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

Ah! Right, Lbclaire,

It's just that I've been called a 'smoothie', before now, on h2g2!
I think it was my friend Chips who used the term; I took it to mean 'a bit of a flirt' or 'a flatterer'.
I know you were referring to another matter altogether, but your use of the term meant nothing to me until your clarification as to its other meaning!

Thanks for your response.

RonThe Smoothie!

Ah, I see! I didn't realise that - no wonder you got confused!

Yes, 'smoothie' can mean that too. Ooh dear...aren't words confusing!

Lbclaire

Sorry, Ron. I seem to have hurt you. Nuances again

Chips

Ah, now you're offending my feelings, BClair. I've been using what you call a 'smoothie' since the early eighties of the last century. I don't blend my fruit and vegetable juices with milk either. I take a bowl of crunchy, soaked it with the juice of banana's, oranges and other fruits, like an apple, a pear or few strawberries (anything that the season offers) that I make with the machine. Then I pour yoghurt on top and sprinkle it with what in Dutch is called 'studentenhaver', a mixture of pecan-, hazel- and walnuts with raisins on top. It's sublime!
In the afternoon I make myself carrot juice with parsley.

Now I'm curious Chips, with is according to you a 'smoothie'

Hey Ron, let's see if we can all get the finishing touches done on your Entry.

Let's start with making the first three paragraps as quotes, this has been mentioned before, but seems to be lost in the conversation.

At the beginning, where you have:

In August,1996

Insert in front of the

At the end of the third paragraph, where you have:

two monthly basis.

Insert after the

Then that will be the first three paragraphs, as quotes.

Emmily

Ah! Right, thank you Emmily.

I'll do that straight away.

Watch out for the result. That is, if I do it correctly!

Ron


f.

Hi Emmily,

I've just tried your suggestion. I'm afraid it doesn't seem to have worked! I could have done something wrong, but I can't see what it is right now!


Ron

It has worked Ron, those three paragraphs are a little narrower than the rest of the text.

You need to do the same with the last paragraph.

Where you have the paragraph starting:

Finally, let me say

Insert at the beginning, and

at the end of paragraph.

I'll read through the backlog later, see what else needs to be done.

Emmily

You're a Star Emmily!
Right, I'll see to the last paragraph this very moment!



Ron

Right Emmily, that's done!

I was looking for quotation marks, that's why I thought it hadn't worked.

Do you think I should italicize that last paragraph, or leave it as it is, for a little variety in presentation?

Ron

Hmmmm you may want to put your hands around my neck and strangle me, very slowly by the time I've finished Ron

The Entry's ID number, A3805814 so it's easier for evryone to go to.

Yes Ron, italicize the final paragraph, blockquote and italic is standard for quotes.

The Subheader "Final Thoughts:" please change to a Header.

(You've got two more personal experiences that need to be in blockquote and italic.)

But first, looking at A863345 another personal experience Entry, you can use I, my, me etc it would read much smoother than "the writer/he/him etc"

So if you could go through and change those

ie the first paragraph:

In August,1996 I underwent a gastrectomy; the (more or less) complete removal of the stomach, to eradicate a growth that was ‘on the turn’ to becoming malignant. I was fortunate enough to be diagnosed early, so that I did not require chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The procedure was an effective ‘cure’ in itself. Learning to live with the results, such as getting used to the ‘new anatomy,’ as a hospital doctor told me would take some time, proved to be correct.

As far as I can see you need to do this in the first three and last three paragraphs only.

Emmily

Just noticed "removal of the stomach" ~~> removal of my stomach.

Going shopping, so I'll leave you in peace for a while Ron

Emmily

Hi Ron,

I think you should italicise that last paragraph, for consistency. And I still think first-person would be nicer for those indented italicised bits (eg. instead of 'In August,1996 the writer underwent a gastrectomy...', you would say 'In August 1996, I underwent a gastrectomy...'), and remove the first person stuff from the 'information' sections (eg. the 'the writer' bit from near the end (see my post 74 in this conversation).

Looking at the whole entry again, I think it would benefit from a short section on why such an operation can be necessary (not just in your case, but more generally - such as the things you've been telling us in this conversation) and what it entails. This could go in between the initial blockquote italicised section and the 'Immediate Post-Op' section. You could title it 'What is a Gastrectomy?' or something like that, and have a sub-heading of 'Procedure' with a short description of what is actually done to remove the stomach (if you don't think that's too gruesome!).

Well done for what you've done so far and for being so responsive to comments and changes!

Lbclaire

Hi Lbclaire,

Thank you for your input/advice on this Entry.
Strangely enough, much of the first section and parts of the main body of text were originally in just that first person style you mention; so we have come full-circle in that regard.
I shall italicise the last section as you advise; especially since it is a convention of the EG to do so, as you so rightly point out.
Your other suggestions are also worth considering, but will take a little time and concentration to get it just right.
The only thing that I do not feel quite qualified to do is to explain the surgical procedure(s) involved in gastrectomy. I was only at the receiving end! Sure, I was told what they intended to do, and in some detail, in the pre-surgery appointment, but the actual procedure is rather more complex than the explanation to the layman patient. I shall look through these postings to see the extra material I, and others, have been discussing.
Let me have a think about your suggestions.

See you soon

Ron


f.

Hello Emmily,

Right! That's a lot there you've given me to do! I'll begin to revise it along your lines, and thank you for scanning it to identify those relevant paragraphs; you've saved me some time there!
As you will see, Lbclaire has given me some input ideas too; so I'll have to see what will work in trying to adopt both your suggestions without causing any inconsistencies in the Entry.

And no! Murder is not on my agenda, so your feminine neck is not on the block. Quite the contrary; I value highly your sharing of knowledge on the accepted procedures.

Ron


f.

Hi Emmily,

You may (hopefully) be pleased to know that I have now updated the Entry in accordance with your valuable suggestions.
Please take another quick look at it for me and let me have your verdict on the new format.

Ron


f.

It's looking and reading much better Ron

Emmily

Great Emmily, that's just what the doctor ordered.
Thank you for all your advice and pointers!

Ron

Re-LBclaire's suggestion of information about the op.

May I suggest you could use a link to a web page which explains it Ron. I've just done a quick google search for Gastrectomy, their are a few to choose from.

If you want to use one, and are unsure how to add the link, let us know, one of us will help you with it.

Emmily

Yes Emmily; Lbclaire's idea is a good one, and I would very much like to insert a link to a learned article on gastrectomy and its 'uses'.

As you have very astutely guessed, I would need to be shown or instructed how to establish the link; and could do with some help in selecting the best or most appropriate article. Can I call on you again to advise me in this, please Emmily? I still have a lot to learn about h2g2 and computing in general.

Ron