vital functions

[kaberett]

Reading. Three Parts Dead, Max Gladstone. (Because I have decided to reread them all in chronology order as well, because it's not like I get bored of these books and it's also not like I have much brain for New Media...)

Writing. Okay, well, I have technically made a very... tentative start on actually sorting out the words in Chapter 5 following supervisor feedback, but honestly mostly I have been (1) making a figure (now further revised, though the revisions are not present in that post) and (2) fucking about with the title page layout and fonts, because I worked out how I wanted to actually include my full name (given that I've gotta) to emphasise what the Name To Call Me is. But, er, now some more words need to happen.

Watching. Real Genius (1985). Co-watch for a friend's birthday; unsurprisingly, extremely reminiscent of Caltech, and sparked a subsequent conversation about representation of reality versus representation as aspiration.

CXG S02E10 "Will Scarsdale Like Josh's Shayna Punim?" To which I have to say, mostly: oh boy.

Listening. TMA 197. I belatedly realised that Martin's surprise at how normal the house at Hill Top Road looks is because! of the camera! which is why the world changes when it's smashed! On which topic: I'm also kind of at ??? why did none of them??? at any point??? contemplate the merits of amplifying the effects of said camera??? Like if this is a thing that can happen at all surely "how" and "can we extend it" are worth investigating...?

I'm a little facepalm about both the decision to not drop the Item of Power that people keep forgetting exists into the Destructive Chasm and Martin and Jon, having actively agreed not to, prioritising keeping each other alive over saving (...) the damn world.

I know for sure that I don't trust Annabelle's proposed solution, because good gods but that sounds alarmingly close to a happy ending. Ditto "aha, time has no meaning and is a playground so we can rewind back to the safehouse and just not read That Statement".

Questions concerns etc: why, given Everything we now have about tape recorders, was Jon recording statements so important to his ongoing health and well-being? And what is the significance of Martin-the-Archive (yes I'm still stubbornly clinging to that one) being coaxed into reading a statement someone else prepared for him (and why did Annabelle want/need it to happen before she smashed the camera)? And also why is everyone listening to Annabelle?

And! Finally! Is Lost Johns' Cave another such rip in reality, then? To any degree greater than "canonical retcon"? :-p

Playing. Goodness but we are finding the user interface in Myst IV frequently unintuitive and unhelpful. :|

Dragons dragons dragons. Honk honk honk.

Cooking. We experimented with a smitten kitchen cookbook recipe -- roasted aubergines with yoghurt-tahini sauce and crispy chickpeas -- but were sadly underwhelmed by it. (Upside: this is the first smitten kitchen recipe we have ever tried and wound up actually underwhelmed by, I think.)

Little else of note, though we were Pleased with tonight's roast dinner (and will continue to be so for the next couple of days!).

Growing. Most of the tomatoes have hatched! Some of them are contemplating growing their first pair of true leaves! I've got several more chillis hatched and most of the preceding lot now making a proper start on true leaves. The pepper I treated for aphids is starting to actually have a new set of buds turn into leaves, for my astonishment. And I am excited about the prospect of, but have not yet completed, my list of what all I need to get started this month -- shallots and peas into the ground, definitely, and maybe some celery and lambs' lettuce, plus making space in the propagator for the sweet peppers, plus rummaging through the Box Of Seeds to work out what all else needs to happen...

Comments

[me_and]

Hypothesis: *recording* the statements wasn't actually important to Jon's survival, Jon merely needed to *consume* statements. The fact that there was always a tape machine recording nearby when that happened is the Spider magic/manipulation.

[rydra_wong]

Yes, according to Gerry, Gertrude would read statements to sustain herself, but didn't need to record them.

[kaberett]

Oh, yes, fair point.

(... Jon whyyyy)

[vass]

Some people eat oranges with a knife and fork.

[kaberett]

I HAVE BEEN THAT PERSON

(... because I heard the phrase and was Fascinated)

[vass]

Well, next time you read a statement, you could try recording it too!

[madgastronomer]

My wife also went to CalTech, and knew some of the people who'd been advisors on Real Genius. It's a lot of fun to watch with her, she loves to tell stories about the school, and to say things like, "That mural's real, just reversed for some reason." It's become one of my favorite movies.

[kaberett]

Hee, yes.

[alexseanchai]

I worked out how I wanted to actually include my full name (given that I've gotta) to emphasise what the Name To Call Me is

if you are willing to share, I am curious how you did thing

[kaberett]

First two names in small caps; third/use name & surname on the next line, in much larger font so as to take up the same width!

[alexseanchai]

😺

[sporky_rat]

I always loved Real Genius, it reminded me that no, I wasn't entirely the weird one. I was the one who couldn't quite fit in the expected slot.

[kaberett]

<3