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

[RNick - master of many various meece-thingies]

I don't know how many buttons my mouse has, they're all hidden. I do have a scroll ball (vertical, horizontal, and *diagonal* scrolling!).

[mr]

That kid seriously rocks.

Recalled -- 193 million pounds of beef. I'm watching the footage (on BBC America) of some of the sick cows being dragged or tased repeatedly to get them up the chute and into the abbatoir. Of course they're saying it's just the one slaughterhouse.

I haven't bought any beef in over 6 months, and I know that what I did buy came from Texas. Even so, I'm quite put off.

I saw that video a month ago on an American chef's website (Chris Cosentino, if anyone knows who he is; here's the link http://www.offalgood.com/site/blog/resources/this-is-cheap-meat/ ), Lil. It's not for the soft of heart, believe me. Anyway, Cosentino used it as part of a rant about the real costs of cheap beef in America: abused animals and tainted food. The USDA is frantically playing the CYA game, but I'm sure this goes on in more than one meatpacking plant.

Mornin All

Cold, dry weather continues for another day but, looking to the East, the dawn looked like the Mines of Mooria<?>, all oranges and swirling mists. Slighty disturbing.

Checks work rodent: two buttons one scroll wheeeeel and at home the same only very scelrotic. Thinks, must contact Mr D, the mouse maintenance maniac.

One wonders what would be found if swabs from mice were cultured

They used to say that the dirtiest thing in a dental surgery was the pen

Re the animal cruelty/meat factory stuff ...

I've often toyed with the idea of vegetarianism but have never gone the "whole hog".
We're not big meat eaters at The Towers but when we do have it, I want to be assured that it has been ethically produced and that the animal has been respected throughout its life.

Behaviour such as that recently brought to light makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Holy crap! Fidel Castro has resigned!

Front page news right now:

http://news.bbc.co.uk

I never expected to see a voluntary retirement, that he'd die in his uniform.

*Gives Fidel Castro a startled look*

I never understood all these revolutionary propensities for revolting against existing monarchies and then pretty much setting up their own in all but name. Not that Cuba revolted against a monarchy as such. I was speaking very very generally and therefore almost inevitably inaccurately.

But I've just finished an essay, to finish which - oh shame! - I missed two lectures, and which is so not worth the effort, being a rather muddled, vague, and under-informed essay even in the most benevolent possible light. The problem is, Big Things are happening at work, which will Affect My Career, and therefore some 30% of one module's marks seem as nothing and have completely been neglected. If my tutor happens to be a hootooer, reads this, and works out who I am, I am so very sorry. And you were perfectly right, having a job and doing a full-time degree at the same time is daft, not that you said the word 'daft', but I firmly believe you eye-browed it. Anyway.

*Pokes moderated post with spoon, just to see its iridescent and opaque surface wobble*

Hmm. sympathises regarding full time working and studying having quit my MSc at the PGDip stage and carry loads of, well a little bit, of guilt at not having taken it up again. For goodness sake how hard can a 10,000 word dissetation be. Don't SHOUT, I know, very hard.

Not convinced about the mod post discription. More a dull grey, gloopy comfort blanket for Aunty's little lawyers.

Wow! Never saw Fidel retiring.

I certainly wouldn't have thought that Mr Castro would have resigned. Still he outlived many an attempt to remove him from office.

I'm shocked by the news about Fidel. Less so by the news about the beef. Last few times I've bought ground beef it hasn't been beef at all, but buffalo. I am assured that the beasts live free range, and never see the end coming. Happier flesh tastes so much better.

And if I'm the first person on the planet to contract Mad Buffalo disease, I'll be quite impressed with myself.

18 hours later, that post is still yikes'd - who posted it and what sort of ish thing did you say?

my mouse is supposed to have four buttons or so, but i use 2 of the buttons as 1 button (or rather, i've turned off the ability for it to be used as two) and don't use either of the other two as buttons though i do use the nubby bit as a vertical and horizontal (/wave at d'e) scrolly.

i've been expecting fidel to pass the torch for a while now, a little while after he gave his brother the temporary reins.

[Hyp]

Guess who is getting ink.

Lady C? The Smellfungus?

[Bagpuss - attempting to make bread]