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

Greetings, NaJoPoMo fans!

I'm going to take advantage of the time difference each day, and post my journal before midnight, my time, but after midnight, UK time. That way, I can get to bed at a reasonable hour, and you Brits can read this over breakfast, should you like time travel with your morning tea.

The subject, as I said, is time travel. The reason for the time travel is twofold:

1. I'm time-travelling in my mind (quiet in the back!), and dredging up reminiscences to go with the factoids.

2. I'm using the Library of Congress. Since the artists and photographers weren't on the spots at the same time that I was, there's a bit of tardis manipulation going on.

I hope that's clear.

I have taken shameless advantage of being the Post Editor in my response to this challenge. I've loaded 30 pictures. I felt this was justified, as the visual element might add to our enjoyment of NaJoPoMo.

Oh, and you'd have less drivel to read.

For those who like to bookmark, here's the archive: A87814902 A new item will appear each day.

For those who like to go directly from here, today's entry is at A87814911

I hope you enjoy this little November journey. Feel free to enrich the A-pages by adding your always scintillating commentary - as far off the subject as humanly possible. I know I can count on you all.

So should I tell you I read here or there?

This'll be time-travel for me, too--it's only just before 9pm Halloween night right now. We've got a *lot* of leftover candy, although we've had half again the trick-or-treaters we had last year--Tom didn't remember that we had 2 last year

I don't know if I'm doing the PoMoBloFish thingy this year. Can I sit here and contemplate bridges until I make my mind up?

Specifically, bridges in earthquakes. I'm imagining them being like slinky springs, and think it was a good idea of your mother's to keep a safe distance from bridges when in labour!

I think so, too. In 1812, the Mississippi flowed backwards for three days, due to that fault.

reddit

The mississippi flowed backwards?! that must have been a lot of water slipping down into teh fault...

Was it 2legs' fault?

QOTW!

Definitely. All that earthquake damage was 2legs' fault.

And the fact that those backwoodsmen thought the world was coming to an end.

What impact did it have on the delta blues is what I would like to know

It made it possible for people from Arkansas to get to Memphis, and hear Beale St musicians.

F S

Ah, the bridge you mean? But I was thinking more of the impact of the Mississippi River river flowing backwards for days. Surely it must have affected the delta?

It did. The course of the river changed.

And the course of the delta blues?

I should think it would have make at a few guitar pickers burst out in s

"I woke up this morning
the delta was gone..."

etc.

It would. Although not in 1812. No guitars.

Guitars didn't really become popular in the South until the late 1890s - Spanish American War. Before that, it was that great African invention, the banjo.

Interestingly, when Frederick Law Olmstead toured the South in the 1840s, I believe it was, he complained there was not a piano in the place...

"... imagine if you will that I am playing an 88-string guitar..." [Tom Lehrer]