I, for one, can’t imagine skipping meals simply because I forgot all about it. Occasionally lunch gets delayed because I’m in the middle of things– only lunch, because that’s the only meal where I usually don’t have to worry about feeding other people in the household as well– but if I miss a meal altogether, I’m going to notice. And get pretty grouchy to boot. I think Fusella would see things from my point of view on this one, but Darvin is, evidently, from that subset of people for whom food is sometimes just too much trouble to bother with. Crazy, I know. 
There’s still time to take advantage of the January Special on the print version of Galaxion Book 1: The Jump! Many thanks to those of you who already have. 
Man, oh man, do I sympathize with Darvin there. The number of times I’ve simply forgotten about a meal… or sleep… or… well, all in all, I know how it is. Sometimes people are just far too occupied to worry about silly things like basic biological necessities.
I have the same problem… When I’m not doing anything in particular on a given day (which is most of the time), I wind up missing breakfast. So I have brunch instead… and try not to be too grouchy!
Transition several chapters forward: “I love it when a plan comes together.”
It won’t take several chapters. It will be next week when he says, “Plans are only good for ten minutes…”
Before we got the “Life” and the “Hyperspace”. Now we finally get the “Love”. I love it.
(I can’t tell if I just made a pun…)
You know – i´m one of those “persons for whom food is sometimes just too much trouble to bother with” – AND i get grumpy when temporarily hypoglycemic. The others in my house community can sing a song about that.
I guess i have to work on that before applying for the mars mission
I just noticed this, but he has a wristwatch. Who the hell has a wristwatch these days? Why doesn’t he just look at his Ipod or Iphone or tricorder? Hell, he should just look at the clock in the corner of his computer holoscreen to get the time.
Bah, wristwatches! Next he’ll need a flip-page wall calendar to tell him the day of the week! ;-P
You know, I had this discussion with a friend of mine early in December, when I was trying to decide if I should get my husband a watch for Xmas to replace his old one that hasn’t worked in several years. My friend looked at me like I was from the Moon. Who uses watches anymore, she said, when everyone uses their phones to check the time? (It probably won’t surprise you to learn that *I* do. I hate being without my watch, despite having timepieces all around me.)
I actually hesitated when it came time to draw this page. Was my friend right, and watches should have gone the way of typewriters in my sci-fi story? I mulled it over for a while, and then went ahead with drawing it as it is. I’ve already established that they wear things on their wrist, so I figured I might as well run with it. Anyway, the main function of that thing on his wrist is actually a com-link, and the fact that it also tells time is just one of those extra features. I know it’s kind of Dick Tracy, but I am still convinced that it’s easier to keep things firmly attached to my wrist, rather than fumbling about in my pocket for my phone, or realizing I’ve left my phone in my other coat.
That’s not a wristwatch. That’s his personal bio-sensor! (PBS)
It gives him a reading of how he’s feeling when he’s too busy to tell for himself.
Like wearing a big mood-ring, except with more options and apps.
How else would he know when he was hungy?
@Tara: Besides the fact that your “wrist com-link” is INDEED so much better than a pocket weight, i can see the sense in a real wrist clock – more or less mechanic items may prove a valuable backup in case some EMP fries your ipaddy
Also, since they are sooo scarce and valuable, it is a sign of prestige among higher ranks.
“Hey, did you see the captains table? He is so rich and strongheaded that he uses a TYPEWRITER for his officier evaluation reports. Wow, THAT is true character!”