# For Your Amusement: On Twitter Today...

*The Urth list — 14 messages, 7 voices, 30 Apr 2013*

<https://urth.darkrealm.vip/thread/urth/6374>

> Exported from an unofficial mirror of a public mailing list. Copyright
> in each message remains with the person who wrote it.
> Email addresses are obscured as `user at host`, the form the original
> archive published. This file was rebuilt from parsed fields rather than
> retained headers, so it is faithful in content but not byte-exact.

---

### Fred Kiesche
*30 Apr 2013, 15:53*

...author Felix Gilman tweeted the following:

*Felix Gilman @felixgilman
*11m<https://twitter.com/felixgilman/status/329259107192283136>

#*QuestionsObamaWontAnswer*<https://twitter.com/search?q=%23QuestionsObamaWontAnswer&src=hash>what
is the relationship between Severian and Apu-Punchau in the Book of
the New Sun, and what does it symbolize

*Felix Gilman @felixgilman
*7m<https://twitter.com/felixgilman/status/329260106107731971>

#*QuestionsObamaWontAnswer*<https://twitter.com/search?q=%23QuestionsObamaWontAnswer&src=hash>do
the events of Short Sun occur eons after New Sun, Blue/Green being
reborn Urth/Lune, or is this a mere echo
*Felix Gilman @felixgilman
*3m<https://twitter.com/felixgilman/status/329261302503579648>

#*QuestionsObamaWontAnswer*<https://twitter.com/search?q=%23QuestionsObamaWontAnswer&src=hash>in
the rag shop, why does Severian say that the ribbons that held Agilus'
mask are still there after he removes it

```
F.P. Kiesche III  "Ah Mr. Gibbon, another damned, fat, square book. Always,
scribble, scribble, scribble, eh?" (The Duke of Gloucester, on being
presented with Volume 2 of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.)
Blogging at The Lensman's Children (
http://theeternalgoldenbraid.blogspot.com/).
```

---

### Fred Kiesche
*30 Apr 2013, 16:06 · in reply to Fred Kiesche*

And more!

*Felix Gilman @felixgilman
*6m<https://twitter.com/felixgilman/status/329263534120779776>

#*QuestionsObamaWontAnswer*<https://twitter.com/search?q=%23QuestionsObamaWontAnswer&src=hash>in
what ways is Severian analogous to Christ and in what ways is he
disanalogous. also, what about benghazi, huh
*Max Gladstone @maxgladstone
*3m<https://twitter.com/maxgladstone/status/329264568461299713>

@*felixgilman* <https://twitter.com/felixgilman> Obama won't answer the one
about Apu Punachu because it's answered in Urth of the New Sun.
*Felix Gilman @felixgilman
*2m<https://twitter.com/felixgilman/status/329264850704412672>

@*maxgladstone* <https://twitter.com/maxgladstone> i think we as a people
have a right to know if the President has read Urth of the New Sun, and if
so how attentively

> On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 11:53 AM, Fred Kiesche <godelescherbach at gmail.com>wrote:
> ...author Felix Gilman tweeted the following:
> 
> *Felix Gilman @felixgilman *11m<https://twitter.com/felixgilman/status/329259107192283136>
> 
> #*QuestionsObamaWontAnswer*<https://twitter.com/search?q=%23QuestionsObamaWontAnswer&src=hash>what is the relationship between Severian and Apu-Punchau in the Book of
> the New Sun, and what does it symbolize
> 
> *Felix Gilman @felixgilman *7m<https://twitter.com/felixgilman/status/329260106107731971>
> 
> #*QuestionsObamaWontAnswer*<https://twitter.com/search?q=%23QuestionsObamaWontAnswer&src=hash>do the events of Short Sun occur eons after New Sun, Blue/Green being
> reborn Urth/Lune, or is this a mere echo
> *Felix Gilman @felixgilman *3m<https://twitter.com/felixgilman/status/329261302503579648>
> 
> #*QuestionsObamaWontAnswer*<https://twitter.com/search?q=%23QuestionsObamaWontAnswer&src=hash>in the rag shop, why does Severian say that the ribbons that held Agilus'
> mask are still there after he removes it
> 
> 
> --
> F.P. Kiesche III  "Ah Mr. Gibbon, another damned, fat, square book.
> Always, scribble, scribble, scribble, eh?" (The Duke of Gloucester, on
> being presented with Volume 2 of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.)
> Blogging at The Lensman's Children (
> http://theeternalgoldenbraid.blogspot.com/).
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________

---

### Marc Aramini
*30 Apr 2013, 16:32 · in reply to Fred Kiesche*

I will answer those questions if elected, but I will not eat his brains. Even with analept of alzabo. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 30, 2013, at 9:06 AM, Fred Kiesche <godelescherbach at gmail.com> wrote:
> And more!
>  
> Felix Gilman @felixgilman 6m
> #QuestionsObamaWontAnswer in what ways is Severian analogous to Christ and in what ways is he disanalogous. also, what about benghazi, huh
> 
> Max Gladstone @maxgladstone 3m
> @felixgilman Obama won't answer the one about Apu Punachu because it's answered in Urth of the New Sun.
> 
> Felix Gilman @felixgilman 2m
> @maxgladstone i think we as a people have a right to know if the President has read Urth of the New Sun, and if so how attentively
> 
> 
> 
> On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 11:53 AM, Fred Kiesche <godelescherbach at gmail.com> wrote:

>> ...author Felix Gilman tweeted the following:
>>  
>> Felix Gilman @felixgilman 11m
>> #QuestionsObamaWontAnswer what is the relationship between Severian and Apu-Punchau in the Book of the New Sun, and what does it symbolize
>> 
>> Felix Gilman @felixgilman 7m
>> 
>> #QuestionsObamaWontAnswer do the events of Short Sun occur eons after New Sun, Blue/Green being reborn Urth/Lune, or is this a mere echo
>> 
>> Felix Gilman @felixgilman 3m
>> #QuestionsObamaWontAnswer in the rag shop, why does Severian say that the ribbons that held Agilus' mask are still there after he removes it
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> F.P. Kiesche III  "Ah Mr. Gibbon, another damned, fat, square book. Always, scribble, scribble, scribble, eh?" (The Duke of Gloucester, on being presented with Volume 2 of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.) Blogging at The Lensman's Children (http://theeternalgoldenbraid.blogspot.com/).
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________

---

### Marc Aramini
*30 Apr 2013, 16:34 · in reply to Marc Aramini*

The proper answer to all questions is yes, no,no, yes, no, yes, no. Maybe. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 30, 2013, at 9:32 AM, Marc Aramini <marcaramini at yahoo.com> wrote:
> I will answer those questions if elected, but I will not eat his brains. Even with analept of alzabo. 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Apr 30, 2013, at 9:06 AM, Fred Kiesche <godelescherbach at gmail.com> wrote:

>> And more!
>>  
>> Felix Gilman @felixgilman 6m
>> #QuestionsObamaWontAnswer in what ways is Severian analogous to Christ and in what ways is he disanalogous. also, what about benghazi, huh
>> 
>> Max Gladstone @maxgladstone 3m
>> @felixgilman Obama won't answer the one about Apu Punachu because it's answered in Urth of the New Sun.
>> 
>> Felix Gilman @felixgilman 2m
>> @maxgladstone i think we as a people have a right to know if the President has read Urth of the New Sun, and if so how attentively
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 11:53 AM, Fred Kiesche <godelescherbach at gmail.com> wrote:

>>> ...author Felix Gilman tweeted the following:
>>>  
>>> Felix Gilman @felixgilman 11m
>>> #QuestionsObamaWontAnswer what is the relationship between Severian and Apu-Punchau in the Book of the New Sun, and what does it symbolize
>>> 
>>> Felix Gilman @felixgilman 7m
>>> 
>>> #QuestionsObamaWontAnswer do the events of Short Sun occur eons after New Sun, Blue/Green being reborn Urth/Lune, or is this a mere echo
>>> 
>>> Felix Gilman @felixgilman 3m
>>> #QuestionsObamaWontAnswer in the rag shop, why does Severian say that the ribbons that held Agilus' mask are still there after he removes it
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -- 
>>> F.P. Kiesche III  "Ah Mr. Gibbon, another damned, fat, square book. Always, scribble, scribble, scribble, eh?" (The Duke of Gloucester, on being presented with Volume 2 of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.) Blogging at The Lensman's Children (http://theeternalgoldenbraid.blogspot.com/).
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________

---

### Gwern Branwen
*30 Apr 2013, 16:46 · in reply to Marc Aramini*

> On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 12:32 PM, Marc Aramini <marcaramini at yahoo.com> wrote:
> I will answer those questions if elected, but I will not eat his brains.
> Even with analept of alzabo.

How sure are we that Obama was born on Urth? Where is his birth
certificate proving he was native-born in Ascia as required by the
Constitution? Perhaps he's really from the Commonwealth, or worse, an
illegal alien - a cacogen!

```
gwern
http://www.gwern.net
```

---

### Allan Anderson
*30 Apr 2013, 16:53 · in reply to Gwern Branwen*

> On Apr 30, 2013, at 9:46 AM, Gwern Branwen <gwern at gwern.net> wrote:
> On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 12:32 PM, Marc Aramini <marcaramini at yahoo.com> wrote:

>> I will answer those questions if elected, but I will not eat his brains.
>> Even with analept of alzabo.

> How sure are we that Obama was born on Urth? Where is his birth
> certificate proving he was native-born in Ascia as required by the
> Constitution? Perhaps he's really from the Commonwealth, or worse, an
> illegal alien - a cacogen!

I have clear evidence that he's not from Sainte Croix at all, but originates from Sainte Anne. Just look at his reliance on teleprompters!

---

### DAVID STOCKHOFF
*30 Apr 2013, 19:24 · in reply to Gwern Branwen*

More important, WHAT IS BEHIND THAT MASK?

> ________________________________
> From: Gwern Branwen <gwern at gwern.net>
> To: The Urth Mailing List <urth at lists.urth.net> 
> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 12:46 PM
> Subject: Re: (urth) For Your Amusement: On Twitter Today...
> 
> 
> On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 12:32 PM, Marc Aramini <marcaramini at yahoo.com> wrote:

>> I will answer those questions if elected, but I will not eat his brains.
>> Even with analept of alzabo.

> How sure are we that Obama was born on Urth? Where is his birth
> certificate proving he was native-born in Ascia as required by the
> Constitution? Perhaps he's really from the Commonwealth, or worse, an
> illegal alien - a cacogen!
> 
> -- 
> gwern
> http://www.gwern.net
> _______________________________________________

---

### António Pedro Marques
*30 Apr 2013, 22:35 · in reply to DAVID STOCKHOFF*

Another mask...

DAVID STOCKHOFF wrote (30-04-2013 20:24):

> More important, WHAT IS BEHIND THAT MASK?
> 
> 
>     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     *From:* Gwern Branwen <gwern at gwern.net>
>     *To:* The Urth Mailing List <urth at lists.urth.net>
>     *Sent:* Tuesday, April 30, 2013 12:46 PM
>     *Subject:* Re: (urth) For Your Amusement: On Twitter Today...
> 
>     On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 12:32 PM, Marc Aramini <marcaramini at yahoo.com
>     <mailto:marcaramini at yahoo.com>> wrote:
>      > I will answer those questions if elected, but I will not eat his brains.
>      > Even with analept of alzabo.
> 
>     How sure are we that Obama was born on Urth? Where is his birth
>     certificate proving he was native-born in Ascia as required by the
>     Constitution? Perhaps he's really from the Commonwealth, or worse, an
>     illegal alien - a cacogen!
> 
>     --
>     gwern
>     http://www.gwern.net <http://www.gwern.net/>
>     _______________________________________________

---

### aaron
*01 May 2013, 00:25 · in reply to António Pedro Marques*

I have always wondered about the ribbons above Agilus' ears, though. And
Borski's explanation doesn't satisfy.

> On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 6:35 PM, Ant?nio Pedro Marques <entonio at gmail.com>wrote:
> Another mask...
> 
> DAVID STOCKHOFF wrote (30-04-2013 20:24):

>> More important, WHAT IS BEHIND THAT MASK?
>> 
>> 
>>     ------------------------------**------------------------------**
>> ----------------
>>     *From:* Gwern Branwen <gwern at gwern.net>
>>     *To:* The Urth Mailing List <urth at lists.urth.net>
>>     *Sent:* Tuesday, April 30, 2013 12:46 PM
>>     *Subject:* Re: (urth) For Your Amusement: On Twitter Today...
>> 
>> 
>>     On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 12:32 PM, Marc Aramini <marcaramini at yahoo.com
>>     <mailto:marcaramini at yahoo.com>**> wrote:
>>      > I will answer those questions if elected, but I will not eat his
>> brains.
>>      > Even with analept of alzabo.
>> 
>>     How sure are we that Obama was born on Urth? Where is his birth
>>     certificate proving he was native-born in Ascia as required by the
>>     Constitution? Perhaps he's really from the Commonwealth, or worse, an
>>     illegal alien - a cacogen!
>> 
>>     --
>>     gwern
>>     http://www.gwern.net <http://www.gwern.net/>
>>     ______________________________**_________________

---

### Marc Aramini
*01 May 2013, 00:31 · in reply to aaron*

Borski is hit and miss- imaginative but often way too tenuous and nontextual in his leaps.  

Believe it or not I wait for the text to at least legitimately hint at something before I pursue it. 
Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 30, 2013, at 5:25 PM, aaron <aaronsingleton at gmail.com> wrote:
> I have always wondered about the ribbons above Agilus' ears, though. And Borski's explanation doesn't satisfy.
> 
> 
> On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 6:35 PM, Ant?nio Pedro Marques <entonio at gmail.com> wrote:

>> Another mask...
>> 
>> DAVID STOCKHOFF wrote (30-04-2013 20:24):

>>> More important, WHAT IS BEHIND THAT MASK?
>>> 
>>> 
>>>     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>     *From:* Gwern Branwen <gwern at gwern.net>
>>>     *To:* The Urth Mailing List <urth at lists.urth.net>
>>>     *Sent:* Tuesday, April 30, 2013 12:46 PM
>>>     *Subject:* Re: (urth) For Your Amusement: On Twitter Today...
>>> 
>>> 
>>>     On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 12:32 PM, Marc Aramini <marcaramini at yahoo.com
>>>     <mailto:marcaramini at yahoo.com>> wrote:
>>>      > I will answer those questions if elected, but I will not eat his brains.
>>>      > Even with analept of alzabo.
>>> 
>>>     How sure are we that Obama was born on Urth? Where is his birth
>>>     certificate proving he was native-born in Ascia as required by the
>>>     Constitution? Perhaps he's really from the Commonwealth, or worse, an
>>>     illegal alien - a cacogen!
>>> 
>>>     --
>>>     gwern
>>>     http://www.gwern.net <http://www.gwern.net/>
>>>     _______________________________________________

---

### aaron
*01 May 2013, 04:54 · in reply to Marc Aramini*

I agree about Borski.  However, when reading his work, I do get excited
about re-reading Wolfe so I can make some new discovery.  I also
enjoyed some of his observations on T5HoC and Peace.  Alas...  BTW,
congrats on the Wolfe antho.  Long-time lurker on the list, so I am
familiar with most of the regulars.

> On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 8:31 PM, Marc Aramini <marcaramini at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Borski is hit and miss- imaginative but often way too tenuous and
> nontextual in his leaps.
> 
> Believe it or not I wait for the text to at least legitimately hint at
> something before I pursue it.
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Apr 30, 2013, at 5:25 PM, aaron <aaronsingleton at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I have always wondered about the ribbons above Agilus' ears, though. And
> Borski's explanation doesn't satisfy.
> 
> 
> On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 6:35 PM, Ant?nio Pedro Marques <entonio at gmail.com>wrote:

>> Another mask...
>> 
>> DAVID STOCKHOFF wrote (30-04-2013 20:24):

>>> More important, WHAT IS BEHIND THAT MASK?
>>> 
>>> 
>>>     ------------------------------**------------------------------**
>>> ----------------
>>>     *From:* Gwern Branwen <gwern at gwern.net>
>>>     *To:* The Urth Mailing List <urth at lists.urth.net>
>>>     *Sent:* Tuesday, April 30, 2013 12:46 PM
>>>     *Subject:* Re: (urth) For Your Amusement: On Twitter Today...
>>> 
>>> 
>>>     On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 12:32 PM, Marc Aramini <
>>> marcaramini at yahoo.com
>>>     <mailto:marcaramini at yahoo.com>**> wrote:
>>>      > I will answer those questions if elected, but I will not eat his
>>> brains.
>>>      > Even with analept of alzabo.
>>> 
>>>     How sure are we that Obama was born on Urth? Where is his birth
>>>     certificate proving he was native-born in Ascia as required by the
>>>     Constitution? Perhaps he's really from the Commonwealth, or worse, an
>>>     illegal alien - a cacogen!
>>> 
>>>     --
>>>     gwern
>>>     http://www.gwern.net <http://www.gwern.net/>
>>>     ______________________________**_________________

---

### Marc Aramini
*01 May 2013, 13:03 · in reply to aaron*

Definitely, his work on Fifth Head is top notch.  I am trying to remember if he did much with all the crazy colors associated with names in Peace ( blue ribbon around a little coffin, etc) since the characters seemed to be overwhelmingly associated with colors- peacock blue, olive, black, porter is specifically a darker  brown beer (which color is bold? Yellow?)- but the ubiquity of color might make it a symbolist's nightmare in the small stories. 

Thank you, by the way, for the congratulations.  If not worthy, I hope at least that you will enjoy it a bit. 
Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 30, 2013, at 9:54 PM, aaron <aaronsingleton at gmail.com> wrote:
> agree about Borski.  However, when reading his work, I do get excited about re-reading Wolfe so I can make some new discovery.  I also 
> enjoyed some of his observations on T5HoC and Peace.  Alas...  BTW, congrats on the Wolfe antho.  Long-time lurker on the list, so I am familiar with most of the regulars.

---

### DAVID STOCKHOFF
*01 May 2013, 14:14 · in reply to Allan Anderson*

Has anyone ever seen him tie a knot or operate machinery?

> ________________________________
> From: Allan Anderson <rubel at goosemoon.org>
> To: The Urth Mailing List <urth at lists.urth.net> 
> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 12:53 PM
> Subject: Re: (urth) For Your Amusement: On Twitter Today...
> 
> 
> 
> On Apr 30, 2013, at 9:46 AM, Gwern Branwen <gwern at gwern.net> wrote:

>> On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 12:32 PM, Marc Aramini <marcaramini at yahoo.com> wrote:

>>> I will answer those questions if elected, but I will not eat his brains.
>>> Even with analept of alzabo.

>> How sure are we that Obama was born on Urth? Where is his birth
>> certificate proving he was native-born in Ascia as required by the
>> Constitution? Perhaps he's really from the Commonwealth, or worse, an
>> illegal alien - a cacogen!

> I have clear evidence that he's not from Sainte Croix at all, but originates from Sainte Anne. Just look at his reliance on teleprompters!
> _______________________________________________

---

### aaron
*01 May 2013, 16:23 · in reply to Marc Aramini*

Well, you deserve a congrats, I think.  I look forward to reading your
contribution.  As far as Borski discussing Peace, he did talk about the
colors, but in reference to alchemy.  A very creative view, IMO.

> On Wed, May 1, 2013 at 9:03 AM, Marc Aramini <marcaramini at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Definitely, his work on Fifth Head is top notch.  I am trying to remember
> if he did much with all the crazy colors associated with names in Peace (
> blue ribbon around a little coffin, etc) since the characters seemed to be
> overwhelmingly associated with colors- peacock blue, olive, black, porter
> is specifically a darker  brown beer (which color is bold? Yellow?)- but
> the ubiquity of color might make it a symbolist's nightmare in the small
> stories.
> 
> Thank you, by the way, for the congratulations.  If not worthy, I hope at
> least that you will enjoy it a bit.
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Apr 30, 2013, at 9:54 PM, aaron <aaronsingleton at gmail.com> wrote:

>> agree about Borski.  However, when reading his work, I do get excited
>> about re-reading Wolfe so I can make some new discovery.  I also
>> enjoyed some of his observations on T5HoC and Peace.  Alas...  BTW,
>> congrats on the Wolfe antho.  Long-time lurker on the list, so I am
>> familiar with most of the regulars.

> _______________________________________________

---
