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

Thanks Dmitri for shining some light into the recesses of recent history. I found this Entry really fascinating.

And hasn't Freewayriding made such a perfect illustration?

Great story
The first Sunday of a new job as the ranger of a nature reserve next to a military site I had picked up a copy of a Sunday paper with a supplement on ones chances of surviving a nuclear strike in different parts of the UK - it was 2% where I was. Pondering this I was walking across the site on a path next to a deep ditch when the nuclear air raid siren sounded - this was at the time cruise missiles were being deployed in Britain and tensions were high. Thinking "this is it" and remembered all the ridiculous "duck and cover" and "protect and survive" nonsense, considered diving into the ditch - but I am proud to say decided to die on my feet and faced the base waiting for the airburst to vaporize me. I found out later the inconsiderate sods tested the alarm every Sunday morning.

That must have been a terrible experience. I know what you mean. When I was a kid in school, they made us do air raid drills in the corridor. I started to have strange dreams about atomic bombs. I thought the bomb - which looked like the menacing missiles in Herblock political cartoons - would come in one of the large windows, and out the other, missing us because we were cowering on the floor.

That period was responsible for a lot of odd mental moments.

And I agree - FWR has captured the mood visually, yet again!

Excellent article.
That lady needs to get the Hood of that pram up pdq, them bombs will bounce off then.

enjoyed doing that one, great piece.

Paddy wagon, also - Liverpool Irish slang for an angry outburst 'throwing a paddy'.Paddy wagons roamed the streets of Liverpool collecting drunken fighters by the shed (or van) load! Seeing as most of the dock workers were Irish way back when, the vans were full of 'paddys' on many different levels.

Now, th at's a good bit of etymology to know, thanks!

Over here, the debate has always raged about whether it was 'paddy' for Irish or for 'PD', Police Department. The Liverpool example would seem to tip the balance in favour of the Irish.

your Constables On Patrol took a lot of our forgotten slang across the pond!

They did, indeed.

Found this by IID today, thanks for a good read!

Thanks, Milla!