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

Good luck with the build. I'll make sure to check in and see how it's going.

Great. We will be putting up some short video docs about the project early next week. The build, in front of four webcams, will be in full swing next week.

Are you linking the webcams into this site? Are live webcams going to be a permanent feature of the site? Are you planning to get community members involved with the organised practical side of 360 offline?

*bursts with questions*

Hello again

Yes...we're expecting to use webcams a lot on the site. One day I hope to have them working from microlights, but that is a little way off. And yes we are very much hoping to involve 360 members in
the practical side of 360 offline - especially with the research and video filming.

The first thing though is to get it started and see how the community evolves, so I will have many more answers in a month.

Best

Richard

The microlight thing sounds great. Let me know when you want to build one in Southampton

By the way, if you don't mind me asking, how is 360 funded? Is it entirely funded by the BBC, or do you hope to get revenue out of publishing material?

The site is and will always be funded by the BBC and I'm not expecting any money to come back to the beeb via publications and the like. However if it does the money would almost certainly be ploughed back into the cause as the BBC is very aware that all the content will be given free by volunteers, all of whom are putting their time in free, and when it comes to video and use of microlights, will be putting cash in kind.

Hi Richard,

Just read your welcome message (and all the other stuff about you!). Good to know this is a 'legacy' to Douglas Adams. I really like that. You were very lucky to have known him - but I guess he was lucky to know someone like you too, who'd take his work further on.

Best of luck with the build. I've been looking at the webcams (been a few hiccups there by the look of it to start with). Hope it's going well

Raphael.

Thanks for the kind words. I must say that every week that passes since Douglas died makes me realise more what a huge privalege it was to know, and work, with him.

Best

Richard

I've just watched the guy in the orange jumper talking about microlites. You know, I'm actually getting interested in the damn things!

If this site works it's going to be colossal. And I guess there's no reason why it shouldn't. There seems to be new stuff going on every time I blink.

Here's a suggestion. Okay it's only for UK people, but once the project's a bit further on, could you have a 'microlite open day' where we could come along and meet people from 360 and actually get to fly in one of these things? We could also have a kind of conference where we debate stuff about problems meeting solutions. You could invite some people from organisations like the UN environment people or something.

What do you think?

Meg

Well there's an idea. Meg, you have just been deputed to organise it!

Hi Meg,

Glad you enjoyed the film! The guy in the orange jumper is Chris Finnegan, the Chief Executive of the BMAA.

To give you some practical advice:

go to www.bmaa.org

From there, you'll be able to find lists of local clubs in your area. I've been flying for a year and I gotta tell you it's brilliant. Not only are the views amazing but the social scene is superb as well.

On the film where Chris is talking about microlights in general the shots of an island were taken by me at a large fly-in on the Isle of Wight last summer. It was a wonderful weekend of fun and we raised money for charity too. That's kinda what the sport is about. Very friendly...in fact, I got my first flight for free from someone who responded to a posting I placed on the BMAA's chat board. If you're interested, give it a go.

Might see you at a fly-in one day.

Regards,

Sacha
Video Producer,
The 360