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

The Deconstructionist/Postmodernist stuff is interesting as having had the "A-Z of postmodernism" today from a dull lecturer, we have a seminar on it Thursday. (must re-read before then.) I think I now know why postmodernist authors are so hard to read: they're attempting to avoid being rational, integrated, coherent and consistent . As for the history department itself, it's definitely not post-modern, as it places too much emphasis on coherent arguement and FOOTNOTES. Regarding the extent to which the reader's experience influences their reception of a book, I first read Busman's Honeymoon (Dorothy L Sayers) at Christmas, I then re-read it at the start of the easter holiday. As the BF's depression had become more significant during that time, upon second reading I noticed the PTSD storyline more: Lord Peter Wimsey suffers from shellshock.

Must do his card (the BF's I mean, as it's his birthday tomorrow.)

I had something incisive to say.

Post Modernism - I really don't get it. I don't know why. I don't get some of the way my parents talk about art either, I can't deconstuct things as much as they do.

Sorry, that's not a very intellgent addition to the conversation.

(Oh and Ben really does think like a scientist, she's brilliant at pointing out the flaws in scientific studies)

If I can just return to the book stroking line of discussion, I think Lil referred to the other irresistible book linked activity, the illicit riffle, where new pages have a most satisfying feel/sound as you flex the spine gently and the pages undertake a rather pleasant little riffle. Works much much better with new books and also releases a little bit of that new book nose. Read the Blog - didnt understand a lot of it, but used it as a good excuse to nibble on asparagus and party leftovers. When I first arrived in the atelier it was in search of broccoli and televised rugby in Florida, in hindsight I was treated very gently barging in unannounced and have never found anything remotely hostile in any of the many and varied conversations that we all enjoy. Never been remotely troubled with deconstructionism, although I have witnessed some fairly spectacular deconstructions, always better when they are SEPs.

I am greatly frustrated at my inability to type fast enough to keep up with the subject word evolution - which is greatly frustrating apologies

One thing is welcoming new books - but how do you part with them "Someone in my house" kindly asks me to do that once in a while when the collection outgrow the shelves...

>*realises that if she stays online much longer she wont get the early night she promised herself*

Has passed that stage - so...

Amy, when you first arrived at the atelier, I believe we tried to kill you.

And what PWM said. If you're going to deconstruct something, use the proper tools.

The only things I want deconstructed are my sore throat and head ache.

Be careful when you lovingly flex the spines of new books. Except for the large print editions and some children's boods, the spines are glued, not sewn. Quality is getting worse every year.

[GDZ]

I don't have to worry about exercising my book spines, gently or otherwise, because I buy most of my books used. They've already been loved, riffled, broken and dog-eared.

That's the great thing about living in a university town--we have the greatest used bookstores.

Book quality *sigh*. My sister is a bookbinder. Her books stay open at the page you've opened them to and look stunning. It takes her HOURS to bind one book. Nevertheless, something is rotten in the state of publishing when you open a brand new untouched book for the very first time and half the pages fall out (as happened to my Dad and the book was my birthday present to him and we were not happy bunnies).

I was trying to remember what happened to me when I first dared to set foot in the Atelier, on the 14th of July, just over nine months ago. Now I remember turning up and taking to it like a socialite to gin and everyone being very interesting and clever and what's more interested in what I had to say. My spiritual home! I thought, and have been unbudgeably wedged here ever since.

Amy, I didn't ignore you when you arrived in the salon. I was afraid of you.

I was introduced to the Atelier by Z and co at the Brum meet in the Autumn term and have never looked back since.

The above post was actually an introductory to something 'profound and important' (ha!) about how newbies and even slightly foxed-bies feel about the Atelier on first approach and what makes them feel ignored and excluded or welcomed and accepted. But I pressed 'post' instead because I suddenly realised I did not know what I really wanted to say. I have been marshalling my thoughts. Frankly they are still standing about in ragged groups over the braziers drinking tea rather than drilling in full dress uniform, though. Apologies in advance for incoherence and woolly thinking.

Scrumph and I (what with being married and sharing the same keyboard) sometimes discuss H2G2 stuff in RL. We were discussing the whole 'is the Atelier ignoring people' thing and I mentioned the few (very few) occasions when people have turned up and been vocal here about finding Salonistas elitist etc. Now the one feature in common the regular Salonistas share is the ability to express themselves in writing, wittily, intelligently and intelligibly (or failing that, interestingly). I happen to know that Scrumph is a very bright, witty man with whom many interesting and exciting conversations may be had. But he'd be the first to point out that the written word is not his biscuit, and that though he enjoys reading the Atelier backlog very much he doesn't always have the time to (yes he is a very busy and stressed person right now), nor does he have time to sit down and hone his rapier wit in the written world (and if it isn't a knack, no matter how charming you are in speech, it's a bummer to get right in writing). And the MAJORITY of interesting people are like him. So when we all sit in here rattling away in an Algonquinesque witty manner or jokingly insisting on rigorous backlogging or seem to be holding a symposium in finest Socratic style, we seem... unusual. And someone who knows they can't do 'that thing' will automatically feel a little excluded even if no one at all wishes to exclude them and everyone is vaguely interested in what they have to say. Posting a remark and receiving an unexpectedly erudite answer can be as intimidating in its way as posting a remark which is not answered at all.

That said, I adore the Atelier and if it changed I would bawl my eyes out. I don't even think we really need to change our ways at all. But we should be a little... aware... of how we may be coming accross, not in order to change our manner but simply to understand how someone might react. Having rambled all that ramble, I think the Foyer is an exceedingly good idea.

*Collapses back into favourite sofa and awaits deluge of scorn or even worse indifference....*

Darn! Simulposted again!

I don't think I've ever been intimidated by the backlog or the inside jokes and chat in the Atelier. There are times when I wonder if people are reading my posts, but often there's so much to read and think about, I don't reply to every post either. Sometimes everyone gets left out in the cold that is the blog. That said, I can understand others feel differently, and if a Foyer is something that is necessary for newcomers then by all means make people feel more at home with us.

But of course, we can do what one would do in the real world. I say something, no-one picks up on it, so I find a way to raise the point again if I really want feedback. I don't feel offended about having to try again.

Did you all notice that I posted the results of the second juried art show? You can find my post in that thread. I have identified the instructor and all.

It's official. I like sushi.

J&J and I went out to a Japanese/Thai place that I had tried out before for dinner tonight. Both J and I enjoyed the sushi that we had while J decided that she would skip it. The entrees were all good (Both J and J's being better than mine however) but the sushi was excelent. J and I are contemplating going there for dinner one night and not leaving the sushi bar.

Marv, get someone else to take you sushi-ing when you come here. Can't stand the stuff.

Ag's post above made me think about something. I've occasionally visited the community known as the "Campaign to rename Thursday Thing" (or something like that...I spent my afternoon in the library, where I swear they put anasthesia in the circulation system). I've not felt comfortable there. I feel comfortable here. Not everyone is going to like the atmosphere of the Atelier, no matter how welcoming we may be. I think we go with what we've got, be nice to the people who pop in, and get to know the ones who stay. The ones who don't...well, okay, the more the merrier, but we have to let people be who they are.

That said, I love it here. I'm sometimes witty, sometimes downright silly, and as of late, pendantic as all get out.

Kerr, thanks for the potato idea and David? (sorry if it wasn't) for the fish and chips idea. Unfortunately, she doesn't like fish unless it's grilled (on the BBQ) salmon, and doesn't like cheese. Although I could perhaps get her to go for mashed potatoes with protein powder thrown in for good measure (without her knowing, of course!)

I feel sorry for her in a way. Here she is, trying to gain weight in a world that continually tells women to be thin.

ISP bit it hard this afternoon.

I don't recall when I first came to the salon, it's been awhile. Marv invited me, I do recall that.

I remember when the Atelier first opened, I was more into the crazy fun side of hootoo over at the Beach, before it was the waterworks. I started hanging out in the BooKNook, and eventually floated over here after having a great conversation with Lil and ffMike about bringing back the Victorian ideals.

I love it here, I love the people, and the conversation. While we tend to move quickly I don't think I've ever seen a person who popped in who wasn't greeted warmly.

I side with MR in the fact that there are places that some people feel comfortable and some don't. The Atelier is the Atelier, anyone who comes in needs to accept that, and deal with it as fits their own construct.

Is it just me or did we just spend a day talking about the Deconstruction of the Atelier and it's construct?

Courtesy