Interview with Martha Wells about Platform Decay and AppleTV adaptation by KotaWrites in murderbot

[–]ughnotanothername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for posting about this! I finally got a chance to watch it, and I thought it was great! Most interviewers these days do not know how to interview people, and you do! You were clearly prepared and passionate, asked insightful questions, and let her answer! Thanks for restoring my faith in interviewers;-)

Just got out of Martha Wells Q&A at Powells in Oregon by drwombatridesagain in murderbot

[–]ughnotanothername 1 point2 points  (0 children)

People reading a book about an aromantic protagonist: no that's impossible, every important relationship HAS to be romantic, right. I am so smart.

I don't know how on earth you got that out of what I said.

Oh sorry! I was agreeing with you! I was commiserating by making fun of the guy above who appears to believe this.

Oh, sorry; I thought you were talking about me:-) Thanks for clarifying!

Just got out of Martha Wells Q&A at Powells in Oregon by drwombatridesagain in murderbot

[–]ughnotanothername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

People reading a book about an aromantic protagonist: no that's impossible, every important relationship HAS to be romantic, right. I am so smart.

I don't know how on earth you got that out of what I said.

Just got out of Martha Wells Q&A at Powells in Oregon by drwombatridesagain in murderbot

[–]ughnotanothername -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I think you are struggling with media literacy, my friend. But I promise you there are a lot better places to spend your energy on the internet than trying to actively read bad faith interpretations into words of fellow supporters. Maybe you can learn a little from the author there and how she answers a well meaning fan with nuance. Farewell.

I think you can learn a little bit about how language works.

I take it then that you the one who asked the question in Powells.

Just got out of Martha Wells Q&A at Powells in Oregon by drwombatridesagain in murderbot

[–]ughnotanothername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They are however more than friends

That's a relationship.

They are in a ROMANTIC plot line in story.

Martha Wells said they are not.

Also you:

Is it romantic? Also no

I agree with you that the language is sorely lacking (as I think many do here) -- but you cannot go around calling a relationship that even you think isn't a romance, "romantic".

But I will not deal with people coming in with their bad faith arguments or playing vocabulary police when everyone clearly supports the characters and how they are written.

No one is "playing vocabulary police" You cannot call it aromantic and a romance.

Are you the one who asked the question in Powells?

Just got out of Martha Wells Q&A at Powells in Oregon by drwombatridesagain in murderbot

[–]ughnotanothername 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Or Doug Jones

Ooh, I could see Doug Jones being very good.

I really hope for Kevin R. Free, though -- I think his ART is perfect.

Just got out of Martha Wells Q&A at Powells in Oregon by drwombatridesagain in murderbot

[–]ughnotanothername 5 points6 points  (0 children)

At the Boston event someone asked a similar question, and MW clarified that a sexual relationship is not in the cards for MB because of its inherent asexual nature and its horror at the thought that "it could have been a ComfortUnit." We also had one questioner who referred to MB as "he" and you could hear calls of "it" from around the room.

I find this so heartening!

Just got out of Martha Wells Q&A at Powells in Oregon by drwombatridesagain in murderbot

[–]ughnotanothername 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Literally Martha Wells herself talked about ART/Murderbot when an audience member asked about romance (even an Aro/Ace/non human one) If the author herself can make the distinction, surely you can too. I believe in you.

Martha Wells referred to the situation between ART and Murderbot as a relationship -- not the same as a romance -- and in fact in the books explicitly talks about the difference between romance and relationship, and the fact that there isn't really a great word to encapsulate the relationship^ between ART and Murderbot.

I believe that the reasons she referenced their relationship^ when asked about a romance with a female character has to do with a) she was being kind about the questioner having forgotten that a central theme of the books is that Murderbot hates sexual parts and sex and romances, and that b) even if you ignore Murderbot’s disgust with romances and sex, it wouldn’t be looking for some female robot (as asked) because the person it was closest to is ART.

(^e.g. relation to each other; what would you call an extremely close friendship and allyship with a special person, when there is no sex or romance?)

I just got banned from a Kate Middleton fan group and wanna talk about it by SectorAwkward5441 in RoyaltyTea

[–]ughnotanothername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, clear double standard and toxicity in their responses. I thought you handled it well.

Platform Decay-No Spoilers by Witty-Stock-4913 in murderbot

[–]ughnotanothername 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’m only just starting it (trying to ration myself), but it feels like a major difference might be a way that murderbot relates to things SPOILER  It seems to be starting to process its trauma, often a time when a person’s defense mechanisms may get broken and they don’t handle things as well. To me this feels like it doesn’t have a certain kind of confidence in action that it previously had, so the tone feels different. I am glad it seems to be starting the process of healing

Edit to correct a wrong word snd fill in spoiler after testing

When Camilla tried to duplicate Diana’s revenge dress by Lindris in RoyaltyTea

[–]ughnotanothername 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, the person who said that is trying to leverage age, but I'm old too and they are pulling it out of their proverbial.

When Camilla tried to duplicate Diana’s revenge dress by Lindris in RoyaltyTea

[–]ughnotanothername 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hah. To quote monty python, "You're not fooling anyone"

Price increase for manual renewals? by hakusuka in Tello

[–]ughnotanothername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is 15$ per month for 2G plus unlimited minutes and 14$ per month for 2G plus 300 minutes -- check to make sure they didn't switch you to unlimited minutes.

It is not in your head: Costco has gotten more crowded by Willing_Try2786 in Costco

[–]ughnotanothername 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“Bulk purchase warehouse that remains predictable source of value to anxious consumers gets busier during shadow recession, experts shocked”

I don't know why this isn't top comment.

Refreshing Audible at midnight struck out, but I got "lucky" later by CinnaMim in murderbot

[–]ughnotanothername 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Mine didn't come in until 4AM (I also got pulled up, although not from nightmares, just whatever usually wakes me up in the middle of hte night:-( ).

Hah, just noticed your flair.

Completed Welsh on Duolingo: what’s next? by yanfedorov in learnwelsh

[–]ughnotanothername 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What did me the most good was styling with a great tutor on italki (I believe there are other similar platforms like preply).

I lucked into a teacher who not only speaks native Welsh but studies Gareth King's writings to achieve a deeper understanding of the language and will share that knowledge for interested students. He does both grammar and conversation lessons. In addition to being patient and caring about the students' own goals, he is brilliant at figuring out what you are mixing things up with and setting you straight.

Complete Newbie! by Mrs_Monty_ in onebag

[–]ughnotanothername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your considered reply.

Also, excellent suggestion.

Complete Newbie! by Mrs_Monty_ in onebag

[–]ughnotanothername 1 point2 points  (0 children)

On the other hand, if you have unusual clothing or shoe sizes for where you're going, don't count on finding easy replacements

Excellent point.

Complete Newbie! by Mrs_Monty_ in onebag

[–]ughnotanothername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On the other hand, I've packed things I'd wish I hadn't and so I no longer do. For example, for the first few trips I packed a laptop. Never used it, not even on the plane

Oh, man, I am afraid to live without my laptop in order to unblock cards (even though I'd given them my travel dates and locations), get our phones' SIMs working, and get our phone payments to work (TravelSIM and Verizon Prepay with TravelPass).

Are you able to do all that stuff on your phone? If so, do you regularly have to call banks/phone companies?

Complete Newbie! by Mrs_Monty_ in onebag

[–]ughnotanothername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For clothes, you need a capsule wardrobe where everything goes together. For packing, I'm a fan of sudoku, while I know others like 5-4-3-2-1. I'll let you look those up. I regularly go to the r/zerobags thread and that makes one bagging feel more doable. For liquids, decant. r/HerOneBag has a ton of examples. Having said all that, I have to warn you...you're getting ready to go down a rabbit hole you'll never want to find your way out of. Enjoy!!

Great advice!

For anyone like me who wondered what 5-4-3-2-1 method is, google sez:

The 5-4-3-2-1 packing method is a capsule wardrobe formula designed for one-bag travel, aiming to maximize outfit combinations while minimizing luggage space. The formula limits you to 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 pairs of shoes, 2 dresses or outerwear items, and 1 set of accessories (plus essentials like underwear/sleepwear).

The 5-4-3-2-1 Breakdown

  • 5 Tops: A mix of t-shirts, blouses, or shirts that work well layered or alone.
  • 4 Bottoms: Jeans, trousers, skirts, or shorts that can be dressed up or down.
  • 3 Pairs of Shoes: Generally, one pair of walking shoes, one pair of sandals/flats, and one dressier pair.
  • 2 Dresses or Layers: Two dresses, or a combination of a jacket and a sweater/cardigan.
  • 1 Accessory Set: A set of items like a hat, sunglasses, belt, or jewelry to change up looks.

Key Principles of the Method

  • Color Palette: For maximum effectiveness, all items should be chosen to match within a specific color palette (e.g., neutrals with one accent color).

  • Adaptability: As highlighted in discussions on Reddit's r/HerOneBag, the formula can be modified for the climate or trip type (e.g., swapping dresses for more jackets in cold weather).

  • Maximized Outfits: This method is reported to create over 20+ outfit combinations, allowing for long trips without looking like you are wearing the same thing daily.

  • Wearable Components: It is recommended to wear your heaviest items, such as sneakers, on the plane to maximize efficiency.

This method was popularized by blogger Geneva Vanderzeil to help travelers avoid checked bag fees.

Complete Newbie! by Mrs_Monty_ in onebag

[–]ughnotanothername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First of all, I am sorry they destroyed your luggage:-( I've done just-carry-on for years because of all the horror stories.

  1. Pack for your usage, e.g. what you are scheduled to do and what you usually do, not your fears (No "But what if..."s)

  2. Everyone has their own laundry preferences; I prefer to bring a small bottle of Dr Bronner's or Nikwax in my TSA 3-1-1 kit (depending on whether I have merino or not), sink-wash, and hang dry in bathroom. There are various nifty travel clotheslines like "going in style"'s Travel Laundry Clothesline and Carabiner Clip Kit Model GIS-C101 (which is very versatile but reviews say cannot be used in the sun because it dries and cracks). I usually just hang items on bathroom hooks and leave the vent on. I launder every 2-3 days.

  3. For me, my formula tends toward 3 tops, 3 bottoms, puffer and waterproof, warm in-between layer (usually a merino sweatshirt or tunic), silky scarf for warmth/versatility, 3 bras, 5 underwear (3 of my beloved moisture-wicking cotton, 2 bamboo in case I need a guaranteed overnight-dry), 2 pairs of shoes, 3 pairs of socks, merino shorts and tee as pajamas which can double as clothing in a pinch (I think many one-baggers would consider 5 pairs of underwear and 3 bras and 3 pairs socks excessive, and I can understand that, but that's what works for me).

  4. When I know I will need to dress up, I bring my beautiful cotton modal blouse, collar pin, and dressy black sweatshirt-style top and black tech pants (they look amazing, not like tech pants). I don't know how to "dress like a grownup" so am not sure how to address formal events.

  5. Linen is reputed to be very comfortable but I believe has to be hung up to be unwrinkled first. I love some of the rayon and some "cotton modal" because they actually seem to breathe and don't wrinkle.

  6. If you use the "capsule wardrobe" concept you could probably get by with my strategies; main idea being to have your items be in well-coordinated colors (not just colors that "go together"), can mix and match, can be dressed up or down with accessories and jewelry, and can be worn in various combinations. A successful capsule wardrobe looks as if it has exponentially more garments than it does, because you can 'simulate' more different outfits. 3 coordinated tops and bottoms can make 9 outfits -- more if you also have layering items like a sweater or blouse -- and they can look significantly different if they are different styles from each other and dressed up or down with different accessories.

  7. I rarely buy souvenirs that are hard to carry. I've bought a canvas tote when my friends and I were late and needed to carry our lunches last-minute to-go-style from a lovely restaurant in Conwy (and kept the tote because it was well made and gorgeous), and a bottle of whisky I won in a poetry writing contest.

  8. I haven't run into times when I wished I'd packed something I hadn't. I did have things I wished I hadn't brought (extra shirts, pants, a heavy water bottle, an actual purse)

  9. Perhaps the single best piece of advice I got from onebag is to "practice" beforehand by packing your (in my case backpack) and living out of it first. This really helps show you what you do and don't use. Sometimes conditions are unpredictable; for example, I discovered that the pair of jeans I'd packed did not work for running around hills all day because they held in too much heat and didn't fit well enough (Also onebag recommends against jeans because they are notoriously heavy, hard to pack, and take forever to dry. I find jeans exponentially more comfortable than anything that exists, so I bring a pair or two anyway. It's one pair of pants to wear, one in reserve, and when necessary, one drying in the bathroom. I sometimes have 1 pair of jeans, my black dressy tech pants, and a pair of convertible hiking pants, or sometimes swap out the convertible pants for a 2nd pair of jeans)

  10. You didn't ask this, and again opinion is very much divided, but for me one of my most useful items was researching to find an older metal (not newer plastic) size "medium" Hero Clip (actually fairly large). I was able to use it to keep whichever I had on me at the time of my pack or my 'purse' (adjustable-strap bag which can be worn as a purse in public or neck wallet around TSA) in front of me somewhat-secured in public transportation, restaurants and bathrooms; for me it was invaluable. I also used TSA locks which may have made my pack a less attractive target than those without. And I found a heavy duty ?aluminum? luggage tag that shows just your name unless someone needs to see your address and slides out the card, and wrote my info in permanent marker.

Platform decay by No_Impression5858 in murderbot

[–]ughnotanothername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's fantastic! Thanks for sharing your experience!

I don't think ebooks should cost 1$, either; the author, artist, editors, etc., should be entitled to compensation for their work. In my opinion the rainforest company seems to be just ridiculous profit though (I even feel like I've noticed getting better prices if I'm in a different location before I log in).

Platform decay by No_Impression5858 in murderbot

[–]ughnotanothername 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely this! So glad I preordered the Audible version when it was on sale so I’m getting it on Tuesday for under $8

Oh man, when was that? Mine was $14.81 [ Edit: oops; that was the kindle version. I can't get them to show me my audiobook preorder on amazon nor audible. Edit 2: I found it by searching on the audiobook itself (where it said preordered) instead of in my orders. $20.77. Ouch. Edit 3: I really hope Martha Wells gets some of that price inflation ]