Posted: 04^th July 2011

Do I Have News For You?

Well, everybody who has been on h2g2 for the past week knows that the community consortium bid was successful, so that's not really news. Everybody involved is incredibly busy to prepare the smoothest transition possible, and the declared aim is 'No Researcher left behind'. Please read the article about h2g2's bright future below to see where you can help. One thing you can do, is take part in the 'Saving the Best for Last Competition'. It's proved to be very popular so far, so if you are inspired, hurry up. Submission closes on Friday, 08. July.

I'm sure you all know that the USA celebrate Independence day today. Just why this should be more important to learn about in history lessons than, say, Canada Day¹ which is celebrated on 1 July, I have no idea. If it hadn't been for the Distributed Proofreaders' Forum over at Project Gutenberg, I'd never have known. But I was curious and looked it up. It is only 90 years 'younger' than the Independence Day, and I'm sure any Canadian would deem it just as important. They are so independent, they even have their own Project Gutenberg. Copyright laws in Canada are (from the viewpoint of the Gutenberg user) a lot better than in most other countries. Apparently, the European Union want them to change that. The Canadians call it 'European Colonialism', and I have to agree. I'm sure the Europeans wouldn't even think of telling the USA to change their copyright laws. It is condescending. And let's be honest: how many of the books people can download for free from Gutenberg CA would have been sold in Europe? So where's the gain in the first place?

I think before I bore you all rigid with PG, I'd best mention that Awix apologises for the lack of 24 Lies A Second in this edition, but he is holding a week's silence to mark the release of the new Michael Bay Transformers movie. However, he did a marvellous interview with Robbie Stamp before going into silence mode, so read his Meet Mr Inquisitor below. And with that I'll let you off the hook. Enjoy our brilliant issue of the Post.

Bel

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  Meet Mr Inquisitor
  


The Inquisition (ie Awix) descended on Robbie Stamp.

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  Saving the Best for Last Competition


'We will Survive' by Greensleeves

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  Saving the Best for Last Competition


'The broken Snail' by minichessemouse

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  Saving the Best for Last Competition


'Be the Second Last Kid on the Block' by sprout

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  Read About h2g2's Bright Future


Put your sunglasses on.

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  h2g2 Life
  


Exercise (according to Wowbagger).

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  Gheorgheniplex


Nigel celebrates the successful bid.

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  New English Words Quiz
  


Icy compiled a quiz of the new words from summer 2011.

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  Tales of Benshasha
  


Fetching Water: nuisance or privilege?

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  Around the Day in 80 Worlds


You'll certainly want to adopt Willem's 'orphan'.

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  Rear View


Beatrice whizzes round Britain. Part 2.

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  Eating Out with the Phoenician Trader
  


Charlton House, Shepton Mallet.

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  Black and White


Dmitri goes time-travelling.

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  Announcements
  


Meets, sites, events etc

• 
  Email the Post Team
  


For submissions and editorial feedback

• 
  The Post Readers' Forum
  


Chat about The Post with other readers and the Team