#for @Rosewind2007

[imitationgame77]

Pinging and Tapping

In the world of the Murderbot Diaries, communication is often conducted via comm and feed. Generally, comm is used when internal network is not available, or when one is trying to communicate across space, and feed is used when people are on the same network and allow each other access.

We also often see “pings” and “taps” as a way of quick communication.

Generally, pings are used for comm communications, and taps are used for feed communications, but there seem to be different purposes. Here are what we can gather from the story, and also from real life examples.

[Pings]

Purpose in the MB world:

Pings are typically used for signalling, checking connectivity, and getting responses from other systems or units. They act like a way to see if the other side is present and ready to communicate or respond.

Purpose in Real Life:

Network Connectivity: In computer networks, a "ping" is a diagnostic tool used to test the reachability of a host on an Internet Protocol (IP) network. It measures the round-trip time for messages sent from the originating host to a destination computer.

Usage in the MB World:

Status Checks: Used to check if systems, such as satellites, drones, or transports, are active and responsive. For example, pinging a satellite to see if it responds​​.

Communication Initiation: Used to start communication with other systems, often to establish a connection or share data. For instance, pinging a transport to offer media files in exchange for a ride​​.

Detection: Used by systems to detect the presence of specific units, like SecUnits, without direct contact​​.

Usage in Real Life:

ICMP Echo Request/Reply: The ping command sends an ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) Echo Request message to the target host and waits for an ICMP Echo Reply.

Network Troubleshooting: Used to determine if a particular host is reachable and to measure the latency between the source and destination.

[Taps]

Purpose in the MB World:

Taps are used more for internal communication within the network or feed. They serve as a means to acknowledge, signal actions, or provide private communication without verbal interaction.

Purpose in Real Life:

Internal Communication: In many systems, "taps" or similar mechanisms are used to signal and communicate internally within a network or system.

Usage in the MB World:

Acknowledgments: Used to acknowledge received messages or instructions. For instance, tapping back an acknowledgment to confirm receipt of instructions​​.

Private Communication: Used to send private or secure messages within the feed, often to communicate specific commands or information discreetly. For example, tapping the feed to communicate privately with another character without others listening in​​.

Control Signals: Used to signal or control actions within the feed, like tapping to instruct a character to fall back or take specific actions​​.

Usage in Real Life:

Signalling Mechanisms: Within computer systems, taps can be analogous to various signalling mechanisms like inter-process communication (IPC), which includes methods such as semaphores, shared memory, and message queues.

Acknowledgments and Control Signals: In networking, control signals and acknowledgments are crucial for managing data flow and ensuring reliable communication. For example, TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) uses acknowledgments to confirm the receipt of data packets.

Network Taps: In the context of network security, a "network tap" is a device that allows access to data flowing across a network for monitoring and analysis.​​.

[Comparison]

In both the fictional world of Murderbot Diaries and real life, pings are primarily used for external signalling and connectivity checks, while taps are used for internal communication and control within the feed network

-------------------------------------------------

[Something Worth Noting]

There are some instances where taps seem more reasonable, but pings are used instead.

In Artificial Condition when Murderbot was watching Sanctuary Moon, and ART was trying to get its attention, asking to watch World Hoppers together. (see Artificial Condition, Pings, 5, 6 my AO3)

In Network Effect, when Murderbot finds that a hostile vessel (i.e. ART) was approaching and notifies the team quickly (see Network Effect, Pings, 1 my AO3)

In Network Effect, when Murderbot was locking itself up in the bathroom (see Network Effect, Pings, 11, 12 my AO3)

In Network Effect, when ART requested a private connection (see Network Effect, Pings, 13 my AO3)

In Network Effect, when Amena comes along with Murderbot to investigate Barish-Estranza shuttle, but is told to wait outside. She offers to help to which Murderbot pings acknowledgement (see Network Effect, Pings, 14 my AO3)

At the end of System Collapse when Murderbot pinged Three to ask if it wanted to listen to Holism explain planetary infrastructure (see System Collapse, Pings 15 my AO3)

Of these, 1, 3, 4 are where ART was sending pings to Murderbot. This is actually quite sweet, because we can tell that ART is being very polite to Murderbot. ART is fully capable of slamming into Murderbot’s private feed, but in all of these occasions, Murderbot has been rejecting feed communication which it reserves for friends and clients. ART is respecting this.

Instance 2 is unusual, and I am not 100% sure why Murderbot chose to use ping here. But since it was emergency, and ping is a protocol where it receives automatic response if it had been received at the other end, it was sufficient for its purposes.

When we read the context in which 5 happens we notice that Murderbot is now inside the B-E shuttle, and for security reasons, ART had cut it off from the feed network. So, Murderbot has the options of either verbally answering to Amena, or sending a ping for acknowledgement, and it chose the latter.

In instance 6, Murderbot seems to be being polite to Three who is busy (?) watching educational media. They are cordial to each other, but because Three is still not used to being a free SecUnit, Murderbot is being more careful around it.

--------------

If you are willing to be bored to death, you can see my AO3 post for the list of all the instances where pinging and tapping happen!

[homosekularnost]

no one:

absolutely no one:

murderbot in fugitive telemetry: oh and btw i dont have an asshole

[mrporg]

Today is rosewind2007's turn, one of the kindest and open-minded person I have ever met on the internet. Also a huge nerd, and that's a compliment.

[mariuch]

It sings. Murderbot sings. It needed a diversion, and so did we. Ahhhhhhh…

Your new sound bite.

🎵 there's a place beyond the wormhole

a place that only lovers know

the brave, the hopeful, the lost, the true... 🎵

@differentcatcat @maxwell-demon @askarsjustsoswedish @murderbot-moodboard @rosewind2007

[penig]

9 people I want to get to know better

I was tagged by @nappe-plays-the-sims!

🎵 last song: "Lotta Love" by Nicolette Larson is what's currently playing. I've got the internet radio station set to the year I graduated, so there's a lot of familiar disco-y stuff going past me. Oh, it just changed to "Mama Can't Buy You Love" by Elton John

🌈 favourite colour: Does anybody really have a favorite color? It's been officially green since I was seven, though.

📺 currently watching: Let's see. At the moment the only things D is saving to watch with me are Sherlock's Daughter and Sister Boniface Mysteries. I'll probably arrange how I'm going to watch Murderbot today when I'm at gaming group with friends who use streaming services. My general impression from fan reaction is that it's going to have typical adaptation difficulties but be generally acceptable watching. I'd be surprised if it were half as addictive as the books, though.

🎥 last movie: Oh, lord, what was it? We don't get to movies very often. It seems like I ought to remember. Oh, it was Here!

🍜 sweet, savory, sour: People have favorites of these? You need all of them for the full range of taste experience! More of my preferred foods have sweet or savory dominating than sour.

📚 currently reading: The Second Biggest Nothing, by Colin Cotterill.

❤️ relationship: Coming up on 35th anniversary of marriage.

🗺️ current obsession: Not really. Trying not to obsess about the State of the World, which just overwhelms me and makes me useless when I let it.

🔎 last google: "movies November 2024." My husband couldn't remember either but we narrowed it down to that month and there it was.

🖥️ currently working on: A Murderbot Diaries fic about Gurathin's "Mom," a Comfort Unit. I'm giving this poor man such a complicatedly awful life. May or may not finish it. Also the perennial quest to get the house in order.

Normally I tag the last x number of people in my activity field, but that would include a bunch of strangers liking and passing on my addition to that Murderbot remark, so I'll be a little pickier this time, let's see: @ao3cassandraic, @nerianasims, @alianoralacanta @silvermars because I actually had a little conversation with them and this kicks it out of my usual circles, @eulaliasims, @medleymisty, @rosewind2007, @shadysentinel, @natteryaktoad.

[askarsjustsoswedish]

@differentcatcat Thank you, that is a very nice gif but unfortunately it’s not one of mine. I think it’s part of a lovely gifset by theeighthsense back in Sep ’17 - https://theeighthsense.tumblr.com/post/165746030888/ ♥x

Probably niche post:

The actor who is playing the lead in the adaptation of The Murderbot Diaries is Alexander Skarsgård

I’m maybe a little bit quirky about this as I have a name (in real life) which is often spelt wrong (actually my first name and surname are BOTH often spelt (and yes, “spelt” I am British) wrong)—there is an å in Alexander’s surname which I often see people ignore? He may be fine with this, I would respectfully encourage people to recognize that an å is a different letter from an a, and try and get it right

I mean, I have been low key waging a little war against a Scandinavian scientist with an o strike in his name for almost a decade so I KNOW we can do better

It’s a different letter

[gamebird]

Murderathin Rec List

Revised for fall of 2024

As compiled by the denizens of the New Tideland MB/G channel! The greatest hits of TMBD's most popular frenemy ship - the fics that got us into it, and the fics we made because of it. "PR" are quotes from us as we talked back and forth about what was awesome about the fic, or from AO3 comments. All works are complete except Enemies, Closer and If Statements.

The Long Emergency by murderbot Words: 56,866 Rating: Teen and Up Summary: Trapped on the survey planet when the last emergency beacon fails, Murderbot and the PreservationAux team scramble to survive deadly fauna, cruel weather, scarce resources, and GrayCris's armed hunting parties. In a grueling ordeal spanning two planetary years, Murderbot becomes closer to its humans than it ever thought possible. PR: “the absolute ur-Murderathin fic”, “an absolute stunner”, “that’s the one that got me into the ship”, "This fic is amazing! Murderbot's voice and everyone's characterizations were so on-point, and all of the details of their survival on this planet and the action scenes were so well-fleshed out.", "The first MB/G fic on AO3!"

Recollection by murderbot Words: 30,753 Rating: Teen and Up Summary: SecUnit and Gurathin agree to be married, temporarily, for ease of travel during an assignment. After a violent encounter and a bad wormhole jump, they crash land on a habitable planet and discover their entire ship is suffering from amnesia. Nobody remembers anything from their past. The ship's records are badly scrambled. The planet is too far for anyone to reach safely. When Gurathin and SecUnit find the record that indicates they are married, they build a life together as marital partners, not knowing their union is based on a lie. PR: “I love pain”, “It absolutely broke me”, “still haunts me”, “wonderful”, " I'm so full of bittersweet emotions", "I was this close to crying for a few chapters, and the ending was perfect."

Enemies, Closer by Abacura, Gamebird, IHopedTheredBeStars, opalescent_potato, Rosewind2007, theAsh0 Words: 134,190 (WIP) Rating: Teen and Up Summary: When a Combat SecUnit with identical genetics to Murderbot is sent to Preservation Station to commit a massacre, the delicate balance between Murderbot, ART, and Dr. Gurathin shifts, putting all four of them on a collision course. PR: “a wonder and a delight”, “my favorite one”, "Rock-Paper-Scissors dom dynamics in which ART is the secret fourth option, Dynamite", "Can't wait for more!", "A monumental collaboration!"

Boots by opalescent_potato Words: 5,762 Rating: General Audiences Summary: Murderbot learns a little more than it wanted to about Gurathin's mysterious past. PR: “such a great, quiet study in emotional intimacy and shared trauma. Also has an absolutely amazing Oh. Oh no moment.”, "this feels like the realest depiction of poverty trauma I've ever seen in fanfic", "Info dumping as a love language. Learning self care from the most particular human."

No Peace/No Rest by IHopedTheredBeStars Words: 4,363 Rating: Teen and Up Summary: Though Dr Gurathin eventually accepts the addition of SecUnit a.k.a. Murderbot to PreservationAux, and even assists in its recovery & rehabilitation after the corporate gunship debacle, he never warms up to it like the others do—at least according to our unreliable narrator, Murderbot itself! Let’s assume Murderbot is right this time. So what’s up with that?? This story takes place (chronologically) after Fugitive Telemetry and just before Network Effect. PR: “an excellent MB&G fic”, "So many fantastic ideas in here", "This is such a great look at grappling with the guilt of having taken a life, and being stripped of that comforting denial that it wasn't a person."

The Last Client by Gamebird Words: 70,290 (series) Rating: Explicit Summary: A series with the premise of 'What if GrayCris had attacked PresAux first instead of DeltFall?' In the first, Last Client Standing, Dr. Gurathin is the only PresAux survivor, with Murderbot protecting him from GrayCris' continuing efforts to eliminate them entirely. In the second, Who Guards the Guardian?, they return to Preservation where they must come to terms with how much they, and events, have changed. PR: “Gah! Gurathin and Sec having to navigate ALL the emotions. I’m… (no better way to say it) ded. I am ded. De d ded." "Man the image of Murderbot dragging itself along with no working legs almost this whole fic and still managing to fight off a good chunk of GrayCris." "So many emotional moments, happy, sad, bittersweet, as they worked through their grief and what they mean to each other."

Gurathin’s Side of the Story by Gamebird Words: 51,849 Rating: Teen and Up Summary: A retelling of The Murderbot Diaries from Gurathin's point of view. PR: “An incredible character study that adds so much depth to Gurathin. The reader falls in love with him every step of the way (and Murderbot does too)”, "There are so many moments where this story just drop-kicks me with how real it is.", "a lovely view into Gurathin‘s CR background, augments, and his soft belly under that armadillo shell."

Faking It For Real by Gamebird Words: 1,571 Rating: Explicit Summary: Murderbot does a bad job of pretending to be Gurathin's ComfortUnit on a mission, until it figures out how to be better at it. PR: “the one where everyone's playing it cool but the feet are paddling madly beneath the surface" "I know this is a cracky premise but it sure is hot!" "the sexy frisking is definitely hot" "HOT DAMN"

Boots by Gnomeskillet Words: 2,797 Rating: General Audiences Summary: "I'm going to fix your boots," he explained, talking to me like I was a small human child that didn't know anything. At least he kept his eyes on the floor while he did it. "They're a mess and if you want them to last longer, then you need to take care of them." PR: “this entire fic got me", "Omg who knew shoe shines could be so full of tension??", "This was sort of in kink no man's land, in between the barbed wire embankments of desire and fulfillment."

It Was Only A Kiss by Gnomeskillet Words: 2,102 Rating: Teen and Up Summary: Frustrated and desperate, Murderbot hauls Gurathin into an alleyway and makes out with him in order to avoid Station Security. Hey, it has a 100% success rate in media! PR: “excellent”, “Incredibly sexy and very sweet.”, "Dom Murderbot absolutely wrecking Gurathin while not really knowing what the hell it's doing is my favorite flavor"

Pressing Down On Me, Pressing Down On You by Gnomeskillet Words: 1,061 Rating: Not Rated Summary: I was just thinking about MB pressing down on Gurathin's augments like how ART presses down on MB in the feed, and I like thinking about MB being tsundere about taking care of its least favorite augmented human. It doesn't LIKE Gurathin, he's just less annoying this way. PR: “ahhh yes this one was absolutely one of the ones that made me go OHHHH. It made me so invested in their relationship”, "Poor Gurathin doesn't know what he's getting into, good thing Murderbot is so nice XD", "I love the idea of cuddling in the feed."

Just to Suffer the Pressure by Chyoatas Words: 2,113 Rating: Explicit Summary: He was already out of breath when he let his hand press to his throat. (That hadn’t been in the original plan. This was already too close- too fraught. It was already embarrassing enough (and hotter for it, but he wouldn’t admit it.)) PR: “Okay we were all thinking it. There are not nearly enough fics where Murderbot erotically asphyxiates Gurathin.”, "this is insanely good holy shit", "unhinged screaming I can't form words, this is everything I want it to be"

Murderathin NSFW Zine Comic by Chyoatas Words: 1,069 Rating: Explicit Summary: My NSFW comic from the Murderbot Diaries NSFW Zine! Alternative text description of the comic is embedded in the images. PR: "So hot!", "sweet, naughty, and snarky", "So much thought went into this. The closer I look, the more details pop out at me!"

Purr by Rosewind2007 Words: 3,448 Rating: Teen and Up Summary: I saw a post by someone saying: “Wouldn’t it be nice if humans could just purr, like cats. You could let people know you were happy without talking about your feelings or anything...” And I thought: it’d be nice if Murderbot could purr. So, here you are. PR: “Ah yes, my favorite trope. Murderbot purring when it's happy!”, "MB your friends care about you!", "This was adorable and I loved it"

Sex Pollen by Rosewind2007 Words: 7,240 Rating: Teen and Up Summary: Atypical human and para-human courtship behaviors and coitus triggered by xeno-floral microgameteophytes Abstract: Twenty four (24) subjects were exposed to xeno-floral microgameteophytes (XFM). Atypical behaviors were recorded by all but two (2). PR: “the yearning”, “I love watching Murderbot and Gurathin dance around each other in this. Both trying so hard to be normal and just internally yearning to be close to each other. The longing is so palpable!”

Bundling by Rosewind2007 Words: 18,348 Rating: Teen and Up Summary: It was a stupid accident. We’d identified the presence of space debris in this sector, including pieces large enough to deflect the course of a small transport; but my Risk Assessment Module was happily burbling in the low teens (it really needs replacing, but I’m quite fond of its optimism now) and ART had calculated the risk of an actual collision as approximately 1 in 159,753. But of course we were that one. And of course the client I was with would be that one.  PR: "And thereby, Murderbot, SecUnit, discovered it loved itself.", " A wonderful story", "That last line is just so perfect"

That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a SecUnit by Rosewind2007 Words: 14,918 Rating: Teen and Up Summary: What it says on the tin. PR: “amazing, showstopping" "oh yess oh yess oh yesss" "Murderbean. Murderbaby. You're killing me ❤️❤️❤️ Ahhhhh the ending to this was so sweet and so perfect, I'm all up in my feelings now"

The Corporate and the Construct by beeayy Words: 87,919 Rating: Teen and Up Summary: Bots and constructs have taken over the Corporate Rim. When PreservationAux is captured sneaking into AI-controlled space, someone must stay behind with the sophisticated bot-pilot that remembers a lot less than it thinks it does, and the rogue SecUnit with more anxiety and depression than anyone knows. PR: “my favorite AU”, “fantastic”, “An amazing AU. Great marriage of Fairy Tale elements with Robot Overlords.”, "This fic was such an amazing ride", "I had emotions and cried at the last chapter. Good job!"

I Hate The Way I Don’t Hate You by beeayy Words: 53,345 Rating: Teen and Up Summary: Murderbot hates Gurathin, though the reason changes on a daily basis. PR: "I love this whole thing", "These two ridiculous assholes *always* end up meeting in the middle", "I love fake marriage fics  especially when it's enemies to lovers."

Wrinkles by beeayy Words: 1,405 Rating: General Audiences Summary: There is a disavantage to being a rogue SecUnit in the long-term. Gurathin helps Murderbot through it. PR: “'my face is falling off' will stay with me forever" "This is the sweetest! I love depictions of them in an established relationship where they are clearly happy together, but also true to their nature (AKA assholes)." "This is so fricking ardorable!!!!!"

ComfortUnit!Gurathin by beeayy Words: 29,278 (series) Rating: Mature Summary: Gurathin tries to keep a secret from Murderbot while on a mission in the Corporate Rim. Or, "Heartbreaking: Your Least Favorite Co-Worker Is Secretly Hot". PR: “honestly top tier ending lmfaoo, and top tier fic" "I loved this whole damn fic and you nailed the ending." "This story was loads of fun, and the chemistry between them was so effective!"

Maintenance Protocol by Abacura Words: 5,762 Rating: Explicit Summary: I’m worried about SecUnit. This isn’t the first time I’ve caught it making a face that looks like it's in pain. I worry that it isn’t taking care of itself, that without a cubicle, it needs maintenance that it isn’t telling us about. I wish it would tell me. I wish it would let me take care of it. I could take such good care of it. PR: “smoking hot, I wholeheartedly recommend”, "The maintenance was so perfect and then it was done and I figured so was the fic but holy fuck (literally)", "This is the good stuff. This is perfect."

Fuckboy Strategy by The_Onion Words: 6,203 Rating: Not Rated Summary: 'Can you know you don’t like something without trying it?' I'd texted Ratthi. He responded, 'Sure! But trying things out is always a good idea :D' which I am sure he would not have said if he’d known what I was talking about. // Murderbot explores idioms, the ethics of ghosting, and its own sexuality. PR: “Ah yes, my favorite trope. Murderbot being an absolute bull in the china shop of Gurathin’s heart.”, "so good and so funny i am beside myself", "made me laugh out loud"

Construct, Social by kiwisson Words: 1,852 Rating: General Audiences Summary: Late-night human behavior discussions with your favorite deadly weapon. PR: “the vibes are really good”, “Perfect tag is perfect: You Jerks Talk A Lot For People Who Hate Each Other”, “a fascinating example of the first tagged MB&G which shows many themes already emerging!”

Imperfect Reactions by xianvar Words: 1,324 Rating: Teen and Up Summary: It’s a normal evening with friends – easy laughter, Bharadwaj stopping by to chat, Gurathin and Murderbot sniping at each other, Murderbot letting Gurathin tease it… wait, what? PR: “exterior POVs are always SO good”, "there's so many little characterizations in this fic and its really delightful!", "Adorable!"

If Statements by the_moonmoth Words: 36,683 (WIP) Rating: Explicit Summary: Without a cubicle to reset its endocrine system, Murderbot goes into heat. Gurathin would normally be the last person it would turn to for the kind of help it now needs, but he smells so good. PR: “hot, sexy, omegaverse action! Full of luscious art, too!" "Oh my LORD joining the freak train because this is fantastic!" "Aaaaaaaaaah *scream* *squeeeal* asddsgdhfthfj"

Recharge Cycle by SeeMaree Words: 5,023 Rating: General Audiences Summary: Murderbot just needs a quiet, comfortable place to run a recharge cycle. PR: “the one with the slippers" "i love this!!! Asshole friendship my beloved. U write them so good im soft" "I can’t believe you’re making them actually TALK to each other lmfaoooo"

Mixed Signals by firefox49 Words: 6,099 Rating: Mature Summary: While Dr. Gurathin is repairing some of Murderbot’s circuits, Murderbot makes a discovery about itself. PR: “the one that blows my fuse every time" ""Ahh I love how secunit is just like. Sex is a competition and I am going to win it" " I am that "sickos" meme going *yes hahaha YES*"

Plus One by musicofthespheres Words: 14,587 Rating: General Audiences Summary: Murderbot needs Gurathin's help, but he's busy. Turns out he has... other friends? Besides Ratthi and Pin-Lee? That doesn't sound right. Murderbot needs to get to the bottom of this. PR: “Murderbot being indignant about Gurathin having other friends is a fave" "Awwwwr i loved this so much its definitely one of my new favorites!" "Ohhh I just adore this whole thing" "they’re such a great little grumpy team"

[gauzyfruitcake]

My take on The Kiss as requested for @rosewind2007's muderbot/gurathin story Fluid Transfer! I tried to make it look like the circuits are bleeding into veins and arteries...it sort of makes sense in context :p

[crabs-brencil]

oops i have yassified mb

render i did for rosewind2007's https://archiveofourown.org/works/53741791

[fascinatedfinch]

Comment bingo blackout!

This was an awesome event and I found so many good fics! Highly recommend checking out these fics (and many more! Murderbot September #MBS24 is upon us, after all ;) )

Long fic: Broken Half by figowl

Fanart with <50 notes : Broken Risk Assessment Module’s recent mods

Fave trope: Family Portrait by RamshackleFey

Old favorite: Property Exception by tottiki

Crack: WORLD HOPPERS LXXVI by borth

Outsider POV: The MedSystem Is In by words-writ-in-starlight

Author you haven’t read: hope is no uncertain future by RoundedLoaf

Podfic: SecUnit Socialization Services [Podfic] by black glass

Bharadwaj’s documentary : The skinny by gamebird

Fave character: The solicitor and the secunit by CompletelyDifferent

Murderbot participates in fandom: r/AFreeholdPractice by skatzaa (and DramaCon by Tashilover)

Bot POV: Refuge Sanctuary Asylum Home by potatoturnipbean

Short fic: Keep Away (Unless You're ART) by MrsMetta

Someone not on the server: Needle, felt by Rosewind2007

Posted/last updated pre-2020: The Exchange by winter hill

Filk: [Filk] After Ganaka by TSDefiance

Original character: Hide and seek by derwentian

Meta: Evolving intimacy between Murderbot and ART in Network Effect (Meta: long version) by ImitationGame

Additional canonized tag: give it a hand, offer it a soul by dragonyfox

Comic: [COMIC] Murderbot Comic Collection by Dale

Make a rec post: Art for Broken half by figowl

Set in space: A crowded mind by verynotokay

Missing scene: unexpected realism/unrealistic expectations by torpidgilliver

[ezomind-the-other-one]

@rosewind2007 here's the promised fanart for https://archiveofourown.org/works/47718772

@ everyone else, I can explain:

-> the fic linked above is about Murderbot discovering that people made fanfics of the documentary by Dr Bharadwaj, and they ship it with Gurathin

(Made with Gephi by desecrating the airports database provided in the examples. Layout algorithm is Force Atlas.)

[opalescent-potato]

ten people I’d like to know better tagged by @hepatosaurus, thanks for the tag :)

last song: Cubic, from the Escaflowne soundtrack. It's a really nice instrumental track with an exploratory and hopeful feel to it.

favorite color: it varies. Usually it's some variety of green, but lately it's been mustard yellow. Might be shifting back to turquoise, though.

last book I finished: Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao, which was very different from the first book, but in ways that really worked for me. Also, i really like the audiobook narrator.

last movie: … I'm gonna be honest here, I don't watch movies all that often so I'm kinda coming up dry here. I have never watched a movie in my life, what is a movie?

last tv show: Death Note. I finally got around to watching it the other month, and I really enjoyed it. I especially like the second opening song.

sweet/spicy/savory: sour

last thing I searched for online: "how to pronounce Javier", because that's one of the characters in this webtoon I got into recently, The Greatest Estate Developer. It's a fun isekai.

current obsession: in Minecraft, I am building a floating island in the sky, complete with wizard tower, overhead of my main base, linking up to other similar sky-islands by railways. The wizard tower is pink cherry wood, which I went searching for deliberately (and then forgot to note down the coordinates when I found it, oops), and I'm building it for my girlfriend, and she thinks it's very sweet.

something I’m looking forward to: the next time my partner and I are on the same continent. We've got some exciting plans that I'm extremely stoked for. Unclear yet when precisely that will happen, but it will happen in the not-too-distant future.

tagging @lias-perpetual-crisis, @spacecrows, @the-yearning-astronaut @maybe-the-real-language @cmdrburton, @incomt65, @rj-abacura, @gamebird, @rosewind2007, @githjanken, and anyone else who wants to tag in.

[mariuch]

My awesome and goddess-like demon seed just presented me with my first birthday gift of the week! She procured these (on the sly) because my current obsession (Murderbot) needs evil SecUnits to battle on my desk.

I bemoaned the loss of my old intel Pentium II guys that were stolen off my desk at Sony, back in the day, and the most wonderful child ever stepped right up & found an attack force for me on eBay!

Here you can see them, resting on a pizza box, until DeskSecUnit arrives in the mail to protect us from the Company (Intel??).

I had to let her have the pink one & the extra green one. She’s laughing her ass off as I croon over my new geek toys & take pics to post.

@differentcatcat @maxwell-demon @murderbot-moodboard @askarsjustsoswedish @crafty-momo @homosekularnost @rosewind2007

[imitationgame77]

Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon

As I was reading a very thorough list of episodes of Sanctuary Moon mentioned by Murderbot, compiled by @rosewind2007, I started wondering just how long the show had been running.

In the fun interview "Feelings REDACTED: What Happens When Murderbot and ART Talk to Instagram", Sanctuary Moon is mentioned twice:

Favorite Story arc in Sanctuary Moon? MB: Season 28, the whole thing with the rival Corporate Supervisor, and when it turned out Sparga Delfin had been replaced by a clone in episode 184, and they had to go rescue them and all the clone babies.

When you pause and think about it, if there are 6 episodes per season, the first episode of Season 28 is ep.163, but if there are 7 per seaons, Season 28 starts with ep.189. That means, each season has no fixed number of episodes, and number probably ranges 4-8 (average is 6.57, if ep. 184 is the season finale of season 28).

I wonder if each season of Sanctuary Moon comes out each year. In that case, the last episode in the list by @rosewind2007 is episode 397. So, by simple calculation of 6.57 episodes per season, it will take 60 years to reach episode 397.

The longest running drama is Law and Order (23 seasons), and the longest running sitcom is Last of the Summer Wine (31 seasons). The longet running Soap Opera is Coronation Street (64 seasons).

But in these, I assume (as I don't watch them) characters come and go. So, I wonder if characters from Sactuary Moon (including the colony solicitor...) are also replaced over the years.

[rosewind2007]

Content warning for extreme capitalism and AI generated video:

I’ve just seen that this year’s Coca-Cola Christmas advert is generated using AI:

“None of the people featured in the new ad are real actors, they were all generated using AI”

Hahahaha! My head canon that the company is the Coca-Cola company is looking more and more sound 😉

[gamebird]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Murderbot (TV) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Murderbot, Dr. Gurathin (Murderbot Diaries) Additional Tags: Meta, reference, Murderathin, shipping mention by implication Summary:

Twenty-six Times Murderbot and Gurathin Were Weird To Each Other and Two Times They Weren’t.

This is just for fun. It's not really a shipping manifesto in terms of why they should be shipped together, but instead a compilation of parallels and odd interactions. Where your imagination goes in response is entirely up to you.

Many thanks to the New Tideland gang for ideas and suggestions!

This will be updated as additional episodes air. Compiled so far to episode 6.