Coping with the Non-Modern World, Tuesday, Second Period

[tellmehowstuffworks]

"Let's talk about phones," Yennefer declared, holding up hers. "Your phone is your lifeline. Your phone is how you can call Portalocity to get you out of the hellhole you occupy, whether that be temporarily to restock on chocolate or more permanently because you have come to your senses. Your phone also has a very finite battery and is prone to being damaged by being dropped from a normal height. What is one to do? Firstly, I would advise investing in a military-grade case. It doesn't matter that it's ugly and only comes in black, it matters that it will make your phone survive being thrown through a wall into a swimming pool. Second, turn the phone off when not in use. Only power it on when needed, or perhaps once a week or every few days if you're in regular contact with someone else with a transdimensional working phone. Third, if electricity hasn't been invented in your world, invest in a good solar charger and guard it closely. Are there any questions?"

Book Club, Tuesday, Period One

[good_for_six]

"Genre!" Isabela announced very loudly once everyone had had a chance to settle in with their drinks and pastries and books. "Some people consider it very important."

"It's basically a fancy way of saying different kinds of stories have different kind of arcs and conventions," Aphra explained. "For example, when people talk about romance books, they usually mean stuff that been published over the last few decades, where there'll be misunderstandings and conflict, but everyone ends up happy in the end, but if they're talking about Romance novels, they mean stuff from a century or two back where the conflict possibly ends with everyone very dramatically dead." Important distinction that.

"In any case, this week's selection of books combines the two in the very important genre of Sexy Ghost Books."

Yes, Isabela was capable of reading a room, often she just chose not to.