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

At last! Someone appreciates my sense of humour...

yes, I think I'm becoming more whimsical as I get older - I certainly seem to spend a lot of time talking to myself these days (or does everyone with a teenage daughter feel like that?)

You've reminded me just how happy a few months the BotF was and how sad we all were when the BBC seemed to want it to disappear as quietly as possible. I think they weren't prepared for the total lack of public interest in it - my article made it into the book on the strength of about 40 votes - which must have made it feel a lot less democratic than they had hoped.

What's a democrat?

good question Squeak Toy!

>>I think they weren't prepared for the total lack of public interest in it <<

So, what's to stop us from enjoying it now, though? Maybe start a thread with the name Book of the Future on it or something? can it be done under the onthefuture thing... you know, over there, and will it show up here?

No, unfortunately that part of the site is just an archive now, it's not possible to use it. But I like the idea of a BotF thread - or perhaps an article on it that could be used as a forum.

One thing I have always wanted to know is how many copies of the book were actually sold. My guess would be not much more than a hundred or so which would make it quite a rare and collectible item.

I wouldn't like to try answering the question "What is a democrat?" (even with a degree in Political Philosophy) but the BotF definitely isn't it

So one wonders, how did CM find this obscure conversation thread? Was he really Witty Monicker in another life? And if so, why didn't I recognise him?
Also, is it because the BotF or, at least the '2020 Visions' section, has been 'archived' that it appears in a strange form of 'alabaster'? Is Tonsil Revenge really interested in 'the democrats'? Should I start a thread at 'ask' with a subject line "What ever happened to BotF"? And where in the Pacific would fluffykerfluffle have to be to get rained on by Flossie?

Curious mind wants to know!

~jwf~

Hawaii... Flossie ran into us and then just fell apart.

and yes... start that thread!


2 down... 5 to go

hello, jwf

I came across this thread while randomly following links which is what I spend most of my time on here doing - seeing BotF mentioned startled me in to posting. No, I am not, nor have I ever been Witty Moniker but the name and its genesis have always had a pleasing organicism for me (perhaps that's not quite the right word - perhaps I've been reading too much Nabakov). Maybe that's why you didn't recognise me - have a look in azahar's photos, probably a couple of pages back from your pictures, and you'll find me.

BotF always had that rather soothing pale blue skin - it was designed to not put off inexperienced users. "Classic Goo" would definitely have prevented me from posting to the site in the beginning.

Another four down...

>> "Classic Goo" would definitely have prevented me from posting to the site in the beginning. <<

Indeed. I still find it creepy when a link takes me into the gism of goo. I am a classic alabasterd from the word go. Although, I must admit when the 'logon page' somehow sent me to my homepage as it must appear when seen by the 'gooish', I was suitably impressed that my complete indifference to what it might look like in anything but Alabaster had been the right decision all along. Must say I do like that pale blue BotF version of Alabastar! Mine's just a bit too green. But it has the sole saving (and soul saving) virtue of at least being black type on a white page as god always intended print to be read.



Fluffy is the first person from Hawaii I've met online. Makes me wonder which way the web line flows from there. Probably, back to the mainland, USA, via New York and trans Atlantic cable to the BBC's London servers and then back to me in Canada via New York.
It's amazing really.

~jwf~

yes I'll certainly stick to being an alabastered - something to do with age and never knowing where my reading glasses are!!

It's something I never quite get used to - having conversations with people from all over the world; however, I think people should be banned from posting from exotic locations like Hawaii - it makes living in an urban wasteland in post-industrial Scotland so much more depressing!

I was gonna post one of those concilliatory remarks like "yeah, but at least you don't get hurricanes and tidal waves..." and then I remembered the climate change / global warming thingy that has given the UK more rain this year than ever. God, it must be doubley depressing. So, I'll shut up about it.

~jwf~

Well, you know - we can't really complain, we had two days of sunshine in April and another one last week...

What we're waiting for is the North Atlantic being inundated with fresh water from all the extra rainfall increasing river flow causing the Gulf Stream to switch off and giving us the same climate as Lapland - they'll all be wearing fresh haggis under their kilts up here when that happens

It raining here in central Texas again, as it has for the last couple of days.
I have a cousin living in Hawaii. She says it sucks to be poor and white in Hawaii.

>> ...it sucks to be poor and white in Hawaii. <<

I have that same sucky feeling wherever I happen to be. They say there used to be places in the Caribean and Mexico where a sun loving hippy could be happy, but not anymore I guess.
peace
~jwf~

>> ...it makes living in an urban wasteland in post-industrial Scotland so much more... <<

I finally found your photo at anzahar's hootoo friends gallery #274.
Your impression of a teapot is quite convincing. As for 'wasteland' all I see is three grassy hills chewed short by sheeps.

~jwf~

ah, yes. My well-known teapot impression - my daughter has a strange knack of taking unflattering pictures of me!! As for the urban wasteland - it would be totally unbearable if we didn't have the Campsie Fells, Loch Lomond, the Lead Hills and the Ayrshire coast within easy driving distance.

I'm pleased to see that you are also an "old" ex-hippy; I keep meaning to send az the photo of me sitting on a sand dune overlooking the Pacific, wearing a kaftan, long hair and beard (unlike you I haven't even got the beard left!) but I think too many people would die laughing for it to be made public...

I've just noticed your new tagline - would you believe I'm listening to After Bathing At Baxters as I type this!!

>> ...would you believe I'm listening to After Bathing At Baxters...<<

I wouldn't just believe it, now that I know about it, I'll dare say I shoulda seen it coming.

And as for your 'hippy' picture I encourage you to send it in and ask azahar to issue a challenge for others to send in their old hippy pix.

~jwf~

Unfortunately, the photo seems to have disappeared for the moment; I might get a chance to look for it next week.

Am I right in thinking that there is no smiley here? This important issue must be addressed immediately

Will do?

Ach!
That's a new one to me.
If I've ever seen it before I must have mis-seen as .

Both of which I suppose would do a hippy in a pinch and not be far from any universal truths.
peace

~jwf~