There's a memory-chip plotline in Bujold's book (titled, appropriately enough, Memory) where a character's chip gets messed up, and starts dumping random memories into his head. So one moment he's talking to you about the day's schedule, and the next minute he's asking for updates on the war that he was in 20 years ago. Removing the chip is a problem in that the character is head of security, and the chip held a lot of the information that let him do his job. On the upside, the chip also recorded decades of lousy movies, boring conversations, violent deaths, bad smells, etc. so in losing the chip the character also lost a lot of stuff he was happy to do without. The book's exploration of memory issues is pretty good.

Nothing springs to mind where losing memories is a good thing, no.

It makes me wonder if there's some sort of conspiracy to keep us afeared of the prospect. By a group of people we no longer remember.

t gets out the tinfoil

"Sobatka" is my new word for a certain class of working guy with dirt under his nails

I like that. And yeah, Sobotka was the most tragic figure I've seen on TV in this short lifetime. Are you watching Deadwood, too? Have I asked you this already?

Also, Strega, do you know if TWOP is ever going to recap The Wire?

The end of Gun, With Occasional Music, but more as an act of self-annhiliation than a benefit...the hero takes some "Forgetall" That was Lethem, too, of course. I sense a preoccupation. ETA: We talked about it, but I was all "Ew. Like horses and shit? No way...John Wayne bit my sister, dude." But I admit it, yo, I was a punk-ass bitch of a genre snob. I'll give it a shot, one day. Just to make up for my embolism over " But I don't like cop shows." People have made the Deadwood: horse opera is to :H:LOTS: cops and robbers analogy enough now.

That was Lethem, too, of course. I sense a preoccupation.

Probably something about the first five letters of his name.

I was loving it and then it ended and the end was kind of, I don't know. Disappointing, except I wasn't exactly expecting anything of the ending. It was just not the ending that the rest of the movie had prepared me for, somehow. And I don't know how.

Hmm. When I first saw it, I had no idea how it could end, and I was preparing myself to be disappointed by the ending. And then, it was so simple and beautiful and sad and hopeful; I thought it was perfect, and all the more so for being unexpected.

I had a funny line about Memento, but I forgot it.

I mean, they're stupid and petty and mean to each other, and they'll probably fight and break up all over again, but, y'know, they love each other, too, and that little possibility of redemption is really enough reason to go through it all. Man. That's more romantic than anything with Meg Ryan would ever dare.

Oh yes. And I liked that they were left with a blank slate *and* open eyes to start over with. I'll have to watch again, see if I feel the same way.

Amnesia Fiction added to Wish List. Excellent.

I guess the memory erasing in Men in Black is pretty benign.

When I first saw it, I had no idea how it could end, and I was preparing myself to be disappointed by the ending. And then, it was so simple and beautiful and sad and hopeful; I thought it was perfect, and all the more so for being unexpected.

I also had no idea how it could end, but after having no idea how the middle would go and having that blow me away as being absolutely perfect, the ending...wasn't.

I had a funny line about Memento, but I forgot it.

Heh. I love Memento bunches. One of my favorites.

When I first saw it, I had no idea how it could end, and I was preparing myself to be disappointed by the ending. And then, it was so simple and beautiful and sad and hopeful; I thought it was perfect, and all the more so for being unexpected.

I think I'm with Kate here. It was just so...right.