Timewaster's Guide Archive

Today's strip says "The maps we got from Kerchak are recent and non-bostoned, right down to allocation of forces." What's "non-bostoned"? I don't recognize that term, I think? I know Boston, MA...

You mean "a maze of twisty passages, all alike?" I thought that was in Colossal Cave, the original adventure game... actually, I'm sure of it. Which might have been recycled for later adventure games?

The monkey is headless so they can send sensory data from the monkey's body to the victim in the jar. Torture the monkey, torture the victim. This could get really nasty since it's no big deal if the monkey dies.   

I think that was their plan, but...

Crazy idea time:  no matter what they meant to do with the headless monkey, Kaff ends up attached to it, and controls it and manages to break free on his own.  Just like he said he would.

I'm kind of expecting something like that. Although maybe not Kaff? I mean, ennesby has always wanted a hand, right?

Don't you love the hazmat outfits?

Tagon, Ebby, Tailor, Nick (with an ENORMOUS backpack), Ennesby, and ... is that Shodan?

Wonder what's in Nick's backpack?

Over here...http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=blog&id=59372 talks about why he doesn't think Schlock Mercenary is Hugo material. Down in there is the notion:

"Fun is not enough. I don’t want to just like it, I want to twist my brain around it and spend hours pondering the work the author did with the characters and plot once I’m finished."

I'm fascinated with the implications. I guess unless a piece forces you to work hard to understand it, unless it is hard to understand -- well, that's just not art, my man!

Odd. I'm a reader, and I actually prefer something a bit lighter. But I guess that just proves that I don't have the proper approach to reading. I should be looking for the obtuse, the impenetrable, the literary pains that force twisted brains and similar delights.

I don't know. I think I'll stick with Schlock.

YEAH! Thanks, Howard, for writing something that is understandable. Even if that does disqualify you in some eyes. Please don't stop.

That'll teach me not to try to do math in my head... that's what the calculator in the cell phone is for, right?

Thanks for the corrections. I knew that didn't look right, but...

Not sure -- I thought Legs added the klaxon (that was after he figured out how to bypass the help desk call handling...). I think the security guy went on vacation after he fried himself trying to physically hack the cameras -- he seemed quite sincere.

I'm not sure who softmole is. Right now we don't have many suspects -- the security guy, Aliss (hey, the owner did it!), the other screenwatcher... that's about it?

I do note that someone has planted at least one extra camera (Saturday's strip), which got Legs all excited -- and then we cut to Tagon and the tailor.

Just wanted to recognize this.

Today's strip -- Leg's comments in the final frame add just the right touch. Here it comes... BAM.

Excellent. Applause!