MISSION LOG – SOL 232
Well, we’re back from our visit to the farm, which is going to be a daily thing. Today Starlight made four new batteries and put a new casing on the one that failed, bringing the total battery count up to eighteen and a half (counting by power capacity). Once that was done, we let the magic sparks fly a while longer, letting Dragonfly soak up all she can, while we read aloud from where we left off in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
I can’t do very much. The sols I spent not eating my full ration weakened me more than Dragonfly did. I’m trying to eat a little more to gain back lost energy stores. The problem is, I was already forcing myself through fourteen good-sized potatoes with a garnish of alfalfa leaves every day, and I do mean forcing. Trying to eat any more than that… ugh.
All weeds and no meat make Mark something something…
Anyway, I’m still working out how I feel about Dragonfly. For months I made all those jokes about her being an adorable little xenomorph, and then she really becomes a hissing, drooling xenomorph. Well, the hissing, anyway. I remember the hiss very well. It’s one bracket on a long period of sleepwalking, the other end being a rush of terror at seeing Cherry walking up to what I didn’t know at the time was Dragonfly’s cocoon.
There have been tales of cannibalism in dire situations- the Donner party, Snowcrash, all sorts of shipwrecks and the like- and when we hear about those things we think, “It’s horrible, but I understand they had no choice.” Well, it’s another thing entirely when you’re the one on the menu- though I think I’m the first human to have been the meal and lived.
And yeah, I’m a bit afraid. I don’t remember much from my time as one of the walking dead. I didn’t care to. And I mean that literally- I did not care about anything. I was kind of aware that there was a world out there, but it had nothing to do with me. The most emotion I remember having the entire time was a mild irritation. Looking back on it, that’s terrifying. Ninety percent of what makes me me just… checked out.
But the thing is, I also read Dragonfly’s suicide note- and that’s what it is, is a suicide note. She might still be alive in there- something was making that weird magic shadow again when the field projector was on- but the note made it clear she didn’t expect to ever come out again. That wasn’t a monster writing that note. That was a scared little girl.
So I’m not going to let my fear get in the way. We need Dragonfly back- not least because the pony suits probably won’t survive more than fifty more sols without maintenance. But more important, we want her back. We want our silly, clever, overconfident daredevil back. Our crew is weaker without her. And we’re going to get her back.
Anyone with suggestions on how we can make that happen, mail them along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to Save The Bug, Box 1, Acidalia Planitia, Planet Mars, 81009.
For now, we’re going to come out here every day, all of us, to spend at least an hour in the cave with our very own Sleeping Ugly. We’re going to burn a field projector for a few minutes every day- about half of the the daily recharge. We’re going to give her all the love we can. No matter what else we have scheduled to do, every day, without fail, all of us go to the cave.
We’re astronauts. And human or pony, we do not leave one of our own behind.
"I am a beautiful butterfly!"
It is simply heartwarming to see the mentality of "We do not leave our own behind" take place. Here's to hoping that it stays long enough for Dragonfly to come out of her cocoon.
So glad that Mark's not holding a grudge. Dragonfly needs all the love she can get.
Why the Italian zip code? Or was that just random numbers?
Will Mark listen to his messages? He could have done that right away.
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Sorry, I only looked at the first result in a web search.
Don't let
JohannsenLewis read this chapter.8926129
Funny, because according to my google-fu, all 800xx zip codes higher than 47 are nonexistent in Colorado. This particular zip code corresponds to Somma Vesuviana, Campania, Napoli, Italy.
8926122 I goofed on the zip code. It was a reference to a series of PSAs I grew up with:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG03zlQiWt8
Possibly Mark ran across this or something like it buried in Lewis's TV series collection.
8926143
You mean Commander Lewis?
8926147
Yes, I do. I was just about to correct myself.
"...Go crazy?"
"I don't want to! but I'm already Q4X7 percent of the way there!"
Or alternitivly;
"I don't want to! but I'm already potato of the way there!"
#SaveTheBug! #HugTheBug!
Why am i crying?
meanwhile at a farm "don't worry cute bug pony am coming to save you!" a homemade rocket on a farm as the guy goes in, but as he light it and was about to take off it backfire and it left no where but a hole in a ground and a guy in the pilot sit what the hell just happen
Hope she pops out as a dayglow changedling.
YES!
And they will get through the absolute worst that could possibly have happened, and Dragonfly will find that they still love her anyway. Hell of a team building exercise, but there you are.
So question. If we want to assign members of this team Elements, who would we pick? Dragonfly ironically might get Generosity, for starving for so long and then deciding to die rather than be a threat to her team. Spitfire gets Loyalty, for the mutinous refusal to throw Dragonfly under the bus for PR...who else gets what?
May be time to finish off that turkey, if there's any left in the freezer. Or else having a meat-heavy meal pack. I know they're trying to save those, but giving Mark something to chase his potatoes with will get him to eat more calories as well as get some extra protein.
I think what I'm learning is that I'm not equipped for being part of a space team. Or being a diplomat.
Anyway I didn't read that as a suicide note the first time, but I can see it. It's not, it's a runaway's note, but the fact that running away would be suicide makes the difference meaningless. That's interesting, and sad.
8926232
hmm Mark as laughter?
8926107
Alternatively: "I look garish. I look excessively ridiculously garish like this. And I'm STILL hungry because there's just not enough magic around here!"
Partial crew and no bug make Mark a grumpy boy.
8926244
I think you're right. Trying to keep everyone happy and making dumb jokes all the time is very much his thing.
Starlight gets magic, since she's probably the most powerful unicorn in Equestria AND her current universe.
Maybe Fireball gets honesty, he's certainly extremely straightforward?
8926232 The Elements don't map well onto our team. Starlight is Magic, obviously, but the others aren't as easy, especially since Mark keeps wandering around between Kindness, Generosity and Laughter.
But, to give it an honest try, I'd go:
Loyalty - Spitfire
Laughter - Dragonfly
Generosity - Mark Watney
Honesty - Fireball
Kindness - Cherry Berry
Magic - Starlight Glimmer
The Virtues map better:
Strength - Fireball
Bravery - Cherry Berry
Healing - Spitfire
Beauty - Dragonfly
Hope - Mark Watney
Sorcery - Starlight Glimmer
I will be surprised if our favorite Marsian crew does not receive rewards for their valor when they make it home
You could use the UK postcode of "SL1 4JX" to send a letter to Mars...
8926129
I feel your pain as I work on CASS & PAVE certified software in my day job.
8926262
Why oh why do you make it so hard for me to stay off of Xenophilia jokes?
Get better, Cuddlebug!
8926186 Oh god no!
8926262 8926232
Is there any example on FIMFiction of a group of Bearers that included one or more Unicorns (or Alicorns), but where Magic (or Sorcery) was borne by somepony else? Less vaguely, by someone of a tribe or species not known for having Unicorns' versatility with effects. I was trying to force Mark into that slot, but I don't know where else to put Starlight.
Before I forget, I wanted also to revise my cocoon speculation. Considering they are worldbuilt into CSP, the carried-over opacity may have led me astray like a dog seeking a herring. So Dragonfly emerging with no or little change would be... well, not what I still expect, but not remotely a mistake in storytelling. Maybe an unforced anticlimax, like Hermes drawing closer to Earth and then getting a successful resupply. Or a misdirect from the real surprise, like with the Sleipnirs. Either way.
8926556
8926262
Okay, I can definitely see how the Virtues fit better. I just tend to forget them since they're outside my paradigm for Harmonic Magic. Guess I need to work out how to integrate them...
And I haven't seen one, though there was a story (Rainbooms and Royalty) where Rainbow as the central character. In general I'm interested in non-unicorn magic, and think it's annoyingly under-represented. It's not never presented in any detail, but it's rare. And I can't help but feeling the magical education of most Pegasii and Earth Ponies are severely neglected. I'd be really curious what a Pegasus or Earth version of Twilight could do.
And I admit, part of the reason I keep trying to assign elements and virtues to the cast is that after friendship and cooperation have saved them literally so many times I'd like to see some actual rainbow friendship magic to acknowledge that metaphysically. Whether that's sending off an interdimensional friendship beacon or blasting Mars in the face, I'd love that. Probably won't happen though, darn low magic environment...
8926149
I know my 5-digit ZIP code, but I haven't memorized the Zip+4.
8926150
I don't get the "Q4X7" joke.
8926186
I would not be unhappy if this happens. I'd be okay with it; I'd just want to know what her new color scheme is. All I can imagine right now is Ocellus' color scheme.
8926585
Really.
Out of all that could happen.
Now I'm named after a crayolabug.
=____=
HASBROOOOOOO
Didn't watch season 8 yet by the way
Would be typical if to wake the sleeping princess, takes an extra deep snog by the dragon. Or just acid tongue, saliva on the cocoon.
Hmm, how to reduce fresh food build requirements down to grams of supplied seeds, water retaining gel, thin film hanging troughs, tension cord, inflatable frames? Cress for anywhere with a spare inch of space, lettuce for fast leafage, sweetpeppers for flavouring and fibreous stalks, stuff that starts to grow quick, is simple to handle, relatively compact and most people can happily eat? The main trick would be making thin film that can withstand expolisve external decompression without tearing, as in within its elastic and shock limits?, given large soda bottles are rated to 10 bar supply, 12 bar fail?
As for mail. House number, 6 character postcode, UK, Sol 3 Should be good for delivery in the Milky Way depending on which other star in the catalog ends up being called Sol?
Oh hey Kris, I got something for ya!
Apparently this Chris Voigt fella lived two moths on nothing but taters. His struggle is hilarious.
http://www.20potatoesaday.com/
https://www.salon.com/2010/10/28/chris_voigt_potato_diet/
8926634
If it helps any, the name Ocellus "is a term for a simple eye or eyespot, such as on invertebrates, or an eye-like marking such as on a peacock's feathers." So that came first.
And don't be afraid of Season 8; it's not that bad. Not amazing, and sure, there are some rough spots, but there are also some fun episodes with great moments I think you'll like. If you need help finding episodes (because I know some people do have trouble with that), let me know.
8926652
I'm good.
i.imgur.com/IYUPhXa.png
It's just when I saw mini-mane-6, I found them hard to look at. It's a testament to token minorities.
seriously, a yak, come on, a frikkin yak, I almost forgot they existed
And yeah, I was actually kidding, my name has its own roots.
8926634
You're looking at it the wrong way. They named a changeling after you.
Congratulations!
8926585
I just picked those at random, could have been anything really, the important part in my mind was for it sound crazy.
8926556
MLP Loops has at least one set of bearers with a non-unicorn Magic bearer. If you need a specific chapter, I can look.
By the way, was it ever addressed what base system horsies use for math?
Earth horsies have four hooves.
Pegasi have primal feathers, so they could have any system based on those, and it looks like they also had four, either this or the animators are lasy.
vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/1/15/Sunshower%2C_Clear_Skies%2C_and_Open_Skies_ID_S5E5.png/revision/latest?cb=20160116225431
See? Four big feathers and some smaller ones.
There are also gryphons and dragons with 4 claws, but we've all seen how good are dragons at accounting.
Why accounting? Well, because that's where math starts to thrive, way before calculus. All economies need to count their goods and that's what accounting is used for.
So, base-10 seems unreasonable at first, because of hooves, claws and feathers, but it sounds probable that the ones responsible for accounting and progress in math were unicorns. Those cheaters have horns, making it easier to write things down - another useful tool for math, and they are generally kinda smart, give or take.
They may have derived a base-five system as 4 hooves + horn: left-clop, right-clop, left-back-clop, right-back-clop, spark.
And base-5 or quinary system is perfectly fine, so long as you have a 0 (which also comes from accounting, meaning balance between income and outcome), any system is good.
Romans had it: I, II, III, IV, V and X is just two V on top of each other, and they also had numerals for 50 and 500 (L and D).
They didn't have a zero, because they didn't really need it, having a nonpositional notation, and the one we use right now is positional, coming from Babylon through Arabia and spreading across the world.
However, base-ten stuck around longer than base-five because of fractions. It's just easier to count fractions when you have a non-primal base that itself can be divided.
TL; DR:
I would love to hear your opinion, guys.
8926734
We don't use base-10 because we have ten fingers, despite that being the obvious conclusion. The Greeks insisted that the reasoning behind it is that 2+3+5=10, and 2, 3, and 5 are the first three prime numbers, so the logic was that 10 held numerical significance and marked an important numerical transition when adding. The Greeks were funny about their math and numerology; at one point, the Pythagoreans (kind of a cult) apparently threw someone overboard a ship to drown for insisting (correctly) that the square root of 2 must be an irrational number. They hated the idea of such a vital number in trigonometry being an 'ugly', impossible-to-commeasure-properly irrational number. Kinda gives you an idea of the culture behind such decisions.
As an addendum, counting on one's fingers also used to be done differently in other societies. Some only used four fingers (no thumbs), others would bend each finger slightly first and then bend it fully (so they had access to 20), and others would count down finger segments rather than tips (so each hand has 12).
Oh, another addendum. "0" as a numerical unit did not derive 'from accounting'; different cultures have different origins for it, but in classical Greek antiquity it came from the philosopher/mathematicians' texts first.
8926759
That's true for positional notation, yet I'm talking way back to 2000-3000 BC, that's where fingers come to play.
As for the irrationals, especially zero, I feel like Harmonists such as ponies (elements of harmony, sun|moon duality and so on) would come closer in their math development to the east - Arabia, China, Babylon due to similarities in their culture.
I know that sounds far-fetched, that's why I'm asking if anyone has better ideas on how the progress could be different for their world, especially since maggic renders so many things unnecessary.
Addendum: Dude, I tried to simplify it as far as I could, it's already a mess, and MLP is even a bigger mess, so i tried looking from utilitarian perspective: how comfortable it is to count one or other way and how nessecary is it.
8926734
They may have some very weird non-positional numeral system.
Base 5 seems very unlikely: they need not just right amount of appendages, but special easy-recognizable and intuitive gestures to communicate small numbers to each other. So ponies have only 2 forehooves and base 2 positional system is very non-compact (pegasi also have wings; I feel like I've seen somewhere Rainbow counting on feathers, but I'm not sure). I thing that they were just drawing dashes in the sand, and eventually developed special signs that are short for X dashes (Roman-style).
8926734
Personally, i am guessing base 8. This because minotaur have 8 digits and we keep hearing references to the ancient minotaurs.
That said, who knows if there even is a standardized system yet.
Ponies might count differently from the minotaurs. and different again from dragons.
8926774
vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/c/c4/Pinkie_Pie_Extra_Hooves_S2E18.png/revision/latest?cb=20121204051626
i.ytimg.com/vi/jqhtuF0zlng/maxresdefault.jpg
8926781
Sadly, that sounds very likely, considering they only recently found out that Equus is round.
Apparently, nobody ever looked down a well and studied the shadow.
8926781
Nah, ponies use base 10 because Hasbro isn't bright or creative enough to give them a number system different from ours because it would confuse little kids.
I mean, they have door knobs. Despite no way to logically open them. What does that tell us?
My Little Martian: Friendship is Survival
8926803
Vacuum hooves!
Also, it just hit me.
What meauserment system do they use? Imperial? Metric? Cherry-based?
8926793
They already knew that Earth is spherical and that Sun is very far away at the time --- otherwise you may interpret results of this experiment as Sun being close (which is pretty reasonable for Equestria). The most direct evidence they had is Earth's shadow during lunar eclipses which seem to be not a thing in Equestria. Although they have pegasi and flying ships, so it's very surprising that they didn't notice much earlier.
8926823
Whichever one is used by America, the greatest country on Earth!