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

*Amy enters looking a bit singed around the edges*

My monitor blew up.

*addresses the IIEM*

Triple espresso with whipped cream please.

*sits next to Marv*

With things like surfing, skateboarding, windsurfing etc I find that after three consecutive days that things suddenly get much easier. I think it takes that length of time to grow the muscles you need, which are different from the muscles you use in the rest of life. So perhaps you really need a short course or a week on the slopes even if it might seem like a waste of time and money initially.

Even then I'm still carp though . I have such a poor sense of balance I'm surprised I can stand up at all.

My mother calls windsurfing 'windybreaking' .

Hypatia, the main branch of our county library had a disaster on Sunday. A supply pipe for the sprinkler system burst Sunday afternoon. They think it froze when it was exposed where an addition is being built. 6000 books destroyed, many out of print. So even if the insurance pays, they are irreplaceable.

*looks rather nervously at the IIEM, after being asked for whipped cream twice in one day*

*the IIEM can be heard muttering about those who ask for whipped cream*

Hi Amy!

It doesn't matter what sort of building it is, building work is never straight forward is it? I expect some boffin from a Uni to come with a formula explaining the whole thing any day now. There must at least be some law of Physics that applies.

Oh dear! That sounds bad.

That's dreadful, WM. I'm so sorry. I'll stop complaining now.

Amy, did it literally blow up? Please tell me they can't really do that.

And congrats on being a listant.

Not a library disastor. Irreplaceable books.



I didn't even get a chance to read them.

That is really bad news WM. Hope what can be done is done as fast as possible.

They are cataloging the losses as we speak. They will cross-reference against the borrowing history of each book to see if the demand justifies trying to replace it. Sounds like an intelligent plan to me. For those interested:

http://www.app.com/app/story/0,21625,886843,00.html

Yes, I'm not sure what the list ant thing is all about but I'm sure it will become clear in time.

My monitor is incompatible with my central heating system. When the temperature sensor warms up the change in resistance allows a coil to charge and eventually there's a loud bang as the coil discharges through a diode, sparks fly, there's a bit of smoke and the picture on the screen goes hour-glass shaped. This continues until I switch it off or the screen dies. If the screen dies, it can take 4 days for it to spring back to life. If I get there first and switch it off, I can get it back on after 5 minutes or so but it's a game of diminishing returns from then on. The process repeats itself until I can only have the monitor on for a few seconds. I need a new monitor but it's not easy to find one compatible with an ancient G3 mac and I haven't any money.

*goes over and whispers to the IIEM* it shuts up*

Witty, that is such an awful thing - I hate the idea of books being destroyed. I've always thought the burning of the Alexandrian library was one of the worst disasters in history - such a loss of knowledge.

Ook (a blue orangutang) is where ever you imagine him to be - usually either up in the rafters, or beating someone in scrabbles

IIEM will serve any hot or cold beverage as long as it doesn't contain alcohol, and it can now speak (on the initiative of Irving Washington during one of his brief visits)

*grabs Bumblebee's cookie tin and shakes it*

*opens the lid*

As I thought - empty... it's been a while since Bumblebee last frequented this place...

*puts a plastic bag on the counter filled with packages of chocolate chip cookies*

*starts opening the packages and pouring the cookies into Bee's cookie tin*

Hey - don't look at me like that! I'm not as good as Bee is at baking, you know!

So IIEM has been muttering lately, eh? Maybe it's time to change the filters...

*starts rummaging in the cupboards behind the counter*

/* Wakes up from his nap on the comfy sofa, and slides over to make room for all the new arrivals. */

Hey, if we all start coming back here all the time, will the Café return to it's old schedule of a new thread every Sunday?

Hi Titania. May I have a cookie?

*Peers up into the rafters.*

Oh yes, I see him there now! Hi Ook! Want a game of scrabble?

*Ook swings down from the rafters, snatching DD's banana on the way. He sets up the scrabble board opposite GL and begins to pick his letters. GL picks his letters and groans.*

A new thread every Sunday? You mean that this place used to be *that* busy? Oh my G...*swoons*

* wanders in carrying a bar stool *


Any chance of a ?

*opens one eye*

Sorry GD - see posting 191 (although some of the guests have been known to carry hip flasks, but being very discreet about it)

*gets up, still recovering from the shock at the thought of creating a new thread every week*

Ah! Found them! *triumphantly holds up a box of filters*

Now IIEM, I know I managed to do this once before, but I can't remember how I did it - could you direct me please?

*a mumbled conversation follows between Ti and IIEM*

*to IIEM* What? Are you sure about this?

*absentmindedly hands the cookie tin to GL*

You mean like this? *opens a hatch*

*nods to all the Salonistas*

IIEM another Earl Grey please.

Courtesy

*Takes a cookie and bites into it.*

Mmmm. These are GOOD, Titania!

*Watches the exchange between Titania and the IIEM.*

You know, that IIEM hasn't been in for servicing for a long time...

It could do with being a little more user friendly. I think it is perfectly reasonable to request whipped cream on a hot