The Observer Reports

Entry: Temporary Daily Stasis

At least once every 24-hour period the entirety of this species falls into a state of stasis (linguistic term: “sleep”). Stasis durations last approximately 6-9 hours. The average state of stasis occurs when the planet’s rotation faces away from its sun, leaving the hemisphere devoid of sunlight.

During these hours of darkness the species becomes, in their vernacular, “sleepy.” This sleepiness is indicated by languid body movements, a widening of the mouth with a sharp inhalation and slow exhalation of breath, and a drooping of the thin skin that blinks over the eye balls.

When in stasis, this species prefer to lie horizontally on a soft surface, incline their head on additional small squares filled with supple material, and cover their bodies with layers of fabric. Some species sleep alone, while others engage in co-sleeping.

While asleep, this species keep their eyes closed, frequently flip their bodies over, change positions, and fling out their limbs. Some emit loud snorting sounds from their mouths, or let saliva drip down over their cheeks. Others mumble or breath loudly, while some twitch and yell. It appears that mental activity is still occurring during physical periods of stasis, although it is hard to tell what, or whether it is coherent.

Observational sketches below detail some habits and positions observed during periods of stasis:

Entry: Transportation

The majority of transportation in the Western Hemisphere of this planet occurs within small metallic boxes (linguistic term: “car”) attached to a set of four wheels, or long metallic boxes attached to a set of eight wheels (linguistic term: “bus”). The majority of these vehicles utilize internal combustion with fuel extracted from the planet to propel them from point A to point B. As part of the infrastructure of each landmass, this species has poured a hard, flat substance in paths connecting city centers in order to allow the vehicles to propel smoothly from one destination to the next.

Secondary forms of transportation also utilized (although not as frequently) include very long boxes on sets of wheels that run on predetermined metal lines called tracks, or long boxes that run underground on electrically charged tracks. These long underground boxes are only found in places with a high concentration of the species population, but seem to be a preferred method for short distance trips when available.

A last major form of transportation occurs in long cylindrical metallic objects that have large flat wings protruding from both sides of the cylindrical shape. This form of transportation occurs in the air and can transport multiple individuals from one destination to another much more quickly than any metallic box that carries this species on the planet’s surface. The winged cylindrical object appears to be the preferred method of transportation for travel of longer distances.

The primary fuel this species uses for transportation is extracted from the depths of their own planet with massive mechanical machines that drill deep into its interior. Initial research surveys indicate that this liquid is depleting. The species seems to be aware of this depletion, as alternative forms of fuel are slowly being introduced into the transportation market, but it is unclear at this time why the species is not transitioning to an entirely new fuel source more quickly.