Re: GZGverse Govt Structure

Reminds me of a story about the architect who designed Istanbul's  Blue 
Mosque (IIRC).	The Sultan told him he wanted a mosque with gold
minarets.  
The architect realized this would break the bank.  So he built one with
(six 
or seven, I forget) minarets, since the word for gold and the word for
that 
number are very similar.  Then he told the Sultan, "Oh, I thought you 
said....  The sultan admired his cleverness, and was appeased when it
was 
pointed out that his new mosque had so many minarets, making it
impressive.  
Or so the story goes.

Brian B2

>From: John Atkinson <johnmatkinson@yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
>To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
>Subject: Re: GZGverse Govt Structure
>Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 15:28:48 -0800 (PST)
>
>
>--- Laserlight <laserlight@quixnet.net> wrote:
>
> > This is exactly the way the Islamic Federation
> > operates.  If an amir
> > can grab something and hold it, his actions are de
> > facto  authorized.
> > If he tries to grab something and fails, the
> > expedition turns out to
> > have been unauthorized.  Depending on how much he
> > loses in the
> > attempt, he may be called to the Sultan's court to
> > "apologize" (the
> > brighter ones usually just take poison, though).
>
>Which is how the NRE ended up with a (not amir, next
>level down) as a client state.  He started a
>discussion with one of his neighbors and was called to
>the Sultan's court to apologize.  Decided that
>swearing fealty to the Romans was better idea.  Amused
>the Emperor enough to permit it.
>
>john
>
>
>
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