013 - Another year, another Valentine's Day.

[sosnarrator]

... So, Valentine's Day is coming up soon. Normally I wouldn't even bother keeping track of this, as other than the occasional courtesy chocolate it's usually just a reminder of the fact that I still don't have a girlfriend

Comments

[cramschoolgod]

Ah, what a clever tactic, Kyon, broadcasting your lack of relations so that interested females will know you are available! Don't you think your friends will have something to say about that?

Hmm, it's pointless anyway, though, as I'm sure you know I think. If you do find out what has been done, though, please inform me. I'm curious to see my first such event. I wonder why they choose to emulate holidays? Perhaps it is because the schedule of holidays represents things that are important to people, particularly holidays representing things from this American culture. Naturally, it would make sense if the maintainers of this facility have some actual connection to the world that it is modeled upon.

Ah, and Kyon, may I ask what your address is?

[sosnarrator]

Well, it certainly doesn't hurt to at least mention it?

Anyway, I heard something about candy with unwanted side effects... I'm not entirely sure what said side effects were as it was already a second hand account to begin with.

As for my address, I'm living at 1246 Williams Road.

[cramschoolgod]

Hmm, Nagato-san said something about candy being used for this purpose at Halloween as well. I wonder why the same device would be used twice? Perhaps a limitation of their technology, though it's hard to imagine why such an arbitrary limitation would exist...

[sosnarrator]

Yeah, I heard about the Halloween thing before as it wasn't long before I arrived...

[cramschoolgod]

[She makes a noncommittal sound and moves on.]

Speaking of which, Kyon, do you know about the history of Valentine's Day in Japan? Do you know when it was introduced? It's quite interesting. It was only in 1936 when it was first marketed; and White Day dates from only thirty years ago. We have adopted these customs to a level beyond the original culture. I suspect the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis would have something to say about this.

By the way, Kyon, did you know that there are artificial intelligences here? I am living in a house with two of them.

[sosnarrator]

I never really considered myself to be that well up on my history... Anyway, I suppose the divergent "evolution" of the holiday among cultures is somewhat interesting nonetheless.

Artificial Intelligences? As in, some kind of robots?

(If we're merely talking of intelligences created by others, wouldn't Nagato count in that category due to the Integrated Data Thought Entity?)

[cramschoolgod]

It is driven by corporate marketing, of course, the spread of the holiday, I mean, but I think we have picked up on it specifically because in a modern world, we need to update our courting ceremonies, away from the feudal age--and yet our society is generally more custom and tradition-reliant than the Western cultures. The opportunity was there, some nameless corporate executive breathed life into it, and now we have a psychological demand: even I am going to give you chocolate, Kyon, because it is a social gesture

[sosnarrator]

Right, I see.

(How exactly am I supposed to reply to these infodumps anyway!? Sasaki, Nagato, Koizumi... Even Miss Asahina (big) at times! ... I think this is why I need an idiot like Taniguchi to talk to.)

[cramschoolgod]

[... she goes on and on...] which is why I suspect that it may be entirely a quantum computer of the highest order, a meta-quantum computer, if you will.

Which makes me wonder, Kyon: what is Nagato, an alien or an artificial intelligence? Kyoko either didn't know or didn't inform me, and to be honest, Kuyoh's behavior was not very informative.

Who does Kyon live with, anyway?

[sosnarrator]

She's an artificial construct of alien origin? ... Or something like that.

As for who I live with, there's my "mother" Bree van de Kamp and "brother" Kei Kurono... I haven't really gotten around to talking much with Kei yet though.

[cramschoolgod]

I see.

Bree van de Kamp. My, my. That name does not tell me anything about her. Does that mean she is American?

[sosnarrator]

Yeah, she's pretty much the stereotypical American housewife.

[cramschoolgod]

Stereotypical for this time or for another? Hmm, interesting culture clash, I suppose.

[sosnarrator]

Well, I'm no expert on American culture, but I think more-so for this period, despite being from contemporary times?

[cramschoolgod]

Ah... Does she cheer for you at soccer practice, Kyon? Does she bake you apple pies and corn on the cob?

[A small grin.]

[sosnarrator]

I could do without the jokes.

(... She does make a good apple pie though.)