**Please note: this transcript was automatically generated. We're working on going back over this to clear up misspellings as we have time ... but as we all know, there is precious little of that** Travis: It's perfect for the audio recording...Yeah, you just. Other Chris: You just need that filter that turns you into, like, a potato or something. Chris: Right? Other Chris: Like a hot dog. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Cat's gonna settle. Other Chris: Velociraptor. I don't know. Travis: That'd be kind of mushroom headed guy. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Okay. Other Chris: Crinkle, crinkle, crinkle crunch. Travis: Yeah, it's great for the audio recording. Other Chris: It really is perfect. Travis: Hello, and welcome back to RTFB. This is Travis. And, uh, today, Chris other. Chris and I are talking about the second half of our book, the postman. So if you're reading along to avoid spoilers and you didn't read the whole book, then you didn't read enough yet. Keep going until there's no more book left, that's how you'll know. This week's bookstore buddy is left bank books in St. Louis Also, business time, so bear with me for, like, 45 seconds. First, your passphrase for this season is survivalist. Who can say if or when it'll ever be useful for you, but write it down in case we do a giveaway or something in the future. Again, the passphrase is survivalist. Second, this week's bookstore buddy is left bank books in St. Louis, specifically off of Euclid down in Forest Park, a place I always try to visit whenever I'm in town. It's a cool indie shop in a cool part of town. They've got a good selection of new and used books, and the quintessential bookstore, cat napping amongst the stacks, who wanted absolutely nothing to do with me when I offered headpats. But that just proves that they have good taste. Anyway, if you're in town, check them out and then go to Fitzs and. Or Ted Drew's, since you're over that way. Anyway. Okay, business is done. Now to my conversation with the Chris's, already in progress. Other Chris: Uh, my friend told me one time that, um, like, the Olympics, they got, like, real time Foley people. Yeah, you know, like, making the whoosh sounds while they're skiing and shit. Travis: Yeah. Like when you shoot an arrow, somebody like. Chris: You see, all this time, I thought they just had good camera. They had good microphones. Other Chris: No, uh, no, there's a dude somewhere in a. In a little building. Like, making little whoosh sound effects? Travis: Yeah, the opposite. They have bad microphones. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Did they have to do that for the track events, too? Something like, with, like, coconuts? Other Chris: Oh, that would be pretty great, but, uh, uh, like. Like, no, they. I guess they've, like, done it without it before, and people are like, what? What the fuck? Like, what's going on? Like, why is it so quiet? Travis: Is my tv broken? Other Chris: Yeah, like ah, what is this? Travis: Yeah, what is that? Other Chris: Yeah, sorry. Chris: Um, I'm noticing this new MacBook air. Doesn't say MacBook Air on it. Travis: Oh, anywhere does say like Mike book air or something. Chris: No, doesn't say anything. Travis: Okay. It's alright. Chris: I guess they decided there wasn't enough room in the bezel under. On the bottom, which is. Yeah, it's got an apple on the back of it, so we know whose it is. Travis: I want one that has like a pair thing. A pair? Other Chris: You got a. You gotta let everyone know. Chris: Well, mine's kind of obscured by clear hardshell case. Oh, um, so nice because it's blue. I got the blue one, like the midnight blue colored MacBook Air, so. Travis: Okay. Chris: I wanted to be able to see that, but I like putting on the hard shell cases. I had that on my old MacBook Air. Travis: Yeah. Chris: So don't have to worry about it, like getting jostled around and shit. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Or scratched or anything. Travis: Yeah, absolutely. I liked it. Chris: I just set it up yesterday so I can use it for my test. Travis: Yeah, I liked it when the laptops would waste battery to like light up the Apple logo too, so like everyone could tell it. Chris: It didn't though. Like, I liked that feature. That was like the least worrisome feature at all. I mean, my MacBook, like I said, was just old. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Like this is a really big upgrade for me, comparatively speaking, because it's the, uh, the one that just came out. So it's the m m three chip. And I got the one with the high bunch of. High amount of ram and other shit. So I could like do things more easily with it. Like hopefully. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Record process of things and whatnot. Travis: So actually more powerful than an iPhone or. Yeah, still like, like tethered. Chris: It's actually like the way they put them together, it's actually powerful enough. It can play like basic games and shit. Travis: Oh my God. Chris: Like you can kind of game on a MacBook Air now. Travis: What? Chris: That's a big step. Travis: That shit's crazy. Other Chris: If anyone actually made games for them. Travis: Right? Chris: Well, it's got stuff in the store that's maybe an option. Yeah. No one's making a game just for this. But it's like, you can play some games. Yeah, but apparently I can get like apps on here too. Oh, all that shit. Like I said, I haven't had this feature. I was still rocking the old, like one of the last intel chip ones they made. Yeah, they got like a touch id to sign in and like, there's a. Travis: Handful of steam games that you can play on Mac. I've got some. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Not nearly all of them, but, you know, some of them. Chris: Well, I mean, I didn't get this to game on anyway, so you can. Travis: Play undertale on there probably. Except my version doesn't play undertale. Doesn't have an option to resize the resolution. Um, so it's either full screen or it is this big. Chris: Ah. Travis: Uh. You can transfer 80 gigabytes from your old MacBook Air to your new one Other Chris: That'S hard mode. Travis: It's hard to dodge shit when it's that big. Other Chris: But yeah. Chris: Yeah, I was pleased too, like, because I've never gotten another Mac computer. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Till now. So, like, when I was like, hey, do you want to transfer your shit from your old one? Travis: Yeah. Chris: I'm like, sure. Is this gonna take a long time? Nah, an hour? Travis: That's fine. Chris: I'm like, wow, it's like, here I'm gonna transfer like 80 gigs worth of data from your old MacBook air that you connected to me with a cable to net to this new one. No problem. I'm like, jesus, really? That's awesome. Travis: Yeah, I liked when I got the. Because I have the Mac minis that, uh, they basically can be converted into like a server afterward, so I didn't have to transfer shit. I can just connect. Right? Chris: Exactly. Travis: Just stacks it on top of the other one. Chris: Sometimes apple, you do, right? Sometimes you make it right. Travis: Yeah. Chris: And I like the new cable because it's cloth covered the power cable. Um, but I waited long enough. Thank God they brought back the Magsafe charging with like the last model because I had that on my 2015. Travis: Yeah. Chris: And I'm like, and then they got rid of it. I'm like, why the fuck would you get rid of that? Sorry. And, and, uh, uh, like, cuz this is awesome. Like, it just magnet. Travis: Could ever. Chris: We don't say it at all. Ever, ever. And then like charges and shit. And it's like your cat runs across your cord, you're fine. Like, they went to like, oh, we're going to have you click in a USB C cord and charge of that. Travis: Yeah. Thanks. Chris: So I'm happy. I was happy. Had a headphone jack too. I wasn't expecting that. Travis: That's a bonus. Chris: I've got that on one side and they've got two USB C ports though. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Which is fine. But that's why I got the, uh, dongle thing. Travis: Plus you get to say dongle. Chris: Yeah, you can stay dongle. But I researched it, like, so I can now I can plug this into like tv. But I want to make sure I could still do, like, SD card reading and like, plug my microphone in and all that. So that's why, yes, I have to. Travis: Have a dongle for SD cards. Chris: But it's okay, I didn't on the other one. But, you know, there's difference between 2015. Travis: And now, so I rarely have to use an SD card anymore anyway, so. Chris: Well, I take lots of pictures on my phone. Well, I did have one in there that I could use. Travis: Now I can mister artist over this. Chris: I can download it. I can download all that old shit from, like, two SD card micro SD cards I have. Yeah, yeah. I can put in my camera's, uh, SD card too. So it's one of the main reasons I want to make sure because I have a lot of pictures on there and now I can probably actually edit them. Travis: Yeah. Chris: So instead of, like, having my computer go like, uh, I can't do this. One at a time, please. Now it's supposed to be like, kind of handle them. Travis: So one picture at a time, please. Chris: One look at this. It's like, look at you, mister. Fancy using raw file. One. One at a time. So I never did much with all the pictures I've taken. So I've got, like, my Israel trip on there and a couple others I m took my camera long for. I'm like, I never did anything with. Now I can. Travis: Nice. You put them on your flickr account or whatever. Other Chris: Yeah, right. Travis: Yeah. Chris: My thing is I'm having to make them fancy, then print him in a book. Travis: Yeah, those photo books printed, so, yeah, those are fun. Chris: Yeah, I, like, look at my pictures. Like, I don't ever look at them as digital. I just have, like, shit. A, uh, shit ton of digital pictures. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Like, so I never look at them. Other Chris: That's all people. We should take good pictures, right? Like, that's the Internet Chris: Yeah. Travis: Like, how pictures work. Other Chris: Yeah. Chris: No, but it should take. Other Chris: And never look at them again. Right. Chris: But we should take good ones. Like, I tried it when I'm in town and stuff that I can then, like, print out and put in a frame and have around my house and, like, make me smile, you know, like in the old days that, uh, you. Other Chris: Just share the shoebox under the bed. Well, yeah, that's the Internet, that. Chris: Well, how about a little one? Hey. Other Chris: Like, what the cloud is. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Not get off under the bed. Yeah. But what happens in the server on the cloud fails. Travis: Like, yeah. Chris: Or your formats change. Other Chris: Honestly, like, you're not gonna miss them. Chris: Like, I'm one. Other Chris: Like, oh, I lost all of my photos in the fire that burned down my house, and it turns out none of them were any good anyway. Chris: Like, I figure I'm, like one tech generation away from not being able to get the photos off of those micro usb, like, micro sd cards. Travis: Yeah. Chris: So, yeah, that would be like, the last one of those. 2010. Travis: No, you got a. Put them on Insta. Think of all the likes you could get and m. You could cash them in for prizes or something. Other Chris: Yeah. Internet points. Travis: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Chris: I stopped caring about that on insta a long time ago. Travis: Oh. Other Chris: I mean, you know, like. Like, if there aren't boobs or butts, then. Yeah, like, good luck getting anything. Chris: Well, I did that more back when I gave my boobs and butts on Tumblr. And you changed that, but then they kind of secretly changed it back, apparently. Travis: Oh, mhm. Yep. Other Chris: I post. Travis: I post stuff on insta sometimes, but mostly to be like, I do things. I'm not just sitting here. I want a place to take this picture. Other Chris: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Travis: To prove to people that I do stuff sometimes. Other Chris: Yeah, exactly. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: Wasn't even a thing that I wanted to do. Travis: I was just there. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Other Chris: If I had to be there, I guess I was taking a picture. Chris: Right? Travis: Yeah. I like it to be of stuff. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Not of boobs and butts, but only because I don't really have. Chris: That's why no one. Right. Travis: I start using this, uh, Adobe Firefly to put more boobs and butts in. Other Chris: Yeah, yeah. Travis: Attach boobs to this picture. Other Chris: Yeah. Like that. That's what generative AI is really for, right? Travis: Replace this background with, like, some breasts. Chris: Yeah, please, sir, please. Other Chris: But make it. Make it subliminal so people don't know why they like this photo so much. Uh, try to hide it in there. Travis: Yeah. Chris wants government action to make his class easier on TikTok Other Chris: So that no one can tell. Travis: Yeah. No, apparently, uh, the thing to do for people like us on, like, TikTok is to record these videos where we're all sitting on a table with our microphones and being just so, so funny. M. And put that up on the ticky tock. It helps. Gotta have the one. One guy with the backward hat and then some other guy who's real dumb. And then optionally a lady. You, uh, have to be like, not to sound stupid or anything, but is the Boston marathon farther than other marathons? That's the kind of thing you gotta post. Other Chris: It depends on how far you are from Boston, I guess, right? Travis: He's like, no, all marathons are the same distance. That's the tick tock clip, at least. Anyway, that's why we're not tick tock so much. Other Chris: Yeah. Yeah, no, we wouldn't be popular on the band social media platform anyway. Travis: I made a couple. Chris: Mean, why am I signed the law? Because they have six months to sell themselves. Travis: Right. Chris: They've also launched a lawsuit. Travis: Yeah. Chris: To say, you can't do that to us. Travis: Uh, right. Chris: So it's gonna be longer than six months, unfortunately. I'm hoping that when they go, hey, can you stop this? Judges, they'll be like, no. So the next year, like, two months into school, none of my kids can look at tick tock anymore. That'd be fantastic. Travis: Chris wants government action to make his class easier. Chris: As long as it's not chinese. Yeah. That's all that matters at this point. Yeah. Travis: Just bring back. Fine tic Tac. Chris: They might. Travis: Yeah. Chris: I think, honestly, just. Mark Zuckerberg's going, yes, please close them down, because I have features. I'm ready to open up on instagram, and that'll take over the spot for people. Travis: Right. So I just hope whoever shuts them down, whenever they bring them back up, they, uh, institute landscape. I'm so sick of seeing clips of, like, movies and shows where, like, half of the people, it's like their shoulder. Because they didn't bother to recenter the thing, like. Yeah, I love watching people's shoulder in these clips. Other Chris: Yeah, no, there's like. Like, there should be a pan and scan filter. Travis: Yes, yes. Or just some minor editing to just reframe it. I don't know. The most m minor editing. I don't know. I don't know. Other Chris: Uh, anyway, apple should be sponsoring us. Travis: Yes. Because of dongles. Other Chris: Yeah. Dongle content. Travis: Dongles. Oh, my God. Uh, what are you doing? That cat. Chris: Try to pick her up. Travis: She says no. Other Chris: Yeah. Don't. Don't do that. Chris: No, she was trying to climb up on me. Travis: Oh. Other cat. Other Chris: Different. Her cat. Travis: M cat, look at me. Cat, look at me. I'm gonna blink at you. I'm gonna blink at you. Chris: She's having vision problems, so she can't really see that. Travis: Poor baby. Poor baby. Chris: See a little bit. Travis: Yeah. Chris: But we think it's probably more like shapes. Travis: Yeah. Chris: And, like, things like that. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Like, bright and dark. Travis: Right. Chris: So. And it's different depending on the time of day. It's worse at night for her. Travis: Right. Chris: With the artificial light, than it is like, in the daytime. Travis: Oh. Chris: So. All the cats are in the multipurpose room right now But it's. She still bumps into shit. Travis: Yeah. Chris: You know, can't climb up on things. Travis: Oh, baby. Chris: Right now she's trying to figure out this desk. Like, how am I up here? But what's in my way. I don't know. Travis: What can I step on up here? Chris: Yeah, yeah. Other Chris: What can I step on? Travis: Yeah, she's doing. Chris: No. All right, I'm gonna put you back on the floor. Travis: Okay, bye. Chris: Okay, bye bye. Travis: Oh, um. Chris: Man. Travis: Oh, my gosh. Chris: Yeah, all the cats are in here now. Travis: It's cuz the door is a jar. It's a jar. Chris: It is. But it has a book thing, so they can come. And this is where. This is their room. This is where they also. Travis: You're invading their territory. Chris: Its storage. And it was always supposed to like, get changed into kind of like a office y space. Yeah, but we didn't. Other Chris: It's in the process. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Travis: It's multipurpose room right now. Chris: Mm. Mhm hmm. Yeah, we'll figure out a new place for them to be able to hang out in here, but do other shit, so. Travis: Yeah. Nice. Chris: Yeah, gypsy's like, you're never in here, like, well, I know there was no place to sit or do anything before, so. Travis: Yeah, alas. Yeah, alas. Hey. Other Chris: Ah. Uh. Travis: Did you read this book? Other Chris: Yeah, I did. What? Chris: Wait, what? Other Chris: No, hang on. Travis: Did you read some of this book? Chris: No. Travis: Okay. Chris: Not since last time. Travis: Oh, boy. Other Chris: Not huh, since last. Chris: We're about to spoil the shows, so I kind of don't have an idea what's going on, but. Oh, Mandy, I don't have time for that, so. Travis: Oh, God. You made a terrible commitment then. Chris: Yeah, we kind of need to, like, get going with it for this, so. I can't keep going. I haven't read it yet. Yeah, I'm not gonna be able to read it, but, uh. Yeah, still do it anyways. Travis: Yeah, fuck it. Chris: I think in the end, simping saved America through actions Chris: So things happen. I brought my copies. Travis: What do you think happened? Chris: What do I think happened? Travis: Make up a second half of the show. Chris: I think in the end, he successfully helps restart America through his actions. I don't know if he's alive or dead, but things happen. People do things in groups and change and. Yeah, that's it. Travis: Yeah. Nope. In the apocalypse, in the end, simping saved America. Chris: People stop the bad guys, the ones who are trying to, like, keep shit down. The mail gets delivered and. Mhm. Everyone rejoices. Travis: Yeah. Yeah. So maybe I'm too deep into this whiskey, but, like, was him delivering the mail? Like, is that a play on words? It, uh, came down to be like, males fucking suck. Other Chris: Oh, I. I thought that post. Post man. Travis: Oh, shit. Other Chris: Was a play on words. Travis: Oh, shit. Other Chris: That, like, we're talking about the end. Travis: Of end of men. Chris: Man. Travis: Yeah, it's. Other Chris: It's a post man. He's a post man. Travis: He is the post man. Other Chris: He's the post man. Travis: Oh, Jesus. Chris: That's not what I get from the picture. Travis: No, but put a hyphen in there. Chris: Yeah, no, he's literally just a fucking mailman. Travis: You gotta read below the text, Chris. The subtext is there. Holy shit. Chris: My mind is blown. Travis: My mind is blown. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: I think you might be 100% right. Yeah, yeah. Because of all his talk about feminism and, like, women shaping the future and being the impetus for people to do shit. Other Chris: Yeah. And how, like, they. They talked about, like, augmented dudes, but even that was like, those guys are. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: You know, go in the way of the dodo. Right. Like, you had their sort of last, like, hurrah and then. Yeah, but, but, yeah. Like, the whole second half of the book really was about this. Like, women should probably, like, take more responsibility and keeping men in line. Travis: Right. Or. Other Chris: Yeah, whatever. Travis: Yeah. Chris: That could make sense in a society where a lot of men came. Travis: The, uh, the augmented men were like, let's take men to their absolute, like, ridiculous extreme. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Fight wars united. Like, well, now what do we do? I guess we're gonna fucking destroy society. I don't know. Like. Other Chris: Yeah, and so. So, yeah, like, I do generally get that, like, uh, the. The civilization that rises from the ashes is going to be, like, women taking charge, I guess. Like, that seems to be the idea. Travis: Right, right. Other Chris: So, yeah, post. Post man. Chris: Uh. Travis: Fuck. Chris: All right. Travis: Holy shit. All right, shut down. What else can we add? Chris: That was it. Other Chris: I don't know. What did you think of the second half as far as reading through it Chris: So, uh, what else you guys up to these days? Travis: No, I'll ask other Chris. What'd you think of the second half as far as, like, reading through it? Other Chris: Uh, I enjoyed it. It moved quickly. Like. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: Happened. Like, it was. It was snappy. It was like. It was exciting, and, uh. I don't know, people thought people died. Like, a crazy shit went on. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: Like, the first half was sort of, like, uh, you know, like. I don't want to say, like, lackadaisical, you know? But it was. It was, uh. It was like. It took its time. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: Getting to where it was going. And then the second half was, like, I don't know, like, kind of frenetic, like, thing after thing happened. Travis: Right, yeah, right, right, yeah. I noticed the second half moved really quick, too. Like, it seemed somehow shorter. Other Chris: Mm hmm. Travis: Like, it was almost exactly the same amount of pages, but I'm like. I guess it was because, like, they're just going from set piece to set piece. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Like, we've established everybody, like, you know what's going on and now some shit's gonna go down and we have to, like. So things have to come to a head. Other Chris: The. The first half really felt like, you know, a travelogue and, like, going to all these different places and, like, meeting all these people and like, oh, this town is slightly different than this town. And this guy, like, did this thing. And, you know, we're establishing sort of the, uh, the world, I guess, in the first half. And in the second half, it's like, uh, now we actually have a, uh, real threat, which is the invasion from the south. Travis: Right. Other Chris: And all of these towns that we've gone through, like, all of these people that we've met, like, how are they going to deal with this? Travis: Right? Yeah. Other Chris: So it, uh, basically the first half was setting up all of the dominoes, and the second half is like, knocking them down. Travis: Right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I noticed that either. I was like, I assumed. I'm like, I'm just too bored of writing down town names, but I feel like, like you said, the first was like, okay, now he's in Pine Ridge, now he's in the Willamette Valley, and now he's over here. And this time it was like, well, one, he was knocked out for a lot of the time. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Or basically dead. So he didn't really have time to be like, okay. And then I went to, I don't know, Portland and Eugene, but, yeah, they cared a little less about setting up his little mail route and more about getting shit done. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: So, yeah, I liked it. Chris: Cool. Chris: I thought the writing was really good in this one Travis: So, uh, Chris, which, uh, which review? Which reviews did you read? Like, can you recommend one to us? Chris: I watched one. Travis: YouTube videos. Chris: Yeah. About just. Well, just one. Travis: Yeah. Chris: About this from this guy who was doing this program where you read through a whole bunch of, like, older and, like, classic Sci-Fi this was like 37 for him, but he really liked it because it was different from what he'd been reading. Travis: Yeah. Chris: He really thought the right. He also said the writing was really good and it's. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Yes. Chris: It's paced well and all that kind of stuff. And he said it's a good entry point for people who may or may not have any experience with apocalypse fiction. Travis: Yes. Chris: So he, uh, really liked it. Travis: Yeah, I think that's true too. I think this was kind of one of, um. Um, this section at least was more like the impression I got from kindred where it's like, he's very economical and everything that's happening has, like, two or three things you can dig into and be like, oh, shit. Okay. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: He's not going to walk you through every single thing that happened, but you. Other Chris: Can, I think, like, uh, David Brin. That's the guy. Travis: Yes. Other Chris: Has a good understanding of people and their personalities and their motivations. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: Like, he. He writes convincing characters, and I think that's. Yeah, that's definitely something that he has in common with the, uh, the best of the science fiction writers that it is. Like, uh. Like, what would a person in this situation be thinking and how would they be behaving and why? Travis: Right. Other Chris: And, like, so. So believable characters. Travis: Yeah, yeah. Chris: For sure. Travis: Yeah. And it felt like kind of the theme in the first section was, uh, Gordon being like, well, someone's got to fucking do something. Like, someone's got to take responsibility. And although that still plagued him in this, it was more like his contribution was, let's get somebody better than me in here and, like, warn people about what's going on. Like. Other Chris: Right. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Like, in my notes, I constantly was writing, like. And then Gordon shot. It's a trap. Look out. He was basically fallout boy in this, like, yeah, watch out, radioactive mandae. So. Yeah, but you're right. I think, uh, despite there being a lot of characters that didn't spend a whole lot of time, like, painstakingly detailing out, like, I got the impression pretty much everybody, like, okay, Powell Hatton's like this, and Johnny's like this. Like, he's the guy who's literally gonna die for the cause. Other Chris: Yeah. And then he did. Travis: And, uh. Then he literally did. Other Chris: Oh, my God. Travis: Yeah. And Dina's like that. Like, she will hold her bastard kid face down in a tub until he drowns because she doesn't. She thinks he's one of the bastards or whatever, so. Chris: Mm hmm. Travis: But, yeah, I thought it was really good. And I was like, shit, I'm ready for the second one. But, no, I want to know what's happening in California. Chris: Right. Travis: Yeah. Like, didn't they do that with the fallout series? They. New Vegas, and there was, like, a. California was one of them. Chris: The new California Republic. Travis: Yeah, I want to see that. Chris: Really kind of revived shit. And then they got blown up. Uh-huh. Travis: Well, if anyone's gonna do it. Yeah. Chris: Yeah. Order of Cincinnati may refer to Society of Cincinnati Anyway, so, Chris, should we teach. Should we tell you what happened in here? Chris: I mean, you can if you want to, for the reader, for the listener, but. Travis: Oh, shit. I was gonna also mention, uh, that it took me, like, half of this section. Cause, like, the whole section was Cincinnatus to remember. Like, that's an actual guy. Chris: Yeah. Travis: And that might have implications to the story. Other Chris: Well, they, you know, he helpfully pointed it out to you later. Travis: Yes, later on. Yes. Chris: That's good. Travis: I had remembered to look it up before that, so give me half credit. Chris: But Cincinnati's name after him. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Mhm. Travis: Uh, I was gonna ask and jumping ahead in the notes, but like, the order of Cincinnatus, was that a real thing? Chris: As far as I know, it was. Travis: Or is that just made up by Nathan Holm? Other Chris: I'm just gonna have to take his word for it. Chris: Like a group. Some of the founding fathers, like, did something. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: But it, you know, I'm checking. Travis: Society Cincinnati. Chris: There was something because they were the ones that named Cincinnati, that, uh, of. Travis: Cincinnati are male descendants of revolutionary war officers. Chris: Okay, here we go. Travis: Order of Cincinnati may refer to Society of Cincinnati. Chris: Yeah. Travis: An organization the US and France founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the revolutionary war officers who fought for american independence. Other Chris: There you go. Travis: So at least it's got a Wikipedia entry. Chris: M. Yeah. Travis: So there's that. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Anyway, that. Other Chris: It's definitely real then. Travis: Definitely real. Chris: That sounds like a thing. Travis: Just like Aaron Burr was a real guy. So Nathan Holmes, he was totally on the money. Chris: Lovely. I, uh, clicked on the society of Cincinnati to get like a picture there, you know? Travis: There's your man. Other Chris: I mean, like any, any, like, these days though, like, Nathan Holman would be shilling, like, supplements. Chris: Oh, my God, yes. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Be the guy under arrest for sex trafficking in Europe. Yeah. Other Chris: People would be asking, uh, where he was on January 6. Chris: Andrew Tate is Nathan Holmes, basically. Other Chris: Christ. Travis: Basically. But yeah, one. Other Chris: One more instance of, like, science fiction being like, stupidly precious. Yeah. Chris: Like one guy who spawned like, shit. It's like 20 dudes. Travis: They even talked about the big lie. I was like, God damn it. Other Chris: Oh, no. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Anyway, what if David Brin is actually from the future? Travis: Maybe he is. Chris: Traveled back in time, like 50 years, started writing books. Other Chris: That's. That's some ancient aliens shit. Like, no, give the dude credit for being able to see the future. Chris: Yeah, m. I totally do. Even the early parts of the book. And I was reading that, I'm like, this. This sounds familiar. That's uncomfortable. Travis: Uh, yeah, it's a bit uncomfortable, yeah. Chris: But good on you, David Brand. Travis: Good on you. Cincinnatus gives up his powers voluntarily at the end of his life So Cincinnatus, I guess, is the theme, and Cincinnatus being the guy who's like, I'm a farmer, and they're like, shit, we're dying. Please come be a general. He's like, I guess, yeah, like, great. We want be a king. He's like, fuck your kingdom. I'm going back being a farmer. Chris: He was the best dictator man. Because he gave up his powers voluntarily at the end. Travis: Yes. Other Chris: Yeah. Chris: Go back to farm on his large estate with slaves. Travis: He was. He was like Batman in the Dark Knight returns. He's like, I'm gonna use this terrible power just for this, then blow it up back to my farm. Chris: He's the guy that then, like, Caesar and Scipio quoted and their shit. But then we all know what happened there, so. Travis: No, we don't. Don't assume we all know this. Chris: You don't know. See what happened? Caesar did not give up his power at the end of his. Travis: I know about Caesar. Who's the other guy? Skippy. Chris: Skippy? Oh, Skippy. Travis: Skippy. No, skippy from animation. Chris: Scipio Africanus. Travis: Not that doppel populous. Other Chris: Doppel populous. Chris: No, no. Who's the younger? Scipio Africanus? Other Chris: The younger. Travis: Scipio the Younger. Chris: No. Well, maybe not Scipio, but. Well, so that guy was involved with the punic wars, the peanut butter guys. Hence Africanus, because he won the punic wars against Carthage in Africa. Travis: George Washington Harvard won the punic wars. Got it. Other Chris: That's. That's how you. That's how you become african, I guess. Chris: No, it's. Your title is based on who you defeat. Um, so that's why there's a Claudius II Gothicus in the fourth in the third century, because he defeated the Goths. Oh, um, and then Trajan, who I just got his coin a couple weeks ago, had, like, the longest terms. Because he's like, Germanicus Dacias, something else. Because he defeated, like, three groups. Travis: He killed everybody. Other Chris: Wow. Chris: No, he just defeated them and brought them into. Said, either stop fucking with my borders or welcome to Rome after I killed your army. Travis: Okay. Chris: But that's how their titles, like, stuff like that is. How do you say meat in Latin Who did you beat? Travis: Who did you beat? Chris: So. Travis: So my name would be Travis. My penis row. Chris: Yes. Put it into Latin. Other Chris: Yeah. Uh, how do you. How do you say meat in Latin? Chris: Oh, we're gonna find out. Travis: Carne Carnicus decimus. Carnicus Aurelius. Chris: Uh, so my penis and lat. Mentula. Maya. Mentula. Uh. Travis: Mmm. Travis mentula. I like it. Chris: And meets. Because I can't remember. No, I don't think that's it. Eskom. Um, I don't think so. Travis: No, no. That's even stupid to suggest. Chris: Yeah. So we don't know what meat is. Travis: I bet it has something to do with Carne. Chris: Yeah, probably, uh. Probably find out what the greater web says. I feel like I learned this in latin class, but I don't remember. Other Chris: It. Seems like something that would be appropriate to learn in latin class. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Words. Latin words for me include caro, carnis, ligurio, and epularum. Travis: Ooh. Carnis. Chris: So, minced meat was. Tritum. Kibum. Lean meat was eniatator. Kibum. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Raw meat was crudam. Travis: Crudam. Other Chris: Crudam. Travis: Crudam. Chris: And a piece of meat was fragment. Kibum. Travis: Mm hmm. Chris: Ground meat. Corn. This is kibum. Taram. Roast meat was ko kwam. Kibum. Fresh meat. Nova. Kibum. Other Chris: Hmm. Travis: No. Chris: Cold meat. Freegoos. Kibum. Red. M meat. Rufous. Kibum. Travis: Rufus. Other Chris: Interesting. Chris: And a meat pie is pie. Kibum. Because there's no latin word for pie. Other Chris: Of course. I just want to throw out there that the japanese word kibun means feeling. Chris: Oh, yeah. Other Chris: Yeah. So, you know, feeling your meat. Yeah. Feeling your meat. Travis: Mm hmm. Chris: See, I think I learned. Other Chris: I'll remember it forever now. Chris: Carnice. But carnice means steak, flesh, or pulp. So steak or flesh. But I learned carnies. In Latin, I did not learn kibum. Travis: Goddamn carnies. Chris: Carnice. Other Chris: Carnies. Chris: Hence, carne. Small hands. Smells count. Carne asada. Yeah. Right. Travis: Small hands. Smells count. Chris: Hits that. Carne asada. Uh. Travis: Right. Chris: Because it probably be carnice asadum or something like that. Yeah. Travis: Yeah. Part two of the series opens with Tracy dead and surrounded by angry survivors Well, other Chris, let's teach Chris what happened in this book. What do you think? Other Chris: Yeah, let's do that. Travis: So, like, where were we? Right? Other Chris: Mm hmm. Travis: So Gordon was like, uh, in the middle. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Go back to Corvallis or whatever and deal with these survivalist motherfuckers. It's like, somebody's got to do it. Chris: It's not gonna be that. Travis: They're just gonna play space invaders. So I got to do something. Other Chris: Yep. Travis: So we, uh, open up on an interlude of spring, returning the ocean, offering just enough heat to stop a slow death spiral. But obstinate winter arrived one more time to claim a dark country. Ominous. Other Chris: Mm hmm. Travis: And, you know, reenter Gordon, who is coming upon a still warm body of Tracy. I'm like, my theme for this whole second half was like, did I. Did we meet this person yet? I don't remember. Like. Other Chris: No, there was. There was a cutaway. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: There were a few months that passed. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: Like, between part one and part two, there were, you know, like, there was time for him to, like, be raising an army and, uh, like, going between places and having, uh, to deal with politics and. Travis: Yeah, yeah. An army of farmers, by the way, basically. Other Chris: Yeah. Militia of sorts. Travis: A sort of militia, yeah. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: So, yeah, Tracy shows up dead, and we just met her and she's already dead. Yeah, I guess she was one of Dina's amazons. Other Chris: Yeah. And then one of the scouts. Travis: Yeah, Philip Bakuto. Bokuto joins him. He's like, damn, I thought Tracy was a good one. Dean always said so. And he's like, yeah, but Dean is crazy. Chris: People be crazy. Other Chris: Yeah. Women in particular. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: Women who get ideas by reading books. Travis: Yeah. Can't have that thinking. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: So they're like, these holiness can't be too far. They didn't have time to take their usual trophies and, like, cut off her ears and shit. Yeah, we can still get them. And Gordon's like, uh, maybe not. I'm not so keen to track these fuckers with farmers that we've got Wayne back in the woods. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: So there's some knife brandishing threats between the two of them. And Philip's like, just give me five minutes. Other Chris: Drabs her corpse away, and you're like, oh, geez. Travis: Yikes. Other Chris: What's he gonna. What's. Oh, my God. Travis: Um, yeah, so Gordon goes back to his farmer soldiers on patrol, waits for five minutes using his pre war timepiece given to him by the tech jockeys in the house of Cyclops. Yeah, he's like, ah. Other Chris: Uh, not. Not smuggled in somebody's ass. Travis: Not that we know of. Other Chris: Yeah, yeah. Travis: Um, that could be your head can unspecified. He's like, here's my. My army of the Willamette. It's like, well, guys, Tracy's dead. Five minutes faster on your patrolling, and she wouldn't have wound up so horribly mutilated, guys. Well, let her down. And he's actively, like, timing everyone's decision making process about hearing this news before. They're like, well, we should go do something. He's like, too slow, guys. Good thing they didn't find you. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: So, um, Philip silently slips back in with the angered group, who are about to find a very mutilated corpse. And he's like, can you imagine if they ever found out why we use lady scouts? Lies within lies for the restored United States. Mm. Chris: Mhm. Hmm. Travis: And I imagine it's the same reason they have lady voices on your cockpit, uh, computer. Ladies make you do stuff. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Other Chris: They're very good at it. Travis: They're motivating is all. Chris: Yeah. Gordon's discussing the situation with a silent cyclops Travis: So then Gordon's discussing the situation with a silent cyclops. Uh, I like that he thought of themselves as the twin pillars of fraudhouse holding up hope in the Willamette valley. It's like, cyclops, we are screwed. Like, we're hanging on now just because of the winter, but once things start thawing, like, those camoed fucks are gonna kill us. Other Chris: Yep. Travis: So Dina interrupts his lamentations to tell him that, uh, Johnny Stephens new guy, I think, had just rode in with ten men as reinforcements. Like, not even men. Like ten boys. Other Chris: John. Johnny Stevens was the. The kid from the place. The kid from the place, yeah, you know, like. Like, he's. He's the, uh. Like, grandson. Oh, is like the. Travis: Yeah, I thought that was the ag. Like, the AG's were the one he rescued. Other Chris: No, like. Like he went to some town and he started a post office and he. Yeah, postmaster. And like, yeah, Johnny's like the little. He's. He's the excitable grandson, um, of the postmaster in the one town. Travis: He is the true believer. Other Chris: Yeah, yeah, he's. He's all in. Travis: Yeah. But, yeah, only got ten guys to come over, so, like, son of a bitch. Other Chris: Mostly like, old people or, like, people. Travis: Way too young to actually do anything. Other Chris: Yeah, yeah. Travis: So, uh, Gordon debriefs Johnny after some suggestions from Dina about a plan. He's like, fuck your plan and fuck you. If any of these southerners who had fought the wholeness for the last 20 years are any good, they're gonna be the new scouts. If I have something to say about it. Mm hmm. Gordon's very anxious to hear if Mayor George Powhatan had sent a word. John, he's like, yeah, but he doesn't trust papers. So he just told me to tell you, uh, I'm sorry. Other Chris: Go fuck yourself. Travis: Not gonna happen. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: So Gordon goes back to his candlelit room, which I liked as a detail, because he's like, I can't sleep with the bright lights. Like, I want the candle. He's like, I can't sleep on a bed after living in the woods for so long. I need just the candle. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: So he comes in with Dina reading in his bed, and she's like, what was wrong with these women in the nineties anyway? All afraid of technology and talking about feminism and shit, which I thought was funny. Like, uh, she was obviously never a woman in a stem field. Other Chris: Like, right, right. Yeah, yeah. Not like it's not bullshit, right? Yeah. Travis: I don't know if they're so much afraid of technology or just like, not keen on being harassed all the time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Other Chris: Or ignored, you know, or completely ignored as, uh, a man in a stem field who works with women. Like, uh, uh, one of the things that I've had to, like, regularly be a party to is, like, I'll. I'll be in a meeting, right. And somebody will ask me a question about a project that I don't even work on. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: While the woman who is, like, the lead on the project is in the room right there. Like, uh, you could ask her maybe, like, she would have a better idea of what's going on. Chris: Like, yes, but then you have to talk to a woman. Other Chris: I am, like, like, so incensed by it that I use all of this, like, like, um. Like, I don't. I don't know if it's passive aggressive, what I'm doing. I don't do it in a passive aggressive way, but I'm like, um, um, well, here's what I think the answer is. Travis: Uh huh. Other Chris: But also, what do you think, woman who's actually in charge? Like, what do you think? Right. What is your opinion on this? Like, like, why. Why am I the one who has to, like, open the conversation right direction? I don't know. Travis: Yeah. It is something to be on the lookout for in corporate settings, for sure. Other Chris: And what's. What's actually fucked about it? Like, more fucked, I would say, is, like, how many times I've had to do this to women, right? Travis: Oh, yeah. Other Chris: Women who are project managers or, like, you know, business side people who are asking me technical questions. Like, you know, they're like, Jesus. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: Like. Like, even. Even they have the, uh, I don't know, the. The inbuilt sort of, like, bias against women in technical fields somehow. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: Anyway, yeah. Uh, that's. That's my rant over. Travis: Yeah. And, like, a bonus thing to look out for is, like, women saying something in your meeting and then men repeating it. Gordon agrees with Dina's interpretation of ancient history books Chris: Yeah. Travis: And then they respond to it, like, oh, actually, that wasn't that Susan's idea. Other Chris: Like, sure was. Travis: Shouldn't we talk to her about that? Like, pretty sure cease of that. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: So, yes, I agree with Dina's interpretation of the ancient history books. Other Chris: Oh, yeah. Like, she. She wasn't there. She didn't see it. Travis: Yeah, she wasn't there, but she's Gordon's like, you know, being a woman now is not great. Other Chris: Also, being a woman at any point, I feel like, is not great. Travis: Not stellar. No. Chris: Not usually. Travis: No. Other Chris: Kind of sucks. Chris: Yeah. Travis: But Dina's like, you know, who's to blame for all of that? Men? You know? Who's to blame for men? Women? Mhm. We needed to do more to cull these bastards back then I'm like, okay, fair. Probably shut these idiots down. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: I, uh, fully agree. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: I don't know. Travis: Yeah, eventually they are. Chris: Maybe that's why we have sperm count problems now and like, hormone issues and shit. That's like on the rise. That's the reason why we put all the plastics in our bodies. Travis: Yeah. Is that why curb to shut down the male shit? Yeah, yeah, I guess. I guess them searching for shareholder wealth ended up with, uh, microplastics in all everyone's balls. Chris: Sure did. Yep, I saw, I heard about that the other day. And those researchers were amazed, like, oh, shit. That it's in everyone's. Travis: Everyone's balls. Chris: Everyone they sampled. It wasn't even in all the dogs yet. Every human just to be back share down there now. Yeah. Travis: So, yeah, anyway, the Gordon's like, I'd really rather just slip into unconsciousness right now. Like, Dina's down for some d. Mhm. He's like, ah, all right, I guess if he'll shut you up for a minute. I think it's later on that he's like, I don't know if they would have had a word for our kind of relationship, but, yeah, it was certainly interesting. Gordon's talking to a group of men about how to fight against survivalists Anyway, next day at the work council, uh, Steve and Mark Agee are trying to demonstrate a night vision scope, like something with laser sights, but it's not really working. They're like, basically me when I demo anything at work. Like it was working before. Like, yeah, now you're watching. It doesn't work. Other Chris: Yep. Travis: I liked the note that the gathered representatives from the Willamette valley are all wearing Volkswagen hood ornaments because they're found everywhere in garbage heaps and, ah. Uh, like, if you read it this way, it's Willamette Valley instead of oaks wagons there. Chris: That many volkswagens out there? Travis: I guess so. Well, it is maybe Oregon, so. Other Chris: Yeah, you'd expect to see a few of them. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Like an Audi or something. Travis: Um, maybe, but yes, everyone also. Chris: But they also have a Volkswagen. Travis: Everyone's pretty underwhelmed with the weapons display, and they're also underwhelmed with cyclops as a war tactician, which, like, guys, he's not made for war. Thinking, yeah, cut him a break. Other Chris: It's just an old guy. Travis: Just, I mean, computer. Other Chris: Yeah, computer, right? Travis: Help a computer. Other Chris: Help computer. Stop all the downloading. Travis: Gordon's like, it's gonna be years before the restored us can help us out. And he's like, I guess it's not technically a lie. Yeah, it will be several years, but what you guys need is, like, more men and more leadership. And to himself, he's like, and I'm not that guy, so. Chris: Right. Travis: I'm gonna go south and get George Powhatan to help. And I'll be back by spring, or I'll be dead. Other Chris: Yep. Travis: So he wants to go right away, but the council makes him wait and plan and takes Philip and four other guys. There's like a note how he sees Dina on the way out of town. Oh, this is where they're like. He's not quite sure what the term was for their relationship back in the day. I'm like, I think she's a dummy, mommy. Like that term. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But he knew he was gonna miss her. So, uh, there's a section where they're riding south through towns that had suffered and would be the breaking points if they were overrun by survivalists. Then Johnny rides up again, this time with another verbal letter. Three words, come on up. Oh, shit. So some guy named Calvin Lewis is leading them over a river and, uh, up to Sugarloaf Mountain, which I tried to google this to find out where it is, and I got, like, 19 hits on the west coast, so who knows? Other Chris: Could be anything. Travis: Could be almost anywhere. Yeah, I'm guessing it's the one that's just north of Corvallis. Maybe. But there's also one in, like, northern California, and there's one north of port. I don't know. Anyway, doesn't matter. Maybe the nuclear winter messed up the geography. Who knows? Other Chris: But, yeah, could be. Travis: So he's explaining to them about their strategies against the survivalists, which is less outright fighting, more like we're gonna monitor them and do, like, swamp fox tactics. Like hit and run. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: So just as Gordon's wondering where, like, the hidden watchers are, the horses start getting antsy, and Philip's like, smells like bear fat. Other Chris: Oh, shit. Chris: That's probably not good then. Travis: Oho, says Thorman from Game of Thrones. For my reenactment, George Powhatan. Well, smelled. Come on, up with your noses, you guys, with your uniforms, and I'll show you what barefat's good for. So they spend a couple of days up on Sugarloaf Mountain, where Poutin showing Gordon and the boys around his town, which is kind of like a neo hippie commune with, like, breweries and, uh, uh, like, galleries of kids artwork. Other Chris: Honestly, I would live pretty fucking awesome. Travis: Yeah, yeah. Chris: I go live there now. Travis: Yeah. Be a cool place to get a place. Chris: Get places and live in this village. Travis: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he's always putting off all the business talk until eventually Gordon tracks him down, finding him and then joining in a meditation session. M. Powhatan tells him a story about a time when he saw a small group of monkeys, or maybe chimpanzees, making their way through the valley. He's like, I figured they escaped from the zoo. Chris: Yeah. Travis: They might not find that they were any happier now, but at least they were free. So he let him go, and so he's guilty of turning earth into soror. Yeah, it was his fault. Other Chris: Yes. Travis: Fucking George Powhatan. But Gordon's like, I should really say something back to this. Like, it seems like he was telling me something, and then he's already Batman away. So. Yeah, yeah. Later, they have a kind of a gift exchange that's actually really a gift competition. Chris: Like pot lunch. Travis: Yeah. Like, uh. Like a argument via gifts where both sides are being like, here's what we can. You can help us defend or whatever. So Dina was like, you should, um, bring cotton blend underwear and, like, maxi pads. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Because that will get the women on your side, at least. Other Chris: Yeah, it's probably what he should have done. Gordon and Johnny are called in to speak with the boss. So they meet with Colonel Charles Bazor Travis: Um, probably should have. Probably because, like, the residents of Sugarloaf Mountain, they're like, your video games are cute, but it's kind of like a puppet show. They don't have the same desire to, like, own them that he felt. Also the weapons that Philip demos, like, all right. And even the letters that they drummed up, like, they asked everyone in Corvallis to search their memories for old acquaintances, but so many of them have already died. Everyone's like, oh, shit. Remember why they died of. I don't want to do that. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Just very sad. So Gordon tries his trump card, which is lying about the country reviving back in the east, but he's like. But he can't even do it because Pouton's listening. He's like someone who's, like, stronger than him and already had resurrected a kind of peace and was doing just fine. He's like, he'll be like, uh, no, no, buddy. So he's like, well, maybe you all just have forgotten what it means to fight for something bigger than yourselves. But Powhatan interrupts him. He's like, you know, this letter you brought me has my name on it, but it seems like it's actually for you, Mister inspector. I'll snap it's a letter from Dean. And it's like, listen, sorry, uh, but it's become clear to me that men are a bit shitty. Like, there's good ones, but they're too few and far between. So me and the ladies are taking things into our own hands. Ps, here's some underwear and sanitary napkins for the women. Chris: Yep. Travis: And you don't know it now, but this is what turns the tide of the whole war. Yeah, apparently so. Gordon does manage to get a few more very young and very old recruits and is making haste to try to stop whatever Dina is trying to do. But he startles awake one night at camp and is, like, reflectively walking around the woods, noticing how well he can maneuver in the dark, but runs into Calvin, whose throat has been slit open. Other Chris: Oh, shit. Travis: Everyone else is about to get attacked by survivalists. Chris: Fucking survivalists. Travis: I know, right? He's like, you know, I could just hide here and let this happen and then, like, just go on my merry way. I'd be no worse off than I was 16 months ago. Other Chris: Yep. Travis: But again, despite what he thinks he wants, he finds himself. His feet blowing his whistle that Abby gave him. They fell for it, guys. Get him. And then it's, like, honked on the head. And then we cut to him being very dimly aware of a kind of death march through survivalist territory. We get some glimpses of the neo serfdom of the whole nest territory. Think, like, slavery area south. Like, in kindred. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Comes, um, to his senses with Johnny realizing that Johnny probably carried him most of the way after being deposited in a hovel. So he's like, did Phil get away? Yeah. Your warning was enough to help us put up a fight. And I didn't see any black ears or any other parts on anyone's necklaces. P's Philip is black. I think they mentioned it before, but this is where I remembered it. So, uh, they make note that everybody at this place seems to be packing things up, like, getting ready to move. Gordon and Johnny are called in to speak with the boss. Johnny's like, well, through rain, sleet, snow, and survivalists. Cory's like, one more time, I guess. Let's do this. So they meet with a Colonel Charles Bazor, he of seven earrings, and I pictured him of, like, a very tiny southern gay man, for whatever reason, just made it funnier to me. Chris: Like Truman Capote, kind of. Travis: Yeah, that'd be good. Uh, he is formerly of the Oregon state bar and republican commissioner for Jackson county, currently the judge advocate for the American Liberation army. So he's like, man, there's been so many armies. Like, which ones are you with, exactly? And Mister inspector, how are things going out in the east, anyway? Corn's like, you know, generally, uh, hit or miss from place to place to place, right? You know, Johnny's like, you bastards are gonna have to pay extra postage. Yeah, so we can deliver all that mail you stole. Yeah, like, good job, buddy. Then a general Macklin comes in. Johnny's taken back to his quarters. Macklin's like, let's just get this shit over with. Brings in some other guy. He. Of a jaunty hat, you know? It was such a small encounter, and it was so long ago. I don't know. Gordon's like, you son of a bitch. Is in fact, Roger sapien himself. And then Gordon's like, oh, I probably shouldn't have said I know him right away. That was pretty dumb. But Baszler is like, by the way, we found this and hands Gordon his journal that Roger had stolen back in chapter whatever. Interesting how your. All your travel notes make zero mention of a restored United States. Like, even at all. Not even a little bit. Other Chris: Yeah, but he's like, maybe it's bullshit. Chris: Maybe it's a brand new idea. Travis: Maybe it just happened. I don't know. Yeah, so, uh, uh. It's like, but you guys killed a few of our men, so, like, technically, you're strong enough to join our group. So gives them a copy of Nathan Hole's version of Mein kopf to read, which they talk about how feudalism is the natural order of civilization. Strongmen are leaders by right of strengthen. And if Aaron Burr had his way and that motherfucker Alexander Hamilton and Ben Franklin hadn't fucked everything up with their order of Cincinnatus. Chris: Yeah, that's the reason. Travis: That's the reason. Gordon and Macklin discuss a deal they proposed to take Corvallis Johnny's like, you know, I wasn't much for schooling, but what the hell? Chris: Yeah, like, that's a very small footnote. Yeah, Gordon's like, was not the reason. America isn't. Travis: Gordon's like, it's called the big lie, Johnny. And here's what it is. Like, yeah, just make something up and then talk about it. Like, he's like, I'm actually an expert at this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Other Chris: You don't want to say, though. Travis: No. And this is where we find out. Uh, this is where they tell us, if we didn't look up in Wikipedia, who the actual Cincinnatus was. Chris: Ah. Uh, okay. Travis: The farmer. General farmer who said, fuck your crowns. Yep. Chris: And then the model dictator yeah. Travis: Somewhere in here, another captives brought in who's wearing a different uniform with, like, a patch. I has a bear on it and a red, and Gordon's like, sounds like California. Hmm. Other Chris: California way. Travis: California. Chris: California. Travis: Yes. Chris: That's what I got. Travis: Are you gonna say knows how to party, or you were talking about the OC. Chris: No, I'm not. I was gonna let someone else do that. The moment's gone now. Travis: Okay, well, for the record, California knows how to party. Chris: They do? Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: It was Anthony Kiedis. Travis: He, uh, was just a big fan. Still. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Mhm. He had wrote 19 more songs about California that day. Chris: Yeah, probably. Travis: Yeah. So, anyway, Macklin calls Gordon back in to discuss a deal they proposed. Basically, Gordon helps them take Corvallis, and then he could be baron of there or something. And I guess we learned something about this super soldier program they've been doing. Other Chris: Mm hmm. Travis: Macklin and some other guy. They're augmented. Like Gordon mentions. They're much faster than he would expect. And they are weird looking. Other Chris: Yeah. They got wiry, weird muscles. Travis: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So we talked about this a little bit, but, like, they're super hyper masculine, basically roided up and sent to war. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: But then war was over, and so they're like, well, I guess another war. Let's go. Yeah, just keep doing war. That's what we do. Chris: Yeah. Like, what do you do with a super soldier? They can't all be like Captain America. Travis: No, no. Just look at us. Soldier, even. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Yeah. Uh, so, Gordon's like, okay, well, your deal sounds nice, but just one question, like, who's out there kicking your ass so hard that you have to run away right now? Other Chris: Oh, snap. Chris: Oh. Travis: He'S like, get him out of here. Chris: Well, sir. Travis: And then another officer here is getting executed because. I forget. But, uh, I guess he leaked some information. Gordon's like, way to go, California, bro. Took m. At least one more of them with you. Other Chris: Yep. Chris: Yep. Other Chris: Uh, Anthony Kiedis did not die in vain. Chris: Right? Travis: Yes. Um, a note has been slipped to Gordon from this woman slash servant who's been bringing them gruel, written on the back of Dina's note that she took from his pants. I guess it's like, is it true? Are women free in the north? Which Gordon then promptly eats. Chris: Yep. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Which you would have to. Other Chris: They do whatever the fuck they want, I guess. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Yeah. Gordon has a dream of Ben Franklin playing chess with a pot belly stove It is true, apparently, compared to there, they don't listen to our war councils, for one thing. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Yeah. Um, so, Gordon has a dream of Ben Franklin playing chess with a pot belly stove which I kind of loved. Chris: Yeah, that's awesome. Travis: They're debating the nature of tyrants, and the stove keeps repeating Cyclops's words, who will take responsibility? And old Benji sacrifices his queen to the stove. And even in his dream, Gordon's like, oh shit. Other Chris: All right, what's that supposed to mean? Travis: What does it mean? Other Chris: Oh, geez. Travis: Yeah. Johnny wakes him up though, being like, hey, something's up with these guards. In fact, they've been poisoned by that one lady who's named Heather and her friend who's Bezor's mistress, who I didn't mention before. Mm mhm. Chris: Hmm. Ah. Ah. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Okay. Travis: Ah. They bring them back their completely worthless mail and his journal, and then Johnny stabs the shit out of the one guy who's left. Poor Mister Sapien. And they wreck up a bunch of canoes, steal one, and then paddle away down the river. Chris: Huzzah. Travis: Through rapids, until the inevitable crash that ruins their boat and sends them all into the water. Chris: Mhm. Travis: Each guy grabs one of the ladies. I think Gordon grabbed Heather by the hair, pulled them to shore. He's like, we have to get rid of this wreck. So they think we made it further than this. But then Johnny notices their mail bag, dives in after him and is like, wash the fuck away. Yep, just gone, just gone. Other Chris: Just gone. Chris: Rivers out there will do that. Travis: Gordon should have been like, by the way, we don't care about this particular bag of mail. Chris: Mhm. Travis: It's fine. But no. So he leads the women down trails and roads, past doomsday prep bunkers and deserted mansons with had like skinned dogs. Other Chris: Oh, geez. Travis: Weird. The ladies are like, get that meat. Other Chris: Yeah, yeah, they are survivors. They dove right in and like, yeah. Travis: They want to survive, I guess. Other Chris: Chomp, chomp. Travis: But yeah, the mistress is confirming to them that they were ready to move quickly because they really were fighting a three front war and is like, gotta take the north or we're going to die. So Gordon's thinking about how Powden was right about fighting for big things, and Basil had been right, and even Nathan Holman had been right about Ben Franklin. And then they run smack into General Macklin and some other augmented. And they're quickly recaptured. Fuck. Other Chris: Uh. Travis: Fuck. Chris: Damn it. Travis: Gordon finds himself hanging upside down by his feet, tied to the rafters. Macklin does the whole villain monologue thing while whimpering is heard from another room, like the two women and some unknown third person. Uh, he's like, your plan failed, mister inspector, but your scouts sure fought well. Surprised us. Gordon's like, I don't know anything about that. I never even knew what their plan was. And so he's like, oh, so a feminist, huh? Which I'm like, it took me a sec. Like, oh, okay, I get it, I get it. Because you let them do what they wanted to do. But plus, that one Negro scout's been giving us trouble. Chris: Oh. Travis: Talks about this plan they had for this blitzkrieg to, like, do an end around to the north. And then being like, anyone who comes after us is gonna have to go through Powhatan and Sugarloaf Mountain. That'll be, like, a buffer. So we'll just be. We'll be set. Yep, yep. Gordon is surrounded by ghosts of everybody he's lost in this movie Meanwhile, there's some disturbance outside. Macklin and the other guy have to run out. Whatever is going on. Gordon's like, Phil, run away. Oh, my God. But Macklin smacks the shit out of him and is like, stay still until I'm back, and then leaves. So while he's swimming, swinging like a hawk of ham in a butcher shop, Gordon's, like, suddenly surrounded by the ghosts of everybody he's lost. And they do, like, the thing. He has to summon all his strength, and they're, like, cheering him on or whatever. Yeah, to sort of swing up and grab the rope. Remembers his gym class techniques and just barely manages to do a rope climb to the rafters. Like, even the ghost of the United States shows up, which I didn't know was a thing, but I guess I. I guess it was Sam the eagle. Other Chris: In the Muppet version of this movie. Travis: Yeah, yeah. Chris: Or eagly. Travis: Oh, maybe m eagly. Whoever it was, they had the fully done by red tailed hawk because it sounds cooler. Anyway, so, yes, he climbs up there. Uh, Bezer runs back in with a gun. Gordon jumps down on him like Itzio Torreye. Chris: Mm hmm. Travis: Smashes head into the ground. Then the women grab his knives and start doing the needful. Chris: Good. Travis: And Gordon goes to help the third person. And guess what? It was Dina. It was Dean all along. She's, like, dying. Oh, no shit. How am I gonna carry her all the way back through hundreds of miles of territory? But then he realizes, oh, uh, it's too late. Hugs are too hard for a very injured person. But Gordon, I see. He's like, I see it, too. Oh. And thus ends Deena. Gordon tells the women, like, you can stop doing the needful now. We got to get out of here. But then, uh, Macklin's back at the door. He tells the women to run. Like, survive if you can. But Gordon, I'm gonna need your help. It's like your friend Phil. Friend Phil is proving way hard to catch, so you'll do very nicely as bait. And Gordon's like, Phil, don't do it. He's an augment. Chris: Right? Travis: But Phil doesn't even show up. Instead, just as Macklin's about to dispose of Gordon, another set of moccasins enters the lamp life. George powhatan himself. Weird old silver guy. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Uh, phil put up a good fight, and I'm here now because I know he would have answered your challenge if he was still breathing. So Gordon gets thrown aside and then takes up the role of krillin for this whole fight in the dark. Yeah, he's just like, man, they're so powerful, I can't see them. Other Chris: Can't even follow their movement with my eyes. Travis: I know. I can only feel their power levels. They fight a while until Macklin grabs powton, uh, by the throat, and lifts him up. He's taking huge gulps of air. Gordon's like, ah, he's just too old for this, I think. But he's like, there's something I should tell you. Macklin. I'm not left handed. Other Chris: Oh. Travis: Because he was like a new kind of augmented guy, and all that gasping was him gathering up a spirit bomb. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: They fucking fight some more. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: And ultimately, Macklin gets tossed into ravine or something. Other Chris: Yep. Travis: So he's perfect. Chris: Perfect. Gordon's healed at least enough to travel again and has stepped away Travis: All right, I'm back on written notes, so bear with me. So Gordon's like, so you were part of the war machine all along. Why didn't you just tell me back there? You think I wouldn't have understood? Powell's like, big things will take everything you love, and then they'll still demand more. Like, you thought you could just take. You could just say no to the big lie. Uh, so he's like, anyway, why did you do it? And George is like, honestly, the women, like, they wouldn't stop talking about your story of your amazons. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Then Phil showed up all desperate and asking for help, and they just would not shut up. Like, had to go do it. So, uh. So anyway, the two of them slump down and weep together, mourning as men can only mourn themselves. Then we get a poem. Fierce, uh, winter lingers until ocean does her duty, chasing him with spring. Chris: Hmm. Nice. Travis: So that's the end of Cincinnatus. Now, neither chaos. So this is basically like falling action. As we get details on Dina's plan, like, her scouts were to venture south and eventually pretend to get fed up with war and get themselves up, like, knowing the wholeness were very hungry for women to, and would not refuse. They would endure a lot of unpleasantness, we'll say. Um. And then, uh, until they were invited in and accepted by their captors. And then one day they were going to just fucking flip and stab the fuck out of them. Other Chris: Yep. Chris: Okay. Travis: And they mentioned from a military standpoint that didn't work at all. But Gordon, uh, is writing a letter back to Pine Ridge. Um, um. And it's now a legend in his own rights. Like, he's noticed women whispering to each other about this plan and how really they should take more control of this. Like, we should be killing these fuckers. Uh, uh. Coming up the ways to snuff out mad men that would try to grab power again. Chris: Mm hm. Hmm. Travis: So Gordon's healed at least enough to travel again and has stepped away from, uh, Cyclops council because they don't need him anymore. He's like, I've done the best I can do for this. Um, Powhatan has come to Corvallis to train the new recruits, um, that are flowing in now. They're all marveling at the city and their new postal blimp. Ooh, yep. Chris: Postal blimp, you say? Travis: And he's like, basically, this war is over now. It's just a question of how long it's going to take to finish. But yeah, we'll eventually get it done and, uh, God help whoever offers powet and a crown afterward. So Gordon thinks his best use is growing the postal network again and is more than a little curious to see what sleepy California has been up to. And this time he rides out of town and does not look back. Chris: Okay. Travis: If it wasn't for my psycho girlfriend, I never would have spent that year in college or whatever. The end. Chris: Mm. Travis: Mhm. Hmm. Chris: Good deal. So. Travis: Yeah, so you didn't need to read it. I could just write it to you. Chris: Right. Travis: It's basically exactly the same. Other Chris: Yeah, that's exactly how it went. Chris: Perfect. So. Travis: Yes. Would you recommend this to somebody today? Yeah. It wouldn't be the first thing I recommend to somebody Any final thoughts? Mmm. Would you recommend this to somebody today? Yeah. Chris: Of course. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: It was. It was reasonable. It was well, entertaining. Travis: Mhm. Other Chris: It does still have that, you, uh, know. I mean, it was written by a man in the eighties. Travis: Yeah, yeah. Other Chris: And so, like, there's some like, funny ideas about women in there, but overall, uh uh-huh huh. Uh uh. If you can. If you can allow for that point of view, I guess. Travis: Yeah, yeah. It wouldn't be the first paint thing I recommend to somebody, but if they were interested in Sci-Fi from this era. It'd be interesting enough. Other Chris: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Travis: Ah, I'm interested to check out more of Mister Brin's work. Chris: Like the uplift wars. Other Chris: Yeah, yeah, he's, he's famous for the uplift series. Yeah, yeah, which is like that. That's some fun. Chris: Yeah, I had him all on a compendium, but I never read it and it got destroyed, so. Yeah. Same with my first copy of Postman. Travis: What? Chris: Well, I belonged in the late nineties. I signed up one year for. So I could get the Star wars encyclopedia. Travis: Uh-huh. Chris: For like $5 for a, ah, Sci-Fi book club. Yeah, like the cds. So I had to, like, I got catalogs and shit for a year and I had to buy a few books. So that was one of them that was like, put them all in one volume. And then I had the postman. Yeah, I got a, uh, Star wars one that had, like, tales from Jabba's palace and all the other ones combined. Travis: Nice. Chris: A couple others. There's some good books and stuff, but they got destroyed in the storage unit flood back in zero eight. So books are heavy. They don't float up in. If they're all in a box together. Travis: Paper doesn't last, so. Chris: Not when it sits in floodwater for. Travis: Like two days, even if it doesn't. Yeah, but, um. Sad. Uh, so, uh, would you recommend the uplift war more readily than this one? I don't know. Chris: I never read them, so. Never got around to it. Travis: Okay, fair enough. Chris: Must be pretty good. So, um, I recommend both of them. Travis: Yeah? Chris: Yeah. Travis: Cool. Chris: I think there's just more uplift books out there, right? Now we have to figure out where we can watch this movie Travis: Well, now we have to watch this fucking movie, right? Chris: Do anything like the book? Travis: Is it anywhere except for some name it? Chris: Uh, there used to be. Travis: It looks like. Chris: No, but I don't know. Travis: It's Warner brothers. It should be on Max, right? Chris: Probably on Max. Travis: Should be, but maybe not. Anyway, I guess we'll have to figure out where we can watch it. Other Chris: Yep. Travis: I guess you can rent it from the usual places. Other Chris: Probably. Yeah, I would imagine. Like, like it hasn't disappeared from the face of the earth. Like there will be a way. Chris: No, it's available to rent on, um, everything. Travis: They should pay me a dollar to rent this. Chris: Apple TV, YouTube, voodoo, Google Play, Microsoft. You get to pay them like, $4. Travis: Uh, ridiculous. Yeah, ridiculous. $4 for this shit. Okay. Anyway. Chris: Or you can buy it and own it forever. Travis: Oh, oh, um. Boy. Other Chris: Until take it away from you, right? Chris: Not if I physically own it. Travis: Just decide to nothing. Chris: They're not coming into my house and finding my copy of the post. Travis: Not yet. Chris: Yeah, if that's happening, I'll do it. Travis: They'll do a search for the big lie and find all of the books that mention it and teach you about it. Other Chris: Like, gotta survive common and say something about boner pills while taking your postman. Chris: Well, if that shit happens, I probably won't be in America anymore. Yeah, good call that's going on. Travis: Good. Chris: Well, unfortunately, I will lose my copy, but I won't know. Travis: Copies can be rebought. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Did that praxis yesterday, so that's hopefully gonna go well Anyway, so, other Chris, do you have anything else that's good? Other Chris: I. Travis: Oh, sorry, I meant the other. Other Chris. This Chris with the yummy. Chris: Okay. Travis: Do you have anything else that's good? Chris: Sure. Lots of stuff. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Uh. Travis: Oh, you want to tell us about it, or. Chris: Well, I'm thinking where to start. Travis: Secrets. Chris: Did that praxis yesterday, so that's hopefully gonna go well. But I won't. Travis: Like, for a month, four months, you'll know if you. Chris: Jesus. Yeah. Like, what the hell? At least my gre. They're like, hey, here's what you got on the multi choice. Other Chris: Yeah. Chris: This one I like. No, we're not gonna tell you, so. Other Chris: You get to know nothing. Chris: Right. Um, see, we finished up X Men 97. Yeah, that was pretty good. I need to speak of, like, genocides and other shit. Travis: Oh, God. Chris: It's pretty dark for. Because they, you know, they made it for us. So it's very adult thing. Like, in that way. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Not in sexy time, per se, but there's a little bit of that, too. Travis: What? Chris: Yeah. Dang, you don't see anything, but you see them, like, make out and start. Travis: And shit, so start. Chris: Yeah, well, like, they're, like, all over each other, like, and then they'll, like, fade away or something like that. Cut to the window or, like, you wouldn't see it. See the actions themselves. It's not. Not on Disney plus. Well, um, what else? Oh, I saw the civil war. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Went and saw that. That was. That was. Wow. It was good. Yeah, pretty good. Can't recommend that enough. People should see that when they can. Travis: Yeah. Chris: I need to see Planet of the apes plan. Travis: Uh, the epsilon's okay. Chris: Yeah, sort of here. People been enjoying it, but now we. Travis: Get setting up a new trilogy. If it does well. Chris: Well, they still got a bridge between that beginning and Charlton Heston's era, right? So. Yeah, there's plenty of stories to tell in there. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Um. Travis: Sorry. It also featured people escaping from a zoo. Chris: Good. That's interesting. Travis: There's here. Chris: Mm hmm. Travis: Anyway, sorry, I went to DC. Yeah. Chris: The other week. That was fast, but interesting. Travis: Mhm. Chris: So that should honest. Oddly enough, I should probably have that passport before my scores come in. So very weird. Because she said that takes four weeks, about four weeks for them to get the passport back from Luxembourg. Travis: Okay. Chris: And they'll send it to me with my two day shipping. Travis: Nice. Chris: So. And that was already a week and a little plus ago. So by the time, pretty much by the time I finish school, with the extra week we have, like, it'll probably be getting close. Travis: Very nice. Luxembourg is switching to a ten year passport next year Chris: That'll be fun. And then I can look at it and go, yay. Until I'm able to actually use it. Travis: Yeah. Chris: You know. Yeah, that might not be for a while, but I, hopefully within the, within a year, I'll be able to go there and see stuff. Travis: Cool. Chris: Use that union, European Union passport. Other Chris: Yeah, yeah. Travis: Travel around and shit. Chris: Yeah, that'll be fun too. Once they put in that etsy stuff. Next year I won't have to get that. So nice. So everybody in the world is, for all of us, visa free travel, people are implementing electronic travel authorization. So electronic mini visas. Yeah, but we did that. We started it, apparently. Like, we did that like 20 years ago. Travis: So they don't like, oh, hey, all. Chris: You foreigners coming because it's post 911, we're gonna like, fingerprint you. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Like, that's what that stuff was like. We're gonna know who you are. So everyone else is like, oh, uh, we don't do that yet. But now they are. Travis: Now they are. Chris: So Canada did that a couple years ago. We read about that. So we don't have to do it for Americans. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Mhm. And then next year they're supposed to put in place in the EU, the Etsdeendeh one. So as long as you qualify, it's like €10 or something for like a three year pass thing. So once you have it, then you can use it, you know, like you're in any time. But it's so they know who you are and when you're coming. I mean, going, but I won't have to do that. So. Travis: Right. Chris: So I'll be a EU citizen. It's actually like, then you run into like, no, you can't get that because you're an EU citizen. They will get mad at you if you try. Oh, so if I ever go, shit, I don't have my Luxembourg passport. I need to use my american one. I don't know what's gonna happen. Because I can't. I'll get to the border, they'll be like, you weren't supposed to do that. Travis: You're gonna end up in a Tom Hanks terminal situation. You'll have to live in an airport. Chris: No, I'll have my, I'll have my Luxembourg ID. I'll have my Luxembourg ID. That acts like a travel document. It's just not a passport for flying. But they'll probably accept it, like, get your passport renewed. I'm like, that's why I'm here. Yeah, I read online, like, so it's really easy to get the appointment, to get the first passport. Travis: Mhm. Chris: Apparently it's really hard to get when they embassy to renew it. So it's like a little slightly different branch process. So people like, yeah, they're full up for like a year. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Before. So they're like, so your best bet is to go, actually go to Luxembourg and renew it there. Travis: All right. Chris: Like, cool. Then I have a reason to go to Luxembourg more often, I'm hoping. So they're switching to a ten year passport next year. I'm hoping they'll still offer a five year because I don't really want to have to, like, go different places every five years. Mhm. Because my id card's good for ten already. Mhm. But I'm like, if I could pay for another five year passport, then that'll expire around the same time my id card expires. I can just go get them both at the same time. Right, but we'll see. Like, other than that, like, yeah, I'm looking forward all that. Have both your passports when you buy your tickets to Europe Nice looking for to travel. I don't know how it's gonna work with, like, buying tickets and at the airport and shit like that, but I think, but I think I got it narrowed down to you. You're going to Europe. You use your Luxembourg passport when you buy your tickets. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Because that's what the airline, the information the airlines send to Europe to go. Can this person come here? Yeah, you know, so that way they let you on the plane, but they're like, keep. Have both your passports. You need them anyways, because to enter America, you have to be on your american passport. If you're american, that's. That's a rule. Yeah, just bring both. Travis: Yeah, that's fine. Chris: Because when I check in, if I use the EU, I'm like, where's your stamp? Yeah, like, where's your. I'm like, I'm an American. Other Chris: Um, okay, bring me that one first. Chris: I'm like, I don't know. Here's the passports you pick. I put this one on there because then you're gonna go, oh, you don't have etios. We can't let you on the plane. Right. They're like, no, no EU passport. But I don't know. Seems kind of weird. Travis: Yeah. So just get as many as you can, and then you'll look like a spy. Chris: I would like to, but the only one I can get easily is the israeli one. That means I have to move there. Other Chris: Keep them in a safe deposit box with a pile of cash. Different, different. Chris: I might do that. Travis: Currencies and a 3d printed gun. Other Chris: Yeah. Chris: Right. No, I plan to. Like, I was thinking, I'm like. So I'm saving up a little bit of cash in merchant fund. Travis: Um, yeah. Chris: Got a little bit of gold that I'm like. But you know what? I should probably have, like, €500 just to be safe, just in case if I need it, if I have to flee somewhere. That's a little bit of cash. Cash to get me started in Europe. Travis: That's why you get a roller. Chris: Just, uh, think about that, because then. Travis: You can just sell it when you get there. Yeah, yeah. Chris: But I don't know if I have enough I want to put, or can really afford to put into a watch. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Fair, though. We'll see. But that was a thought, too. Yeah, that'd be a way to transfer out whatever. I have enough for that. Transferred out of the country. Wear it. Travis: Yeah. Yep. Chris: Maybe someday I get that israeli one, but not really ready to move to Israel for a year. Travis: Not today, at least. Not a great time. Chris: People are doing. They're still making all. Yeah. Uh, it kind of is. Because then you're like, oh, I'm going to support my people. Travis: Yeah. Chris: But it's a tough, tough time. So, uh, the economy's not doing so great there because war. Travis: Right. Chris: You know. Travis: Right. Chris: I wasn't planning on going anytime soon. Travis: I'd rather go to Luxembourg at the moment. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Yeah. If I had to be a little. Chris: Little easier. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Then I can see one of their fun festivals and eat a potato pancake or something. Travis: Right? Other Chris: Yeah. Chris: There you go. You know, a grumple Keith or whatever. However they say it, they have m a weird name. So I get one of those. I was just thinking that today when I go, I'm like, you know what? I should, like, fly into Belgium. Yeah. Uh, either Antwerp or Brussels. It's been like a day there. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Have some stuff. And then I can take the train from there to Luxembourg city. You can go to Germany and spend several days there Travis: Yeah. Chris: Spend several days there. Just kind of get to know the place a little bit. And then I can go hop on a train and go to Germany, because I've never been there. It's right there. Travis: Drink beer out of a booth, you. Chris: Know, and leave out of, like, Frankfurt or something after seeing some german places. Travis: Have a big sausage. Chris: Yeah. Yeah. And drink out of the boot. Travis: Yay. Chris: To be fun. Fun little trip. State some hostels because they're cheap. Travis: Yeah. Luxembourg put out a survey on which party you should vote for Chris: Oh, yeah, I forgot I was. Wanted to tell you guys this. I did a, uh. So the EU elections are coming up. Travis: Yeah. Chris: I won't get to vote on this time, but there was a thing Luxembourg put out of which part of your people should you vote for? Travis: Yeah. Chris: If you're not sure, who do you mesh with? Travis: Right. Chris: So you do this little survey, and it suggests, like, who you might fit with better. My top match was the Pirate party. I thought it might be, like, maybe the democratic party. The DP. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Or someone like that. Like, no, you got pirate party followed by Volt. Like, I don't know what Volt is. Travis: Voltron. Chris: Kind of pan european party. But they don't have a large. They didn't win a seat in the last election, so they're not really big M. Pirate party. I'm like, I know, I know about them. Travis: Yeah. Chris: They've got, I think, two seats from Luxembourg in the. Or one seat from Luxembourg in the european parliament, and they have two or three seats in the Luxembourg parliament. Travis: Yeah. Chris: In the chamber of deputies. So they're popular enough for a smaller. One of the smaller parties. Not one of the biggies. Travis: Nice. Chris: Because the biggies in Luxembourg are the CSV, which is the christian democrats. Travis: Mhm. Chris: Uh, the LSAP, which is their socialist party, and then, uh, the DP Democratic Party, and then greens and greens kind of come in next a little bit. Travis: Yeah. Chris: And they were in the previous government, they helped form that coalition, but then they got a soundpan, um, in the election last fall. So people were upset at the Greens for some reason. So, like, greens and pirates kind of come fill in the rest. Travis: I gotcha. Chris: So, yeah, the pirate party is all about, like, openness, transparency. I actually liked their platform when I looked at it. And, like, yeah, we're about, like, open, transparency. We promote more democracy. Yeah, we should have more referendums. Uh, we want everybody who's old to have a place in old people's home. Like, that's. That's pretty good. Like, soon after, worry about being, like, homeless and destitute. Travis: Yeah. Like, their version of the Green party, as far as I know, isn't just propped up by the Republicans candidates. So. Chris: No, their green party actually does stuff, like, in most of your. Most their green parties do. Travis: Right? Chris: Like, promote solar and alternative energy and, like, some kind, um, of basic socialist platform. Travis: Yeah. But the other one promotes Voltron, and that's pretty cool. All your can form the head. Yeah. Chris: But, yeah, I thought that was fun. I was like, that's not who I would have picked for myself, but, uh, why not? They seem okay. Travis: Why not? Chris: So I'm like, well, I could be a pirate. But the fun thing is, like, when you join, you can join the pot, the pirate party. And, like, people who do that with, like, their politicians, they write in their newsletters. They always start it with all boy, like, that's fantastic. Travis: Nice. Chris: Thank you. Pirates like, you do serious stuff, but you don't take everything super seriously. Other Chris: You know? I'm. Chris: I'm. Other Chris: I'm sad because, uh, uh, Alexander Graham Bell, when he invented the telephone, suggested that that is. Answer the phone. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Yeah. Ahoy. That would be fun, you know? Travis: Ahoy hoy. Other Chris: Ahoy. Chris: That would be great. Travis: Nice. Cool. Chris: Yeah. Half of Luxembourg's population is foreign residents, so maybe they should vote Citizens rights, data protection, privacy for physical persons, transparency, government free access to information and education in, uh, depth, overhaul of copyright and patent law, which is apparently actually a really big problem in Europe. Travis: Yeah. Chris: And opposes every form of censorship. Travis: Um, seems pretty cool. Chris: Because next time. Next time I'll get to vote. Travis: Nice. Chris: And if I was in Luxembourg, it's compulsory, but since I'm not physically in Luxembourg, it's your choice, so that's cool. But as far as I was looking at it, they're like, we don't think everyone's ever actually been prosecuted for not voting. You're just supposed to tell your, like, local public prosecutor that you didn't vote and that you're really sorry you won't do it next. Like, to vote next time. So I really meant to. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Travis: Cool. Chris: See, I'll get to vote. National elections in four years. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Because they just had it last year. Because it's every five years for all. And then EU. Travis: Uh, nice. Other Chris: Okay. Chris: In my mid forties. Oh, boy. But sadly, I honestly feel like my vote will count more over there than it does here. Travis: Well, there are fewer of them. Chris: There are, like, I have a percentage voice. Yeah, there's only. Because the only people that can vote in Luxembourg are citizens. This is a debate there because since half the population is, like, foreign residents, like, um. Well, maybe we should give them the right to vote in national elections. Yeah, they do live here. Travis: Right. Chris: But we're kind of like. But, yeah, but some only here for, like, a little while. Travis: Yeah. Chris: They're not really connected to the place. Others are, we don't know. Travis: Yeah, that's fair. Chris: Like, what do you do when you basically don't let half of your population or more vote in your national elections, on the other hand, go kill space. Travis: Bugs and then they can vote. Right, we covered this. Chris: But on the other hand. Yeah. Like, the concept of citizenship is important in belonging to a place and making choices for it. Travis: Yeah. Chris: So I don't know, I'd kind of be inclined to be like, well, if someone's lived here for, like, five years, you know, you should probably. Maybe you could maybe let them go. Travis: Yeah. Chris: They don't show any signs they're leaving. If they. Especially if they start the naturalization process. Other Chris: Uh, yep. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Like, clearly, then they want to be here. So I don't know. We'll figure it out. Travis: Yeah. So we got some time. Chris: As long as the ADR doesn't get more votes, then we'll be okay. They're Luxembourg's equivalent for the alternative for, for Germany. Oh, alternative for Deutschland. The Afd. Uh, ADR is Luxembourg equivalent. Travis: So interesting. Chris: They're a little bit more right wing, nationalist. Don't, uh, like immigrants, things like that. But they also do things like, hey, we need to increase the usage of Luxembourgish in Luxembourg. Travis: Yeah. Chris: And we want to preserve our history and culture. So I'm like, could you do that without some of the asshole shit? Other Chris: No. Chris: Like, maybe you'd be a little. You'd have fare a little better and people wouldn't be afraid of you. Travis: Maybe, but asshole stuff. Yeah, see, the lady should like, but. Chris: We support the grand duke. And I'm like, but the grand duke would tell you to fuck off. So, like, I don't know. I don't know what to tell you guys. Maybe not if you want in the government not to face, but secretly he'd be like, fuck off, so. Travis: Right. Nice. Well, that sounds very, uh, uh, intense. Chris: It can be, yeah. Interesting. Travis: Yeah. Chris: I have to try to pay attention to this stuff more. Travis: Do your, uh, uh, your due diligence as a citizen. Chris: Yep. Travis: Yeah. Yep, yep, yep. Chris: Other Chris, do you have something else that's good Cool. Other Chris, do you have something else that's good? Other Chris: Uh, uh, so I. I've been catching up on the last. A, uh, couple of Stephen, uh, Bruce books. Chris: Yeah. Other Chris: And, uh, I don't have a ton to say about it. Um, like, one, uh, so one of them, uh, the setup is. Okay, so this is a fantasy series, right? Chris: Yep. Other Chris: Takes place in another universe in a, you know, fantasy type setting. Right? Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: And uh, our main guy is, uh, on the run from some bad people, uh-huh and uh, he's looking for a place where like, he can be reasonably like, undetectable and like, protected from like magic things happening to him. Right, okay. And his, his friend that he's talking to is like, well, have you considered the theater? Travis: Oh. Other Chris: And he's like, what? Like, well, yeah, like, like they got magical protections because they're like, you know, trying to start a show and uh, they don't want rival theaters to be able to eavesdrop on what they're doing in there. They, they got lots of, uh, magical protections in theaters. So, like, maybe you should hide out in a theater. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: And he's like, cool. Do you know a theater I can hang out in? Like, yeah. Okay. So he goes to a theater, uh-huh and asks if he can hang out, and they're like, yeah, sure, uh, whatever. And they're rehearsing for a musical. Oh, so it's a fantasy book about a guy who doesn't like musicals hanging out in a theater while they're rehearsing for a musical. And like, each chapter starts with, um, each chapter starts with a song. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Nice. Other Chris: And the songs are like, you know, thinly veiled, sort of like, uh, to the tune of sort of parody of like actual musical theater. Yeah, but like, with lyrics changed to, you know, for the story of the musical that like they're actually doing. Chris: Yeah, yeah. Other Chris: And the musical itself is, uh, a musical about a play that was shut down, uh, because, um, certain members of the government found it sort of slanderous. Chris: Uh. Other Chris: Uh, and the same sort of government is trying to shut down this musical now because it is also considered slanderous somehow. Chris: Mhm. Other Chris: So, uh, anyway, like, I guess, like the, the book, I would say, is like Peak Steven Bruce in that, like, he's a guy that writes to like, entertain himself. Travis: Ah. Other Chris: And it sounds like it, you know, it just, it just happens that like, the stuff that he writes also entertains me. But, uh, like, you can, you can tell while he's writing it that he's like, you know, totally tickled by what he's writing. Travis: Like, uh-huh. Other Chris: So, like, I get a lot of enjoyment from his enjoyment, I guess. Travis: Nice. Other Chris: Of like, yeah, yeah. And uh, I started reading another one of his. That's um, it's kind of great. Travis: Mhm. Other Chris: Uh, he has a series of books that are in universe, um, historical romances. Travis: Yeah. Other Chris: Oh, kind of written in the style of dumas. Like, they're overly wordy and like, yeah, but anyway, like, like, again, it's, it's him writing in a way that, like, entertains him, you know? Travis: Right. Other Chris: But, um, this book started with a foreword by another in universe writer. Chris: Oh, geez. Other Chris: A, uh, poet who's talking like, like the, the entire forward is kind of this, this author complaining about how the publisher asked him to write a foreword, and they asked him for a thousand words, and like, basically the whole thing is like, well, I summed it up in one word. Perfection. And now the publisher's on my ass for, you know, 999 more words for the forward. And so basically, the entire forward is him bitching about how the publisher wanted more words. And then, and then there's, uh, a preface after the forward written by another in universe writer who is, uh, like a literature critic who doesn't like the book. Right. Like, like, uh, you know, he's like, oh, he approached me to write the preface, and I'm writing it. Uh, but he's like, yeah, like, what would be better than, like, a preface from my harshest critic? And he's like, well, I can think of, like, several harsher critics of yours. Like, I don't know why you came to me for this, but, uh, and. Travis: Then, like, there's people out there that hate you even more. Other Chris: Basically, like, the, the preface ends with like. And, and surprisingly, like, I actually enjoyed this. So, like, read this good. Not great, but read this good book. Like, you know, read it. And he also had some words about the guy who wrote the forward. Like, so, so, yeah, like, like, the whole thing is like, him writing to entertain himself, and I find it incredibly entertaining. Travis: That's funny. Other Chris: So other people should read it, too. Travis: Yeah. One of the books is about a musical; the other is about romance What were the names of the books? Other Chris: Uh, so, so the, the last one was liorn. Travis: Uh, okay, that's the romance one. Other Chris: No, no. Travis: So that, that's the musical one. Other Chris: Yeah, that one's the one that's about a musical. Travis: Okay. Other Chris: Like, takes place in, in the, you know, the production of a musical, which is, uh. Yeah, ridiculous. Um, the one that I just started, the one that's, uh, written by the in universe, uh, romance author, is, is called, uh, the baron of Magister Valley. Travis: Okay. Other Chris: And it says in the jacket that it's definitely not just a take on, um, which was it, uh, again? Like a dumas. Uh, m. Like, it's definitely not just a reworking in a fantasy setting of, uh, another novel that already exists. Travis: Yeah. Chris: Ah, yeah, yeah. Other Chris: It's definitely not just the talented mister Ripley, right? Travis: It's totally different than that. Other Chris: Definitely not just the man in the iron mask. Definitely not just that. Chris: Right? Travis: That's awesome. Other Chris: Yeah, it's, it's pretty great. Travis: Nice. Other Chris: Oh, it's, uh, uh, it was, it was the count of Monte Cristo. Okay, that's, that's what it is. Uh, definitely not a blatant rip off. Travis: Definitely not that. Other Chris: Yeah, yeah. Travis: Okay. Other Chris: Yeah. So. So you, so me, Travis. Uh, what else is good shit? Travis: Oh, shit. Other Chris: Yeah. David Graeber wrote a book about Occupy Wall Street democracy Travis: I had a couple of books that I wanted to bring up that actually, like, accidentally ended up being interesting companion pieces to this book. So, the first one was by our friend David Graeber of bullshit jobs notoriety. Oh, yeah, I read his book called the Democracy Project. Chris: Mm mhm hmm. Travis: A history, a crisis of movement, which I frequently forget that he was like, a key player in the Occupy Wall street situation. So that's primarily what this book is about. Like, how he got involved with it, like, what it was, like, uh, issues they ran into. But, uh, what I thought was really interesting in this book was him just basically talking about how a, like, people think they know what a democracy is. Like, yeah, you just vote like we do in America, and, like, that's not even close. Like, you vote in democracy or whatever, but here's how you could actually set up one. And so talking through how they organized, you know, to have a true democracy for their occupy situation. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Uh, and just things about that made it unique, like how they didn't have actual demands. So he doesn't say it was a protest. It was just something they were doing. Like, here's how we're gonna set it up. Like, basically, we don't agree with a lot of stuff going on in government, so here's how we want to do it. Right. Uh, so I thought it was interesting how they dealt with, like, setting up new group organizations and how to make sure everybody had a voice while they were voting without having to have, like, representatives or electoral colleges or whatever. And how you have more than just a yes or no vote. You have like a yes, a, uh, no. Uh, like, I don't really like this, but if I'm the only one holding out, then okay. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Or like, an absolutely not. And, like, we have to shut it down. So that was interesting, and I especially liked him talking about, um, so what, like, what could you do instead? Like, what's another government you could set up? And how his main thing was, like, I don't, I don't have the answer to that, but I think what we should focus on is, like, continue to think about stuff. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Like, he talked about, he named checked, like, ursula K. Le guinous and m other Sci-Fi writers being like, that's why they're so interesting. They're just coming with ideas. Other Chris: Yeah. Chris: Yeah. Travis: How you could run things differently and, uh, calling out how people like to shut down movements by being like, okay, well, you're gonna do this, but how are you gonna solve every single problem known to man? Chris: Yeah. Travis: He's like, well, I'm gonna tell you a secret. We didn't know when we started America how to run everything. Like, yeah. Chris: Nope. Travis: You figured out while the government should be focused on solving problems. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Consolidating. Chris: That was the point. Like, solve problems within freedom. Travis: Yeah. Chris: And that people would do it together by using, you know, their smarts. Travis: Yes. Chris: What a concept. One book by Rachel Yoder focuses on a stay at home mom Travis: You know, so that one was really interesting, and then one that I just finished, uh, is called Night Bitch by Rachel Yoder. Other Chris: Okay. Travis: And I picked it up because I saw that they're making this into a movie with Amy Adams. Other Chris: Okay. Travis: And somebody on Reddit was like, well, how are they gonna do this? And so I'm like, I want to find out what they're talking about. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: So I'm curious already of the story of night Bitch is it focuses on a not brand new mother, but a mother of, like, a three year old, um, who, through various situations, uh, decides that she's probably becoming a dog. Like, she's grown a cyst on her back that looks very tail, like, and she's got hair everywhere, and, like, her teeth seem sharper to her all of a sudden. And, like, she, like, spends a lot of time at the butcher's counter, like, just really appreciating all the meat and just really wants to eat, like, raw meat. Chris: Yeah. Travis: And so she's like, I'm probably turning into a dog. Chris: So what else would be happening? Travis: So the whole, the whole point of the book is, like, you know, focused in on how, you know, women in the situation where they're, like, a stay at home mom can feel like they're stripping away all their personhood from them. Like, we only care about you taking care of the kid. Like, yeah, I don't want to hear about your complaints. Like, just do what we're telling you to do. Like, put the kid to bed, clean up his poop and shit. Like, I'm the man here. I'm taking care of the m money. So, like, I have to go in my office when I get home. I don't care what you need. So she's just like the dog in the house, uh, doing tricks, basically. Um, but it's really. I think she set it up really well because, a. She doesn't have a name. Uh, she's only ever the mother or night bitch, depending on how far she's into her delusion. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: And she doesn't ever really tell you what is actually happening. M so it really put me in mind of, like, a Shirley Jackson type where it's, like, domestic, not really horror, but kind of horror adjacent, like body horror, and let her kind of explore the mother's complaints about her situation, but, like, also really loving her kid, but also being really upset with her husband because he, like, never thinks about what she might mean. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: So, uh, and I am actually really curious if they're gonna show Amy Adams, like, running naked through the city and shitting on everyone's lawn. Chris: I hope they do. Travis: I hope they. I really hope they do. Other Chris: So, palme door. Travis: 45 minutes, standing ovation. Yes, exactly. But yes, it was really good. There was also a part in here where she, like, found a book by some lady called, like, a, uh, field guide to magical women that she's reading. Other Chris: Okay. Travis: And it's like a, ah, smaller. Like it's a mirror of the book itself where she's not really sure because it's written very academically. Chris: Mhm. Travis: But is this like, a Stephen Bruce book where it's, like, supposed to be a joke? Other Chris: Right. Travis: Like, all these magical women she's talking about are just like, characterizations of situations women can be in. Other Chris: Right. Travis: Or did she actually study for folklore? And, like, there really are, like, banshee women out there that, uh, she found and, like, studied. Other Chris: So interesting. Travis: It's very good. I liked it a lot. So. Night. Other Chris: Nice night, bitch. Travis: Oh, and I should also. Chris: Yeah. Travis: Ah, should also say the thing that really drives her into her psychosis is that her son fucking loves it when she plays dogs. Doggy. He wants to do it too. And so very. It's like, very dark. And I thought very, very funny because, like, uh, she uses that to her advantage because they talk about a very common parenting thing where it's like, it's bedtime, but he won't fall asleep without her. So she's laying in bed, like, just staring at the ceiling. Chris: Mhm. Travis: For like, 2 hours, being like, I could be doing anything else in the world right now, but my fucking kidde. But she has purchased a dog kennel. And he loves playing dog. And she's like, hey, do you want to play dog? And he's like, yeah, where do dogs sleep anyway? He's like, hmm, m in the kennel. Right? She's like, you're right. Convinces him to crawl into the fucking kennels him in and go do her shit. Other Chris: Wow. Travis: It was a kind of great. Other Chris: That's amazing. Travis: Yes. Highly recommended. Other Chris: All right, so. Travis: Yes. Anyway, that's all I got. Other Chris: Okay. Chris: Good stuff. Uh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Travis: So women, keep them happy. Chris: Yep. Travis: And your government will thrive. Other Chris: Yeah. Travis: Don't let them take a shit on your yard. Other Chris: Yeah. I was gonna say, they make sure they don't turn into dog people. Homework for next time is to go and watch the movie version of Postman Travis: Okay, that was our session for today. Homework for next time is to go and watch the movie version of the Postman. At the time of this recording, it doesn't seem to be streaming anywhere for free, but you can rent it from the usual suspects like Amazon and Google Play and whatnot. On first glance, I'm not seeing it on Hoopla or the other library streamers, but, you know, it might be a good excuse to visit your local library anyway, see if they have a physical copy. You can borrow your ongoing extra credit assignment. If you have a bookstore you'd like to send a shout out to on an upcoming episode, hit us up on the socials or email us@contactfbpod.com and let us know about them. I've been to a few bookstores in my day, but I'm only one man. I can't cover them all. Moving to. On second thoughts, you know, I want to offer a quick apology about this movie. Like, for sure it's worth watching. It's just kind of a bummer that doesn't seem to be free anywhere. And if it was a little better or a little shorter, I wouldn't feel as guilty for making you potentially pay to watch it. So sorry, guys. We'll try harder next time. For now, bon courage. Today's episode was scripted by the ghost of the United States themselves Today's episode was scripted by the ghost of the United States themselves and delivered via divine inspiration to Chris, Chris Hamm, Chris other, Chris Jacobson. It was edited by me, Travis Rowe, and was sponsored by no one in particular. Until next time, keep fucking reading. Just grab whatever you can. Just flap it on mic. Just rub up against it. Yeah, that's the good sounds. Chris: Uh, little ASMR track or whatever. Travis: What's like, the anti ASMR? Like, just things to piss you off. Cringe. That's our I watch. Other Chris: I watched one where someone was just, like, scraping a steel pan against a microphone. Travis: Yeah, yeah. Back when we did the, uh, movie, uh, festival, one guy sent in a documentary. He made of his neighbor, who, like, was a foley artist and had a setup where he can make that one, like, medley sound when something kind of obliquely scary happens. So it was like 40 minutes of that sound, and I was like, I I cannot put this on a screen. Chris: Why not? Travis: This is all very interesting, but I cannot have people listen to, uh. No one wants to hear that.