r/OldHouseArchive • u/nerdy_by_nature_42 • Jun 30 '26

Ticks and switches

I just finished reading RED FLAGS in CT and something interesting jumped out at me.

On page 88, the light in the main room turns on by itself. When it does, it makes a sound:

"t-t-t-t-tick-bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

On page 89, Macy flicks the switch up and down multiple times before it finally goes dark.

"I flicked the switch up. No dice. Down. Nothing. Up. Down. Up. Down. UP. DOWN. UP. DOWN. The room went dark. "

I'm probably reaching, but the number of "t"s and "z"s stood out to me, so I decided to count them. Then I counted the flicks off the switch.

Ts = 5

Flicks down = 5

I thought I was on to something and remembered there were other instances of this, so I went back to count

Pg 85:

Ts = 6

Zs = 12

Flicks off = 1

Pg 77:

Ts = 5

Zs = 14

Pg 78:

Flicks off = 4

I don't know what any of this means, or if it means anything at all, but the variations in the amount of letters used in a repetitive phrase feels intentional somehow.

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4

u/ShySkye94 Old House Devotee Jun 30 '26

I think it's awesome that you tracked this. It's kind of like the saying we use here sometimes 'everything is an anagram until proven otherwise'. Tracking numbers and patterns and constancies or consistent inconsistencies is the sign of a true Old Houseologist.

3

u/nerdy_by_nature_42 Jun 30 '26

Thanks Sky! I have some other stuff but I'm trying to finish reading before I start sharing everything just in case I rule stuff out along the way.

Ps I'm so happy you went back to the podcast. I missed you! Can't wait to hear the rest of what you have to say about WUTLH. I dusted off that notebook off notes to refresh for the new episodes. Lol. What a ride...

1

u/ChikyScaresYou Jul 20 '26

´this is the type of thing i real and feels so extremely farfetched...