Hôtel Marieux

Given Rad’s recent embrace of A.I. tech, I’m reminded of this classic from my youth: https://youtu.be/3xe3It9DFDQ? When the ebbing tide retreats Along the rocky shoreline It leaves a trail of tidal pools In a short-lived galaxy Each microcosmic planet A complete society A simple kind of mirror To reflect upon our own All the busy little creatures Chasing out their destinies Living in their pools They soon forget about the sea… Wheels within wheels in a spiral array A pattern so grand and complex Time after time we lose sight of the way Our causes can’t see their effects… A quantum leap forward In time and in space The universe learned to expand The mess and the magic Triumphant and tragic A mechanized world out of hand Computerized clinics For superior cynics Who dance to a synthetic band In their own image Their world is fashioned No wonder they don’t understand Science, like Nature Must also be tamed With a view towards its preservation Given the same State of integrity It will surely serve us well Art as expression Not as market campaigns Will still capture our imaginations Given the same State of integrity It will surely help us along… Read more »

In The Dark Tower by Stephen King, the term “ka-tet” is a central concept tied to the series’ metaphysical framework. Core meaning A ka-tet is a group of people bound together by “ka”, which functions like fate, destiny, or a guiding force of the universe. • “Ka” ≈ destiny / the force that governs events • “Tet” ≈ a group or fellowship So a ka-tet is essentially: A group of individuals whose lives are intertwined by destiny to achieve a shared purpose. Deeper implications (this is where it gets interesting) King doesn’t treat it as just “teamwork.” A ka-tet has a few defining characteristics: • Inevitability: The members are drawn together, often against logic or initial desire. • Interdependence: Each member fulfills a role that the others cannot replace. • Sacred obligation: Once formed, the bond is not casual—it carries a sense of cosmic duty. • Fragility + necessity: If the ka-tet breaks, the mission (and sometimes reality itself) is at risk. In the story The main ka-tet forms around Roland Deschain, the Gunslinger, and includes characters pulled from different times and worlds. Their connection isn’t based on friendship alone—it’s something deeper and more coercive, like they’re being used by… Read more »