Blog Posts24

• 1w, 5d

  This and that

  The Great Gala finally begins. I have ~15000 more words already written, the story will reach a natural stopping point, and then there will probably be another break while I finish the rest. In the meantime, updates every Sunday, probably.

  Greece is in a rather enviable position among the masochistic. I find myself sympathetic with this analysis.

  I am under the impression that there has been an announcement for a sixth season of the show we all write horse words about, to premier later this year. Although watching the fifth season has been more pleasant than I expected, it does not make me want to watch the sixth. Some episodes, like last week's, were generally enjoyable, but others, like yesterday's, were rather painful. And I do find that the ones I do not enjoy are more unpleasant than the relatively enjoyable ones are pleasant.

  I wonder if we shall all be very short in the future. It will make us easier to feed, machines will be only more capable of doing everything anyway, and I don't see why, say, basketball should be any less enjoyable if everything is scaled down. Indeed, it might be more enjoyable to move about in bodies that can jump many times their height and lift many times their weight.

  7 comments · 41 views

• 5w, 5d

  Price of Life

  Yesterday's episode, as I'm sure most of you realized, is a subtle paean to the price system. The central conflict of the episode is whether resources will be mobilized in time to have Cranky Doodle's wedding. There is, of course, no question that the wedding can be bought. In a market economy, Cranky Doodle may command all of Ponyville's resources, should he have sufficient funds to motivate everypony. The flexibility, power, and loveliness on display in yesterday's episode is something only seen in market economies. All the various subplots of the "background ponies" represent the different markets bringing their own operations into accord with Cranky Doodle's monetized desires. How is this done? Partly by previous preparation knowing that the incentives Cranky Doodle offers may occur sometimes in a market economy, as symbolized by the Doctor and his many inventions. The troubled relationship between Lyra and Bon Bon represents the efforts made to obtain the relevant information in time. And of course Derpy's earnestness represents the spark of friendship that motivates actors in the marketplace. It is beautiful, elegant, heartwarming economic storytelling. Nothing else of note happens in this episode.

  Of note also is the highly NSFW Econorotica tumblr. If this ponies and economics writing business doesn't work out, perhaps econorotica is not a bad substitute.

  And I continue to dance around not being sure how to write The Great Gala. With a guest visit from the King of Stories himself (herself?), naturally.

  2 comments · 45 views

• 6w, 6d

  Bubbles

  The price of something rising in a way that seems unlikely to continue forever in a way problematic for society is not what a bubble is.

  That is all.

  18 comments · 84 views

• 7w, 5d

  A Short Story

  Fluttershy was reading a book by candlelight in her bed. She was very much enjoying the book, although it was a bit too violent and crude in parts, and the critters didn't seem properly cared for. Not that she was criticizing the book. It was a very nice book, and she knew the author had worked hard. It just seemed to her that the characters could be a bit nicer, that's all.

  She turned the page.

  ....

  Polly felt questing eyes boring into her. She was embarrassed, of course. But not for the obvious reason. It was for the other one, the little lesson that life sometimes rams home with a stick: you are not the only one watching the world, other people are also people, while you watch them they watch you, and they think about you while you think about them. The world isn't just about you.

  "G-Goodness!" Fluttershy said. "She was a mare all along!"

  Far away from there, Rainbow Dash was flying fast.

  "Yes!" Rainbow Dash said. "I am flying fast!"

  ---

  Fluttershy is reading Monstrous Regiment, of course. She does find the title a bit tasteless.

  1 comments · 43 views

• 8w, 6d

  A question of moral philosophy in "The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone"

  Spoilers for the most recent episode.

  When Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash visit the Griffon market utopia, they split up. Pinkie Pie sells her intellectual property to Gilda in exchange for a percentage of future profits. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash goes with an unnamed Griffin to search for unclaimed property.  Rainbow Dash buys rope and the Griffon's service in assisting her descent, but when things go poorly, she needs help. But she is out of money, and the Griffon leaves her to her fate.

  I am curious how this scene made you feel. Do you think the Griffon was right to abandon her for the sake of his own self-interest? Or do you think the Griffon should have exercised entrepreneurial ingenuity by persuading Rainbow Dash to exchange her future labor, wealth, or income for his help in climbing back up?

  Considering Pinkie Pie's later entrepreneurial genius, what do you think the writers meant the lost treasure of Griffonstone to be? Looking at the poor state of the local housing market, I think I have a pretty good idea.

  5 comments · 81 views