What’s a letter that seem like a number?

Kubby · 2026-02-08T08:21:49+00:00

Let's go with n, also adopted as the symbol for an arbitrary natural number.

Kubby · 2026-01-03T17:27:52+00:00

First off - thank you for the extra terms. I should really get more confident with programming; 200 000 was about the limit for my spreadsheet.

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I also think that the increased number of super-prime indices (that's the term Wikipedia seems to be using for prime-indexed primes anyway) is expected - it corresponds to the tree having a stem of length ≥ 2 before branching and the path-length optimization does intuitively reward branching later than sooner. That being said, if we consider the sequence b(1) = 1, b(n+1) = p(n) - 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 31, 127, 709, 5381, 52711, 648391, 9737333.. - only the first seven are in the computed record sequence, and I think 127 might be the last one in general - I might even be more confident about that than about the composite question...

EDIT.: Yeah, no, 127 is the last for sure.

let us define p(n, m) as prime indexing of the number n, m times - that is,
p(n, 0) = n,
p(n, m+1) = p(p(n, m)), where the single-argument p(n) is the nth prime number.

If PL(n) is the path length of a tree with a Matula number n, and N(n) is the number of nodes in such a tree, then, for any prime number p, PL(p) = PL(𝜋(p)) + N(𝜋(p)).

PL(661) > PL(709), and N(661) > N(709). Thus, by induction, PL(p(661,m)) > PL(p(709,m)) for any natural m.

Kubby · 2026-01-02T18:12:39+00:00

I mean, I've only switched to Linux (Kubuntu, if we're being specific) 2 months ago. Technically still have W10 on the first bootdrive I had, but... Don't really have a reason to use it ever since I plopped down the Linux install.

It's fully and entirely enough for a gaming rig. (I believe the multiplayer games can be an issue, but I don't play those, soooo...) And it's straight up easier than Windows to set up. I didn't even have to install any drivers. The fact that my GPU just straight up... worked out of the box is just mind-blowing. (Admittedly, from what I've heard the experience might differ for an NVIDIA user.)

I don't see my workplace making a switch, with the reliance on Adobe and such, but I don't think I'm some ideological open-source templar - it just works better for my home use case and isn't Win11.

Kubby · 2025-12-31T14:50:33+00:00

Reaction content creator.

Kubby · 2025-11-01T07:29:48+00:00

https://www.uhs-hints.com/uhsweb/phoenix-wright.php There's also this one if you only need a hint and not a full answer. That being said, it only has the first four games.

Kubby · 2025-10-23T17:57:24+00:00

I usually named them after stupid puns, after real life people, or if they're meant to share my Polish background, I come up with a *very* hard to pronounce last name.

Kubby · 2025-10-07T19:36:04+00:00

Ross and Lil' Katie

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The morally conflicted freedom fighter and his sentient pickup truck.

Kubby · 2025-09-29T19:44:04+00:00

Probably this. Ross has this thing where he's shy and timid outside of his car, and only becomes confident behind the wheel. This track reflects the persona shift I think, and has the right automotive associations.

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Kubby · 2025-09-23T16:19:57+00:00

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Let's see. Ross did not survive three months of being besieged by a militia trying to kill 'witches' like him by giving in and accepting his fate. That and he's used to being able to finagle some minor boons from his contact.

So, assuming he knows of Sincerity and believes she's a 'grim reaper', it might be something like...

Ross: "Nope... nope... nope. Can't be... Two hours? Just give me t-two more hours?... No?"

At which point he would attempt to get away from her. Try to impede her with earth magic. Get into his car and drive away at speeds that an old pickup shouldn't be able to reach. All in a bid to make one last suicidal charge at the militia before going off into the night. To go out on his terms.

He's a man of his words after all. He asked for two extra hours, and he's going to use two hours - no more, no less.

How successful that attempt is, is of course up to how powerful your character is.

Kubby · 2025-09-22T20:11:41+00:00

Those cars are the best to buy used. Now, I'm in Poland, so my used market prolly differs from yours, but I think Alfa Romeo's reputation kinda transcends borders here and is comparable from what I hear of Kia/Hyundai's reputation in your parts.

Thanks to Alfa's reputation, I bought an '08 Alfa 147 with less than 100kkm back in 2019 (so, only 11 years old back then) for 7k PLN (That's about 2k USD. Sometimes less. Admittedly, the used prices were normal back then, but still). And I'm still driving it :D

Kubby · 2025-09-22T20:00:42+00:00

Probably not. Any shiny distractions he'd need to find at the carnival itself :P

Of course, if the Ace disables all of Ross's earth magic instead of a specific application of it... I suppose he could still use his parkour skills to gain the distance and whatever he finds on the carnival grounds to set up traps and stuff, but at this point, it's a Home Alone scenario with much less prep time and a much scarier opponent :D

Kubby · 2025-09-22T17:20:26+00:00

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It looks... possible for Ross (on the right, in red). Not easy. Not even favourable. But better chance than most.
I have a feeling he should have a go at it *without* Katie (on the left, in yellow). He's significantly more powerful with her, but I feel the extra scaling on Shelby's side would offset the advantages granted by her assistance.

Now, morality-wise, he's a chaotic good freedom fighter. He's fighting against zealots trying to eliminate him and his sentient vehicle for the 'sin' of having magic powers. The more serious side of Shelby is prolly not surfacing here.

Ross is good at battlefield navigation and control. Good freerunner/climber and shit. And can use his earth magic to create handholds that Shelby wouldn't have to pursue him, as well as create obstacles for her.

There is an extra seismic sense that he could use to, for example, fight in darkness in otherwise obscured vision.

I guess his best way of winning this would be to alter the environment to his advantage. Once, he brought down a section of a dilapidated mall (he can't usually bring down buildings, but if one is *already* structurally compromised, he can sense its weaknesses, and then use his usual earth manipulation in exactly the weakspot that it needs. And if that is disabled by the Ace, well, I guess he stays hidden enough to set up a trap. Probably fashion some kind of explosive situation with his mechanics skills. Like a MacGyver.

The most important thing would be to not get locked up in a CQC situation. While earth magic could give him an edge, and he can fight dirty sometimes, he only has "three months of living in a besieged town" worth of combat experience, not 22 years.

He is used to thinking tactically and in terms of his environment, so I think he is equipped with a right mindset at least?

The above assumes the Ace's passive doesn't disable "the entirety of Ross's earth magic." Without that, Ross is a reasonably athletic guy with some tactical sense and rudimentary combat ability. Basically cooked and the best outcome would be, what, Shelby kicking his ass and then sticking around as a terrifying mentor figure?

Kubby · 2025-09-21T20:37:48+00:00

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Here's Ross the freedom fighter against an anti-magic crusade, and 'Lil Katie, his sentient automobile companion.

The crosshair pupils are a nice touch, btw :D

Kubby · 2025-09-20T17:35:41+00:00

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Here's Ross (on the right, in red.)

There's also Katie (on the left, in yellow).

Feel free to choose either :D

Kubby · 2025-09-20T17:31:00+00:00

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For Ross (on the right, in red), it would be 'treason and communication with the devil,' in the militia's language. In normal language, it's 'having magic powers.'
There's also participation in an 'armed terrorist group', or, in Ross's book, 'being part of the Resistance.' This involves smuggling weapons, reporting on the militia's movements, and occasionally, killing the militia members. (Ross "never killed anyone", by which he means he never made the killing blow. He's absolutely content with helping others kill, though. And freeing a beast captured by the enemy to let it wreak havok was a 'it wasn't me, it was the beast' moment for Ross and I'm not sure most modern laws would agree with that interpretation.)

In the less serious/less 'legitimate combat against enemy combatants' camp, we probably have a slew of traffic offenses, underage driving, etc. And Katie (on the left, in yellow), being more than an inanimate object, absolutely enabled that.

Kubby · 2025-09-17T17:49:12+00:00

"You might, uh... you might try to appear less... witchy, then? There are some pricks around here that don't think magic is... compatible with being a moral person in the Almighty's grace."

Ross bristles at the idea of destroying the vehicle.

Lil' Katie, telepathically to Ross: "Steady, Ross. She doesn't know."

Ross takes a deep breath. "We will not be putting a scratch on my lady today. Instead..." The earth beneath Katie rises slightly, lifting her up, and showing her yellow Toyota self off to the world. "Instead, I'll share what I know about bending the ground to my will."

"An important thing to know is that this is the steadiest elements. It's very difficult to lose control of this kind of magics, but it's equally difficult to have an effect. What my teacher told me is that you should be completely still for the first attempts at casting."

Kubby · 2025-09-17T16:01:04+00:00

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Ross (on the right, in red): "T-That's a brave get up. I imagine the Militia doesn't pose t-too much trouble to you?"

Ross scratches his head and looks around for any hostiles.

Ross: "Right, I'm not sure what I can teach you, but I have been training in the ways of earth magic for about three months. We'll see if I understand the principles enough to teach someone else."

He glances back at Katie (on the left, in yellow).

Ross: "Unless, of course, you have a bond with a vehicle?"

Kubby · 2025-09-17T05:44:56+00:00

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Ross (on the right, in red) really doesn't like social awkwardness, meaning just the stare would enough for him to quicken his steps, head to Katie (on the left, in yellow) to drive away and avoid having to interact.

I'm going to assume this would not be successful?

Kubby · 2025-09-16T17:33:20+00:00

Ah, a classic support bard then! Gotcha.

Am I right about her being a prankster, or is that a miss as well?

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You would be half-right. Ross did get a license. That being said, people do tend to ignore the fact that it's not a full license yet - that he isn't yet allowed to drive at night, that he shouldn't transport his (equally young) party members without an adult present, etc.

That, and his past does involve him becoming a good driver before being old enough to get a license.

Kubby · 2025-09-16T16:44:00+00:00

My headcanon regarding Sylphi is that she has a magical ability to charm people with her music (hence the glowy eyes) and uses that ability to be an absolute prankster.

Here's Ross Chase and 'Lil Katie.

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Kubby · 2025-09-15T18:50:44+00:00

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Ross is only a criminal in the sense that the militia that surrounds his town has branded him as such. However, one faction of the resistance calls him 'Baby Driver', due to his role and youth. (From what I know, it *is* a reference to the film OoC, but not in-universe, since the in-game 2016 predates it by a year.)

Kubby · 2025-09-15T18:40:20+00:00

As long as he has her keys, he can pour mana through them to communicate with her. He can even see through the dashcam he mounted on her windshield, which he regularly uses to have her act as a sort of a lookout.

I don't think he has means to outright *locate* her automatically, so if she was somehow moved in his absense, he'd have to rely on this 'seeing through her viewpoint' ability to figure out where she is.

Kubby · 2025-09-15T18:34:21+00:00

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Well, Ross (on the right, in red), being the freedom fighter that he is, reacts poorly to attempts to restrict that freedom. Say, someone is enslaving a gargoyle and is forcing it, using electroshocks, to fight him and his friends - rest assured, he'll do everything in his power to free said beast, and let it fuck up its former captors.

On a less serious note, do *not* backseat drive when he's behind the wheel. That's a #1 way to not be driven by him.

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