November 20, 2003

dream/combat

Had a dream this morning that I was fighting a robot. "Cyborg" may be a more accurate term, actually: it had a human body, with two metallic components - an electronic brain and some sort of mechanical power core in place of a heart. It was hand-to-hand combat, since neither of us had any weapons. (I actually had a double-barrel shotgun, but no ammunition.) Fortunately I did have some assistance; there was a group of people (I think they were supposed to be the Lunatics) helping me fight. Even so, it became clear that the battle was a stalemate. Just before I woke to my alarm clock, I had the thought of getting my katana to hack off the robot's limbs, thereby neutralizing it.

I offer the following interpretations:

The Obvious: The overall man vs. machine theme clearly points to my struggles in lab over the past week with a computer simulation. I've had a somewhat torturous time getting the program to give me any answer at all, as opposed to just eating up all my RAM and crashing, and when I do get an answer it's a physically impossible one. Under this interpretation the group assisting me would be my coworkers, although only one of them is actually working on the same problem. I have decided to follow the strategy I came up with at the end of the dream and hack out parts of the input to see if I can get it to work with a simpler scenario (and thereby find out what's breaking the program).

The Internal: The mechanical heart and brain can be a metaphor for cold analytic reasoning without an emotional component. One could interpret the fight as representing a conflict between my logical side and my emotional side over some issue. What issue would that be? You'll have to speak up, Mr. Subconscious; I can't hear you.

The Political: It is possibly no coincidence that that famous on-screen android, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was inaugurated as California governor this week. Perhaps the dream represents my part in the struggle against cold, heartless Republicans over the future of America.

The Too Many Movies: The katana? Kill Bill. The shotgun? Once Upon a Time in Mexico. The robot? Terminator 3.

As usual, pick your favorite. Posted by Arcane Gazebo at November 20, 2003 9:55 PM | Tags:
Comments



Despite the amazingly intricate workings of your mind which lend substance to all your arguments, here is one vote for "The Internal". Letting go of your cold (particularly in the case of Republicans)analytical reasoning in order to let your emotional side flow seems to have been an ongoing struggle for you. You might become like the rest of us, frightening as that may be, but it could be very freeing...Of course, you come by those "gotta be perfect" genes honestly. Maybe just an occasional walk on the wild side?

You don't even have to look to know where this came from...

Posted by: Anonymous | November 21, 2003 7:12 AM



OK. That was supposed to be funny, but it sounds more like a lecture. Someone would almost think your mother was instructing you on this one.

Posted by: Anonymous | November 21, 2003 8:39 AM



I'm also coming in as an anonymous vote for "Internal".

Although all of your choices were very well thought out, as well as being excellent possibilities.

I'm sticking with The Internal interpretation.

Posted by: Anonymous | November 21, 2003 11:43 AM



I love the way your mind works. I'm casting my anonymous vote for The Internal as well. Bust out the katana and get hacking.

Posted by: Anonymous | November 21, 2003 2:54 PM

Another theory

Let's not forget that it could always be a dream based on your subconscious knowing that I'd be bringing home the latest graphic novel of Transmetropolitan, entitled, "The Cure", for Thanksgiving break. And that you'd be driving and/or riding in the Mokkori-mobile.

Don't see the connection? You may just not be as observant as I.

Posted by: El Testiculo | November 21, 2003 7:42 PM
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