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

The tapes are sitting comfortably in their box, wherever that box may be. I know it's around here somewhere but you know how good these things can be at staying hidden.
So I'm working from very, very hazy recollections...
*sits down and waits expectantly for coherent explanation*

HI, sorry for the delay - young family and all that.
What made me change my mind? I reviewed the footage and he explanation given was that they were born back to front because they were air breathers - If they emerged front-ways and took too long they would drown. This made a lot of sense. Having said that, I'm just off to find out how modern dolphins give birth. If they can give birth head-first, then so could the opthalmosaur.

They don't give birth head first. So that's the breach-birth idea out the window. Well done Walking With Dinosaurs.

Thanks I'm still curious though. Whichever way round dolphins are born, they're air-breathing creatures thrust into the ocean so how do they get their first lungful of air??
And on the risk of head-first births getting drowned, what about the human females who give birth in a pool of water? I suppose people are better than dinosaurs at assisting in the case of difficulties though so I'm willing to believe the 'Walking with Dinosaurs' backup research team for the moment. (Anybody know where I've stashed my videotapes?)

Hi Metal Chicken - hope all is well.
Dolphin young have to barrel on up to the surface to grab their first lung-full. Which is why they go to shallow water to give birth (at a guess). Humans born in pools instinctively refuse to breath until air is available. Which is handy. There are three mammals with a diving response - Dolphins, whales and us. Upon entering the water, our hearts slow down and out breathing rate changes. (Although how you measure the diving response of a cetacaen is beyond me. Perhaps you have to take them out of the water and dump them in again. Rather pointless). The other explanation is that the diving response thing is cobblers. Hhmmm, yes, that works as well. Growing ever dis-heartened that this entry is going to be picked up.
Frogbit.

Ps, have you tried looking in the box in the cupboard under the stairs?

Hello,

Questions about dinosaur births notwithstanding, it is an interesting article. Still, I have to air one quibble. I am in the USA and have no idea what the Mendips are (besides hills in England). Perhaps a brief mention of their location and what's so cool about them in the present before we jump into the Wayback Machine might be nice. Thanks.

Yours,
Jake

PS Don't grow disheartened. Peer Review is meant to take some amount of time to assure that everybody has a chance to comment on entries. Just because it's been 2 weeks doesn't mean anything (especially since that's about standard these days).

Point taken - I was thinking something similar myself. I will edit the piece in the next couple of days and let you know.
Frogbit.

Nice pice, I'll keep myself subscribed to this one, for when you modify it.

BTW:
haematite = hematite

Hey Mr.Cogito. Updated the piece by the addition of a more precise location. Would have waffled more at the start, but I am planning a bit of a series, all short pieces, and a more modern perspective was pencilled in for the next one. Thanks for your interest,
Frogbit.

Cheers for the comment, Dancer. I checked out the BTW matter and interestingly enough it's haematite/hematite. So, one-all there mate.

As an inhabitant of the continent I'd very much like to know *where* (I assume on the British Isles) the place is found. Some guidance for my finger on the map please


Bossel (Scout)

Hi Bossel. If you really need further guidance finding the Mendips then I'll put some in. It's just that the Mendips take up quite a bit of Somerset, and with the title being A Deep -blah blah blah- of the Mendips, Somerset, UK. I thought anyone with a further interest would pick up a map. This is not sarcasm. Please let me know, and in the meantime, I'll work on being more precise.
Frogbit.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A563267
This contains a slightly more accurate description of the location of the Mendips. Please let me know if you are happy with the ammendment.
Frogbit

yes, I'm happy

Hi Bossel. I see you enjoy the drawings of C.M. Escher. I thought it was M.C. Or is this a magnificently clever mirror gag portaining to his work with perspective.

That was supposed to be a smiley winking, but I pressed the post button instead of the preview. Oh well. We'll just revert to emoticons.

Oh, I see. You can do it that way as well. Clever.

urrrps! You're the first to notice the flaw