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

I must admit Bismarck is one of those figures that I like in European history. I'm not sure why.

Martin Luther... I read somewhere that later in his life, he became obsessed with his own feces, and considered his intestinal problems to be the work of the devil. On my long list of entry ideas, I have on it, "Martin Luther and the 95 Feces". Something to do with a diet of worms as I understand it

I need to remember never to write anything just for the wordplay.

I don't recall having heard of that, but my memory isn't quite what it used to be. There are a couple of 'bonmots' which he is known for, and one of them is to do with belching and farting, but that's it. Brockhaus doesn't mention it, either (but then it doesn't mention any of the bonmots).

Bismarck left us the Bismarck herring.

Here's an interesting link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3944549.stm
It's not what I originally read, but it's in the same direction. Luther was a toilet-thinker.

http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/l/luther_martin%20.html says Luther thought the devil "sometimes lodged in Luther's bowels and was closely associated in the Reformer's mind with feces and flatus".

Probably more than you needed to know. I had to look it up, Just to make sure my mind wasn't playing tricks on me.

The second article you link to is a bit too long to read when I should prepare to go to work.

It looks interesting, though. There was a film about Luther, only two or three years ago, so quite new, but I'm not sure they mention it there. I'll have to ask my sister, I think she has the DVD.

I wouldn't read the part I'm mentioning if breakfast is on the agenda.

Oh, I doubt it would have made it into a film. I'm not suggesting that it was a major part of his life's story, or anything.

The best stories tend to come from the margins of the biography, though. From under the dungheap, if you'll pardon the expression.

Nice expression.

And my breakfast is , so that's OK.

When I researched for my St Martin's day entry I came across some Luther sites, too. Might be worth going back there (if I can find them again after all these years) and see what they have. He was certainly of great influence to many people.

to work now.

Trying to avoid the PR police, I'll better reply to your latest post here:

I'm not bored at all. I think I'll wait until you submit it before reading it again (but I'm not subscribed to PR, so I may miss it).

I only suspected you might have been bored if you were reading an unfinished entry after it popped up

I only put Joey on h2g2 to check the GML and see how long it was. I write my entries in a very basic text editor, so it's hard to tell how long it is until I look at it on the screen in pure, classic, alabaster. It might be a week before I've finished Joey.

Joey did have blue eyes, though. So maybe I can work in a link . Sadly, no big head.

I had no idea it wasn't finished. I wasn't signed in when I read oit, so I couldn't tell whether or not it was in PR. I only had a word count done now (it's 4,000 words, if you didn't know). I didn't notice the length while reading it, only when I went back to look after the conversation in the Blue Eyes thread. I wonder what you think needs adding/changing.

It is a very rare event that I'm bored, there's always something to do (like writing, reading, editing - and that's just what I do when I don't work).

Well, I had to read through it and decide what to do next. That was just a first draft. Further along than I had thought, though, to be honest.

I've been working on it for a few hours. It's now more like 4,600 words.

Into PR. The dogs need something to munch on.

I'm about half through rereading it. I like the changes I noticed.

I'll comment in PR once I've finished reading the new version. Could be a while, I was distracted, and now I'm tired again (I forgot to switch off my alarm clock , so I've been up and reading/writing for three hours). I need a break now.

I like the nickname change. The Stretcher has been a bigger boon to this site than I would have ever predicted.

Your recent journal was sparked, I think, by Pin's submission? I don't think the response is to retreat from writing for the EG. When are you going to give us something to challenge the existing orthodoxy with?

It wasn't just Pin's PR thread. It was the sum of several things.

As for not writing for the EG: I've been at that point several times, and then there was always something I just *had* to write about, so I went back to writing. But that was before I discovered the AWW. Now, if I feel the urge to write something, I can still do so, and I can still share with the few who show an interest, but it doesn't have to be the EG.
And I'm sure I can and must learn a lot.

And I'm not brave enough to 'challenge the orthodoxy', so I try to mediate.

I think that you should try it. What's the worst that could happen? Not much.
On the other hand, you could discover something great in yourself. Those are the kinds of odds I'd stake a fortune on.

But I don't have the skills, Jordan. I know what I like to read, but I can't write it.

You can't write it? I hate to sound like a broken record, but I don't believe you. I'm just suggesting, in my pushy way, that you give it a try, a real try. Pin made me try it out at first, or at least encouraged it. I'm not suggesting I've succeeded to the level of those things I like to read, but at least I am trying. And I'm addicted.

Yes, writing is indeed addictive. But before I write a guide entry, I have to be inspired. I'm currently not inspired. Plus, I am distracted by other things. Things that are new to me. So it could be a good while before I sit down to write an entry I've meant to write since December last year. I'm not sure I'll ever write it. I've made a start, that's it. It is a great subject (I think), but I have the feeling I'd waste my time writing it. So I don't go on with my researches.

Oh that's all fine and good, sure. I don't mean this very instant.

Any clues as to the topic?

Kaspar Hauser. Ever heard about him? People are still split in two factions, even several centuries after his untimely death. I can't find my book about him, ordered a few back in December which were never delivered. Found the original report Feuerbach wrote but haven't read much yet. Should make for a great story - if you're German, that is. Although he was known throughout Europe at the time, and had a benefactor in England even, if I recall correctly.

A50587635

That's where I stopped.