h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

If this is your first encounter of the salonista kind, welcome to the atelier. Please take a bit of time to read over our forum page at A304354, as it will explain a lot of the peculiarity you are going to encounter.

We had no scribe for the previous conversation, and your hostess was frantically distracted and obstructed by Real Life for much of November, which featured a retrograde of Freddie Mercury. These things don't affect everybody, but those who surfed this last one generally found themselves committed to fifteen impossible things before breakfast, every day.

Which is all by way of apology for the lack of comprehensive review of the last conversation.

We have a new salonista -- welcome to simpsonromany over there in the beanbag!

Without a doubt, Best Topic Award goes to Hati this time. Her conflicts with her teenage daughter led her to wonder whether anyone else had been very rebellious or had rebellious children, and this led to some fascinating personal histories. *Chloe proffers Hati a golden brooch in the shape of a teacup* Hati sometimes expresses the belief that her life and experiences are greatly unlike those of the rest of us, and that she doesn't always feel like part of the group. I think this is a good time to say au contraire, Hati! We think you are definitely an integral member of this band of salonistas, and we look forward to your original viewpoint on the matters we discuss.

Right. Who brought up the issue of pots and pans? That was definitely a runner-up as an interesting topic.

What with US elections and assassinations in London, we have had a lot of politics in this thread, too. And of course there was a quiz or two and at least a couple of recipes, some shared worries and group hugs.

I have orated just long enough to allow our maidbots Matina and Chloe to complete their cleanup of the salon. As usual where there has been no scribe, I invite you to recollect your favorite moments from the previous thread as we settle into the new one. Salonistas have just been discussing the difference between poetry and song lyrics, after collectively foaming at the mouth over the intrusive feature-bloated monster that is MS Word.

The samovar and coffee pitcher are newly filled, the cinnamon buns are fresh, the ashtrays are clean and the fireplace is snapping with piñon logs. Please make yourselves at home!

A mammmoth charges in..

Post 3?

*offers Kerr a beer*

4?

*strolls in*

This always happens when I think of a higher-brow topic of conversation I'll wait until after the rush to go back to 'What is Poetry'...

k

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Oh, I'm here - and now the phone summons...

My phone is ringing, too!

*Matina brings Woolly Mammoth an Irish coffee in a FTTF bucket*

*Looks admirely at the bucket*

Good thing you're not giving out T shirts any more.

*sips Irish Coffee gentley*

Ooh I forgot about the effect alcohol has on mammoths.

Poetry and song lyrics - interesting subject. I like my husband's, Sig. S., song lyrics. Sometimes they are like poetry. Sometimes not. Always very interesting because he blends two cultures, two different languages' different ways of expressing emotions. What he does is creating new linguistic possibillities. I sometimes have to restrain myself from correcting his language...

? Ta Wooley. Especially since I can't have any of the real stuff until tomorrow. Damn moving pay-dates.

A song lyric being expressed by a really good singer is a powerful thing. I was fascinated by a concert on tv some years ago that was a tribute to Joni Mitchell in which her famous musician friends sang -- and re-interpreted -- her songs.

But can you imagine trying to sing e e cummings? Or even Wallace Stevens?

[ ]

*Runs in panting.*

I dunno, I turn my back for five minutes...

Hold the the front page.

Lil, how would one convey ee cummings' lack of upper case letters in song? It's an interesting idea.... Hmmm.

Preferably not in the same sentance as discussing Prince's propensity to use numbers instead of words.

David eloquently said everything I feel about the difference between poems and lyrics...so, yeah. What he said.

I think e.e. cummings would be sung in a very quiet, even tone.