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[deletia]

[PUZZLE] Archive of Conversations with MySpace Characters

[SisBear]

This isn't really related, but I just thought that it was interesting that you brought up the blind men and the elephant situation. I just read that in an article on scifi.com a few minutes ago with respect to a new book coming out called "Butcher Bird" by Richard Kadrey. Funny coincidence!

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=43292

[deletia]

Huh. That's kinda cool, sisbear.

So I'll get the ball rolling. This conversation ended when I asked Lil about her pile.

FWIW, going from oldest at top to most recent at the bottom:
----------------- Original Message -----------------

From: joshua
Date: Aug 2, 2007 4:52 PM
Subject: House of Leaves!

Hi Lil,

I couldn't help but ask to befriend you when I saw that you were a fan of the House of Leaves. Danielewski is really kind of a genius, right? Have you listened to Poe's album, Haunted? It was written as a companion piece. It's all fantastic stuff. Do you have a favorite passage?

Another favorite I can't help but mention in the same breath? Jonathan Lethem. His work isn't quite as mind bending, but his earlier stuff is close.

Be well!

----------------- Original Message -----------------

From: Lil
Date: Aug 2, 2007 2:36 PM


I read MEN AND CARTOONS. I liked about a third of the stories. A lot of it felt like fluff, but I'd be interested in reading more. Which of his do you suggest?

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: joshua
Date: Aug 3, 2007 2:13 PM

Hey,

yeah- I agree about Men and Cartoons. I think Lethem's later stuff is sort of... well, I think success went to his head and made him chronically ironic and a bit over-jaded. His earlier stuff though-- Amnesia Moon, for instance-- is fantastic.

Amnesia Moon takes place in a post-apocalyptic America where everyone's dreams compete to control reality. Sounds kind of like pre-apocalyptic America, right? Ha. Lethem said in an interview once that he has this problem where his metaphors all become real. It's like that, but in a good way. Anyhow, so his main character, Chaos, gets in some trouble and sets off, traveling across America, getting lost in dream after dream, trying to get back to a baseline reality that may or may not any longer exist.

The book never really goes into what the cataclysmic event was that warped reality, but it seems that once reality's gone, it's gone. Or maybe that's just like every second of our lives?

I'll stop myself before I go on for too long. I can really spout off when talking about a favorite book or author. Speaking of, I noticed you work in a publishing house. How cool is that? I know it's in HR and not acquisitions, but still! What's it like at Penquin?

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Lil
Date: Aug 3, 2007 11:17 AM

Body: See that sounds really interesting. I'm going to give him another chance. Though the pile of books I want to read next to my bed is growing taller everyday...

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: joshua
Date: Aug 4, 2007 12:02 PM

So what else is in your pile these days? I'm always open to recommendations....

[Melampus]

Ok, here's the first of my two contributions (the 2nd is long, so I'm doing this in 2 posts). It's a conversation I had w/Rob - (and, it goes from oldest to most recent, in nat. order):

From: John
Date: Aug 3, 2007 2:48 PM

A man walks into a bar and asks for a glass of water; then, bartender pulls a gun on him. Why?
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Rob Hawkins
Date: Aug 6, 2007 3:16 PM

did the bartender know the man before he came into the bar?
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: John
Date: Aug 6, 2007 10:41 PM

No.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Rob Hawkins
Date: Aug 7, 2007 9:48 AM

Was it a water gun?

Did the guy have anything in his hands?
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: John
Date: Aug 7, 2007 6:03 PM

Good questions! Here are the answers:

No, it was not a water gun (good guess, though).

No, the guy (either one of 'em) didn't have anything in his hands.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Rob Hawkins
Date: Aug 7, 2007 3:32 PM

I think I know it. Was the guy trying to get rid of hiccups, and the bartender was trying to scare him?!
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: John
Date: Aug 7, 2007 3:55 PM

To quote Ed McMahon: "Yess! You are correct, sir... HEYO!!"

Well done.

Got any riddles to send my way?

P.S. you mentioned Tesla as a person you'd like to meet. Ever see the movie, "The Prestige"? David Bowie plays Tesla; how cool is that?!

* * * * *

And, that was it for that conversation. Never heard back. Btw, I sent in friend requests for everyone weeks ago (just a few days after the myspace pages were found), and I've yet to be accepted by anyone. Just, FYI.

[Melampus]

Ok, here's a long one between me and Beth (it's in nat. order, i.e., first was the earliest, last is the most recent):

From: John
Date: Aug 3, 2007 1:53 PM

A guy stops his car in front of a hotel, and suddenly, he's completely out of money. What happened?
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Beth
Date: Aug 3, 2007 10:56 AM

Did he have money before he got to the hotel?
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: John
Date: Aug 3, 2007 2:19 PM

Yes.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Beth
Date: Aug 6, 2007 2:41 PM

Does the specific hotel he stops in front of have any significance?
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: John
Date: Aug 6, 2007 10:40 PM

Yes.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Beth
Date: Aug 7, 2007 9:54 AM

Is there anyone else in the car?
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: John
Date: Aug 7, 2007 6:14 PM

A most definite "No." (it was a loaded question; strictly speaking, it's nonsensical to answer it w/a simple yes or no). If you don't want hints like this, just say so, and I'll stick to the yes/no answers.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Beth
Date: Aug 8, 2007 12:25 PM

Hm.... not sure what to ask. Does someone physically take his money away?

Does he spend the money?
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: John
Date: Aug 8, 2007 4:20 PM

Yes, to both questions.

(and, yeah, this one is tough - I had a real hard time getting it when I first heard it, but it ends up being very reasonable, as all lat. riddles should be).

By the way, I noticed you like surfing - check out this crazy video from youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlPqL7IUT6M

Do you think that video is real, or just some cleverly doctored footage?
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Beth
Date: Aug 10, 2007 11:07 AM

Was there a valet involved?

That vid is incredible! I'm pretty gullible, but I'd have to say it is real. That may be the biggest wave I've ever seen someone conquer.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: John
Date: Aug 10, 2007 11:11 PM

Nope, no valet involved.

I see you've added the tsunami vid to your myspace profile - I feel so honored! I'm glad you liked it.

I think it's real too - I've heard of people who go waaay out in the ocean to surf monster waves; this was probably something like that. Truly incredible (I hope the guy was ok!).

Speaking of surfing vids., I just found this today and couldn't resist sharing. Sometimes the excitement and lingo of surfing just doesn't translate well on camera...

http://www.glumbert.com/media/surferdude
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Beth
Date: Aug 13, 2007 11:03 AM

Is the hotel some sort of bordello, like the Bunny Ranch?

That vid is funny. I grew up surrounded by guys like that.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: John
Date: Aug 13, 2007 10:10 PM

No, the hotel wasn't a bordello. No Bunny Ranch.

*Just Say "NO" to the Bunny Ranch!*

I wonder if/how the Bunny Ranch has tried to adapt itself to the new Family-Friendly atmosphere of Las Vegas. That's a scary thought.

You ever been to Sin City? I haven't - don't know if I could handle all the fear and loathing.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Beth
Date: Aug 14, 2007 10:35 AM

I am really stuck. Want to give me a hint, John? Nothing too big, but just an idea of what angle I should be approaching this from.

And hell yeah I've been to Vegas! No better place to lose your mind for a weekend.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: John
Date: Aug 14, 2007 3:09 PM

A hint? No problem. Instead of trying to guess the answer in one go, just flesh out the scene. Ask general questions - once you get a clear picture of either the car or the hotel, you'll have your answer.

Remember: start general and work your way down to specifics. I hope that helps.

Don't give up! It's fun... for me anyway.

And, I promise the solution makes sense - it's a good one - and, once you get it, you can then torment others with it! That's the real joy behind these lat. riddles, right? Knowing that key bit of knowledge that makes sense of everything? Reminds me of a high school drinking game called "one up, one down." Ever play it? A great study in psychology, that game.

Anyway, here's wishing you a Happy Tuesday!
-John

P.S. Did you ever see the 'sequel' to Anchorman? It's called, "Wake up, Ron Burgandy!" and it's hilarious. Check it out, if you haven't already.


* * * * *

And, that's it so far. Haven't heard back yet. God, reading this again is kind of embarrassing - I sounded sound so freakin' desperate in that last one! Egad!

[tmerch]

Lil

[jojo]

Conversation w/ Rob

[jojo]

Conversation with Beth

[Soci]

Convo with Beth - natural order...

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: A. Smith
Date: Aug 8, 2007 1:17 PM


A man went to a party and drank some of the punch. He then left early. Everyone else at the party who drank the punch subsequently died of poisoning. Why did the man not die?


----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Beth
Date: 08 Aug 2007, 15:18


Was the punch only poisoned after the man left?

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: A. Smith
Date: Aug 9, 2007 12:03 AM


Nope.. =)


----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Beth
Date: 09 Aug 2007, 19:32


Was the poison in the ice cubes, and they hadn't melted yet when the man drank the punch?

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: A. Smith
Date: Aug 9, 2007 8:30 PM


Yes! very good! Since you are into decorating let me ask you, do you think it's too much when someone paints their room more than one color? I was thinking maybe 3 in one room.


----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Beth
Date: 10 Aug 2007, 13:58


I think it can work, if you want a bold funky look. The colors have to look good together. What three colors were you thinking of?

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: A. Smith
Date: Aug 10, 2007 10:56 PM


I was thinking maybe a red (like raspberry), an emerald green and a jewel blue with like an oriental theme... You have big plans for this weekend? I'm supposed to be going to this big party on SoBe


----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Beth
Date: 13 Aug 2007, 14:04


Ooo I like that. Do you have paint swatches online somwhere that I can look at? Which room is it? Are we talking a common area, or a bedroom?

WAITING FOR HER RESPONSE, BUT THIS IS WHAT I JUST REPLIED


I changed my mind about the colors after going on the Sherwin Williams website. This is what I picked.
..

I was thinking I'll use 2 colors in my living room and then the 3rd color I'll use in the hallway because I have a rounded opening and it will be an accent color.

[kosmopol]

My little conversations with...

Rob