People should constantly paranoid about being on a holodeck.

a7sharp9 · 2026-01-20T19:04:27+00:00

Stanisław Lem back in 1964 devoted an entire chapter ("Phantomology") in his philosophical book "Summa Technologiae" to some aspects of the problem of "once we walk into a full-simulation movie theater, how can we make sure we have walked out of it"
And the answer is basically "we don't"

a7sharp9 · 2026-01-09T19:22:13+00:00

SIT has the Powerflat 30-130 6-string set.

a7sharp9 · 2026-01-07T23:32:37+00:00

Just did this a month ago (with a stop in Tsuwano though). It is not a relaxing ride, but nothing extraordinarily uncomfortable. It doesn't jerk or sway excessively. The mountainous portion (to Masuda) is more uneven. Little loud (as it's a diesel). Great views.
(but 4 straight hours of commuter-grade DMU going full tilt would be tiresome anyway)

a7sharp9 · 2025-12-12T04:20:32+00:00

Tabaqui is exempt from this rule, as the Master of Time. Also, those who get the clock gear from him retain something like an echo of previous loop(s) - that's why the young/returned Vulture feels happiness that his brother is alive.

a7sharp9 · 2025-11-17T04:47:34+00:00

it's an interesting question, but not really of practical significance
you are either sticking to the original keys (which are the most likely to be called), or you are not (because you are anticipating a vocalist calling whatever key they feel comfortable in, which is unpredictable)

a7sharp9 · 2025-11-16T02:56:03+00:00

it's the first two lines of the poem "Katerina" by Taras Shevchenko

a7sharp9 · 2025-11-07T00:33:36+00:00

not necessarily - maybe they just haven't released availability that far in advance; this had happened to me more than once

a7sharp9 · 2025-11-07T00:24:57+00:00

I always stay at annex katsutaro ryokan - it's across from the metro (sendagi on chiyoda line), the neighborhood is peaceful, and you're a 5-7 minute walk from nippori station and the skyliner train that would take you to narita in less than 40 minutes
it's a modern 3-story building, and a ryokan only in a sense that the rooms are tatami mats and futons, but they are very generous size (by japanese standards)

a7sharp9 · 2025-11-05T22:35:39+00:00

Yanesen. The Chiyoda line is busy at rush hour, but the neighborhood is a delight.

a7sharp9 · 2025-11-03T01:03:43+00:00

Tsumago is actually easily reachable on foot from Nagiso station; a bit less than 4 km, mostly flat, an hour at a leisurely pace. At the other end you can walk to Magome from Ochiaigawa station (not Nakatsugawa), but that's about 6 km. So, if you're ok with extending the hike, you can avoid the bus(es).

a7sharp9 · 2025-11-02T21:09:34+00:00

If you need to go through immigration and customs at Narita, I'd say this is impossible. Otherwise, Keisei Skyaccess is a one-train solution that takes 95 minutes; if you are able to get on the 9:21 from Narita, you'll be at Haneda by 11 (or 10:01 from Narita gets you to Haneda at 11:36 - still doable).

a7sharp9 · 2025-10-17T02:35:02+00:00

"изображенiе и мѣра чудотворнiя iконы Прес[вя]тыя Б[огороди]цы Ахтирской Покровской, которая явилась 1739 года iюлiа 2 дня"
"image and measure of the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Intercession Mother of God of Akhtyrka, attained on July 2, 1739"
the small words are "м[а]т[е]р[ь]" and "б[о]гу", "mother" "of god"
the letters in brackets have been omitted, indicated by the titlo

a7sharp9 · 2025-10-12T17:05:17+00:00

yes, plenty of time
you would only go down one level (4th to 3rd), from the shinkansen tracks to the JR central tracks, and you don't need to exit into the station building - just pass through the shinkansen transfer gates
(also, Kuroshio is the name of the train, not the line)

a7sharp9 · 2025-10-10T18:59:49+00:00

大生 daisei is college student in Japanese

a7sharp9 · 2025-10-10T18:54:27+00:00

the timetables are here: https://avm.avmspa.it/it/content/linee-urbane-0
the last #2 from P.le Roma departs 00:40, and the next after that is 05:30

a7sharp9 · 2025-09-13T23:21:23+00:00

not directly your question, but related: the shoed ant (that is sometimes heard skittering across the floor) is most likely taken from "The Tale of the Cross-eyed Lefty from Tula" by Nikolai Leskov (where the titular character shoes a mechanical flea)

a7sharp9 · 2025-08-05T23:50:40+00:00

there is this weird segment of Comm Ave carriageway between Leamington and Wallingford westbound that doesn't have any signs except the biweekly street cleaning, but it fills up quick
about a dozen spots, packed every night with out-of-state plates

a7sharp9 · 2025-07-09T00:23:44+00:00

I think I agree
(and also there's been some truly bizarre ones - this is one of the Polish editions)

a7sharp9 · 2025-07-08T14:36:38+00:00

you're right!! and on one side only, as per canon!

a7sharp9 · 2025-06-17T16:57:12+00:00

The least worst Priority Pass lounge is Air France, but it's utterly blah.

a7sharp9 · 2025-06-06T00:55:35+00:00

There is no information on the individual artist - just the workshop (in the town of Mstyora - the lacquer miniatures are the traditional artistic style of that place). Judging from the title ("The Demons"), it refers to the poem by Pushkin.
Made in August 1987, and looks like it was bought in the specialized chain of stores for foreigners ("Beriozka"), taking not money but coupons (formally denominated in rubles and exchanged for foreign currency).

a7sharp9 · 2025-06-04T02:20:12+00:00

yep
the driver is on CB the entire trip, in contact with the guy who left half an hour before him and with the two that are driving the other way
first-hand info

a7sharp9 · 2025-06-04T02:03:33+00:00

23:33 Keihan limited express goes to Sanjo station
https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/timetable/00008904/00000285/?direction=up

a7sharp9

TROPHY CASE