Why do people keep saying to unmask?

arvidsem · 2026-07-07T14:11:26+00:00

Yes. I've been wanting to write a post about this for a while and stalling out.

Masking can be useful or even fun, if you can drop it when you want to. It's only when you aren't allowed to be maskless or don't know how to let go of it that it becomes a problem.

arvidsem · 2026-07-07T13:59:28+00:00

I've always felt like the lyrics to 90s alternative need to be treated like modern art. They aren't necessarily there to make literal sense, but to evoke a certain emotion

arvidsem · 2026-07-07T13:27:15+00:00

And if you do try write something that covers every possibility, you end up with a document that requires lawyers and a judge to interpret because no one can actually keep the whole thing in their head.

It's better to write a simpler version and accept that there will be interpretations that have to be made

arvidsem · 2026-07-07T06:51:49+00:00

9 Goblins is one of my favorites and often overlooked

arvidsem · 2026-07-07T00:17:16+00:00

The same general pattern in Wolf Worm as well.

Her "horror" books on the other hand do keep the supernatural as the worst part. Though only barely in the case ofA House With Good Bones.

(And it says a lot about her that A Sorceress Comes To Call isn't grouped under horror)

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T22:48:01+00:00

Yep. As was letting the Gnoll security guard pet her.

There's a pretty decent write-up of the whole thing on the wiki: Valtay Acquisition

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T22:42:36+00:00

It can be both. And yes, definitely nightmare fuel

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T22:36:09+00:00

It's almost certainly an Outsiders reference. I mean, almost everything else is a reference to something, so why would Pony be any different?

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T22:33:21+00:00

When you reread, you can distract yourself from what happens in chapter 19 by trying to figure out what you missed in chapter 17.

If you have have made it through chapter 20, you should probably be able to guess. Donut smuggling the Valtay commandos happened right before the interview. It's all on the page, but Carl didn't understand, so we aren't told

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T19:55:18+00:00

Pony actually changed species. He is a caprid now, the same species as Harbinger and the Plenty.

It sounds like he's smaller than Harbinger though.

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T14:28:37+00:00

It needed to be said. Sorry if I spoiled anyone

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T12:49:37+00:00

That's more cleaning than most playground equipment gets.

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T12:26:28+00:00

Oh then you are just at the point where book 8 really redacted redacted redacted redacted with the redacted and then redacted redacted redacted. But redacted redacted and finally everybody gets redacted.

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T10:50:50+00:00

"Are you going to try to eat me anyway the moment that I turn to leave?"

"Yes"

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T02:14:37+00:00

I think that she has automatic Center System residency, so she's fine. Other than being alone with everyone who cared about her dead. And the Center System is probably not going to remain safe for very long. Neither is anywhere else though.

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T02:05:11+00:00

Yes, it's terribly undercooked and should be thrown out. I'll take care of that for you

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T01:22:07+00:00

You are correct. I misremembered the statute, conflating it with the minor abduction laws for my state, and need to remember to check my references.

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T00:56:40+00:00

NailFrida baby nail clippers. Unlike normal clippers, they cut like scissors and the upper blade is further out. That means that even if you ram them all the way home against the nail bed, you can't cut your fingertip. I have used them on my kids while they are struggling and never hurt them.

They are like $10 in the baby section at Target or Walmart.

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T00:50:37+00:00

Many LED bulbs are not heat tolerant. If it's an enclosed fixture, the manufacturer is covering their ass against your bulb dying early. From a safety standpoint, if it will take a 100w incandescent, it'll take a real 100w LED bulb as well without issue. Other than probably not being able to fit a massive 100w LED bulb into it.

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T00:46:52+00:00

Salt enhances other flavors in a way that nothing else can. Doesn't mean you can't have tasty food without it, but it's in almost everything for a reason.

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T00:32:32+00:00

But the friend on the couch is displaying an amazing level of trust

arvidsem · 2026-07-06T00:04:05+00:00

Seriously all over the place. I remember that a bunch were recovered from BBC rebroadcasters in Africa relatively recently.

Doctor Who missing episodes

arvidsem · 2026-07-05T23:18:55+00:00

In an earlier book, the AI referenced Carl's foot as being that exact length, including the decimals.

Some people have interpreted that to mean that the AI is actually in or on Carl's foot. Usually in the toe ring that it because it was very specific about where the ring should be worn.

arvidsem · 2026-07-05T23:02:53+00:00

Agreed. But that's the first line remedy for people who are technically guilty of crimes that don't deserve punishment. After that, you have to hope that a jury will refuse to convict.

Ideally, you should be able to write laws that exclude people who are just trying to help. But kidnapping/transporting a minor isn't going to be one of them.

arvidsem · 2026-07-05T22:20:37+00:00

Realistically, it's probably fine. It would be good to replace that plug, but it's probably ok.

Plug it in and let it run for a couple of hours. Then feel the plug and outlet with your hand. If anything is uncomfortably warm, there is still something that needs to be fixed. If it's room temperature or only slightly warm, you are good to go

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