We read Witold Rybczynski’s 1986 title about the meaning of comfort and the defense of old-school domesticity. What do tartan, Jane Austen, colonial plunder, and modernism have to do with it? Whit Uno-reverses “RETVRN” with a “v”; Kit makes an improbable connection to Travis Kelce.

Episode Links

“Living Like Weasels” by Annie Dillard

Attributions

Music by FreePD.com (RIP); and “Wholesome” and “Study and Relax” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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In our introductory episode, we preview the reading list, show our suburban credentials, try to explain what The Sims even is, and reflect on video games, dolls, and other imaginative play. Kit ponders god(s)’ omnipotence; Whit reminisces on running an intergenerational labor camp.

Episode Links

The recommended reading list is here; the full The Sims manual is here.

Reticulating what?

Enjoy some gameplay and demos from The Sims (2000) and The Sims 2 (2004).

Will Wright was profiled in the NYT in 2025.

Read Joe Wadlington’s essay “Behind Trees” here.

Attributions

Music by FreePD.com (RIP); and “Wholesome” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/