Re: VMs: Folio and Quire numbers

[ajb <ajb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In message <406E209E.2030204@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Bruce Grant
<bgrant@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes
>Nick Pelling wrote:
>
>> I'd also agree that it is too (structurally) complicated for it to be 
>> a *single* cipher from any era - but note that I posit it as a 
>> carefully-constructed compilation of cipher techniques. Its structure 
>> would therefore arise from the *combination* of elements within the 
>> system, not from the innate algorithmic complexity of any single element. 
>
>This type of argument can get you into trouble, I think. For example, I 
>remember years ago running across a tract which attempted to show that 
>the Bible must be divinely composed because of a large number of 
>statistics about it which involve the number seven. For example (I'm 
>making up a couple since I don't recall the ones in the tract), the 
>number of words referring to plants was exactly divisible by seven, also 
>the number of occurences of the word "and", the number of verses, and so 
>on. Other things were divisible by 77 or 777. The author went on to 
>argue that no human being could have composed a book in which all of 
>these counts came out correct simultaneously as the last word was being 
>written.
>
>The flaw in the argument is that the autohor of the tract got to pick 
>which statistics to use after the fact. Similarly, not knowing anything 
>about the method of encryption, we don't know which features are 
>siginificant, and therefore whether the structure is realy complex or not.
>

Another point would be that since we haven't got a First Edition Bible,
all the author had to work with is a variety of translations and
translations of translations of late-generation copies of a variety of
original languages.... 

...in fact, quite like another manuscript that springs to mind?

(For myself, I prefer the translation by Tyndale, whose monument I can
see from my window on a clear day. It gets off to a good start when the
snake says "Tush!...")

Regards

Anthony

-- 

     ajb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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