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

I've heard of deep fried mars bars but....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2558221.stm
hows that for a seasonal offering

Marv
have you thought of chatting up the existing customers?
They might need an in-house firewall specialist. or even going freelance?
Maybe it's time for a move across the pond, as we actually have some employment laws which protect the employee rather than the employer.

Santa says this about me:

"Nice, with a few naughty marks. Neatness needs improvement. Behavior has been good sometimes, not so good other times. Manners could still use some attention. Was very nice last Monday."



T - excellent graphic, having lived most of my life in Southern California I don't get the chance for snow fun of any kind, however I'm thinking of a trip to Norway, Sweden, etc. in a few years and will definitely put the idea to the test.

Marv - good luck. I had a friend who worked from NextPage outside of SLC and he had to move to Florida to find work. I'm not sure that a career change would be the way to go, unless you thoroughly HATE IT, maybe move into other aspects of IT. If you are interested in the Southern California area, I will keep my ears open for you, just let me know.

Courtesy *wishing all a fantastic end to the year*

I've got snow right now! I could make a lantern, but quickly before it melts.

Santa says, "Nice, but has naughty lapses. High marks in the good deeds department. Better than average manners. Hopefully, thoughtfulness will continue to be as good as last month. Neatness needs improvement!"

<-- sends wishes to Cooper.

The Santa Meter says I'm nice, but I have naughty lapses, and good manners.

All true.

Titania,

What do you use as the light source for this thing?

B4iburnthehousedown

Mystified by snow lanterns. Could we have a full description please T?

I found out what happened with Amazon. Had I bothered to read the fine print on my gift certificate, I would have noticed that it does not apply to Marketplace Sellers--i.e. the purveyors of used books, movies, and CDs listed through Amazon's site. A few minor adjustments to my order and I am assured of a tuneful holiday season.

As for he says this about me:

Even after an "iffy" October, still has a "Nice" rating. Didn't eat vegetables and got caught sticking out tongue. Got parents really mad that one time. (Was it two Saturdays ago???) On the other hand, is kind to animals, finishes chores and almost always washes hands before eating. Should finish with a "Nice" rating if the manners are kept up!

Too tired to contribute intelligibly tonight. We'll talk about casting on the masque thread, I reckon, Mac. Ask the question there. I'll be on hand in the morning.

*yawn*

Thanks all for the vaied well wishes and advice.

I am trying to decide what film has the greatest soundtrack. I am kind of caught between five films.

1. Trainspotting. Everything from Iggy Pop to techno.
2. Hackers. The soundtrack that thrust me into the world of electronic music
3. Clerks. This is an odd one. Good music with one-off crap produced specifically for the film. Also holds the record as the only film to have the rights for it's soundtrack to cost more than the production of teh film ($25,000 and $20,000 respectivly).
4. Moulin Rouge. It is a symphony of pop culture references and original music.
5. Gladiator. One of the best original scores I think that I can recall.

I put this up to the denizens of this salon for debate.

Sorry, Marv, but I have a different list...in no particular order, mind you.

>O, Brother Where Art Thou? The Soggy Bottom Boys' "Man of Constant Sorrow" just sticks in my head.

>Singles. Just because.

>Torn on this one...either the soundtrack to The Wedding Singer or Grosse Point Blank. Both are so reminiscent of my teen years.

>Gladitor soundtrack. I'll go with you on this one. There's just something about it.

>Amadeus. I mean, how much more could you ask for? Mozart!

[Sol]

says:

"Nice" with a few naughty marks for excess TV. Also had a tough month back in February, but has shown real "nice" effort ever since. Beware of not cleaning up kitchen messes and forgetting to say "thank you." Very nice job of kissing everyone "good night."

As for snow lanterns - the ideal conditions is if temperature is close to freezing point - makes it easier to form the snowballs (rather big, like ) and also makes them sticky enough to hold together...

...place them in a ring about the size you want your lantern to be - dinner plate-ish or so... but leave a gap in one place (that's where you'll insert the candle...

...build another row of snowballs (this time a complete ring) on top of the first row - a slightly smaller ring, but not too small, or the snowballs will fall down on the inside - an extra hand to support the snowballs while you're building the row is helpful...*glares reproachfully at snoring Ripley* ...with each snowball exactly between two snowballs in the first row...

-----O
---O-O
-O-O-O

It gets easier as the rings get smaller - and you end up with a sort of round pyramid, if that makes any sense... and then you light a candle (or several, depending on how big the lantern is) - I usually use tea lights - oh! And before you start building you can flatten the snow to create a smooth and firm base to build your lantern on...

The Full Monty and Billy Elliot both have soundtracks that get my toes tapping.

What's the French equivalent of a wedding/celebration cake called, made from profiteroles? Anyway, that's what the description of a snow lantern puts me in mind of.

Bitterly cold wind this morning, blowing from Russia, it is 0.2C outside. Winter may well have arrived.

[Munchkin]
Fried pudding sounds perfectly lovely to me. I've not had it deep fried, but pan fried is nice. Especially on a chilly morning like today.

Having inadvertantly used my unmarried name, this is what I get: Recently moved from naughty list over to my nice list. Made the nice list by helping out around the house a little more than usual. Hope this trend continues. Someone I really like when they are nice.

Now I have to go and find out is my married self is any nicer.

Oh yes, much better: Has been on best behavior most of the year! A real "Nice" surprise. Always plays by the rules. Is a good, polite listener, even when bored. Set a new record of only interrupting 75 times in 365 days! Always says "bless you" when somebody sneezes. Every now and then gets a little cranky. (Like last Thursday?) Let's try and keep the good attitude every day!

Movie soundtracks? Pi and the Matrix both had stuff which really worked well in the movies.
The Wedding Singer - I heard the soundtrack before I saw the movie

Santa's verdict:

Nice, but a few naughty marks. Good sense of humor helps others to laugh. Manners show improvement, though must keep working on being polite. "Please" and "thank you" go a long way!!

Santa has been watching Zeppo too:
"Nice, with a few naughty marks. Neatness needs improvement. Behavior has been good sometimes, not so good other times. Manners could still use some attention. Was very nice last Monday."

I thought he would have specifically mentioned the telephone and camera incidents.

I like the soundtracks to the Tarantino films Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, and strangely Robert Altman's Popeye. Until the End of the World has a good soundtrack too, and I have to agree with O Brother Where Art Thou. Since Affy isn't here to vote, I'm taking the liberty to proxy a vote for something by John Williams - how about the original Star Wars?