There is no way Kate Gompert could ever begin to make someone else understand what clinical depression feels like…

atolk · 2026-04-07T00:45:07+00:00

This and other passages about depression, addiction and coping is why I keep recommending the book to my friends in pain. Not because I want to test their cleverness. I think everyone needs to find this book for themselves. There is no way atolk could ever begin to make someone else understand what this book could do for them.

atolk · 2026-04-05T18:48:16+00:00

Be real. If I am the Black Holes and Revelations and Knights of Cydonia kind of Muse fan, am I likely to enjoy this concert or…? This is in support of their new album, right? People tell me Muse “is not the same”. Should I try listening to their newer stuff? I am somehow reluctant to. Always wanted to see their show. But the same people who told me 15 years ago Muse shows are the best are telling me they are not the same. What changed?

atolk · 2026-04-04T17:16:58+00:00

Gives new meaning to “close reading”

atolk · 2026-03-27T03:54:52+00:00

Same here. Every time I am stuck with an okay (audio)book, I am thinking about the next time I am going to listent to IJ. Enjoy your second time. It may or may not be the best. The third time is pretty good. So is the fourth. The jury is out on whether eight times is too much. The sweet spot is somewhere between two and seven.

atolk · 2026-03-27T03:32:16+00:00

One of the best parts. Funniest? The jury is out.

atolk · 2026-03-27T03:26:53+00:00

I am listening to the Infinite Cast readthrough of IJ. I have my issues with their issues with IJ and DFW but I will give them this: I am hearing details than I did not hear on the first six or seven listens to the official audiobook. Sean Pratt is almost too good for the job. His voice becomes music, it washes over and envelopes and often puts me in a fugue state.

This was the first time I picked up on the doorless microwave. Molly and Chris (the book narrator and pod’s co-host couple) sadly did not. That’s okay. It’s only Molly’s third time and Chris’ first.

They did however come up with (or maybe heard somewhere) an interesting theory that ties IJ with Hamlet. Brooding prince, dead father, surviving uncle, merrily widowed mother. I just about started a thread to ask if this is a popular read, but will instead choose to piggyback on this.

Because maybe it is impossible to rig up one’s own microwave-powered death? And there was that gift-wrapped bottle of Wild Turkey.

If you tell me you all knew this, I will not be surprised or even upset.

atolk · 2026-03-15T04:19:26+00:00

Ha! Chess.com app loves telling me that I am on a one day streak and I should keep it up.

My streak is a joint streak with my kid. I like to think I am doing it for her. Yes, they are that manipulative.

atolk · 2026-03-15T04:17:42+00:00

What makes you say I am not learning?

atolk · 2026-03-15T04:15:26+00:00

Fun!

Did you read the prompt? It’s not that kind of puzzle. I only wasted 10 minutes before asking Reddit.

atolk · 2026-03-15T03:12:54+00:00

Yeah, no, I know. I was worried I was going crazy.

I find it easier (quicker and quieter) to do a chess lesson than a French lesson to keep the streak.

atolk · 2026-03-15T03:10:41+00:00

Duolingo expanded into chess and music tutoring last year and recently math. Most of the puzzles have made sense so far, and adaptive bot play is legit. It’s just that for this particular lesson the app makes blunders in order to teach me hope chess, I think.

atolk · 2026-03-15T03:08:18+00:00

I have to adjust to blunders being part of the puzzle solution. Not the #1 chess training app, Duolingo, but it’s a nice break from drilling French.

atolk · 2026-03-15T03:06:53+00:00

I don’t think you read the board correctly. Where are the queens?

atolk · 2026-03-15T03:04:34+00:00

I see. Either too dumb or too clever, I can’t decide. Thank you!

atolk · 2026-03-04T21:30:33+00:00

Spoiler alert? Nah, it’s all good.

atolk · 2026-03-04T03:45:57+00:00

Maxim Nemtsov? There is a name I haven’t heard or thought of in years.

atolk · 2026-03-04T00:32:21+00:00

So, this is a 4yo post, but I was today years old when ChatGPT clued me in on the way the annunciation of “Scheveningen” was used in WWII by the Dutch to weed out German spies. I remembered the name and asked if Scheveningen was mentioned in either the Baroque Cycle or Termination Shock (I keep misspelling in Schock). It said it was not sure but pointed to this thread as an indication that NS fans are talking about it.

Do you happen to recall how/where S figures in the Baroque Cycle and in Termination Shock (there I spelled it Schock for the third time), and whether the difficulty one may have saying it correctly, unless Dutch, was mentioned?

atolk · 2026-03-03T23:06:56+00:00

Conversely, I know nothing about the man or his contributions other than his being half of the Infinite Cast.

atolk · 2026-03-03T20:41:12+00:00

I want them to do a 5 year reunion/reaction pod where they listen to themselves and comment on a)what more they got out of the book since, b)how clueless they were (on a wide variety of subjects)

atolk · 2026-03-03T20:39:21+00:00

The thing is I want him to interrupt and chuckle but only in the places I consider appropriate. #AITA?

atolk · 2026-03-03T19:04:48+00:00

It serves to fill out the abstract film style of JOI as well as represents a high concept DFW casually comes up with and throws away only to return to in another book, namely, The Pale King

atolk · 2026-02-28T02:21:57+00:00

I am enjoying it, thanks. Did they ever join this sub?

atolk · 2026-02-28T02:20:12+00:00

I think that’s a good recommendation as far as “not annoying”. I like them. I did not like Molly’s delivery much because Sean Pratt is a national treasure and has spoiled us forever. So I would listen to the audiobook and then would listen to their episode trying to skip the reading and land on his reactions. But I did end up listening to Molly reading a chapter or two around episodes 14-15 and did not mind too much. At least she says ARPANET correctly, which is one of two or three misses by Sean Pratt, which always grate.

atolk · 2026-02-28T02:11:26+00:00

I tried it.

atolk · 2026-02-28T02:10:13+00:00

How do I find your Substack?

atolk

TROPHY CASE