JaneEspenson.com

You know what gag I’ve seen far, far too often? Kicking or slamming the piece of finely-calibrated high-tech equipment to get it to work. I’ve seen it so often now that I’m surprised when it *doesn’t* happen. I want to put it into a script just so I can show the device shattering while everyone yells, “Why did you do that?! You *knew* it was delicate! That cost a thrillion dollars and now we have no way to prevent the killer avalanche!”

HOWEVER, there is a really great reason that this gag occurs so often. It’s kind of perfect because it’s totally designed to undercut a serious moment with lots of technical mumbo-jumbo in it by bringing in a real, human, recognizable instinct to just slam the thing. And then, when, against all reason, it *works*, it’s not just gratifying because the danger is averted, it’s also a symbolic victory for the human factor. It wasn’t the machine that solved the problem, it was the solid, practical human who smacked it. Yay, human!

In other words, it’s going to take all your strength to resist this. But I urge you to try. I just can’t take it any more.

Lunch: leftover pad thai. When it’s been in the fridge overnight, it sort of compresses and turns itself into kugel — a lovely crossing of ethno-religious boundaries that makes me happy.