# The Quote from Elsewhere – Memory Card #38 👋🏻 The [[Behind the Scenes of The Spirit of Super Mario Galaxy|behind the scenes]] post is live. I backed up the project folder. I cleared off the SSD. That felt *good*. Two terabytes just liberated with a few clicks. The sigh of relief is real. I started the research process for my next essay yesterday *and* time tracked it. I'm going to do my best to bring this habit to my essays. I have been tracking work time for six years. It shouldn't be too difficult to implement. I have a few articles to read for my research. I spent some time yesterday ripping my (apparently [expensive](https://www.ebay.com/shop/looney-tunes-platinum-collection?_nkw=looney+tunes+platinum+collection)) copy of the Looney Tunes Platinum Collection, Volume One on Blu-Ray—say that five times fast. I'm pulling in from quite a few formats and resources for this essay, I think. Last night, I started *The Book of Elsewhere* by China Miéville and Keanu Reeves. This quote early on struck a chord.[^1] I always hate it when a quote hits home when I am in bed for the night. My phone charges out in the dining room, so I have no meaningful way to write the quote down. I've used my Apple Watch before to text myself in digital chick scratch. Thankfully, my wife was in bed and I just borrowed her phone to text myself. Maybe I should leave a Field Notes book and pen on my nightstand...I like that idea. Anyway, here's the aforementioned quote; > "I have always used writing to learn what it is that I think. And I find myself disinclined to leave these mysteries unexamined. I would like to know what I think about this." — *The Book of Elsewhere* by China Miéville and Keanu Reeves Why do I write/make these essays? Why does anyone put pen to paper? Part of it is to figure out what we think about **The Thing™**, that big amorphous *thing* that captivated our brains in some electrifying way. Why? Why did our synapses fire off? What is it that compels me? I would like to know what I think about this. Until next time... > [!email]+ Memory Card Newsletter > This letter is one block from the newsletter **[Memory Card](https://buttondown.com/MaxFrequency)** by [Max Roberts](https://www.maxfrequency.net/about). Thoughts? Send *me* an email at [email protected]. > > Max is the writer and producer behind [Max Frequency](https://www.maxfrequency.net), a place where he cultivates and curates curiosity—both for himself and for others—by delighting in the details and growing greatness from small beginnings. > > He's written a [[Chasing the Stick - The History of Naughty Dog during the PS4 Era|rich history and dive on the making of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part II]], celebrated the [[MFP23 - “A Passion for Smash” – Celebrating 15 Years of Super Smash Bros. Brawl with Peter Spezia|15th anniversary of Super Smash Bros. Brawl with the voice behind its hype]], and examined how [Zelda "stole" Fortnite's best mechanic](https://youtu.be/kc2l_9Fdpek). > > **Memory Card** is a real-ish time, raw, drip feed newsletter of his creative process for telling these stories. It’s *how* The Thing™ gets made. You can sign up below. (Look down) > > It's all powered by [Max Frequency](https://www.maxfrequency.net) and [patrons](https://www.patreon.com/maxfrequency). > > Wanna see The Thing™? [Check it out on YouTube](https://youtube.com/MaxRobertsEssays). Read it on [The Blog](https://www.maxfrequency.net). > <iframe scrolling="no" style="width:100%!important;height:220px;border:1px #ccc solid !important" src="https://buttondown.com/MaxFrequency?as_embed=true"></iframe> [^1]: I've been thinking about and reading [[A Few Quotes on Making|quotes about creation lately]].