chris Groenewald)
F(Arm) - Sev (FAILED); A(Ukr) s F(Arm) - Sev (CUT); A(War) - Gal (FAILED); F(GoB) - StP sc (FAILED)

TURKEY (Pablo Echevarria)
A(Sev) s AUSTRIAN A(Gal) - Ukr (CUT); F(BLA) s A(Sev); A(Bul) - Rum (FAILED); A(Con) - Ank; F(AEG) - Gre (FAILED)

Autumn 1902 Adjustments:
A: Tri, Vie, Ser, Gre, Bud = 5; No change.
E: Nwy, Edi, Lon, Lpl = 4; No change.
F: +Bel, Mar, Por, Spa, Bre, Par = 6; Gains 1.
G: Hol, +Ven, +Swe, Ber, Den, Kie, Mun = 7; Gains 2.
I: Tun, Nap, Rom, -Ven = 3; Loses 1.
R: War, Mos, StP, -Sev = 3; Loses 1.
T: +Sev, Bul, Ank, Rum, Con, Smy = 6; Gains 1.

Builds/Disbands:
A: None.
E: None.
F: Builds F(Bre).
G: Builds F(Kie), A(Mun).
I: None.
R: Removes F(Arm).
T: Builds A(Con).

PRESS

Anon: Secret Enquirer, third edition;

SCIENCE AND MATH SECTION.

Three men walk into a restaurant and each order the lunch special that costs £10. When they are ready to pay the £30, the owner of the restaurant pulls the waiter aside and says: "These three men are my friends. Give them £5 off the check". When walking towards the table, the waiter thinks: "£5 split between 3 men? Not easy. I'll give them each £1 and keep the last £2". He does so, everybody is happy.

How much did each man pay?

Each man gives £10.

Each gets £1 back.

Each has paid £9.

In all, they have paid 3x£9 = £27.

The waiter kept £2.

£27+£2 = £29.

So where did the other £1 go?

There are no imaginary numbers here – or are there?

Anon: Secret Enquirer, 4th edition

Quantum Mechanics

Probability waves are among the most interesting aspects in quantum mechanics. What is a probability wave? Good question. Imagine a free-floating particle somewhere in the universe. Common sense realism says that this particle will continue to move in a linear, random path. Common sense realism is wrong. Note that this free-floating particle has wave-particle duality. (See photon double slit experiment, interference) What is proven is that this particle has a probability of instantly moving from its given position in the universe to any other point. This seems mind-boggling. A few things must be noted, however.

a) The closer the area to the particle, the more likely it is to instantly move there. Likewise, the farther the area, the less likely it is to appear there. Note however far the area is, there is always a chance it will move there.

b) The larger an object, or the more particles something is made of, the less likely these particles will all move together to another space in the Universe.

Note the last point. While there is a possibility that you can instantly move from your position to the opposite end of the universe right now, this probability is highly unlikely. (Approaching zero)

For more information, I suggest Brian Greene’s “The Fabric of the Cosmos”. It is the best book out there for the average person who wants to know more about Quantum Mechanics.

Curious Section

Letter:

Dear editor,

I would appreciate it if you no longer kept your identity a secret. There are many fans, and I no doubt am one of them. We are dieing to know who you are. Please do.

Well, I can’t do this just yet, the time is not ripe. However, there will be a time when I do reveal my identity.

Funnies Section

What is funnier then something that is the funniest thing of all time?

The funniest thing of all time said twice.

What’s funnier then that?

Nothing.

Thank you all for your continued support of the SI.

ALB: I wish you all to know I didn't write the letter to 'editor'. In case that silly Mr Anon is trying to make a fool out of me I'm going to write this one which is something I've found out.

It's written by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) who is based in South Wales & has been accepted by those in Scotland & Nth Ireland. It reads:

Importance: High

Draft Press Release:

Due to the nature of the quality of driving in England the Department of Transport has now devised a new scheme in order to identify poor drivers and give good drivers the opportunity to recognise them whilst driving.

For this reason as from the middle of May 2006 those drivers who are found to be driving badly which includes:

1) Overtaking in dangerous places

2) Hovering within one inch of the car in front

3) Stopping sharply

4) Speeding in residential areas

5) Pulling out without indicating

6) Performing U-turns inappropriately in busy High Streets

7) Under taking on motorways

8) Taking up more than one lane in multi lane roads

will be issued with flags, white with a red cross, signifying their inability to drive properly.

These flags must be clipped to a door of the car and be visible to all other drivers and pedestrians.

Those drivers who have shown particularly poor driving skills will have to display a flag on each side of the car to indicate their greater lack of skill and general lower intelligence mindset to the general public.

Please circulate this to as many other motorists as you can so that drivers and pedestrians will be aware of the meaning of these flags.

Department of Transport.

Spring 1903 deadline: 5pm BST; 23rd June 2006.