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Clinton realizes "some time" is undefined. Fatal exception error. Literally.

8 (10.4%)

Dora achieves peak self doubt. Vanishes in a puff of logic.

8 (10.4%)

OH HAI, SVEN!

23 (29.9%)

A poll.

2 (2.6%)

A pole.

3 (3.9%)

Jeph gives all the drama you want between Marten and Claire. In one strip.

4 (5.2%)

Tai takes up archery (Bow Tai)

7 (9.1%)

Five days of Gabby and Sara.

10 (13%)

Emily goes to the coffee shop to get a smoothie. Leaves with nothing but a broken heart.

12 (15.6%)

Total Members Voted: 72

Voting closed: 26 Feb 2015, 10:35

[ReindeerFlotilla]

I think QC has taken a turn too far towards realistic for Faye to build a Fighter jet.

Given a decade, and a willingness to learn a lot of things, I'm sure Faye could turn out something like a generation two or generation three jet aircraft, but it would cost millions.

Now, if Hanners got involved, then the SciFi comes back. Money wouldn't be an object and technology indistinguishable from magic gets grandfathered in.

BTW, I don't mean that it's just impossible because it's not realistic. I mean it would stretch suspension of disbelief, unless elements already accepted were used to justify it.

[Is it cold in here?]

Station is extremely rich. We know rich AIs are a thing.

[bhtooefr]

Oh, right, and we even know part of his net worth - about $605M in EC-Tec holdings: http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2119

[Neko_Ali]

Which makes me wonder why an AI like Station would even need money. I presume he doesn't need to pay for any upkeep or supplies, since they're really as much or more for the human resident. Similarly AIs working for the military or corporations or as household appliances (I make bread fun!) wouldn't need it. Companion AIs seem to be mostly reliant on their human friends to cover their needs, like with Pintsize and Winslow. Even Momo was working before to pay back the purchase of her new chassis, not because she needed to pay rent or anything. Before Angus moved out anyway. So that leaves AIs like May, who don't have anyone to take care of their basic needs of shelter, clothing if applicable and recharging needs.

[Kugai]

I would suspect the situation with AI's in the QCverse is similar to the situation of Shell People in the Anne McCaffrey universe.


It looks like Hanners may have been the right person to go to after all.  And she's right, she's gonna have to front up to Dora in order to get her gear back at least.

[TheCaffeinatedPanda]

Do you think Soup Kitchens for AI are just row upon row of USB ports?

[BenRG]

I guess what I'm thinking of is a man who is a walking, talking Scrapheap Challenge champion. He tends to throw together wild stuff from completely improbable parts (and no-one calls him 'MacGyver', for reasons of trademark infringement). He comes up with the ideas and technology, it's Faye's genius that makes them practical and beautiful.

• All-terrain vehicle with 'Delta Bug' wheels
• Quad bike with gas engine replaced with turbines off of jet skis so it can work as a helicopter (!)

The list is potentially endless. We never see them but Faye likes talking about them!

That aside, he works in a vehicle customisation shop; it's a nice compromise between practical and aesthetic that appeals to Faye's mindset when he offers her a job.

[Carl-E]

I would suspect the situation with AI's in the QCverse is similar to the situation of Shell People in the Anne McCaffrey universe.

'splain, Lucy (I'm not familiar with them). 

[Kugai]

I would suspect the situation with AI's in the QCverse is similar to the situation of Shell People in the Anne McCaffrey universe.

'splain, Lucy (I'm not familiar with them). 

Best and easiest explanation of Shell People comes from here

[St.Clair]

Shell People are born with severe birth defects, and transferred early on to egg-like (IIRC) metal enclosures fitted with life support and input-output ports.  From there, they go on to control starships, installations, etc - a sort of "brain in a jar" where there's actually a whole body in there.  The issue of disability is touched on; many Shell People reject any sort of pity, and may even feel superior (can you soar through space as naturally as if the ship was your meatbody, see across the entire EM spectrum, use tiny waldoes to paint a masterpiece on a pinhead, etc etc?)

... aaaaand sniped.

[SubaruStephen]

I think QC has taken a turn too far towards realistic for Faye to build a Fighter jet.

A full sized, armed military grade F-16-ish jet, definitely, that will never happen.

A remote control 1/16th model of a fighter jet that is modified to accept A.I. control, that's within Faye's capabilities (with some help from Clinton and Hanners).

[Kugai]

Either that or a Veritech.

[Kugai]

Shell People are born with severe birth defects, and transferred early on to egg-like (IIRC) metal enclosures fitted with life support and input-output ports.  From there, they go on to control starships, installations, etc - a sort of "brain in a jar" where there's actually a whole body in there.  The issue of disability is touched on; many Shell People reject any sort of pity, and may even feel superior (can you soar through space as naturally as if the ship was your meatbody, see across the entire EM spectrum, use tiny waldoes to paint a masterpiece on a pinhead, etc etc?)

... aaaaand sniped.

Not forgetting that once in their permanent Shells as either a Starship, City Manager or Space Station (etc), they wind up indebted for all the necessary Pituitary Tinkering, surgery, training and final Shell, as well as their final 'Placement' as a Ship etc.  They then have to work for several years or decades to pay that off.

I would suspect that the remuneration is well worth it as these individuals are in positions of major responsibilities - City Managers, Space Station Manager/Controllers, Starships etc.  There is a Bonus System in place too, so if they manage their finances properly and with organisations which act as outside monitors to ensure that Shell People are not exploited (Mutant Monitors and SPRIM are the two main ones  Anne mentions in the Novels), they can usually pay off and clear their accounts into the black in two to three decades.  They then can renegotiate a better, more favorable Contract back into the Service they are currently working for or go independent, depending on what the Shell Person wants.

With Shell People having lifespans that can stretch into three to four centuries, it's not that long a period of what is basically a semi-benign form of Indentured Servitude.

[bhtooefr]

A remote control 1/16th model of a fighter jet that is modified to accept A.I. control, that's within Faye's capabilities (with some help from Clinton and Hanners).

Accept AI control? An AI can run on something that could fit in that scale fighter jet. And Momo's old chassis could donate the hardware for that.

[wlewisiii]

I think QC has taken a turn too far towards realistic for Faye to build a Fighter jet.

A full sized, armed military grade F-16-ish jet, definitely, that will never happen.

A remote control 1/16th model of a fighter jet that is modified to accept A.I. control, that's within Faye's capabilities (with some help from Clinton and Hanners).

Oh, a generation 1 or even 2 (Locheed F-80C  for 1 or a North American F-86 for 2) would not be all that difficult, merely expensive. The F-80 was in many ways a simpler aircraft than many of the other aircraft of WWII. You could use a current production off-the-shelf turbine for reliability and efficency and perhaps the two seat nose section from the T-33 with a modern electronics bay for the AI in the nose of the aircraft.

[swapna]

Mh, I'm kinda wondering what Dora and Faye's conversation will be when Faye gets her gear. Maximum awkwardness? Apologies, at least  from Faye, since I get the feeling she would apologise. Dora trying to rationalise it to Faye, repeating the conversation with Penelope?

I've got to repeat - I hope Faye and Dora stay apart for a while, and redefine their friendship. It's important to both.

[Is it cold in here?]

A kit-built light sport plane.

[Aziraphale]

A kit-built light sport plane.

For a second, I thought that said "knit-built." Would certainly cast Hanners' activities in a new light.

And I'm sure it'd have an interesting radar signature.

"Drone?"
"Sir, it appears to be a very large... cardigan?"

[SubaruStephen]

A kit-built light sport plane.

For a second, I thought that said "knit-built." Would certainly cast Hanners' activities in a new light.

And I'm sure it'd have an interesting radar signature.

"Drone?"
"Sir, it appears to be a very large... cardigan?"

She could knit carbon fiber body panels for the jet.

[Oenone]

I actually don't think Faye will apologize. It seems like she's still feeling sore and embarrassed and I'm honestly waiting for her to blame Dora for her last binge.

[Aziraphale]

I actually don't think Faye will apologize. It seems like she's still feeling sore and embarrassed and I'm honestly waiting for her to blame Dora for her last binge.

I think she realizes she screwed up. Sore? Maybe. Embarrassed? Almost certainly. And while it might be too soon to rip the bandaid off, I think that at some point she's more likely to apologize to Dora than blame her.

[Perfectly Reasonable]

I like the idea of Faye being hired to make something like a transforming monster truck. But since such things already exist in our world (google is your friend), it will have to be something more outlandish.

[explicit]

Murderballing (ball-murdering?) sounds like a fun job

[Gladstone]

Faye Whitaker: Professional Ball-Murderer and Chicken-Returner.  Reasonable rates.

[jwhouk]

Comic.

#facepalm.

[Gladstone]

Hey, give her time, she'll come around.

Although ball-murdering might qualify her for the separate creepy group, which might actually find her MORE people who'll pay to have their balls murdered.  Win-win.

(I'm reminded of a Savage Love column a few years ago in which a guy who got turned on by getting hit in the balls had recently met a lesbian who liked hitting guys in the balls, and wanted to know what kind of advice Dan Savage had about this situation.  I presume that's what ball-murdering guy is on about.  And since Faye isn't a lesbian...looks like it's time for "God Himself Could Not Sink This Ship, Part II: Faye Finds Her Calling Mauling Balls)

[SomeCanadianWeirdo]

I wonder if we won't see a familiar face or two at the support group.  Steve seems to have had a booze problem after he broke up with Ellen.  It was what led to his recruitment by whatever section of US intelligence he works for.  It could make for a good excuse to bring back some character from the past who's been MIA for a long time.

[Kugai]

She could take on both. 

[Half Empty Coffee Cup]

The fact that the panel zoomed in on that substance abuse group implies strongly to me that Faye is taking it seriously. I think she just doesn't want to acknowledge its presence to anyone right now. I'm thinking she'll probably head over there incognito, with the excuse that she found an interview. (Shoddy excuse as that would be, it takes longer than that to get called in for an interview in most places. Someone with reasonably fresh knowledge of the job market would see through the excuse instantly.)

[Rghfrgl]

I wonder if we won't see a familiar face or two at the support group.

Twist is Claire's support group was for alcohol all along, she's been a lush ever sense Marten's wedding where she got corrupted by the evils of alcohol.

[Omega Entity]

Sorry for the delay in addressing these, as a nasty bout of stomach flu nailed me. 0/10. Do not recommend.

In any case, I clearly found a buddy in Zog, HI ZOG

First Zog that came to mind, ala Breath of Fire.

Chainmail.

Good luck trying to KNIT chainmail! But then again, making chainmail and other types of metal armour might be right up Faye's alley. It's surprisingly meditative, actually, and you get to manipulate metal, which is always relaxing.

Apparently, it's very relaxing. I was at a rather sprawling, loud, multi-day party one time where there were a bunch of SCA folks (really, do SCA folks throw any OTHER kind of party?) where I happened upon a bearded young man sitting at a table, making chain mail. I thought it a bit odd, but I watched him for a few minutes, then complimented him on the patience and the concentration it must take, especially in all that chaos. He told me he suffered from crippling social anxiety, and the only way he could really come to something like this is if he could take a break and soothe himself by doing his craft. Nice guy, and later, one of the ladies modeled the chain mail bikini he'd made for her.

Being someone who can actually do chainmail, it really is a pretty mindless activity once you get the hang of it. Scalemail still makes me think, though. I've also heard of chainmail described as 'knitting with metal', which is still rather apt since different patterns can be called 'weaves', and you're intertwining metal with metal, even if they are separate pieces of it.

[slydon]

A non-creepy atheist-only support group? 

[Kugai]

FYI Subaru

I know you've Posted an image or something like an image in your Post, but for some reason all I'm seeing is a blank spot beneath your Post.

Dunno whether it's me, you or the Forum, but I thought I'd just mention it.

[jheartney]

My guess is Hanners saw the notice and gave Faye the paper specifically so she'd see it. The ball-murdering excuse is just face-saving on Faye's part; they both know what's actually going on.

[Half Empty Coffee Cup]

A non-creepy atheist-only support group? 

Less "atheist-only" and more "we're not going to tell you that your problem is a lack of faith"

Because there are people who do proclaim that when someone has one of any number of troubles, including, but not limited to, alcoholism.

[jwhouk]

My guess is Hanners saw the notice and gave Faye the paper specifically so she'd see it. The ball-murdering excuse is just face-saving on Faye's part; they both know what's actually going on.

I think you might be on to something.

[Aziraphale]

I wonder if we won't see a familiar face or two at the support group.  Steve seems to have had a booze problem after he broke up with Ellen.  It was what led to his recruitment by whatever section of US intelligence he works for.  It could make for a good excuse to bring back some character from the past who's been MIA for a long time.

Plot twist: It's Sara. Further plot twist: it was actually a Gin Allosaurus, instead of a Tequila Monster.

My guess is Hanners saw the notice and gave Faye the paper specifically so she'd see it. The ball-murdering excuse is just face-saving on Faye's part; they both know what's actually going on.

I think you might be on to something.

Yup. Hanners knew exactly what she was doing. 'Cause if the paper in Northampton is anything like the papers anywhere else, there's no jobs in there.

[slydon]

Less "atheist-only" and more "we're not going to tell you that your problem is a lack of faith"

Because there are people who do proclaim that when someone has one of any number of troubles, including, but not limited to, alcoholism.

Still wonder how they can segregate the creepy from non-creepy.

Maybe they use a large robot spider?

[TRVA123]

Being someone who can actually do chainmail, it really is a pretty mindless activity once you get the hang of it. Scalemail still makes me think, though. I've also heard of chainmail described as 'knitting with metal', which is still rather apt since different patterns can be called 'weaves', and you're intertwining metal with metal, even if they are separate pieces of it.

Omega, are we secretly the same person? I agree with pretty much everything you type, and I also make chainmail!

[Half Empty Coffee Cup]

My guess is Hanners saw the notice and gave Faye the paper specifically so she'd see it. The ball-murdering excuse is just face-saving on Faye's part; they both know what's actually going on.

I think you might be on to something.

Yup. Hanners knew exactly what she was doing. 'Cause if the paper in Northampton is anything like the papers anywhere else, there's no jobs in there.

Y'know, I didn't consider the possibility that Hannelore saw the same thing. Maybe I'm just more likely to take her dialogue at face-value, or maybe I thought she actually thought there might be jobs advertised in there. Both, actually, but mostly the face-value dialogue bit.

[Aziraphale]

My guess is Hanners saw the notice and gave Faye the paper specifically so she'd see it. The ball-murdering excuse is just face-saving on Faye's part; they both know what's actually going on.

I think you might be on to something.

Yup. Hanners knew exactly what she was doing. 'Cause if the paper in Northampton is anything like the papers anywhere else, there's no jobs in there.

Y'know, I didn't consider the possibility that Hannelore saw the same thing. Maybe I'm just more likely to take her dialogue at face-value, or maybe I thought she actually thought there might be jobs advertised in there. Both, actually, but mostly the face-value dialogue bit.

I suppose it could go either way. I get the feeling she figured -- correctly, probably -- that she'd get farther with Faye by saying, "Here, look for jobs" and hoping she'd see the group than she would've saying, "Hey, I found this support group. What do you think?" Sometimes it helps when someone thinks that something was their idea, especially in a situation like this. Faye's fine if she's in control of the situation (as she was when she asked for Hanners' therapist's number, and as she was when she asked "today" to hang with Hanners to keep her mind off the booze). But she would probably feel very self-conscious if Hanners brought it up herself.

[Omega Entity]

Being someone who can actually do chainmail, it really is a pretty mindless activity once you get the hang of it. Scalemail still makes me think, though. I've also heard of chainmail described as 'knitting with metal', which is still rather apt since different patterns can be called 'weaves', and you're intertwining metal with metal, even if they are separate pieces of it.

Omega, are we secretly the same person? I agree with pretty much everything you type, and I also make chainmail!

Cloning experiment gone wrong? But then who's the original!?

[TRVA123]

What if neither of us are the original? 0.o             

[explicit]

Which one do I shoot? WHICH ONE, THEY BOTH LOOK THE SAME!

[Omega Entity]

I volunteer. TRVA has so much to live for!

[TRVA123]

DOOOO NOT WAAAANNNTTTT!

We must live for each other!

[Omega Entity]

Oh my god. Your personal title just jumped out at me. I live in a DOUBLE PENINSULA 

[SubaruStephen]

FYI Subaru
I know you've Posted an image or something like an image in your Post, but for some reason all I'm seeing is a blank spot beneath your Post.
Dunno whether it's me, you or the Forum, but I thought I'd just mention it.

It's a YouTube vid of carbon fiber cloth, showing off the type of weave. You're not really missing anything important if you can't see it.

And the vid-link is working on my iPad.

[SubaruStephen]

Oh my god. Your personal title just jumped out at me. I live in a DOUBLE PENINSULA 

I wonder if TRVA has an isthmus joke as well.

[Omega Entity]

Oh my god. Your personal title just jumped out at me. I live in a DOUBLE PENINSULA 

I wonder if TRVA has an isthmus joke as well.

Maybe? If anything, they have to have a joke joke about a mitten-shaped peninsula. One that isn't 'Michigan is the hand and Florida is the dick'. That's one's been done.