Fascinating reading

[hmpf]

I'm leafing through copies of the 1975 and 1974 Guardian. Fascinating things noticed so far:

- Much more print; much less white space (in fact, barely any gutters at all between columns of text)
- Some seriously wacky news, some of it due to the 70s Guardian's much more pronounced leftwing orientation, some just... well. (Example of the former: articles about Chinese newspapers debating the role of the hero of a 13th century epic that may have influenced Mao; example of the latter: writer on the occult tries to free bank robber; knife crime after allegations of witchcraft; far left plots to subvert the Labour Party)
- "Heal a broken family today: invite your husband's mistress to move in." - Someone write that. Now. With Gene and the Missus, and Sam as the mistress (obviously).
- A lot of the news is practically identical to today's news. (Energy crisis. Food crisis. Economic crisis. African mothers bottlefeeding their babies and doctors warning that that is *not* a good thing.)
- There *has* to be a better way to research the 70s...

Addendum: Good advice from the Department of Energy, 1974:

"Switching Off Something really helps - Switch Off Something - don't ease off."

;-)

Comments

[mikes-grrl.livejournal.com]

- "Heal a broken family today: invite your husband's mistress to move in." - Someone write that. Now. With Gene and the Missus, and Sam as the mistress (obviously).

Is that an actual article? No. Really? No!

But it would be a great story. My own "Dinner Date" went in that direction, but more as happy-frappy threesome + angsty!Sam; it would be neat to see it from angsty!Missus angle, trying to save her marriage and/or having a crush on Sam. Hmmm.

NO NO NO NO I AM BUSY I CAN'T DO IT!!! EVVVVVVILLLLL PLOT BUNNY!!!!

*sits with fingers in ears*

Actual article, swear to god.

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

Well, a column, sort of, about tribal social structures and the unnaturalness of believing that monogamy (and lifelong monogamy at that) is the only viable family relationship beside the obvious blood relations. So, basically, a variation on the 60s 'free love' theme.

I'd actually like to see "only-mildly-angsty Missus who is way ahead of Gene (and Sam) on this whole free love thing"... and then, of course, all my usual conditions apply: superangsty!Sam; social and psychological realism, detail on the nitty-gritty of everyday life... *g*

>NO NO NO NO I AM BUSY I CAN'T DO IT!!! EVVVVVVILLLLL PLOT BUNNY!!!!

*enables like heck*

The missus could be...

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

expecting a real, female mistress, and be pleasantly surprised - after a moment of mild shock - to find it's Sam instead, because she doesn't really mind the idea of inviting Sam into her home and bed all that much... ;-)

Re: The missus could be...

[mikes-grrl.livejournal.com]

STOOOOOOOP!!! STOP!

Did you read "Dinner Date"? It certainly covers some of this territory.

But I like the idea of going down the road of 'established Gene/Sam being adopted by progressive!Missus fighting for her marriage and a piece of Sam' (as Gene clearly likes those, er, forward thinking kind of people *cough*)

Later. I'll think about this LATER. Nooooooo....

Getting down to business right away:

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

What can I bribe you with?

*eg*

No, I haven't read "Dinner Date" - I've actually barely read any fic since my ill-fated attempt at catching up earlier this year, and probably wouldn't have read "Undercover" if you hadn't started posting the very enticing "Appearances".

(Until a few weeks ago I was very good about staying away from Procrastination Central fandom and actually trying to work on my thesis, you know? ;-))

Re: Getting down to business right away:

[mikes-grrl.livejournal.com]

Here, let me enable help you...

Dinner Date in four parts. Slashy, de facto, so maybe not your cuppa; it started out as PWP but then Sam got ANGSTY and Missus had to have her say and...and...it kinda ended up a sexy threesome character study. Do such things exist? I'm just going to pretend.

I mean, just in case you find yourself bored or something... *cough* And hey, if it doesn't interest you, that's cool...you know my pride isn't on the line!

(meantime part nine of Appearances is going up in a few minutes, if you wish to pass on Dinner Date)

[neuralclone.livejournal.com]

I did some 70s research by reading old issues of The Times (my workplace subscribes to their online archive), The spectator and the New Statesman and believe me, I didn't read anything nearly as interesting as this! Any of these stories would make a good LOM fanfic - occult bank-robbers and knife wielding witches, oh my, oh my!