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

Tis a grand scheme!

'Nonnie

(That being said, can we stick the open-eyed pyramid on top of the F-grid? )

We've got some room up there, can't see why not...

Umm, here's the big question now...can anyone draw this thing?

I could probably handle the pyramid/eye and the F thing(thought it might look like an 8-year-old's attempt), but after that...

And what colour scheme did you (or anyone, for that matter) have in mind?

'Nonnie

Draw...? DRAW...? Isn't there anyone around here that has a scanner and a US dollar...? Why draw a pyramid with an eye when there's one on there. Unfortunately, it's a nation under God so we might have to think twice about that.

I liked the idea of the mobius strip, but aren't we forgetting why symbols used to be used...? People were illiterate, and kept that way because knowledge was power. In the past few decades, words and typefaces have become the new symbolism. You see the "K" on a box of Special K and you know what it is. Same goes for the McDonald's "M". We're out to educate people but we're not going to discriminate by using something in one language. We need a symbol that denotes that everything is a result of mathematical forces and logical progression.

How about this one... E=mc² ...? Everything is nothing more than its mass multipled by the square of light, as expressed as its total energy.

Did I miss something? When did we agree that everything was a result of 'mathematical forces and logical progression'? I didn't realise that we were going to overthrow religious dogma just to crown mathematical dogma in its place.

I thought the point of us being here was to expose the sham that is organised religion. That, for me at any rate, does not totally preclude the possibility of there being something beyond our comprehension. Did not Isaac Newton devote the greater part of his life to solving the Bible, looking for the code that he was sure existed? I have heard it said that for people like Newton, Einstein and Hawking, they see their work as no more than an explanation of god's work. (I use god with a small g because I'm not specifically refering to the god of the christians). If we're just going to bandy numbers about as symbols indicative of our principles, then may I suggest one of the following:

0.85ug (the amount of vitamin B12 in a 30g serving of Kellogs Frosties)

DID12 (the catalogue number of OMD's 1981 album 'Architecture & Morality)

468 (my top score on Snake on my nokia mobile phone)

Now then, where did I put my entry on Sarcasm...

What album did I happen to have on my CD for the first time in years as I was reading your post.
And that was because I had only just refound it this afternoon. down the back of the cupboard the computers on, while looking for something else that slid off the top.

Incredible!

And I in turn only had it out because, in the post yesterday morning, I received a promo of a tune on Vision Records ("Free again" by Nowa-Nowa) that sampled a song that I was sure I knew - it turned out to be Souvenir!

Now that puts me in mind of a tale I read in a book - was it in 'From Atlantis to the Sphinx' by Colin Wilson? It might have been, but that's not the point.

It describes how an author was seeking information on a religious cult called the Order of Melchizedek. The author had to travel to LA for research. After landing, he took a taxi, and when alighting looked at the receipt. It was signed 'M. Melchizedek'. After checking the LA phone book, he discovered there was only one Melchizedek in the whole phone book - his taxi driver.

I think I always preferred the raw experimentation that was 'Dazzle Ships' rather than the sombre mood that affects 'Architecture...'

Erm.... why the sarcasm?

I haven't said much about this, because I'm not very artistic. But it's true that if we are to have a symbol, it should be universal. And simple. I know a thing or two about the principals of design, and simple is better. Take, for example, the Mercedes symbol; universally recognized in the Western world as a sign of excellence. No need for words.

And when did I miss the part that we were out to overthrow anything? I thought our goal was more educational. For by trying to rob people of their religion by argument, we would be doing the same thing we criticize the Christians for: trying to force our faith on to others.

I'll take the blame on this one...

CD4's symbol is everything you guys want. It's simple, it's never been used, and can be instantly recognizable. I added all the extra stuff because of a personality flaw. I read more dragon and wizard type novels than is healthy, and I thought that something resembling a full coat of arms would be a bit grander. The simple symbol is still the heart of the design, and we can put it on t-shirts without including the menagerie.

As for the E=mc^2 idea, you are more than welcome to argue that particular cosmology here, and I'll link an article if you're willing to write it. But officially, the Foundation has no position on that subject. We accept all non-Christian beliefs. Therefore, making it our symbol would be against our best interests. Besides, we need something uniquely ours, and I think CD4's design provides that.

It all depends on my mood at the time, Architecture fitted my mood late last night quite well.

It might be a powerful symbol to not have a symbol. After all, how many symbols can dance on the head of a sin?

'words, words, words!' - somebody

Sorry to interrupt you lot, but I want in!
Despite my extremities, which may scare you, I want my name up there so I people can understand how much I hate god and his stupid religeons.
I am not joking.

Now, I think I'll read all that up there now.

Just finished reading all that. Wow, I guess I am too extreme for all you lot.
Bet you won't want me

"200,000 to 1 against and falling"
"150,000 to 1 against and falling"
"100,000 to 1 against and falling"
*stomp stomp stomp*
"Improbability Drive will dis-engage shortly"
"50,000 to 1 against and falling"
Can anyone tell me just what NORMALITY is?
"10,000 to 1 against and falling"
"5,000 to 1 against and falling"
"Normality will be restored as soon as we work out what normal is"
ARRRGH!! PENGUINS!!

Sorry about that. My Improbability drive has been playing up lately.

Rocket

Well you all have a prity big downer on Cristians. Cant blame you really but what is so bad about faith. Faith in a god can not be agued against.
I do not have a crisis of faith just an inability to believe in all those stories about virgin birth, resorection and the trinity (thanks to CD4 for helping with that one).
What I would say is, it is good to have a code to live by so if I take the teaching of Jesus in the sermon on the mount as my guide am I a chistian? What I say is get read of the dogma and look for the simple truth.
One thing I do know is that I know nothing i.e. what is after death don’t know; what is God (my own simple belief is that god is love. Don’t take that any deeper and it works).
What is a Christian any way. The prophet mohamed considers jesus as a prohet of god, so are all muslems chistains?
The real question is does it really matter.
My parting words of wisdom/stupidity are that I have lived in a few countries with different religions (Nepal 2 years, Somalia 2 years, Sierra Leone 4 years, Georgia 2 years and even North Korea for 6 months) in each country I have meet what I consider good people and bad people. What I call the good the bad and the ugly. There is something deeper that makes someone good and it is not religion. I wish I knew what it was.

It's called compassion, perhaps? And you don't need a supreme being to give you compassion, understanding, or otherwise. There are far too many compassionate people who don't believe in a supreme being for me to be convinced otherwise.

'Nonnie

Never comfuse atheism with amorality. Faith doesn't necessarily mean morality, and lack of it doesn't mean lack of morality. If you can find reason enough to be a good person without the threat of eternal hellfire, then I believe you're a better person than the one who does need it.

With a positive attitude like that, how can you go wrong?

Who said anything about a suprime being. For me God is love. If a suprime being exists is it a he she, maybe an old man with a beard. Who cares it should not alter your life and the respect you should have for all people and peoples.
A good rule is "keep it simple stupid" its what i say to may self not to you.