1.1.01.01.008: if you fiddle with something, it will break. don't.

[needshumility]

Alright, I think... question club needs to happen.

So consider this post an open place to ask questions about the Barge, and to provide answers if you know them - or to discuss ways of finding out the answer. Anyone's welcome, as are any questions.

[Private to Bertie]

What instrument do you play?


[Private to Sherlock]

Mr Holmes, may I ask if you can make a request for the art room?

At home, we can paint in full colour without seeing them by using numbered codes.

Would it be possible to get these numbered codes put on the paints provided in the art room?

[Filtered to Jane, Chromie and Ariadne]

I was thinking of working out a standard series of questions for people who've just woken up from comas. To help us try and find patterns - it's easier if we ask for the same information from everyone.

Any suggestions as to the questions?

[Private to Jane]

I've got a book for this week. Ovaltine and the radiators tonight?

Comments

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

[Filter]

That depends on what patterns we're trying to look for.

[Private]

What book is it?

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

[Filter]

I think it might be better to see what patterns you can find, rather than go in looking for something in particular.

[Private]

The Scarlet Letter.

I couldn't resist it.

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

[Filter]

Seems a little inefficient to make it so...open. But fine. I don't know what questions could be asked, though. It can't be anything too personal, if we want them to be for everyone.

[Private]

What's it about?

No. Don't tell me. I'll find out.

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

Yes, but if we don't make it open, we might miss some very important information.

It'll have to be pretty general to start off with. We might find something to spot to pursue further.

[Private]

I don't know. I haven't read it yet. The back mentions something called 'Puritans' and adultery.

I really just picked it up for the title.

[failedcreator.livejournal.com]

Where does the food on the barge originate from?

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

...I wondered that too. I wonder if the kitchen staff know, or whether it's a mystery to all of us. It's another thing worth looking into.

[failedcreator.livejournal.com]

I have often wondered where the beasts for slaughter are located upon the barge. Is it simply an area that the inmates are kept from?

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

I've... never seen a cow.

Maybe someone'll show you the kitchen.

if anyone knows better, correct me if I'm wrong.

[una_persson]

The supplies get renewed on a monthly basis, although from where, I couldn't tell you.

Perhaps the Admiral scoops it from passing worlds whilst he collects new passengers.

cc:

[failedcreator.livejournal.com]

But what of the meats? They are present throughout the month. Surely they would spoil? [Guess who hasn't seen a fridge before.]

Perhaps this is so. I do hope that he pays for it in the correct manner.

do you think this is a good idea eddie

[ifightfor]

Query: Limitation on number of queries at once?

[Uh-oh.]

he thinks it's fabulous. He also has terrible foresight.

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

No.

[pause]

Within reason. No more than... ten, say.

it explains so much. and is so true.

[ifightfor]

Query: Average number of Inmates "graduated" per anum?

Further query: Average residence time of Inmate prior to graduation?

Further query: Exact number of Inmates graduated versus Inmates departed without graduation?

Query: Exact population of Barge?

Further query: Exact number of Wardens versus number of Inmates?

Further query: Rate of Warden turnover?

Query: Common complaints of Wardens concerning Barge functions?

Further query: Common complaints of Inmates?

Define "question club".

Query: What games do you play?

{Private}

[so-meretricious.livejournal.com]

I shall do so. {This...Paint-By-Numbers sounds eerily like technology, though, so he doesn't have to like it.} I do believe our art facilities should be as encompassing as possible, to cater to all the arts.

{Even odd other-world arts, he supposes.}

Re: {Private}

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much, Mr Holmes. I really do appreciate it.

{Private}

[so-meretricious.livejournal.com]

It is my pleasure.

Private

[what_ho_jeeves]

I put my fingers to the old eighty-eight keys now and again. I've also made attempts to play the trombone, but that met with rather less success.

Re: Private

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

The trombone?

The piano's a very good choice, though. Do you have one here?

Re: Private

[what_ho_jeeves]

It eventually met a sad fate in a house fire. There was little mourning for it, however. Even I wasn't that distressed to see it go, not when its destruction resulted in Jeeves returning to my service.

As a matter of fact, I've got one right here in my flat. [And he plays a few chords of Forty-seven ginger-headed sailors.]

Filter

[strangehistorian]

I've tried asking what they were doing at the time, and what it was like when they were out - if they remembered anything and so forth. Perhaps we should ask how long they were asleep. And maybe the medical staff can be consulted about what the characteristic signs of a Barge Coma are as opposed to a sleeping sickness or hibernation.

Re: Filter

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

I can work out the characteristic signs of a coma here as opposed to the other two. I know enough medicine myself.

Perhaps it's also asking who the last person they were with before it happened.

Filter

[strangehistorian]

We could ask them too, then! After all, Martha's had a long time to study comas, and she has a fully equipped infirmary.

That's a good idea, too, what with the odd behavior virus scare we had before you arrived.

Filter

[drafting-dreams.livejournal.com]

Questions about how they're feeling would be a good start. I think knowing about their physical health before and after the coma will help figure out how they got into one in the first place.

Re: Filter

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

Fair point. Although my general impression is that they seem to happen to people in pretty good health.

It's all worth checking into, though.

Filter

[drafting-dreams.livejournal.com]

Who knows? Something in their health must have helped them become comatose one way or another.

Questions about leading events would be important too. It seems like someone always slips into a coma whenever something crazy happens in this place.