Preparing to Brave the Ratty

Hi, Readers, Hi!

Following in Chris' netsteps, I am broadcasting to the world that which I have prepared to make it through tomorrow. These are the supplies that will get me through the day alive.

Pictured here:

• comfortable clothing that will allow for an easy change into my rugby (yes, we are topping off our twelve hours by going straight to a basketball game–AAAAAAH!)
• power strip
• we got the power
• The Power of Identity
• sold this book on amazon, but it turns out I sold it to a Brown student, so I'm hoping she'll come by the Ratty to pick it up
• various C.S. Lewis books 
• my goal is to finish the books for the semester by the end of next week (they're relatively short, and I don't want to have to do anything but enjoy the class and not stress about reading)
• my knitting
• I've ambitiously brought the second skein for this scarf, but it would take a miracle for me to even get that far. Never knit with size 1, folks. Never.
• London's calculator 
• hey London, I still have your calculator–hopefully this post means I'll remember to give it to you
• hard drive
• my second-a-day video needs some major attention
• mouse
• Chris was correct, Runescape will be happening, and the mouse is a critical feature
• camera charger
• I have been designated photographer for tomorrow, so stay tuned for pictures of everyone we see and everything we eat–it'll be like those people you can't stand on your facebook/instagram feeds
• mini camera tripod
• see previous item
• headphones
• journals and pens
• blanket
• this may or may not make it to the Ratty, depends if it fits in my backpack or not
• planner
• for plannin' stuff
• not pictured: misc. electronics and chargers

So this is a lot less exciting than what Chris is bringing, but he's bringing the party and I'm bringing my to-do list because I am insufferable like that. I hope in some way this picture of my books and knitting has convinced at least one of you readers that I'm fun to be around or something. 

See you in seven hours, folks.

Ratty Preppers

Chris:

Tomorrow is going to be a long, long day. We very well might need to escape to a world where diseases are threatening the planet, or where runners are trying to hack through megacorps' ice, or where pirates discover magic and colonize other planets, or where Shia Labeouf is hunting you and your friends with uncanny speed. Anyway, here's what I'm bringing tomorrow:

• Water bottle
• To quote challenge alumna Zoe Fieldsteel, "because hydration is important and Ratty cups are too small."
• Laptop, charger, mouse
• From what I hear, some RuneScape might be happening, so that mouse is key. Come to think of it, I might need a mousepad because no mouse is going to slide on the Ratty tables.
• iPad, charger
• Power strip
• If you have one, bring it. You'll be grateful.
• Headphones
• Dungeon World
• It's like if Dungeons and Dragons wasn't trying to make you stop playing with boring grid combat. I'm part of two ongoing campaigns that might get a chance to continue, and I'm of course open to running a one-shot.
• Microscope
• A game where you literally make up whatever kind of history you want.
• Not shown: Actual Cannibal Shia LaBeouf
• A simple game that recreates a normal Tuesday night for Shia LaBeouf.
• Netrunner
• A nerdy trash cyberpunk card game because I am nerd cyberpunk trash.
• Deck of cards
• Carcassonne
• Pandemic

Team, board games. Just, board games. See you bright and early.

Menu Analysis: Middle of the Road

Alright team, let's get this train rolling. The challenge happens in fewer than seven days, and you know what that means--I have to look at the Ratty Menu for the first time in almost a year. This year's menu cuts a little more toward the middle road. That means none of the highs and lows from last year's menu (chicken parm and steak fries), but I still feel this is a solid lineup. Lord knows we could do worse. Without further ado, here are the highlights:

• Breakfast
• The Good
• Chocolate Chip Pancakes!
• Tater Tots!!
• Braided Raspberry Danish??
• The Bad
• Scrambled Eggs
• Some may disagree with me here, but I always found Ratty eggs to be overcooked and underseasoned.
• Hard Boiled Eggs
• Grapefruit Halves?
• Lunch
• The Good
• Pulled Pork Sandwich
• Don't expect the best BBQ of your life, but drench it in enough sauce and you have a decent Ratty staple.
• Waffle Cut Fries
• Danny Gleave '13 put the waffle fry smack dab in the middle of his infamous Frierarchy, noting that some Paul McCartney lyrics boosted it up 2 rankings. I feel that was a little unfair to the waffle fry. It has the seasoning that really adds a nice touch to dining hall fries, and the waffle texture improves the surface-area-to-volume ratio that allows the best part of a fry--the crispy surface--to shine.
• Tater Tots
• Normally I would list a menu item twice, but there's not a whole lot else to carry the lunch menu.
• The Bad
• Ginger Chicken Pasta
• A bland dish made worse because its name reminds you of Cajun Chicken Pasta, leaving you disappointed when you remember what you're actually eating.
• Blondie Bars
• Greek Salad Bar
• Vegetarian Cauliflower Soup
• I think my parents tried cooking cauliflower once when I was a little kid. We were never to keen to try again.
• Fresh Broccoli
• I maintain that dark green veggies were meant to be sauteed, roasted, or grilled, caramelizing the surfaces and bringing out the flavors to pair with lemon or vinegar and a bit of garlic. The Ratty seems to opt for steaming all of the flavor out of their vegetables.
• Dinner
• The Good
• Saturday Night Jambalaya
• Meatloaf w/Mushroom Sauce??
• Mashed Potatoes??
• Yellow Cake w/Frosting
• Probably the first dessert you'll see me going for on Saturday.
• The Bad
• Braised Cauliflower
• My comments about the broccoli still stand.

In my opinion, lunch is going to be the low point of the day, but I see at least a couple viable options for each meal.

See you on Saturday!

WE DID IT!!!!!

The clock has officially struck 7:30 - we made it! Elaine, Zoe, and Derek survived twelve full hours in Rat-Town, aided by the help and support of every lovely person who came to spend time with us, many of whom spent the vast majority of the day here. It was so much fun doing absolutely no work (or maybe some people did work, but I certainly didn't), playing games, and just generally dicking around in the Ratty all day. What a glorious, successful day to take on - and beat - the Ratty Challenge.

The three twelve-hour-ers

Everyone who made it to the very end! Not pictured: All the wonderful folks who came in and out throughout the day but weren't around at 7:30 p.m.

Is there any better way to spend a day than with the Brown Band in the comfort of the Ratty? (No.) Good luck to all of next year's Challengers!

Now we're ACTUALLY nearing the end

UNDER HALF AN HOUR LEFT!

Update of the people who have joined us since our last post:

Mermelhammer!

London Cooper-Troendle Houston Rocket

Alex!

Kiki!

Lia!

Ryan!

Cassie!

Ava!

And the final Skype friend, Dennis!

We also busted out the games for a rousing Catan competition:

Settle that shit.

Congrats to the winners, Elaine and Amy! They promise they didn't cheat, but who really knows?

Stay tuned for one or two finals posts as we finish out the Challenge! It's been a great day.

Nearing the end...just kidding it's only 4 p.m.

We've been joined by some more friends as the afternoon wears on and the light begins to dim. It seriously feels like 6 p.m., but it is 100% not. Here's who we're hanging out with now!

Chris! He brought some games.

Great-grandma Emily! She brought some altitude.

Caleb! He brought a hangover.

Kristen! She brought a smile.

We were also blessed with EVEN MORE CRUST. First Leber Skyped in from the Rock where he's working on his paper, aka Doha, Qatar:

Wait a sec, that's not right...

There we go. Leber: "Should I pose?"

AND THEN we got to talk to Ronnie who is off getting even smarter than he already is in a PhD program at Cornell.

Look how smart!

Things are rolling along smoothly here. Under 3.5 hours left! And Harvard still sucks. (uH)

Even more bandies and shenanigans! (Shebandigans)

We are officially halfway there!

Quick update to display the additional lovely friends who have joined the Challenge:

Kyle!

Ben and Sid!

Charlie Gleason! (Charlie Greaser)

Brett! He loves cars.

Ken!

Eli is so beautiful and glamorous.

Nice coat, Margaret!

"Peter, are you okay?" "Yes, why?"

Kevin!

Hisyam!

Obviously this is happening. Just try not to get sucked in.

(For those of you joining us from years past - try to touch the tips of your index fingers together above your head without looking. Then try to get everyone around you do look at you weirdly when you do this in unison with 20 other people.)

6.25 hours down, 5.75 hours to go.