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The Oracle
An oracle was usually a priest or a priestess through whom the gods were supposed to speak or prophesize. In particular: *Pythia – served as an oracle in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. * Oracle bone – a bone used for divination in ancient China. *Nechung Oracle – the state oracle of Tibet. The term oracle is used figuratively to describe various terms in science and engineering. Computing * An oracle is a black box for solving a certain computationally-hard problem with a single operation. See :Computation oracles. ** For an oracle in mathematical computability theory, see Computable function#Relative computability. * Oracle machine, an algorithm that uses an oracle for a specific problem. * Blockchain oracle, a service that provides smart contracts with information from the outside world * Oracle AI, a hypothetical artificial general intelligence design limited to answering questions Proper names * Oracle Corporation, a software and enterprise hardware company. ** Ora ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oracle
An oracle is a person or agency considered to provide wise and insightful counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. As such, it is a form of divination. Description The word ''oracle'' comes from the Latin verb ''ōrāre'', "to speak" and properly refers to the priest or priestess uttering the prediction. In extended use, ''oracle'' may also refer to the ''site of the oracle'', and to the oracular utterances themselves, called ''khrēsmē'' 'tresme' (χρησμοί) in Greek. Oracles were thought to be portals through which the gods spoke directly to people. In this sense, they were different from seers (''manteis'', μάντεις) who interpreted signs sent by the gods through bird signs, animal entrails, and other various methods.Flower, Michael Attyah. ''The Seer in Ancient Greece.'' Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008. The most important oracles of Greek antiquity were Pythia (priestess to Apoll ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Oracle (novel)
''The Oracle'', with the United States title ''The Oracle Betrayed'', is a 2003 young adult fantasy novel by Catherine Fisher. ''The Oracle'' is the first of the ''Oracle Prophecies Trilogy''. The others are ''The Archon'' (2004) and ''The Scarab'' (2005); with the US titles being ''The Sphere of Secrets'' and ''The Day of the Scarab'', respectively. The book was shortlisted for the 2003 Whitbread Awards. Plot summary ''The Oracle'' is set in a fictional world, in the middle of a terrible drought. The Archon, the god-on-earth, has been called by the god to die, in order to bring rain to the land. Mirany is the bearer-of-the-god, one of the Nine priestesses who attend the god and his various incarnations. Her duty as Bearer is to hold the god in scorpion form in a bronze bowl. The god is fickle, and occasionally claims the Bearer's life. This terrifies Mirany. As the procession taking the Archon to his death reaches the final destination, the top of a Ziggurat A ziggurat (; C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aurakles
Abel Abin Sur Abra Kadabra (character) Abby Holland Ace the Bat-Hound Acrata Acrata (Andrea Rojas) is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics who was created as part of the ''Planet DC'' annuals event. She first appeared in ''Superman'' (vol. 2) Annual #12 (August 2000), and was created by Oscar Pinto, Giovanni Barberi, and F.G. Haghenbeck. Andrea's father was Bernardo Rojas, once a renowned leader in Central America who researched for "Prehispanic Cultures" at the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana de Mexico. She lived alone with her cat named Zapata, named after one of the revolutionary leaders of Mexico. Acrata specialized in striking against organized crime. Every time she caught a perpetrator or helped avert a tragedy, she cited a literary quotation or, if she had the time, painted graffiti insulting or challenging the local authorities, which might hint at her being an anarchist. Acrata has the power to teleport in shadows, which i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
List Of Batman Supporting Characters
A collective of fictional characters appear in American comic books published by DC Comics featuring the superhero Batman as the main protagonist. Since Batman's introduction in 1939, the character has accumulated a number of recognizable supporting characters. The first Batman supporting character was Commissioner James Gordon, who first appeared in the same comic book as Batman in ''Detective Comics'' #27 (May 1939), and is Batman's ally in the Gotham City Police Department. Robin, Batman's vigilante partner, was introduced in the Spring of 1940, Alfred Pennyworth, Batman's butler, was introduced in 1943, and Barbara Gordon was introduced in 1967. The "Batman family", or "Bat-Family", is the informal term for Batman's closest allies, generally masked vigilantes operating in Gotham City. Batman also forms strong bonds or close working relationships with other superheroes, including Justice League members Superman, Green Arrow, Zatanna and Wonder Woman as well as members of t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. The character was created by television producer William Dozier, editor Julius Schwartz, writer Gardner Fox, and artist Carmine Infantino. Dozier, the producer of the 1960s ''Batman (TV series), Batman'' television series, requested Schwartz to call for a new female counterpart to the superhero Batman that could be introduced into publication and the third season of the show simultaneously. The character subsequently made her first American comic book, comic-book appearance as Batgirl in ''Detective Comics'' #359, titled "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!" in January 1967, by Fox and Infantino, allowing her to be introduced into the television series, portrayed by actress Yvonne Craig, in the season 3 premiere "Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin", in September that same year. Barbara Gordon is the daughter of Gotham City police commissioner Ja ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oracle (Marvel Comics)
Randy O'Brien Blackjack O'Hare Blackjack O'Hare is a fictional anthropomorphic hare in Marvel Comics. The character, created by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema, first appeared in ''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #271 (May 1982). Blackjack O'Hare is a mercenary and leader of the Black Bunny Brigade. He was hired by Judson Jakes and Lord Dyvyne to kidnap Lylla, the C.E.O. of Mayhem Mekaniks. He planned on betraying his employers by marrying Lylla and inheriting the company, but was found out. He was rescued by Rocket Raccoon and after a series of incidents that caused him to question his own loyalty, he aided Rocket in defeating the tyrants and left with his new friends to start a new life. All this appeared to be false when Rocket visited Halfworld and discovered that Blackjack, along with Lylla and Wal Rus, were all actually service animals for the mental patients who inhabited the planet. Blackjack married Lylla after Rocket left to ensure the imprisonment of a dangerous criminal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Greg Egan
Greg Egan (born 20 August 1961) is an Australian science fiction writer and amateur mathematician, best known for his works of hard science fiction. Egan has won multiple awards including the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, the Hugo Award, and the Locus Award. Life and work Egan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Western Australia. He published his first work in 1983. He specialises in hard science fiction stories with mathematical and quantum ontology themes, including the nature of consciousness. Other themes include genetics, simulated reality, posthumanism, mind uploading, sexuality, artificial intelligence, and the superiority of rational naturalism to religion. He often deals with complex technical material, like new physics and epistemology. He is a Hugo Award winner (with eight other works shortlisted for the Hugos) and has also won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. His early stories feature s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stratford High School (Houston, Texas)
Stratford High School is a secondary school in Houston, Texas, United States. The school is one of four high schools in the Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD), the district's westernmost secondary school (serving grades 9 through 12). Stratford High School serves several neighborhoods, including Westchester, Sherwood Oaks, Nottingham Forest, Nottingham West, Wilchester, Gaywood, Wilchester West, Yorkshire, Memorial Townhomes, Village on Memorial Townhomes, Memorial Way, Rustling Pines, Memorial Plaza, and the SBISD portions of Thornwood and Ashford Forest. Stratford provides courses in the traditional academic subjects, as well as several foreign languages, technology, vocational education, athletics, and fine arts. Several different Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered at Stratford. In keeping with the theme of its mascot, Stratford's student newspaper is ''The Oracle'', and its yearbook is ''Mnemosyne''. Feeder patterns Elementary schools that feed in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hamline University
Hamline University is a private liberal arts college in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1854, Hamline is known for its emphasis on experiential learning, service, and social justice. The university is named after Bishop Leonidas Lent Hamline of the United Methodist Church. Hamline is the oldest university in Minnesota, the first coeducational university in the state, and is one of five Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities. The university is composed of the College of Liberal Arts, School of Education, School of Business, and the Creative Writing Programs. Hamline is a community of 2,117 undergraduate students and 1,668 graduate students. History Red Wing location (1854–1869) Hamline was named in honor of Leonidas Lent Hamline, a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church whose interest in the frontier led him to donate $25,000 toward the building of an institution of higher learning in what was then the territory of Minnesota. Today, a statue of Bishop Hamline sculpted ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kevin O'Donnell, Jr
Kevin O'Donnell Jr. (November 29, 1950 – November 7, 2012) was an American science fiction author. He was the son of Kevin O'Donnell, who served as director of Peace Corps in 1971–72. Life O'Donnell graduated from Yale University in 1972. Periodicals ranging from ''Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine'' to '' Omni'' have printed more than seventy of his shorter works.ISFDBKevin O’Donnell Jr. – Summary Bibliography(accessed November 8, 2012) A number have also been anthologized, both in the United States and overseas. He has published ten books in America, and has been reprinted in the United Kingdom, France, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany. In February 1987, the French translation of his 1984 novel ''ORA:CLE'' received the 1987 Prix Litteraire Mannesmann Tally. He served as chairman of the Nebula Award Novel Jury of the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) in 1990 and 1991. He chaired the Nebula Award Committee from 1990 until 1998, and acted a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jackie French
Jacqueline Anne Ffrench (born 29 November 1953), known professionally as Jackie French, is an Australian author who has written across a number of genres for both adults and children. Her most notable works include '' Rain Stones, Diary of a Wombat,'' and ''The Girl from Snowy River.'' Several of her books have been recommended for teaching the Australian Curriculum. French lives in Braidwood, New South Wales, with her second husband Bryan Sullivan. Career French began writing '' Rain Stones'', her first book for children, when she was 30 years old, living in a shed and in need of money to register her car. French's books include both fictional, factional and non-fictional accounts of Australian history including ''Nanberry: Black Brother White'', ''Tom Appleby'', ''A Day to Remember'', ''A Waltz for Matilda'', ''The Girl from Snowy River'', ''The Road to Gundagai'', ''The Night They Stormed Eureka'' and ''Flood'' and ''Fire'' and ''Let the Land Speak: A history of Austra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edwin O'Connor
Edwin Greene O'Connor (July 29, 1918 – March 23, 1968) was an American journalist, novelist, and radio commentator. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1962 for his novel '' The Edge of Sadness'' (1961). His ancestry was Irish, and his novels concerned the Irish-American experience and often dealt with the lives of politicians and priests. (24 March 1968)Prize Winning Author Edwin O'Connor Dies ''Oxnard Press-Courier'' (Associated Press story) Early life O'Connor was born to a medical doctor in Providence, Rhode Island, but was raised in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He was an alumnus of La Salle Academy and the University of Notre Dame. After graduation, he served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. In 1946 he began working as a freelance author, selling his stories and reports to numerous magazines, including ''Atlantic Monthly''. Writing career During the 1950s O'Connor began a career as a television critic for two Boston newspapers, a profession he wo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
