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

Entry: Mudshark - A61732
Author: Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas and Zaphodista) - U38364

I originally submitted this back on May 12th 1999, the day I joined the site. About four months later I got an e-mail saying it wasn't suitable because "the Guide wasn't looking for fiction any more". It's not in any way fictional, and I was sorely offended. It's taken me this long to re-submit...

Hey Peet, I don't know why nobody's dropped yo a line to say hi!

Anyway, i like it. I don't know too many other 'drinking clubs' that are mentioned in the EG, but you might want to mention similar clubs or organizations to give folks an idea of what you're talking about.

In the states we have 'Elks' lodges for example. These groups are 'social clubs' but they continue to sponsor local activities and charities. . .is that anything similar. Also, is this a national/international organization???

Please, tell me more,

Friar

It's mostly based in Aberdeen, although there are members who have moved abroad and still occasionally get involved. There's a "SuperBinge" scheme, where members who pay a monthly fee get together about once a year and have either a short drinking holiday in an exotic place (Prague was the most recent I think) or a longer one in a less exotic locale. (a cottage in France, for example)

When I wrote the article almost four years ago I didn't mention it as it was a relatively new scheme, and I didn't think it would last, but it's still happening.

Our next Binge will be the first weekend in April, and lack of cashflow notwithstanding I'll be there!

As for the lack of other such organisations mentioned, perhaps it'll just take one showing up on the front page to get all the others "coming out of the woodwork".

Maybe the title could be a bit more precise, like 'Mudshark - the drinking club'. As a Zappa fan I would have thought this was something more Zappa-esque.

I don't think there's a problem getting this into the Edited Guide. I only think it's a bit thin at the moment, but what the heck...

HELL

So this is a strictly local club then?

About how many members continue to particpate??

Perhaps a more descriptive title would help. . .

Friar

PPS: There was a famous 'drinking club' in Englend called 'The anacreontic society', their drinking anthem was eventually mutated into the 'star spangled banner'

Oh, just got the text - It's from James Burke.

Excerpt follows:

'[...]Parisian Henri Estienne's [...] in 1554, printed the work of a sixth-century B.C. Greek poet called Anacreon, who mainly wrote erotic poetry and drinking songs.'

'Estienne's translation caught on all over Europe, and by the 18th century Anacreon's poetry was so enjoyed in London by well-heeled fun-lovers that in 1776 they formed the Anacreon Society. Aim: meet once every two
weeks, get drunk, sing songs. (Forerunner of modern glee clubs.)[...]'

'When it was decided that the group should have a signature tune, Smith whistled one up, entitled "To Anacreon in Heaven." The song was soon on the lips of everybody, from tipsy clubmen who had survived a night out in
London to nervous young American lawyers who had hazarded a night out in Baltimore.'

HELL

I'll tell you what, guys - I'll pop in after teatime and update it a little... I've only changed one word since the entry was submitted inn 1999, and that was to recognise the passing of Douglas Adams.

I guess it was just my stubbornness at the injustice of the original rejection on the grounds they "weren't looking for any more fictional entries"...

My writing style has improved slightly in the last four years, I hope. But I still won't explain *everything* - every secret society needs a few secrets...

I've given the page a major overhaul; it needs a little polishing, but you should get a good idea of the final product...

I just noticed; if you ignore the article and just read down the list of referenced Guide entries, it still gives a pretty good description of what the Mudsharks are all about...

Love the links and the added text. If the article is to be accepted the brilliant art will be removed (probably!), but the Sub can work that out I suppose.

I really like this work.

I'm glad you've stuck with it through these many years. . .

Thanks

I think this entry is worthy of the EG.

Same here. If it hasn't been picked by anyone on Monday I will (there's a problem with my badge at the mo).
As has been mentioned, the picture will be taken out by the Sub-Ed (and footnote 5 will probably be changed), but apart from that I think it should go in
Oberon2001

Thanks for the kind words!

Out of curiosity, what's wrong with footnote 5? I've seen other articles where the author of the article declares their connection with the subject matter... It's only polite, rather than mislead the reader into thinking it was written by an unbiased third party. Or is it just a problem with the way it was phrased?

It's just the phrasing. It'll probably be changed to 'one researcher' or something similar.
Oberon2001

Then it's no longer entirely precise or accurate; I suspect that several other post-holders are also researchers here. The comment refers specifically to me.

Good point... It'll probably be changed though... 'the main researcher of this entry' maybe?
Oberon2001

I could live with that.

Hopefully it's going in now
Oberon2001

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!