The Bluestocking Women's Pub, where brains can exist in a single state

[Magpiecomplex]

Welcome all. The booze here is minimally intoxicating, the food is calorie free and the staff are warm and cuddly. And if the thread title sounds nonsensical, blame the guy Myrtle was listening to this evening!

My understanding was that CS Lewis muttered this under his breath as JRRT wanged on about Legolas et al.

Randomly enough, the first Lewis I ever read as a child was Out of the Silent Planet, because there happened to be a copy in the house, and it was excellent. Lots of people today are surprised to discover that he ever wrote sci-fi.

I can barely remember the books we were set in school, but early on I developed a habit of picking up whatever books happened to be lying around the house, so when I was quite young I'd read almost all of Agatha Christie and knew far too much about poisons for someone who wasn't a doctor.

That was Hugo Dyson.

I've never read Hubbard, and found Neil Gaiman hard going and am so relieved I don't have to try any more, but wonder whether the Scientology influence shows through in Gaiman? Anyone better read than me with observations?

Not that I'll be able to read them until much later because we have another 9 hour power cut today and I must go and make ready for it.

I really like Gaiman's writing but don't know enough about Scientology to spot any influences. I think I might have read some of Hubbard's early stuff years ago, possibly. Obviously didn't make much of an impression on me!

I've never clicked with Gaiman's writing, oddly enough. I could see the craft, but it left me a bit cold. Maybe because I know lots of the old novels that he nicked ideas from.

(To be fair to the old creep, he's always been quite generous about ackowledging his influences. Maybe it's his cult following; few of them seem to have followed his acknowledgements and explored vintage SFF)

Somebody always knows everything here
Thank you Deano.
Commiserations about the power cuts - what's going on with your leccy? I hope it gets sorted permanently soon!

If there's one work of fiction where you might pick up Scientology influences, it's old episodes of My Name Is Earl: My name is L Ron Hubbard | Culture | The Guardian

The central theme of balancing your karma might seem like just an Americanised version of Hindu/Buddhist teachings, if it weren't for almost everyone involved in the show being a Scientologist (at least they were at the time - I know Jason Lee has since left)

I've always steered clear of Tolkien. I have been warned that he is hobbit forming.

Electricity back 'early' today. They're replacing poles, clearing some trees and strengthening cables, which is all good as we seem to be getting more severe winds, more often. It's so lovely having running water again. I hope this will be the last marathon local outage as they were working on poles to the left of me AND poles to the right of me.

I really want rain, that seems to going to the left of me and to the right of me as well, which is less satisfactory.

Apparently it was hailing in that there London earlier today, or at least the bit around the husband's office.

Someone send me the hot chocolate bowser and a straw please. Been a very long and stressful day, sorting out the mess of a male colleague.

Bit of a thunderstorm in my area a wee while ago. And it's about time, for I can't thole the humidity.

Where do you live Elderberry? Can’t imagine how I would manage without power… well, internet really. I guess with notice I have a billion books on my kindle already… and 2-3000 physical books I could read by candle light. Could survive without coffee so long as I had some slightly cooled tipple on hand.

But but but... how long will your kindle last if the power cut lasts for a long time?
You're well supplied with books, fortunately

I could Bore for Ireland on the lack of resilience caused by reliance on the internet 🙄

Hang on to your landline as long as it's operational, and have a battery-powered radio to hand - as long as the government doesn't switch off the analogue signal any time soon it may be the only way to have contact with the outside world if there's no power and the internet is down...

I've been called a Poundshop prepper, but I promise I do not have shelves full of tined food and assault rifles😁

Mid West of Ireland, rural but not remote. We lost power for about 36 hours during Storm Eowyn, and for another 12 hours a few days later. Local grapevine said that was due to a tree at the rere of my nearest neighbour (across a road and through a field) - I'm glad they are working to try to ensure it doesn't happen again. Some people in other parts of the country were without power for weeks, it was horrendous.

I really missed my wi-fi - with warning I could plan for other things.

I have lots and lots of precharged battery backs LOL!! But yes, could (should) totally be able to live without the internet given the number of books we have… yet… can’t quite bring myself to do a digital detox. I do have a book nook kit now too (arrived this morning) and a huge cross stitch project that I abandoned last year and need to resume.

And of course, who needs electricity or the internet to drink wine/Gin?

Seconds! Literally! Seconds I was out in the sun and now I have a sore red forehead.

I didn't know sunburn affected your eyesight I can't see anything on this tablet... <realises tablet is facing the wrong way> oh, that's better!

Have a gin. Does wonders for my eye sight. Or is it that too much gin makes you blind? I forget. Oh, well… takes another sip …

You can be mother. Get pouring.

Shouldn’t that be a ‘protect the dolls’ teeshirt?

You could have at least poured the gin before you went to get changed

Actually am rethinking breaking my internet addiction. I have an app called Shazam. Was able to identify which Chopin piece was being played in the opening scenes of Shakespeare and Hathaway [😳]. DH’s mind is blown and I am tearfully listening to the most beautiful recording of Chopin’s Prelude from sonata no 2, apparently, in e minor performed by Ivan Moravec. Just wow…

Just hold still, Boily, this stuff is sticky! It'll help if I can get it in the right place.

sonata no 4!! (Recorded 50 years ago - this bird on the piano can seriously play.)

😭

Left a bit, down a bit, up a bit, oooooooooh just there ❤

That's a bit better!