the not-so-reverend ray gunn ([info]raygunn_revival) wrote,
@ 2005-04-25 14:22:00
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Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions for The Trans-Occipital Demonstration of Negligible Force, a novella as-yet-unwritten by me (and you).

1. The book opens and closes with a primordial lump, saying "obiter dicta" repeatedly. Have you ever seen a primordial lump on the bus? What route and time of day? Did it ever say "obiter dicta"? If not, what if anything did it say?

2. One of the most multifaceted characters is Aspirin Misericordia. What is the significance of the seven rabbit feet attached to her belt? Painting her rifle green? Genuflecting at the doorway of the Scary Automat? Why do you masturbate thinking of lice?

3. Turn to the person on your left and punch them as hard as you can in the mouth. Say to them, "I fucking hate you, and if I don't kill you now, that's because I have more important things to do." This appears during the "Mountain Eating Contest" sequence in the book. What are scalloped potatoes? Can I eat them if I am allergic to seafood?

4. In Chapter 29: "31st-Century Django", the character Django Chromeknuckle kills 3,000 people with his Plaid-Guns. Lie down, you're dead. Also: What is the plural of ficus?

5. Discuss? Discuss.

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[info]doganhead
2005-04-25 11:36 am UTC (link)
1. I'm shocked and appalled. I've never seen penguins so blatantly mistreated, you height-ist.

2. Of the seven rabbit's feet, I have only this to say; Foon, Portentia! Of the green rifle.. if you'd read the Prophecy of Phil the Dingo, you'd know that this is the Anointed Colour of Happy Doom. A good whack with a frying-pan will clear up any unwanted misconceptions. The Scary Automat is a pretty obvious analogue for today's self-serve salvation mentality, don't you think? Besides, there's usually some change on the sidewalk outside. Finally, lice is sexay.

3. Uhm. I was supposed to have better things to do, then. On a completely unrelated note, do you know any good ressurectionists who aren't overly concerned with cross-border legalities? If all of the people in France were to turn widdershins at high speed, you'd pay for what you did to Jon-Erik Hexum, you monster. Mark my words.

4. The rate of fire on Plaid-Guns isn't high enough to do the job in the amount of time you've alloted. For god's sakes, the weasels! The plural of Ficus is Ronald.

5. Discus.

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[info]raygunn_revival
2005-04-25 12:30 pm UTC (link)
A good whack with a frying-pan will clear up any unwanted misconceptions.

Sounds like something we should put in a bill right away if they overturn Roe v. Wade.

Brilliant responses, all.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
i enjoyed this way too much
[info]quickly_9
2005-04-25 11:40 am UTC (link)
1. I don't ride the bus. "I don't ride the bus."

2. Seven feet for seven tribes, seven brides become seven wives. We find rabbits in the green, green grass. Grass is life, green is life. The rifle takes away so the grass can grow- a reverse mower.
It's not genuflecting, its the transcribing of a warding symbol on the air. The important thing to remember is to use one dot per diety believed in by your warding target. Use corresponding symbols. I think of lice because it helps.

3. Scalloped potatoes do not exist, therefore eating them if you have food allergies causes you to die.

4. There is only one ficus.

5.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
mowed down
[info]raygunn_revival
2005-04-25 12:34 pm UTC (link)
The grass: "I heard it mown." I heard it moan.

Thank god there is only one ficus. And it doesn't even endanger my plans to make a movie called "Ficus Club".

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[info]lilitaly
2005-04-25 11:42 am UTC (link)
1. No, it did not say "obiter dicta". It screamed "HOW IS YOUR MORALE?" over and over into a cell phone around 3:30 pm on Bus 1 going from Cambridge into Boston.

2. Trophies from slaying the 7 footed, 7 foot tall rabbit. Camoflage to sneak up on the 7 footed, 7 foot tall rabbit. Scary Automat? You ever see a 7 footed, 7 foot tall rabbit? Because they're wearing thongs.

3. Yes, but only if the scallops are from Idaho.

4. Trees.

5. I'd rather Disswear.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
I'd Rather Dis Custer
[info]raygunn_revival
2005-04-25 12:36 pm UTC (link)
Dear lord.

Lice wearing thongs has got to be one of the funniest/sexiest images I've ever contemplated. Thank you.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]auggiewren
2005-04-25 11:59 am UTC (link)
1. They sit in the section reserved for elderly, disabled and evolution-resistants. Their crouched posture does not allow me to espy them over the backs of their seats. They are there, though. They're there....

2. The seven feet are still attached to a squirming Basque-bread rabbit. It serves as a reminder that even the timid must struggle. Lice? Unconditional love.

3. To the punch: agreed. Scalloped potatoe is no deadlier that clam-yam.
But both, both will kill - given a chance and freshly whipped butter.

4. Chapter 29 should follow Chapter 28 but not necessarily in any given sequence. Ficis is never plural. It is all one insidious form of flora growing from the same 主要根

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Basking in It
[info]raygunn_revival
2005-04-25 12:41 pm UTC (link)
Born and bred, dying in bread, then, I take it.

Good for you for noticing that there is no chapter 28. There is also no first chapter. You will note instead it is the fist chapter.

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Re: Basking in It
[info]auggiewren
2005-04-25 06:47 pm UTC (link)
And like raisins - in bread. But that's another story.

I foolishly identified chapter XXVIII as 28. I soon realized
my error seeing it was being read right to left.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
buk reprt
[info]drsmax
2005-04-25 12:01 pm UTC (link)
A book report on [info]raygunn_revival's The Trans-Occipital Demonstration of Negligible Force, by [info]drsmax for Mrs. Pennykunt's 5th grade klass class.

First, of all, this is a very hard book. One of the hardest parts about this book is trying to get it open. Then I finally figured out how to open it. The book opens with a primordial lump. If you do not have a primordial lump, ask yer mom. She may have one in her boob breast. Make sure you get the kind that says "obiter dicta."

Second thing about this book is the characters have funny names and funny weapons and the weapons. One thing about the names is that they all have something to do with the punching, the head, punching the head, pain, the pain caused by punching, and the pain caused by either punching a head or being punched in the head. One thing about the weapons and the weapons is they are color-weapons. Like a green gun or a plaid gun. I think the weapons shoot colors, but I don't know if this means they shoot colors out of them or if they are good if you are in a fight against colors. I guess that would be good cuz you can't punch a color.

The third thing about the book, and also, in summerey and in closing regarding the closing is that it is a very hard book to close. But then, you know that lump? It also closes the book. That's a good lump. And a good book. And so on.

THE END

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Head of the Class
[info]raygunn_revival
2005-04-25 12:54 pm UTC (link)
Even though you did not refer to the book's atoms' relative proximity and bonding to one another as its main reason for being hard, this was a fine report. You could have said the book was hard because your friend Moh tried to scratch it and couldn't, too, but Moh was probably busy with Larry and Feldspar at recess trying to see cleavage. You get an A+.

You also get an ape lush.

And so on.

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Re: Head of the Class
[info]doganhead
2005-04-25 06:24 pm UTC (link)
Ooo. Good pic, Rev.

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Re: Head of the Class
[info]raygunn_revival
2005-04-26 04:53 am UTC (link)
Thanks!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]adam_is_klingon
2005-04-25 12:26 pm UTC (link)
we mustn't forget the carnal desire manifestation of buddah, in the body of an elvis lookalike, who works at a quickstop somewhere in southern italy.
and what he knows.

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[info]raygunn_revival
2005-04-25 12:56 pm UTC (link)
Nor should we forget the tunnel of love, or the canal desire.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]spasmsproject
2005-04-25 04:34 pm UTC (link)
1) My brother-in-law is a primordial lump. Mostly he says "What time is it?" and "Can we eat yet?" He is a lot of fun at parties. I do not think he rides the bus.

2) This is a funny trick question. I masturbate thinking of ice.

3) My next door neighbor says he is going to sue me and also you for me punching him in the mouth. I told him it was purely literary but he has asliughtly different perspective. He also says I can shove my scalloped potatoes up my nose. I do not think my next door neighbor is having a very good day.

4) Being dead is a lot like being alive but maybe I did not understand the question. Fica.

5) Discuss!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]raygunn_revival
2005-04-25 06:08 pm UTC (link)
1) I would invite him to all of my parties if he could be relied on to ask "What time is yet?" or "Can we eat time?"

2) As long as it's not Vanilla Ice, I will not be one to judge.

3) I think shoving scalloped potatoes up your nose would make a great new weapon. One I hadn't thought of before. In allergy season, you could really do some damage. A whole new meaning to "spud gun."

4) "The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had." It really is a mad world.

5) Disk us!

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[info]spasmsproject
2005-04-26 03:51 am UTC (link)
1) I do not know if he could remember something that complicated.

2) I do not like vanilla ice, only chocolate or strawberry.

3) Please do not shove scalloped potatoes up my nose, Ms. Revival. I sneezed twice this morning already.

4) I never had a dream where you are dying so I can only say that dreams where I am rollerskating off a skyscraper are pretty good.

5) Triscuits?

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[info]rxgreene
2005-04-25 04:47 pm UTC (link)

  1. I have encountered primordial lumps. However, they are usually on the subways, singing back up for the Pratorean Guard's acapella do-wop troupe.
  2. Asperin has the feet of her seven slain rabbits on her belt as a reminder of why cats cannot be trusted. Specifically, trusted to drive their fair shift while transporting a group of rabbits cross country on a hoverphant. Her rifle is green because were it blue, the pies would all be ruined. She genuflect therin as it is the manifestation of her respect for the ham's stoicism in light of it's inevitable fate to be ate.
  3. Scalloped potatoes are to cuisine as the celocamph (sp) is to fish - a throwback which was thought to be lost. You are safe if you have shellfish allergies, unless of course, it's potatoed scallops.
  4. In the 31st century, dead men do wear plaid. Re: Also: Fenni Fendi Ficci.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]raygunn_revival
2005-04-25 06:15 pm UTC (link)
1. The Eight-Two, Barber Shoppe Quartet? I love those guys.

3. Do not concern yourself overmuch: Even the spelling of "celocamph" has gone extinct.

4. And here I'd always thought it was Fenni, Fermi, Fibonacci.



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#4
[info]rxgreene
2005-04-25 06:51 pm UTC (link)
That my dear,is a different sequence all together.

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[info]moosemonster
2005-04-25 04:50 pm UTC (link)
I would suggest transforming all of the characters into verbs, as they speak. If they do not speak, have them locked up as paragraphs.

I would not suggest a connection between the act and the thought, in all cases. It is possible that thoughts of lice are intrusive, an unwanted reminder that one needs to pay more attention to issues of hygiene.

Two needs to pay the cheque, or face a different class of unwanted reminders. Dressed in black, with black guns. Black appendages and appendices and bandages.

It is not permitted to eat scalloped potatoes:
10. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the
11. rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of
12. their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be
an abomination unto you.

Curly fries are permitted.

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[info]raygunn_revival
2005-04-25 06:19 pm UTC (link)
Brilliant. And insightful.

It is my primary goal (and my primary gaol) as a writer not to suggest a connection between the act and the thought.

Praise be to curly fries.

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[info]citizenkafka
2005-04-25 11:38 pm UTC (link)
1. On an Greyhound bus, traveling between Seattle and Spokane, A large, dark-skinned lump in a black trench coat got on in Ellensburg and chose to sit next to me (despite their being entirely empty seats elsewhere. I pretended to sleep, but he/it was able to project "obiter dicta" into my mind telepathically, staring at me...

2. She takes strength in ironic objects. The rabbit's feet clearly did little to help the rabbit or bring it luck. She paints the rifle green in another act of visual irony. Green, the color of life and growth--now plastered on a tool of death! She isn't genuflecting, she's stretching her hamstrings, preparing to battle tough stains and static cling. And actually, that's a little inaccurate; I masturbate lice to help me think.

3. That sequence is an old chestnut in ancient eastern myth, so cliche. Scalloped potatoes are just little tubers that had the tops of their heads skinned. Sure you can eat them! But I you might have a deadly allergic reaction.

4. The optical physics of plaid are a mystery to science; plaid lasers are still a mad fantasy. Maybe it's best we never know. Strangely, it's "Bert"

5. Some things you just don't talk about. Some things you just don't talk about.

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[info]raygunn_revival
2005-04-26 04:19 pm UTC (link)
Beautiful.

My favorite: "I masturbate lice to help me think."

2. Me, I prefer hams without the strings. That is, unless I'm playing Carnegie Hall.

5. I am surprised that no one answered: "Ion? Ion."

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