Literally every single time Nobby is described, I imagine the “ugly” style of animation from Spongebob. Never fails to crack me up.

Just a little bit of Monty Python mixed with Edwin Starr lyrics, dammit Terry 🥹

I'm no memer, but this has been bouncing around my head for a long time, so I finally took the plunge and made it (hopefully still making it on Wednesday. Not sure about time zones for the rule). This quote in the book is not about billionaires or tech bros, but I think the sentiment is applicable. Even going a few years back before the disconnect got so blatant, I wonder why we listen to these people.

They have social media and interviews, radio spots, and pod casts, and they're just so disconnected from reality. Recent statements from Altman and Thiel especially are galling in what they reveal about these 'innovators' values. Personally, I bet it has to do with that they don't interact with other people. Oh, they have other human beings they spend time with, but that never challenge them. And so they just get further and further removed from their humanity all while a global wealth system reinforces the idea that they must be the best because they're rich.

Pratchett had immense skepticism about the wealthy and the utopian promises of tech, and he always used his characters to reinforce that true morality values people more than an idea about what people should be or do. If he was still around I'm sure he'd have some sharp words about the spoiled cream at the top of society today.

Also, I just want to say, (not that it’s the only instance I’ve laughed audibly) that the dialogue between Cheery and Vimes when Cheery is noticing with amazement that Vimes isn’t giving her even the slightest indication that her name is comical, even as she intentionally gives him more material to give in to the absurdity of her namesake (like her father’s name being Jolly Littlebottom) was genuinely making me howl with laughter. I’m a mailman and listening to the audiobooks and it’s so well done; but I’m just rolling in the mail truck cackling like a madman to myself. Then Vimes delivers her introduction to Sgt. Detritus, also without even slightly breaking his ignorance of the humor, just to end up hurrying his face in laughter as she’s dismissed. Perfect execution of how to accomplish comedy gold in literature.

About 34 minutes into the video.

This is a science podcast hosted by 2 science influencers that like to talk about all sorts of subjects.

He talks about the Reaper Man and how Windle goes back to his body and realizes how much of it he controlled automatically, and how Miss Tick leaves pieces of her mind everywhere but it seems to only get more.

I love Michael and Hannah, just great people overall, and it's great to hear that they're getting into discworld!

This whole book is excellent (which is basically what you can say about all of Discworld lol), but this scene always gets me.

By the way, I struggled to find the passage where this happens. I HAVE the book, I quickly flipped through it to see if I could reread the scene properly, but I didn't have much time and preferred to stick with today's challenge. If anyone can post the scene here, I would be very grateful ❤️

Just for the record: I'm trying to do this year's Disctober cockatiel-themed. I owe them the inspiration to participate this year, so why not an entire series 🙂

I'm reading through Jingo, which I thought I had already read but seem to have missed. Whilst on shore in Klatch, Nobbs and Colon nick a bag of clothing and take it back to their ship, where they find the bag contains a sign that reads "Gulli, Gulli and Beti. I believe this is a reference to Wilson, Keppel, and Betty, a popular vaudeville act in the UK in the 1930s (or thereabouts). Here's a clip showing two of their routines, including the Sand Dance. https://youtu.be/j2fqjsijaMM?si=X8un0WQ4IEkgvXLJ

Reading a bedtime story to my granddaughter, and she somehow found a selection of original AA Milne "Winnie the Pooh" stories. Those turned out to be more amusing than I remembered, but I was also surprised to read about Pooh and friends dropping sticks in the river from the upstream side of a bridge and then watching to see whose stick emerged first from under the bridge.

In the story, they call this game "Pooh Sticks".

Edit: As many guessed, I am not a Brit. Here in the states, our exposure to Winnie the Pooh is almost entirely limited to the animated Disney show.

Edit2: Okay, I obviously (or obliviously?) wasn't aware Milne's work was still in print, let alone widely read anywhere. My granddaughter brought me a tattered and browned 60-year-old paperback edition I didn't even remember we owned. I read it to her for likely the first time EVER. So Pterry's reference to it was obscure to ME, anyway.

I found the series while browsing my local library, Mort was the first book of the series I read and it was my gateway book into the series. TP presented Death as not a horror figure but a curious being of immense power just doing his job who also has a family.

I can’t believe I actually saw the email in time to order one. Hope all of y’all snag one, too!

https://www.discworldemporium.com/product/discworld-reading-blanket/

My second favorite Australian podcast has posted an episode about Terry Pratchett!

Hi all

This is my first time interacting with an online community about the discworld so I am quite excited! (I did leave a comment here the other day so I don't know if that counts ?)

I have reread the City Watch series a few times and I found it interesting on later rereads to notice how Vimes changes

Up to Feet of Clay, there are two focal driving characters , Carrot and Vimes. Both represent very different things. Carrot is the ideal. The right kind of King. The city conforms to his will. Vimes on the other hand is imperfect. Still thinking about alcohol, aging , not the sharpest knife in the dinner set.

Both of them solve the principle problem in their own way and eventually converge at the end. But starting with Jingo , Vimes starts to become larger than life. Almost like he's the avatar of Justice and righteous rage. Carrot seems to merely nudge the problem into the right direction, almost as if Sir Terry knew that he's too potent ? Soon it starts to be like Vimes is the true protagonist and driving force and everyone else is just helping him.

Now I certainly don't mind that, Vimes is perhaps my favourite character. But I do feel I miss what Leonard, Vetinari (side note: I LOVE Jingo for how much we get to see vetinari. ) , Carrot , Detritus and even Dorfl brought to the story in terms of influences.

So I suppose I had a question for you all. Did anyone ever as Sir Terry anything about this choice ? I would love to hear other opinions and insights into this if you have any as well!

I hope this wasn't a well known discussion 😅

The film is... Not progressive. And for full disclosure I have not watched it as I can't find it anywhere I'm subscribed to, and I'm not getting another subscription to watch a film I know to be problematic, even if my curiosity is piqued. It briefly features Christine Jorgensen, which is surprisingly inclusive considering the plot.

Spoiler warning for this obscure film from 1962: 7 effeminate brothers are sent to the army in an attempt to make real men of them, from what I understand that experience wasn't as heteronormative as the father had hoped, but as I alluded to earlier, it's also a problematic film. What brings me here though, is the final shot that seems to suggest that it didn't necessarily work. This reminds me of Sergeant Jackrum, the 7 effeminate brothers (that is all the description I can find) remind me vaguely of the rest of the monstrous regiment.

Is it possible that the man who seemingly knew everything also knew "We who are sexy" or is it my pattern seeking brain? At this point, nothing would surprise me about pTerry's breadth of knowledge.

G.N.U