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#Post#: 947--------------------------------------------------
Re: Not Far from the Tree
By: Applejack Date: September 22, 2016, 7:36 pm
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The orange mare hums again in thought, finishing her apple in
one solid bite. Brash seems to contradict herself while
discussing the topic of friendship, but Applejack didn't feel
like pursuing the subject beyond what had already been said.
Besides, it wasn't quite her place to pry into Brash's social
life, what little of it there may be. Applebloom, however, is
another story... "If ya say so, sugarcube. Just don't be a
stranger. A friend of Applebloom's is a friend of mine, and the
Apple family will always be here to extend a helpin' hoof if ya
need one. We got some of the best eats in town if ya ever want
to drop by for a snack." Applejack stretches herself across the
patio, readjusting her hat as she reaches for another apple. She
can afford a delay in work, especially in her current state.
She'll just have to work twice as hard when she gets back on her
hooves. "I would also be mighty obliged if you convince
Applebloom and her friends to take their education more
seriously. I dare say that after hangin' around you for a bit,
they'd come to understand just how much they could learn."
#Post#: 948--------------------------------------------------
Re: Not Far from the Tree
By: Brash Date: September 22, 2016, 8:32 pm
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It strikes Brash as odd that anypony would want to avoid
education, although public schools could teach some useless
subjects, but Brash would have to experience such firsthand to
know for sure. "In some subjects I have the knowledge of
university alumni, I'd even be able to teach them officially
with the proper license. I'm sure I could be a more inspiring
teacher than most. However, I suppose I wouldn't have that sort
of time."
"It's likely they haven't had enough examples of how useful
knowledge can be. My father showed me everyday why he studied
things, such as artifacts of power, he learned what made them
tick and created the core for the automaton he left me to build.
He even theorized that should he have been allowed to recover
the Alicorn Amulet, he'd have been able to reverse its
corrupting influence, making anypony a ready hero for when
Equestria was in need."
"Even the beginnings of engineering studies helped me make use
of many tools to ease any physical burdens I was tasked with,
first thing I ever made was a wheeled set of steps to get to any
high place easier, nothing new, but very convenient."
Brash finishes up her apple, including the core.
#Post#: 957--------------------------------------------------
Re: Not Far from the Tree
By: Applejack Date: September 24, 2016, 7:06 pm
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Applejack nods, crossing her hind hooves with a small yawn. Her
lack of sleep was starting to catch up with her, and she hopes
eating a couple apples would put some spring back into her step.
"Work smarter, not harder, I agree one-hundred percent." She
chomps into her second apple, gazing up at the awning that she's
been meaning to fix up. "Of course, as far as growin' and
farmin' goes, gettin' your hooves dirty is really the only way
to go. Equipment and tools can only do so much here, but it
really shows how much time and care we put into our products."
"If you haven't noticed," she continues, reaching up to tip her
hat down a bit. "Applebloom and her friends are what you might
call... er... the adventurin' type. They seem to learn through
hard experiences and grow from their successes... and many
failures." Applejack chuckles, grinning as she takes another
bite. "I think they just don't like school because it traps them
in a small room all day when they'd rather be out explorin' and
such. To be quite honest, I was much the same way when I was
their age."
#Post#: 958--------------------------------------------------
Re: Not Far from the Tree
By: Brash Date: September 24, 2016, 9:01 pm
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"Tactile learning would best suit them, I'm a visual learner
myself. My father went great lengths to be sure of my learning
style shortly after I had learned to carry on full
conversations. Whilst I can read books to gain knowledge, they
need to do things. An educator would find challenge in teaching
that type of student, they're difficult to plan for and lots of
creativity is required for certain subjects. History can be
taught through reenactments, science right in the lab, and of
course the arts through plain practice ...I can't think of
anything for math off the top of my head."
Brash's mind raced among things she'd never thought of before,
but the ideas came easily nonetheless. She had been bitter about
the delay in her work the night before but now she clung to this
distraction from it all, talking more than she had most of her
life with a stranger about things not related to her work.
"And you'd be wrong to think you have to get your hooves dirty
to farm anything, machinery and magic have no limits to what
they can do, though I'll admit it'd be gruesomely expensive to
automate this farm, especially when an earth pony's magic
contributes so much to crop growth."
#Post#: 965--------------------------------------------------
Re: Not Far from the Tree
By: Applejack Date: September 25, 2016, 4:24 pm
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"Aw, shucks... I'm not sure about the whole magic bit, but we
Earth ponies certainly know how to work with our hooves and
connect with the land around and beneath us. It's part of what
makes farmin' so enjoyable, at least for me and my family.
Introducin' fancy machines that just do all the work for us
takes all the joy and... well... magic, out of the experience.
Sure, it would make our lives heaps easier, but nothin' quite
matches the care of an Earth pony's hooves. And it honestly
shows, believe it or not." Once again, Applejack is reminded of
Flim and Flam's machination. At one point, she had thought about
investing in automating parts of the farm, but after that
experience, she whole-heartedly dismissed the idea all-together.
"Perhaps you can relate. Designing, building, craftin', watchin'
it take shape and come to life right before your eyes. That
pride and joy you feel as you watch it all come together and
work as intended. And most, if not all, by your own two hooves."
#Post#: 967--------------------------------------------------
Re: Not Far from the Tree
By: Brash Date: September 25, 2016, 5:00 pm
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"I suppose I understand the gratification of doing the work
yourself. Though trust me when I say a machine could be refined
to the point of knowing better what to do with a tree than any
pony could. Though again it comes down to expenses." Brash
scratches her head. "I suppose one would begin with creation of
products such as juice to be automated, that would be cheapest
and more productivity always means profit, which leads to more
money for more automation and so on... hmm, and you could just
leave the parts you still want to do yourself out of that
cycle."
Brash was having a little trouble connecting with Applejack on
the subject, if she could have machinery build her projects for
her, realizing her ideas faster, that sounded much better. "The
end product is always what I have in mind and I work as much as
I need to toward it, and if I had access to things that could
help I'd use them. With a farm the true end product is feeding
everypony, so unless the population spikes I suppose you're all
set anyhow."
#Post#: 1001--------------------------------------------------
Re: Not Far from the Tree
By: Applejack Date: September 30, 2016, 11:18 pm
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"Well... I suppose that all makes sense, now that I really think
about it. Workin' hard is one thing, but making or usin'
somethin' that speeds up the whole process would be the better
choice. I guess I just like workin' hard... Runs in the family,
after all. Buildin' and plantin' this whole plantation with our
own bare hooves. Well, my dear ol' Granny, at least." Applejack
chuckles, tilting her the brim of her hat up as she gazes out at
the vast expanse of trees that sprawl out before her. "I
dunno... We've stuck around here for so long, maybe it's just
expected of us. Become part of this town's little history, ya
know?" She pauses, once again recalling the feud with Flim and
Flam. "For the very most important ingredient... Can't be added
or done expedient. And it's quality, friends, Apple Acres'
quality and care."
Applejack mulls on that thought for a moment, twisting and
turning it in her head. Even if she were to suggest the idea of
automating parts of the farm, Granny would abhorrently object...
And the aftermath of flying pots, pans, and other kitchen-ware
would probably be heard 'round the world. "Speaking of juice...
We once had a pair of stallions stop by with a fancy machine.
The less-than-flatterin' Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000." She
trips up on the name a few times, getting herself tongue-tied.
"Anywho, we almost lost this entire farm to the silly
contraption on a bet: Who could produce more cider in an hour.
Even with the help of all my friends, we technically lost fair
and square. It was only because the stallions chose to ramp up
production over quality that the bet was overturned. Still..."
She paused for a moment, rubbing her chin in thought. "It was a
frightenin' moment. And I've always wondered, what if they could
have fine-tuned that contraption to match quality with
production?"
The mare stands with a small grunt, shivering at the thought.
"But you make a mighty fine point, Brash. We are largely
responsible for feeding everypony day by day. But Ponyville's
population has gone up, I'd reckon. If that keeps up, we'd have
to do some hirin'... or... make it easier on ourselves, so to
speak."
#Post#: 1002--------------------------------------------------
Re: Not Far from the Tree
By: Brash Date: October 1, 2016, 12:03 am
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"Was cider production a problem?" It was a reasonable assumption
from the story, why bet the farm otherwise? "That contraption
sounds like something my father came up with a while ago, I
could dig up the old blueprints. You'd need a unicorn friend
that could pour some magic into a crystal and you'd be all set."
Brash runs some numbers in her head. "I'd guess that the machine
could increase your production five times as much, I could ask
for eighty percent of the profits and you'd break even. Though
ten percent sounds reasonable, after the machine is made I
wouldn't be involved in anything but the rare instance it might
need repair. All of father's inventions are quite sturdy."
With another look over the farm Brash can see that the quantity
of apples needed wouldn't be a problem even if cider season drew
in plenty of tourists. "If it looks like a problem in the future
I'd be willing to build it on demand and I can assure the
machine will never sacrifice quality." Brash begins the mumble a
bit as she looks down and continues, "I could probably work on
the blueprints a little and get it to dice the good parts out of
bad apples it detects."
She picks up her head and looks to Applejack, "As well, my
project, the autonomous metal mare, will need to be suited for
many tasks. If once completed I could do some field testing on
your farm, you could seek its help free of charge on occasion."
#Post#: 1060--------------------------------------------------
Re: Not Far from the Tree
By: Applejack Date: October 5, 2016, 7:20 pm
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"Shoot, I ain't the one ya gotta convince about machines and
splittin' costs, sugarcube," the mare comments rather flatly,
trotting up to an old well she had been meaning to check on.
"That decision would fall on my dear ol' Granny. Now, while my
big brother and I do most of the work around the farm, Granny
is... uh... the Queen of this here plantation. If that makes any
sense. Now, I love her to pieces, but she's rather set in her
ways. Convincin' her ain't gonna be easy." Applejack tugs on the
frayed rope, carefully pulling it up. She didn't remember
anything attached to the end, so it came quite as a surprise
when the mare encountered resistance on the end of the rope.
"What in tarnation?"
She pulls a little bit harder, thinking the rope might be caught
on something at the bottom of the well. "As for the automoto...
autonon... your project, feel free to come by any time. I'm sure
I could lend you a hoof... The rest of the gang, too."
#Post#: 1064--------------------------------------------------
Re: Not Far from the Tree
By: Brash Date: October 5, 2016, 8:23 pm
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"A traditionalist? Those types are difficult, something my
father despised was ponies who wouldn't compromise their
traditions to make way for the future." Brash peers down the
well as Applejack pulls at the rope. "Unlike him however, I
figure I can take the more solid stance of proving to the
ignorant that new advancements will trample those who do not
adapt."
Without a thought Brash says, "Hold tight, I'll fix it." As she
grabs hold of the rope's side that descends down the well,
wrapping her forelegs around it and sliding down into the dark.
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