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

This yarn looks at some infamous vomiting incidents in NZ and elsewhere, identifies a potentially dangerous bug and contains advice about what to do if someone vomits near you.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A577389

I'd just like to point out that I find the following line in bad taste: "and with Princess Diana the word 'Chuck' referred more to her hobby than her husband." Eating disorders aren't funny, and dead people with eating disorders are even less funny.


Mikey

The reference to "Saint Diana" has been removed. Incidentally, it has been well-documented (in various British publications) she did not suffer from an eating disorder. Her vomiting was a call for attention.

The Inuit have a lot of names for snow ...

Would you mind to mention more Kiwi expressions for 'checking the echo in White Bowl Valley'? A profound knowledge of these phrases seems to be absolutely crucial for anybody who wants to go to NZ ...


But seriously: It's a very daring topic for a guide Entry, and it won't be easy for The Towers to swallow that stuff. I really hope that some Scout is going to try it ...

Jeremy

Now that's a funny article and its also quite informative too.

I had campylobcater recently (some of my h2g2 journal documents it if recall) - it never made vom though. In footnote 1 - should it not be Helicobacter Pylori that you refer to in the second sentence.
Incidentally bacterial names are latin so I think they should be in italics (that's what we do in our scientific articles anyhow).

I like this article - I'll sit back and see what others say.

Orcus

I also liked this piece. It's does give you a giggle and is very informative. The references to Diana had been removed by the time I got to this; I can see how they might have offended some people, although I personally would not have objected to them.

I think I would like to see a more comprehensive list of Enzeder 'chunder euphemisms', but matbe that would be better suited to a seperate entry. Any takers?

Come on you Scouts, get this one Edited, it certainly is worthy.

All the same... Vomiting for attention is nonetheless an eating disorder. I had (to a point still have) Bulimia for over two years and have to put up with crude vomiting jokes from my father. Thick skin I may have, but it still hurts.

I am really sorry to hear that, people can be so cruel. At least you get to choose your friends, not that you can your family, obviously.

edit this one boys, its great! its been a while since i've prayed to the porcelain god, but i do more of the "going for accuracy and distance" puking anyway...

Thanks for the kind comments people.

Orcus the Latin words have now been italicised. They came from the credited dictionary so, hopefully, they are correct.

Incidently, for those who wanted a comprehensive list of NZ chundering terms, if you read the piece carefully you will find many have been thrown up throughout the article

Hi Loony, sorry for sounding like a horrible pedant but I as pretty sure it had to be Helicobacter pylori as this is a bacterial species that is quite well known in my field of research as a cause of stomach ulcers etc...
I did a Google search for Campylobacter and found this...

Campylobacter, a gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium. Virtually all human illness is caused by one species, Campylobacter jejuni, but 1% are caused by other species.

The same search engine found this for Helicobacter...

Diseases Related to H. Pylori
Duodenal Ulcer Disease
Gastric (Stomach) Ulcers
Cancer in the stomach
Non-ulcer dyspepsia, (and some cases of nausea and vomiting)

Hope that reiterates my point well.

Its a shame mere fact has to get in the way sometimes. The article made me laugh my socks off. I would love this to get in the guide.
Orcus

Orcus, I'll change the footnote. Your definition is probably more understandable for the lay reader.

Thanks
Loony

Gosh.

I was only trying to suggest a change in the footnote from Campylobacter pylori to Helicobacter pylori.

To be honest I preferred the first footnote to this one. Much more easy on the layman imho. Its just I didn't/don't think Campylobacter pylori exists.

Ha well, whatever you prefer

Orcus

The original information came from a reputable on-line medical dictionary. You may want to check out the online dictionary. The one I used has a a .com extention.

On refelection, I have decided to use a less technical definition.

"A genus of bacteria that represents a number of different species that are able to cause or produce disease in man."

Well whatever makes you feel good.

The question is do the virii make one vomit in order to spread themselves about or does one vomit to get rid of the virii which take advantage of the ride? And is there any way to know for sure?

You know, I wouldn't mind so much if the Kiwis weren't so proud about how good they are at it. Fortunately, my smell-o-vision attachment is broken and I managed to turn the Tasti-Tech off when I read the title.

Good article.

Barton

Hey, I like it!
It brought up a bucket-load of memories from way back...



(i.e. the time when I was in Oz and heard all those expressions )

This should definitly make it into the Edited Guide.

Cheers!
Tube

You'll be glad to hear that your excellent entry has now gone into the Editorial Process for future inclusion in the Edited Guide. This means that the day will come when your Entry will be featured on the Front Page. Please keep in mind that the Sub-Editors are only humans (that's what I've been told ) and that the Editorial process may take some time. You'll be informed by Email when your Entry has made it.

Jeremy

Congratulations!

I look forward to the day when your article will issue from the vomitorium directly onto the arena of the Front Page.

Barton