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

The artist formally known as Effers U1508701 has just sent me some absolutely lovely drawings made many years ago as illustrations of the youthful Pyrenean adventure which she made into guide entry A81059088 and which was picked out of Peer Review five weeks ago. I wish I could share the drawings with everyone. They have the marvellous feel of old Victorian Natural History illustrations, with carefully hand-lettered labels, meticulous detail and the wear of time. Like the guide entry she wrote, Effers has in the illustrations the same combination of careful, impartial scientific observation and sensitive nostalgia for that long-ago moment beside that small stream in the Pyrenees.

I wish the drawings could be shared more widely. I'm going to ask Effers if she would allow me to print them out and frame them so that at least real life visitors to my home can appreciate them.


I wish I had been allowed to keep my notebook from the excavation of the Roman villa at San Giovanni di Ruoti in 1983, but it was considered property of the University and I was required to turn it over for archiving. Certainly none of my field illustrations showed any of the care and feeling which Effers shows in her drawings, but it would be nice to look back at my own rough work, perhaps with a view to making of them some new works for exhibit.

Ah, but some things it seems are destined (doomed?) to be filled away for future students who may never come.

Has Effers actually left? If so, I'll miss her. I didn't always get on with her, nor she with me, but she has a vibrancy about her and has been, I think, good for this place. Not always, but usually.

She's been a bit off recently (she once attacked me and KB about our choice of passports ), and I think that's affected her relationship with many here. I know I've not always been sure how to interact with her. I don't know what's up. And I know I've once or twice lost my temper with her, which wasn't helpful. I'm sorry about that.

I'd like to see Effers around her again, if she makes that choice. And if she chooses otherwise, then I'll wish her well in whatever she decides to do instead.

TRiG.

She is on extended mod right now. From what she's told me, she has (like me) mixed feelings about staying around. I'd certainly like her to stay and to be allowed to stay. Likewise I wish Taff had been able/allowed to stay.

But enough about those issues -- I don't want to be disappeared myself.


I just had to remark on the drawings she made all those years ago and managed to hold onto. They're perfect for what she's written, in my opinion.

Well, Taff went on a campaign to make things as difficult as possible for everyone else here. It was straightforward, deliberate, unabashed trolling. Before that episode, I mainly saw Taff in the religious debate threads, where his modus operandi was to be as rude as he possibly could be to anyone religious. He never said anything that was actually interesting or useful. I know people miss him, so presumably he made valuable contributions somewhere, but I never saw them.

TRiG.

Yes, Taff at many times was what we in Canada would call a "goon" or an "enforcer" if he were a hockey player. But I should mention that one of our well known hockey enforcers is Deputy Leader of our Green Party, a Vegan, and a literary critic on our national radio network (in both official languages).

To some hockey fans he's a goon -- but discerning hockey fans have a suspicion that the game might be more unpleasant if the enforcers were chased off the ice.

Just got permission.

If there's ever an Edmonton, Canada meet, let's all admire the caddis fly larvae drawings over big glasses of Alberta Premium.

Can I come?

Sure.

On the few occasions I've visited Natural History museums something I've always enjoyed is looking at the drawings alongside some of the specimens. I appreciate the skill of the more technical drawing side of art. I like architects drawings for the same reason.