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

you have crazy names in NZ

I remember reading about small town names in the UK. Loud Snoring and speedy drive are two I remember

Is geothermal heating still not allowed for peoples' houses? I heard tell of a couple not so long ago, who had a geyser suddenly destroy their front lawn! Now there's something to write to the rellies about!

People close by found a pit of acid under their house.

Yep you still can't use geo heating. Holes in Kirau park keep getting bigger with more steam vents and one or two blast areas with cooked trees.

A pit of acid? Yikes!!! Still and all, I like Rotorua. I don't want to fall into acid, that's all..

That's why Rotorua still uses above ground power and telephone lines and microwave networks.

S add H20 and a little electrical current as a catalyst and you have H2S04, loads of it underground.

what a marvellous country you have...

Yes, knowing that we live in a geothermal paradise and on a major fault line makes going to bed each night an exciting experience! (Actually, you can get used to anything, ask an American..)

Actually this little slice of a theme movie is just Rotorua. Go an hour in any direction and there is no trace and different climate and landscape.

just sheep...

Ah that's the south island. Here is on the edge of the Waikato, which is *the* dairy farming area.

Rotorua is tourist land. The only farming here is trees, many thousands of selective beed cloned trees.

tell me, do you know of either the datsuns or the D4? two great new new zealand rock bands who are over here right now

oh, and im off to uni, so i will be back only irregualrly.

Uncle, I have heard of both those bands - I *think* I've seen the D4 on TV...

the datsuns aren't really well known at home. I've listened to some D4. For NZ rock bands, I'm more a fan of Zed and Stellar*

As befits someone of my advanced decrepitude, the NZ acts I tend to like are those from the '80s; Chills, Jenny Morris, Knobz (Don't give me culture..)Dave Dobbyn, early Split Enz etc. For the morte modern stuff did you know that Tadpole and Nesian Mystik are both composed of people who went to Jimmy's school, Western Springs College?

Oh, who can forget Netherworld Dancing Toys?

Were you never a crowded house fan?

No, sorry, they're too whiny for me... "Don't dreee-aaa-mmm it's ooo-vv-eee-rrr" (nah, I prefer "I Got You" or "Poor Boy". )

My 'brain song' at the moment: "For today/I remember your smile"

oh that's showing your manufacture date.

Yes, and they made quality merchandise then, not like you new-fangled hew-mon beings!

Apropos of that, did you know that Ronald Reagan is actually a very early Disney animatronic? I first heard of that, back in 1984!