for what it's worth

a new assigment; an expanded mythology?

New operative tobyesterhase posts on the Neuroboard that he's received an assigment having "something to do with The Crying of Lot 49."

You'll recall that the book was mentioned on Graham's blog exactly a year ago today, in the text of one of many emails supposedly sent to Neurocam and then passed on to Graham via CD. I linked to the reference back in January; as far as I know these are the only times the book has been connected to the Cam (at least in public, online forums).

Anybody else get this assigment, or know anything about tobyesterhase?

harriet the spy

"Neurocam Training exercise NTE-9002/01"

i.e.

“something to do with covert training”

Yes, I got that too.

And maybe it's just the reporter in me talking, but um, yawn?

drop dead

And some of you may already know this, but there's a new assignment in the works.

Me, I'm still waiting for my post-Magus directives.

The Magus, Neville Harris, and the Council of Three

1. Yes, I got that assignment too.

2. Has Neurocam goofed? Or do they simply have balls of glittering hard diamond when it comes to The Art of the Bluff?

A few days ago, new operative Avery Cardoza emailed me about an interesting discovery he had made re Neurocam New Zealand's Certificate of Incorporation. It was signed by one Neville Harris. If you need a refresher, the man in the black mask in this Age photo is also named Neville Harris:

But Harris hadn't signed the incorporation certificate as a Neurocam employee; rather, it appears the name of the man employed by the New Zealand government to sign such documents on their behalf is none other than Neville Harris, a deputy secretary within the Ministry of Economic Development.

Coincidence? Our man Cardoza decided to find out. Go read Neurocam Neville's reply to Avery's query, and then come back and see how it conflicts with how the MED's Neville answers the same question when posed by  Ronald Westward (second comment down).

3. Xade seems to know something we don't. Or else he's messing with us. Or both. Should we send him goatse postcards until he spills it, or take his (potential) clue and run with it? Life is full of such difficult decisions.

the N word

In news more directly related to Neurocam, I received the standard confirmation email re my first assignment. Nothing of real interest except a time frame. It reads:

Dear Applicant Hawthorne

Verification of Perception Assessment NCI-2001/02 completion has been
received.

Neurocam International’s Operations Division is currently reviewing your
report. Your performance will soon be assessed in accordance with
operational criteria.  This assessment will complete your application
process.

Once our review is complete you will be contacted and informed of the
status of your application. Please be aware that this may take between
seven to ten working days.

I assure you, however, that Neurocam will be in contact with you again.

Regards,

Charles Hastings
Head, Operations Division
Neurocam International
[email protected]

That's about it for now. I'm trying to get myself back on some semblance of a normal sleep schedule, so hopefully there'll be no more 4-a.m. posts from me any time soon.

Sweet dreams, kiddies.

the first milepost

Well, I've just filed my report on assignment 01. I've decided to take the Magus approach to all this, i.e.:

"I do not ask you to believe.  All I ask you is to pretend to believe.  It will be easier." 

Of course, I'm still not sure what exactly it is in which I'm pretending to believe. And the Magus approach should not be confused with the unfiction approach, which can perhaps best be described as: "This is a game, and don't you dare try to tell us it's a game!" Whatever, guys. I think you're missing the point.

Off to burrow through the rest of Graham's archives.