Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn

**CDNSushi** · 26th January 11, 12:00 AM

For those of you who like to experiment with different knots when you tie your neckties, here's one that you may want to give a whirl before your next meeting at work: http://www.boingboing.net/2011/01/13...-neck-tie.html

And while we're on the topic of things Lovecraftian, here's a collection of drawings of some Elder Gods, as done by children. Really sweet: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/1...craft-cthulhu/

Since I'm in Japan, I couldn't leave without mentioning the super-cute "Hello Cthulhu" comics, based on Sanrio's "Hello Kitty." http://www.hello-cthulhu.com/

Finally, I happened to come across this great Cthulhu-inspired ski hat that's not too expensive. Only $20 plus shipping: http://www.etsy.com/listing/65010169/cthulhu-ski-hat

Anyway.... Cthulhu fhtagn!

(We should have a Cthulhu emoticon!)

**Bugbear** · 26th January 11, 12:16 AM

I'm sorry I can't look at the children's drawings of the elder gods, that sounds interesting.

I don't mean this to be a cliche, CDNSushi, but do you ever see the bonsai over there in Japan?

**CDNSushi** · 26th January 11, 01:22 AM

Originally Posted by Bugbear

I'm sorry I can't look at the children's drawings of the elder gods, that sounds interesting.

I don't mean this to be a cliche, CDNSushi, but do you ever see the bonsai over there in Japan?

Not SO cliché... I'd say there different "grades" of bonsai. There's the everyday variety of bonsai that people do with their own trees in their own yards and planters. I do it too with the trees growing on our property.

Then there's the bonsai "for show" -- top notch stuff done by people who have had some formal training in that discipline... It's the real McCoy that gets brought out to display at special events, ceremonies, and so on.

But even a basic, layman's interest in it has some following. Our next door neighbor actually grows bonsai (for resale). She keeps a minimum of about 20 of them at any given time in her front yard. Nowadays I don't think she sells anymore, since her husband passed away a few years back. I think she just keeps them in memory of her late spouse more than anything.

**Burly Brute** · 26th January 11, 01:34 AM

No offense, but what is all this? I thought this was something made up by Southpark haha. Sorry. Like I said, that is my only experience with this subject.

**xman** · 26th January 11, 01:37 AM

Originally Posted by Burly Brute

No offense, but what is all this? I thought this was something made up by Southpark haha. Sorry. Like I said, that is my only experience with this subject.

Is your Google finger broken?

**Burly Brute** · 26th January 11, 02:17 AM

Originally Posted by xman

Is your Google finger broken?

Thanks, but no it is not. I did go to wikipedia, but obviously I need a more laymen answer as I still did not "get it."

**Bugbear** · 26th January 11, 02:01 AM

Originally Posted by CDNSushi

Not SO cliché... I'd say there different "grades" of bonsai. There's the everyday variety of bonsai that people do with their own trees in their own yards and planters. I do it too with the trees growing on our property.

Then there's the bonsai "for show" -- top notch stuff done by people who have had some formal training in that discipline... It's the real McCoy that gets brought out to display at special events, ceremonies, and so on.

But even a basic, layman's interest in it has some following. Our next door neighbor actually grows bonsai (for resale). She keeps a minimum of about 20 of them at any given time in her front yard. Nowadays I don't think she sells anymore, since her husband passed away a few years back. I think she just keeps them in memory of her late spouse more than anything.

Cool.

Took an interest in them as a little kid, and have an assortment of them in training on my property. I have no interest what so ever in selling them, just training them.

I also make the bon or pots, again, not for selling, just as my own art for my own trees.

Right now, I'm in the middle of excavating and training a seven year old, behemoth lemon bonsai that is intended to be a little over three feet tall, and has the trunk and first branch developed so far. It will be an informal upright, and will probably take a couple of years to get it out of the ground. I might be working on the apex by that time.

You can wake up now.

**Lallans** · 26th January 11, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Bugbear

I'm sorry I can't look at the children's drawings of the elder gods, that sounds interesting.

I don't mean this to be a cliche, CDNSushi, but do you ever see the bonsai over there in Japan?

Don't be bugged, Bear: the whole Cluthu and Elder Gods thing was entirely made up in the mid-20th century, by the American writer H P Lovecraft in order to sell short stories to pulp horror magazines. Plus of course for the sake of art. Cluthu is no more real than Mickey Mouse, except of course in the hearts of children....

Well I started out serious but lost it at the end there.

**Burly Brute** · 26th January 11, 02:32 PM

Just to clarify, the reason I was asking for a more laymen answer to the whole thing is that I wasn't sure if this was accepted by all as complete fiction, or if it was similiar to scientology which has been taken from Hubbard and now has a standing, I suppose, among religions.

**Andy Proffitt** · 26th January 11, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by Burly Brute

Just to clarify, the reason I was asking for a more laymen answer to the whole thing is that I wasn't sure if this was accepted by all as complete fiction, or if it was similiar to scientology which has been taken from Hubbard and now has a standing, I suppose, among religions.

No. Fiction and roleplay. Of course, you never can tell with people. There may be cults out there that do worship Cthulhu and..shh..hastur(he who shall not be named), as even the most pedestrian fictional mythology can attract converts, be it Cthulhu or the Force.