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

I think the h2g2as might disagree with that.

*polishes shiny chrome cylinder-head covers.*

*replaces power of reason generator logic coolant-pump impellors.*



gosh...it must be time for a

*cracks open fresh cold gr*lsch*

anyone else fancy one??

alec.

could alec or harry or some engineering type come up to the Pelican's nest and check out the controls on the hot tub. I seem to have gotten the place all steamed up

it sounds like that would actually be more in harrys' line of specialisation shagsworth...

...anyway, i've got all these chrome cylinder-head covers to polish

and apart from anything else...its COLD up there !

alec.

* brings Alec lots of to fall into *

mmmmmmmmmm

*starts constructing small diving platform*

er...what's the melting point of luz ??

alec.

the cork pops out of the speaking tube as steam pours out from the Pelicans nest. It's hot enough to melt chocolate up here and Harry
never arrived. Are you sure you sent for him
________________

hey !!! i'm not harrys boss sharkbag...besides, i'm busy.
you go find him.

*inflates large kiddy pool under hastily constructed diving platform*

alec.

* wiggles her toes in the pool *

*starts chocolate swirly pump thingy*

*adds more *

alec.

maybe we should add some and ?

nope...

just some more please Captain Pantograph....

*eats....knocks back

er...got any more of those??

alec.

* adds cream *

* hopes ther eis not going to be too much polishing for Alec *

* enjoys the feeling of between her toes *

Now this is a wierd feeling!

* downs her drink and pours everyone another *

Steam escaping from the comunication tube down from the Pelican's nest! This looks like a job for an acredited journeyman HVAC technician!! Unfortuantly I've be working rediculous hours IRL and have been derilict in my duties aboard the Blood.
I'm off.... well maybe a quick first.
Now then off I go.

Thank God Harry, you've shown up just in time...er well nearly.

Do you happen to know the melting point of chocolate?
and for a given surface-area,with a specific ambient temperature
how many watts of heat do we need to keep it just at the right temperature and fluidity.

You see...we want to fall in it, from a given height at a certain terminal velocity, without breaking any bones.

i knew you would be able to help...

So...i suppose you've been doing a bit more HV than AC recently eh??

alec.

Actually I have been immersed in two projects. One is the constant testing (and failing) of a 75hp fan unit for sound generation levels. It is a prototype for 22 units to be installed in a U.S. government "computer center". I suspect if they told us the real use they would have to kill us.
The other project is to shepard the rush production of some aircraft ground cooling units that are on a completely unrealistic schedule.
As to the watts per sq. ft required to maintain at sufficient viscosity to break a fall but not a leg. Hmmmm... let's see butter content....halogen vs incandescant...intensity decreases at sq. root of distance....32 feet per second per second....milk vs semi-sweet...depth required for safe deceleration....
I should think the answer is.... well.... Lots and lots I suppose.
I may have to consult the ASHRE food products and materials property editions. Certainly we are need to adjust the recipie of the chocolate so that the required viscosity is achived at no more than the recommended body immersion temperature of 104 deg. F. and we may find that low intensity gas fired infra-red heaters are superior to lights as a source of heat. I suppose we could install a bank of heaters above the tank and adjust their fuel input until we acheive our goal.
I'll have to convert one of the forward holds of the Blood into the tank and we can modify the plank usually reseved for unwanted visitors as an entry vehicle. A food grade lobe pump could circulate the through a Cleaver-Brooks boiler (they have an excellent turndown ratio) to maintain an even temperature through out the mix while the radient heaters will prevent the formation of a crust which might cause unpleasant effects on entry.
As to testing well we are so we could just abduct a few towns people I suppose, toss them in and see if they came up smiling.
An interesting project and not much stranger than some of the things I am asked to do at work.

This is made to the british recipie if that is any help

...a 'quiet' 75hp fan??...22 of them??...*taps side of nose in knowing fashion*

I went to a seminar last week on 'state of the art' d.c. systems for marine installations, only to find out, during an excellent lunch, that half of the people at the seminar were nothing to do with the marine industry, but were a design team with a fat government contract to come up with a 'surveillance vehicle' that would be airconditioned and power sufficient for over a week without running the engine. All 'facilities' provided, two guys could sit inside for a week without getting out...except maybe for donuts.

It seems that small dc generators, storage batteries, solarpanels and inverters is the way of the future.(instead of large ac gens. running stuff directly)

*measures dia. of kiddy pool*

do you think we should get some sort of industrial-sized aluminium cook-pot instead of the kiddy-pool then??

alec.

gosh luz...*puts on glasses* i thought i was still talking to harry then

*makes fresh punch*



alec.

er, luz how fast would you be travelling if you jumped off that platform there by the time you hit the chocolate, assuming an acceleration rate of 9.81m/s/s ???

* wonder what they would do with the pool *

* goes to make everyone a to aid the thinking *