LOOKING OUT THE PORTHOLE

Apr 20th 2011, 14:33 by E O Hatterpol | KUIPER BELT DAY 16

SINCE, after tomorrow, I don't expect to see anything out the portholes except empty space for a long time, I thought I'd draw you guys a picture while there was still something out there to see up-close.


As you can see, our portholes are shaped like ship's wheels, but the central connector is pushed out into space to afford better views.  We call our portholes "barnacles" because they look like little bumps hitching a ride on the whale's side.  The default emblem for barnacles is a decorative anchor, but that changes near interesting locations.


The Whale's Liver has a pint instead of an anchor.  Our reading area has an open book & the Baleen Plates Observation Deck sports a telescope.  These symbols help us Flybrarians navigate the belly of the beast.  As you all know, blue whales are large.  Starships shaped like blue whales are gigantic.

So how do the barnacles help us get around the ship?  Let's pretend you've had a pint too many at the Whale's Liver & are heading back to your quarters when, all of a sudden, you're struck with the urgent need to duck out to the loo.  Simply follow the barnacles on the wall until the anchor transforms into the universal symbol for a man's toilet, then start opening doors & hope for the best.  One of them is bound to have a WC in it.


Doesn't that get confusing? you ask.  Not really.  If you're surrounded by nothing but anchors, then yes, you're lost.  That probably means you've left all life behind and pushed way deep into the whale's belly.  But if not, the symbols can help.


For example, if there isn't enough hall space between two interesting locations to fade into the default anchor at the middle, the symbols mix.  When you see a pint in the porthole, you know you're near the Whale's Liver.  As you walk towards the BPOD, that pint will slowly stretch lengthwise, break into segments & lose beer, like you're drinking a glass that's getting taller by the minute.  By the time you reach the observation deck, the pint has become a telescope.
Anyways!  It's been more than five weeks aboard the ship so I barely notice the system anymore, but it's been cool pointing it out to all you guys because I got to step back & appreciate it again as if it were new.


See you tomorrow when we say "So long!" to the Kuiper Belt!