FINAGLE'S LAW
\fɪnˈe͡ɪɡə͡lz lˈɔː], \fɪnˈeɪɡəlz lˈɔː], \f_ɪ_n_ˈeɪ_ɡ_əl_z l_ˈɔː]\
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The generalised or "folk" version of Murphy's Law,fully named "Finagle's Law of Dynamic Negatives" and usuallyrendered "Anything that can go wrong, will". One variantfavoured among hackers is "The perversity of the Universetends toward a maximum".The label "Finagle's Law" was popularised by SF author LarryNiven in several stories depicting a frontier culture ofasteroid miners; this "Belter" culture professed a religionand/or running joke involving the worship of the dread godFinagle and his mad prophet Murphy.
By Denis Howe
Word of the day
tinctura quininae ammoniata
- A preparation made by dissolving quinin sulphate in alcohol [Br. Ph.].