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

Sugar around the rim
Sweetness that hides a bitter taste,
Enters the bar at whim,
And lays all those therein to waste.

Poetry on demand
Might sometimes be a fake
For poets don't come on tap,
And words of love do not the total package make.

However, you can buy this poet a drink - anytime.

Vodka or rocks?

Malt whisky, a little water, no ice, thank you.

Finally...I bet you're thirsty Kes, I don't.keep ice around here either, so you are in the right place.
***Pours Kes a Glen Livit***
Hope I got that right. I think it is the finest single malt whiskey made, but what do I know? Would you like something more specific, in the USA they would be handing you a Colt 45. Not very appetizing. So,What's up Doc?
Feel free to spout verses from the Rubiayat of Omar Kyam, or anything from Khalill Gibran. I am adversed to e.e. cummings. He reminds me of cockroaches or something.
What I wanted to respond was from the Rubiayat, so moved I was by your poignant verse. My library is boxed up right now. I keep crying foul, but to no avail. Speak Zorathra...but stay away from Nitche.
Did you know that ancient legends of the Olmecs a pre-colombian tribe on the south east coast of Mexico believed that the world sat on top of the shell of a giant tortoise, that tortoise was another tortoise,
ad infinitum....now that's existentialism.
Worlds of Love, JLC the TTP

Thank you. With Glen Livit available, I do seem to be in the right place.

*Raises glass*
Uisghe beatha! Slantsche Var.
(Gaelic: Water of life! Your health!)

There are as many opinions about the "best" single malt as there are single malts. Scope for much discussion and sampling. For now, I'm content to accept your opinion -- and your single malt.

I'll pass on the Colt45, thank you. Tried one many years ago, never came back.

Updok is a green herb eaten by cartoon rabbits; as a more useful answer to your question, this Doc is catching up on some Guide articles - spotted you posting a couple of hours ago, replied ... then got stuck in a meeting ... now back to the Guide.

Kahlil Gibran - yes - like him a lot ..... what goes with a whisky?

"And in Winter, when you draw the wine, let there be in your heart a song for each cup;
And let there be in the song a rememberance for the autumn days, and for the vineyard.

yes ... no e e c
for lack of punct marks and caps seems
very like insect writing to m e

BCNU - must dash.
Kes

*Looks round ... all quiet*

Hmm. I'm sure she won't mind if I have just one more small drink ....

*Pours another whisky ... sips ... reads Journal entry.
*Sips again ... feels guilty for pinching the drink, so leaves verse in payment:

Re: Journal entry.

Stuck on the lady spider's web
The hapless fly must wait.
He talks with the poor male spider there.
The pair of them debate ...
Which has the better lifestyle,
And which the tougher fate.

As usually I am dumbfounded by your eloquence. I've noticed you feel guilty a lot Kes. Have as many drinks as you like from my bottle. I always enjoy your company and poetry. Do you think you should end that poem with something about the going rate? Poets are never paid or appreciated enough.
world of love,
JCL

Kes Dahrling,
You have been a busy little be
with the blond babe near the California Sea
Come back to drink with me
I miss your poetry
Worlds of Love,
JLC the TTP

I could not resist such an invitation.
My, you are observant!
I shall claim that I was only researching, in order to accumulate a stock of emotions; alternatively, I was attempting to keep my guilt quotient up.
Either way, it provided some raw material for future efforts.

OK - if you insist, I'll pull up a chair, and sample a little more of your whisky ... or strong wine.
Eventually, might even burst into verse.

*Still wondering how she knew the lady was blonde???*

A question, if I may ...

Romance languages ... so how good's your Portuguese? ... I've been annoying the s**t out of MK by talking to PE in Portuguese, and refusing to translate for him when he asks (offline).

Strange, small things that give us amusement.

Dearest Kes,
the blonde description was given in her own name posting to lure you in no doubt. I hope you explained to her that Gentlemen may prefer blondes, but they marry brunettes. Hair turns grey anyway, and its the grey matter that really matters.
My portuguese is negligible, I have a book on it in my boxed library, so if necessary I could translate with effort. I find the portuguese culture a bit crude in the sex dept., much to violent and misogenistic for my tastes. I can probably understand what's going on or generally whats being said from by background in Spanish if I were to be exposed to a situation where there was audiovisual stimulation. Natural empathy would take over, but as far as translating words on a page, keep your secrets. Enjoy them, we are all entitled to some privacy. I'm strictly a one on one type of person myself. Who's PE? I've been exposed to MK, he's very gallant and can give me emeralds anytime. I have one already in fact from Brazil. It is a light brillantly translucent green with a garden of gold threads inside. Each natural emerald has its own unique garden, that's how you know they are real.
Mine is stored in a safty deposit box right now so I don't get to enjoy it as much as I would like. One day when I find someone who will keep me in the luxury I have become accustomed to, I will be able to enjoy all of my treasures again. My library, my jewels, until then, I will enjoy my free time, which is the most valuable asset any of us have.
Worlds of Love,
JLC the TTP

Thank you. Yes - do, please, leave the Portuguese postings to rot in peace.
MK is indeed "gallant", though also easily led by blondes, I see.
Apologies for using abbreviations - "PE" is the "Peaceful Earthling" from the Manor. As she has lived for several years in Brazil, the choice of Portuguese for communication was obvious (though greatly handicapped by my not knowing a word of it until 3 weeks ago). I wonder if PE's family owned any emerald mines ......

Emerald "gardens"? do please explain, if you care to - I am intruding on your most valuable asset, I know.

OK - you were right (as it transpires) about the lady. Your reward is one poem, in two languages. Sorry the translation isn't a word for word mapping (I like the French sentiment better), but they both have to rhyme:


Le mond est plein de fous
Et qui n'en veut pas voir
Doit se tenir tout seul
Et casser son miroir.


The world is full of fools
So - to see none at all
Keep yourself alone, and turn
Your mirror to the wall.

N'est ce pas?

Kes, Kes,
I've been watching the Olympics, Just saw "Our Cathy" win the 400 for all of Australia. All prayers and meditations were with her, I also shared in her joy. I was just checking in. I'll be back to ponder the poetry.
Worlds of Love,
JLC the TTP

Hi!,

You must get a very delayed transmission! I saw that race live (at work). It was run 17 hours ago! Yea, I grant you - good watching. I'm not a sports observer myself, but this race had a big "buzz" for a lot of Australians. Are you across our issues with Aboriginal people? (I doubt if they get much press in the US). The choice of that lady to light the torch did more than the politicians have managed in years.

Let me have your opinion on the twin short verses. Do you still inhabit the Manor? I'm finding it rather hard work - trying to push a bit of adventure and drama into the environment. (Maybe my fault for trying!)

Had a win there yesterday - after spending ages setting up a happy little scene with one character, we even set up a "happy ending", then blew it all apart ... just for the hell of it. Great fun - watched the hits on the site climb as we "worked" the audience, then listened to the silence after the "explosion". Not one of them saw the con coming (even though we made the style more and more "over the top" as we went ...

(Poets shouldn't be so mischievious? Why not?)

Sorry - couldn't resist a little gloat
If you like spoofs ... think of the Manor characters , and them falling for this (sequence of postings):
Reception - postings 568 to 580
Bar - postings 1503 to 1506
Reception - postings 581 to 584
Car Park - postings 38 to 44
Reception - postings 585 & on

Then again, you probably have better things to do with your most precious asset ... just there for your amusement, if you're short of a laugh today

Dear Kes,
I tried to respond to this last week but my answer was so long that finally the transmission just failed. Dave Letterman, said that the games we being transmitted with such a time delay no one was interested in them, but the good news is that Mark Spitz just won 6 Gold Medals. That was big news in the 70's, so that's quite a delay.
I found out you are 10+ hours from Greenwich time and 17+ from where I am. That means its the next day there when I am talking to you. The Olympics have been pretty exciting for us here, but not for most folks I understand.
The poetry is great, you are right about the French sentiment, they are so much better at being sardonic. I like the translation.
Worlds of Love,
JLC the TTP
pssst You're right I have not been to the manor lately, I will try to look up your ruse, GB seems to ignore me and most snub me there, I don't know why I feel that way. Maybe because they wouldn't answer when I asked for a room at the reception. NO loss now though.

Ah! your coverage of the Olympics got hit by the TV stations and their ratings! I see. You're almost right with your time zones - the ones you quoted are for Sydney. I'm over on the West coast of Aus - about 4,500 Km away, which would make me +7 ahead of GMT and +14 ahead of you. Kinda makes it harder to communicate. Good job h2g2 conversations can take weeks to evolve, isn't it?

Sorry - no verse today - (gee, were you ever right!) - the blonde lady decided to try kicking her victim while he was down, so I'm nursing a few bruises. Fear not - I'll be back when I've cheered up! Keep well.

OK - you win - a haiku for you:

In someone's bathroom
Even there I cannot hide!
Amazing lady!

Loyalty is a stealthy prize
I follow my instincts
and never realize....
My soul that leads
to what I see through
My eyes