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

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A595307

|Resubmitted from the Potato State|

I liked the fact table a lot. Full with unconventional wisdom. Great.

Apart from that I don't think this entry is completely suitable for the edited guide in the present format. Maybe some more text could be added: Some more historical background, why is Idaho called Idaho, what's there for tourists, memorable people from Idaho etc...

Just some thoughts,

HELL

OH... Just noticed... you're quite new here, right?

My respect... I took a lot longer for me to sub something into the PR (Peer Review).

Enjoy your stay here at PR.

HELL

Yes, I am new. I just added more material. It involves the the origin of the word 'Idaho' and state tourist attractions. Thanks for the help!

Hi, TMR!

Well, it's looking a lot better, but there are still some places in which it could use a bit more work. Have you taken a look at some of the other Edited Guide entries about states here on h2g2? If not, try taking a look at these (my favorites are Pennsylvania and Louisiana):

Arizona: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A520705
Louisiana: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A271757
Michigan: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A143849
Pennsylvania: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A539598


Mikey

Chamber of Secrets, eh?

The last comment came up while I was reading through your entry, so if the suggestions duplicate what I am about to suggest, apologies.

From my one visit to the States, I got to know that Idaho is famous for potatoes as when I went out, potatoes would have a little flag on them saying something like 'I am an Idaho potato'. So why are they famous? Is is quality? Quantity? How many to they produce and what proportion of the nation's potatoes do they produce?

At the first entry for Ahveth Beth Israel, I suggest that you either say something like 'see below for link' or better, put the link here.

For those of us who don't know, it might be nice to have somfe further information about the rate 'star' garnet and I for one, have never heard of the state flower 'syringa' - what does it look like?

It would probably be helpful to regularise your headings by having a space in front of and behind each so the entry is easier to read.

I hope this is helpful.

Even more updates! This time, I've added more potato facts, and more links.

Even more updates! This time, I've added more potato facts and more links.

Okay... It's really getting a lot better (thanks for including the origin of the name - it's really a very interesting story, definetly unconventional wisdom and very suitable for an edited entry. You are doing a great job so far... BUT: The entry is far from ready (as I read the *to be continued" disclaimer at the bottom).

The immediate broad feedback of the peer review is a nice thing, as you can see. People give interesting suggestions which you can (or not) include into your entry. And as long as it stays on a 'minor modifications'-basis this is perfectly okay. In this particular case I think the entry would have to go a major reshaping until it is ready fot the edited guide. (Try looking at the other state-entries as suggested). I'd suggest you to withdraw it from PR, get it ready (without 'to be continued') and then send it in.

There's another thing. Sometimes it is dangerous to call a place dull and boring, some other people might feel offended - I know political correctness sometimes s*ck, but for the edited guide it must be like that.

After the entry is included into the edited guide, you will still have the original in the un-edited guide - You could add your personal comments to that one then.

My 2p.

HELL

Hey, TMR:

I agree with Hell more or less. But, I also know that hearing that you need to rework an entry can feel a little overwhelming.

So, since I'm the founder of the Northwest US Researchers Group (which coincidentally enough, includes Idaho), I thought I'd proffer a deal:

If you join our group (we're really short on Idaho and Alaska researchers), I'll help you clean up and organize the writing on your entry?

Let me know if you're interested!


Mikey

Mikey,

I'd be glad to join the Northwest US Researcher's Group. I've been to your site, and you are a bit short on Idaho researchers. Thanks for the offer.

Tom M. Riddle

OK, so here's the first part of those comments on the entry I promised. Let's start with the beginning.

Believe it or not, a good chunk of the h2g2 audience is probably not aware that Idaho is known for it's potatoes -- most of the people at h2g2 are non-Americans. Hence, a lot of readers are likely to be confused by the beginning -- "Hey, this is an entry about Idaho! So why is he rambling on about potatoes?"

So, my suggestion would be to start with the paragraph about how Idaho got its name. And then follow up with a paragraph like:

In the US, each of the states has a nickname -- Illinois is 'The Land of Lincoln'Illinois is known as 'The Land of Lincoln' because Abraham Lincoln was born there. and Texas is 'The Lone Star State'Texas is 'The Lone Star State' because, well, it's Texas.. These nicknames aren't used much, but they are often used on the state's license plates for automobiles. Idaho's nickname is, suprisingly enough, 'The Gem State'. Possibly in an attempt to avoid traffic accidents caused by incessant laughter, Idaho decided to leave their nickname off their license plate. Instead, the Idaho license plate brags about their 'famous potatoes'In fact, Idahoans can actually order a special license plate for their car with a big picture of a potato on it.. Admittedly, Idaho does produce copious quantities of rather yummy potatoes. (Insert appropriate statistic about Idaho potatoes here -- I'll see if I can find one.) On the other hand - if the potatoes are what Idaho brags about, what else is there in the state?

Then follow-up with paragraphs about what else Idaho has besides potatoes.


Mikey

Found the statistic, so here's a revised version of the paragraph:

In the US, each of the states has a nickname -- Illinois is 'The Land of Lincoln'Illinois is known as 'The Land of Lincoln' because Abraham Lincoln was born there. and Texas is 'The Lone Star State'Texas is 'The Lone Star State' because, well, it's Texas.. These nicknames aren't used much, but they are often used on the state's license plates for automobiles. Idaho's nickname is, suprisingly enough, 'The Gem State'. Possibly in an attempt to avoid traffic accidents caused by incessant laughter, Idaho decided to leave their nickname off their license plate. Instead, the Idaho license plate brags about their 'famous potatoes'In fact, Idahoans can actually order a special license plate for their car with a big picture of a potato on it.. Admittedly, Idaho does produce copious quantitiesIdaho produces 28% of the United States potato crop each year, accounting for over half a billion in sales. of rather yummy potatoes. On the other hand - if the potatoes are what Idaho brags about, what else is there in the stateFrom their thing about the potatoes, you'd think that agriculture was the biggest industry in Idaho, right? Wrong -- the high-tech industry in Idaho accounts for 13% of the state's gross income, over twice what the agriculture industry brings in.?


Mikey

Isn't Texas' nickname 'Lone Star State' because their flag has one lonely white star on it? (And because 'Lone' sound so gloomy, like: cowboy ridin' an endless road on the sunset)?

Just out of curiosity.

HELL

Concerning Texas' nickname, I believe you are correct. Concerning political correctness, I don't think many Idahoans would mind. I should know, being one myself. Jokes making fun of our great state circulate all the time, and most of them are from us.

Hey, Tom! Planning on doing any more work on this one any time soon?

If you think you'll need some more help (or external motivation), we can move this thread over to the Writing Workshop for you?


Mikey

*sigh* Looks like good old Tom may have gone AWOL as well....

Mikey, who can't stop hearing "and another one bites the dust..." over and over again in her head

As a Californian, I was surprised to find the correct pronunciation of the capital of Idaho is pronounced BOY-ssee.

How had you thought it was pronounced?


Mikey

Well, as for me, all I have heard about Idaho is 1) Potatoes come from there (have you seen the commercials with the Governer of Idaho talking to a singing, dancing potato?). 2) KKK types go to there. 3) Other than that it's real dull. Now I know that two of those things are true, what about the third? What else should the traveler know before he puts out his thumb or after a space ship dumps him in beautiful downtown Boysee?