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

I've placed myself at the leading edge of this new process by purposely withholding my Libertarianism article until the new system went live. My first impression is that I appreciate it very much. I still have full editorial control over my article while entering into open dialogues with people over the content. I can now get useful feedback that I can do something with, something that has been totally lacking from the earlier scheme. After that, though, it will beome the province of the subs and editors, and I'm pretty sure I'll have no way to become a part of that process, as usual. I think its an improvement, but just one step in a long road.

As for time constraints, if you keep up a steady pace of article submissions, you'll establish yourself a pattern of having one accepted at regular intervals... a good motivation for becoming a regular contributor, which is what the Guide wants of you.

Well, I can see the value in having a place to show your article and get feedback. I guess the problem I have is that once you are satisfied with it, you have to just hope that some scout finds it and passes it on to a sub. It is arbitrary. If you are writing about something that is a little esoteric, or a bit obscure, it may get passed over because no scout is interested enough to read it and pass it on. At least before, you got in a queue and could rely on it being edited when it came to the front of the queue. It was fair.

And I don't see how it saves work. All "edited" articles still have to go through a sub, then an editor, no?

There speaks a man who is probably the only registered h2g2 researcher who is also an authority on wind tunnels!
*striding briskly from studio to kitchen*

And this also happens to be the day when I have to do the dog's big fry-up IRL, for the next 10 days worth of her meals.

* gets out the fixings for the lamb pasanda that she organised yesterday and is soon frying things*

Colonel, where are the discontinuities you speak of? What university? The only situation I've been watching has been the proposed h2g2 map by Amy the Ant. And last I heard on that, she was having trouble working everything in. That's the point at which I stopped even thinking about it! A map of h2g2 has as many intersecting planes as a pile of cards, it seems. She made some fabulous landscapes for Bluebottle, though. H2g2 is as grand as Canada! Or Wyoming.

There are still articles in queues. I have a batch yet to do. And then I'll have to suspend my sub-ship because I just made my train reservations for 7 weeks hence and I have a Lot To Do.

If anyone can advise me on what kind of drinks go with tonight's curry dinner, I'll get some self-refillable glasses

*suddenly realizing not knowing if she was invited*

I just want to know if the scouts will go through all of the related articles, or if they'll just read the main one.

Titania, of course you're invited; we shall be eating quite soon, to account for your time zone.

Well, I leave for Albuquerque on the 17th September, to take the trip I was going to take in April. All trains!

*gets the pasanda stewing nicely and gets the yoghurt and spice-marinated chicken breasts out* Minoova, place these in the tandoor and seal it.

45 minutes to seating and eating, everybody.

*smells frying meat*
*shakes off feathers and washes, goes to kitchen*

Big meal today? I have to see somebody about a body, heh heh heh! But save food for me.

FLAP-FLAPP!

*Checks watch*

I might not be around then. House work IRL.

*checks her watch, too*

Drat, my RL kid needs to be transported to a RL swim meet just then. If you don't mind, Lil, I'll have to drop in more towards dessert.

Hi there Lil,
*Brings in Pakora mix and large batch of spicy dipping sauce, Chicken Korma in a casserole dish, and Gulab Jamun to heat and have for dessert with the coconut ice-cream*

I don't think you latecomers have to worry. With the number of dishes we are amassing, dinner will continue all evening!

Sorry to be late responding, but I was trawling campaign threads to try and catch up with the action. Have y'all been following all the happenings? It would be interesting to compare notes -- without campaigning for any one candidate. I mean, most of us all know our affiliation by now....

Hi Lil, need a hand?
This may sound strange, but voting for people is something I'm almost allergic too. With our motley crew of MP's on this side of the pond every choice leads to more of the same.........I abstain......vote for "None of the above"

I've found it difficult to keep up-to-date on the campaign. I've resorted to checking Styx' page to find out where he's been. Then I follow those links.

I guess you could say that I have the tabloid, muck-raking view of the campaign.

Here on h2g2 you have a choice between an Italian godfather of organised crime, an archbishop of a peculiar sect, a turnip-eating ratkiller, a space cowboy, a peregrine falcon, a bowl-playing Demon, Herbert the Celery, and several other candidates who declared at the very last minute. Oh, and a Cheese.

Isn't that just like real life?
Minoova, start bringing the dishes to the round table please. The tandoor smells wonderful, but it will have to be the second course. Shall we all retire to the table? I set it up on the veranda. Bring your glasses.

Anychance of a Draught Guiness Lil?
A cold one goes down the biz with a good ruby

*gets a Y of champagne*

When did the celery get a name? Sheesh, I even have a poster on "my space" endorsing him & Dolores.

Oooops, time for me to duck out for a while. See you later.

I offered to supply the beverages, and I will!

*concentrating real hard to make the glasses last longer this time, focusing, charging and - SHAZAMMM!!! - on nearby table appears glasses of various shapes and contents, all depending upon the taste of anyone reaching for a glass*

OK, I really outdid myself this time, those self-refillable glasses will last for 6 hrs more (until 5 am CET - wow, past midnight), but don't ask me for any elf-magic service for the next 3 days, OK?

Mmmmmm
*sips ice cold Guiness and meanders over to the table*
Mind you this is one election I just might have to cast my apathy aside for
...and I like cheese...and celery

The Cheese went quite silent several weeks ago, after he disclaimed all association with his supporters. He may be on holiday.

Don Alfredo put out a contract on the Celery on the grounds that the Celery had no family. So I went to the online Encyclopedia Britannica and supplied this entry:
Celery: (species Apium graveolens), herb of the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae).

Celery's name is actually Herbert Apiaceae, and I think the accent is on the second syllable, but you can see why everyone just calls him The Celery.

Has there been any resolution to the investigation into DD's poisoning? Cheezdanish read his palm at the cafe and said it might have been an outside job, somebody after his money.

*starts passing around dishes. The pasanda and curried spinach are my dishes -- the tandoori comes out soon -- and all these other dishes, which I shall have to read the backlog to identify -- are from you guys. And lintilla brought the nans. Minoova will make chapatis throughout the meal. Just ask.

*serving herself a Kitzmann beer from the drink table, seating herself by the dinner table*

Mmmmmm... smells wonderful!