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

It didn't dawn upon me until yesterday just *how* extensive the fires are in Russia - when the smoke reached Stockholm! I hope you are OK Sol...

Yesterday also brought the most spectacular thunderstorm I've seen this summer - if ever! Sitting on a bench (under roof) waiting for my bus for 15 minutes I saw numerous flashes (didn't think of counting them until it was too late) - and they weren't just the ordinary 'from-heaven-to-earth' kind of flashes (the ones going down either vertically or diagonally)

The show also offered horizontal flashes, striking from one cloud to another - in some cases I didn't see the flash but I could see entires clouds being lighted up...

...and a vertical flash that decided to split up very suddenly, forming an upside down T...

...and flashes playing 'catch' - one flash would often trigger off 1 or 2 more flashes chasing after the first one...

...at one occasion, one diagonal flash was early on crossed by another flash, thus forming an upside down V - only to be crossed by a horizontal flash, making it an A!

The thunderstorm also knocked out the traffic lights, that were still out of order this morning, and they also seem to have caused a rip in time...

...I usually walk from home to train station, which takes about 20 minutes, brisk pace - I leave home every morning at the same time - but this morning I arrived to the station 10 minutes earlier than usual! And I didn't walk any faster than usual - I double checked my wrist watch, the clock in my Palm and the station clock - and I had *not* been running!

[Amy]

[Munchkin] I'm right? That doesn't happen very often

P.S. Lil, have you found something to open that passport I sent you? I could have a go at turning it into a jpeg or something tonight for you if you want.

{[caer csd] wondering who Jesse and Storm are.

More in the media here today about Blair and Bush. I think they are making the assumption that the wave of sympathy building for the anniversary of the 11th Sept implies support from the populace for joint action over Iran.

In which case their wires are badly crossed. After the years of IRA bombings here, we had two right here in Guildford, we understand the shock and devastation that the ordinary people felt and the trauma suffered by all those coping with the aftermath both in NYC and right through the US.

The Governments shouldn't make the mistake of seeing this as tacit agreement for military action. I don't think the majority of people here see Iran as an out and out threat at this moment and are more concerned with the internal mess of mismanaged public services and rising tension in Afghanistan.

Perhaps we are sticking our heads in the sand, as in the late 1930s, but I still feel that the UN inspectorate have some way to go and that so much of the sabre rattling is to persuade Hussein to allow a more thorough inspection. Time will tell.}

Sorry - no time for backlog - gig tonight.....

Did anyone see my first edited guide entry on the front page yesterday ?

It's still there now but not for long:

A793668

I think I'll crack open the !!

Congratulations Candi! Feels great, doesn't it?

'Luck Candi! And congrats

Smoke's reached Stockholm? Oh my! Might be time for a holiday somewhere far far away... bit of a problem as I satrt work again next weeek... Still, bit better today.

Candi's gig is advertised in the Guide that comes free with the Guardian . She's mentioned by name !



Amy

{[cae csd] Someone famous in the Atelier as well as a front page entry Well done Candi }

[PCT]

Well done Candi!

*Back at college.*

Nice recipe on today's front page, Amy - I'll have to try it some time!

I'm just going to make my Spectacular Tomato Soup for my lunch by way of a celebration .

And then I'm going to write the fable of the Ant and the Grasshopper for the Collaborative topic.

Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond are two of our Senators. Extremely conservative, they have both been accused of racism, both have stunned the nation multiple times by their political positioning that blocks needed legislation, both are fond of the pork barrel, and both are windbags.

http://www.senate.gov/~thurmond/
http://www.senate.gov/~helms/

I would be surprised if either of them even *saw* their own web pages.

[LIL]
delighted if Munchers will convert the passport to jpeg
still hoping for diplomatic immunity
concerned that Helms will attempt to replace himself with a political clone
believes Thurmond is too senile to care

[{Courtesy}]

Congrats Candi!!!!!!!!!!!

[]

[MTG]

[LIL]
noticing that the rescue quest has attracted an outsider with questionable grasp of plot and/or continuity

{[caer csd] H has just phoned to say that the local stretch of the M25 is closed due to a spillage. I wonder how many commuters are out there, along with the emergency services, are out there with straws }

Candi, you are one busy woman! Congrats!

The small person (not my husband, the other one) rode the school bus by herself for the first time today. Somehow, I think it was easier for her than for me....

The other small person (the husband) just received his orders. He leaves for Maryland on Tuesday. Goodness, but that's not fun. He'll be gone until at least January. The problem is, he's ex-infantry, and a certified combat photog. I'm really hoping the Iraq thing doesn't happen....