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

I am now eager to read the sequel where the ants work together to create a huge thimble to capture Mary as an act of revenge. This probably doesn't happen. It is just as likely that they do the sewing for her to say thank you for the honey.

Currently it is more about first impressions. The initial thimble over ant event would have caused a Mary-shaming spree on socials, putting her on the back foot for ages, unless she would manage to capitalise on it by putting it on TikTok first, accompanied by some sweet musical background and calling it an ecologigal challenge, leading to the extinction of ants worldwide. (ok, I may be overdoing it slightly, but you get the point).

I, too, would enjoy that sequel. Perhaps as a kind of fantasy story.

And you're spot-on about the current sensitivity cycle. I have written about the last time this happened: A87998756

The problem is that most of the people talking don't know how they feel about a thing until everyone else tells them what's fashionable this week. When this 1889 story was written they were still running on the fumes of the political correctness wave of the Second Great Awakening - so I'd be interested to know how long this one's going to take to wear off.

That is very recognisable and happening as we speak. Populist election winner Geert Wilders is putting his most objectionable party programme issues "in the freezer" in order to try and develop a coalition government. Given that most of the programme is now in the freezer for being unconstitutional, racist or plain impossible to finance, people start wondering if and when things would be able to get out of that freezer again. (as you typically stick things in the freezer to keep them for later). Then there are still the two faces depending on if he is acting as prime-minister-to-be or as leader of his party. The latter not being politically correct. Having one of the more outspoken members of his party become speaker of the house probably is not going to help.

The eligible parties have now decided to take 1.5 month just to discuss their views on the constitution, before even attempting coalition talks. It's not as if we are in some sort of crisis that needs quick solutions... (cost of living, housing, environment, war in Ukraine, to name a few)

Speaking of language, I suppose being named Fanny Trollop doesn't help.
Also good to see that I have been connubially blissed for over 19 years without ever knowing.
A show of ankle can still ge you in trouble if you are a speed skater, as it can get you disqualified for safety reasons. (The rest of the suits doesn't leave anything for the imagination though).

Good luck over there. It's getting bad all over, and that's not a good sign. Last time THAT happened was in the 1930s - and you see where that went. There was a wave of fascism everywhere. For those 'not born yet' (neither was I!), that's the same as 'right-wingers'.

Then the governments, institutions, and NGOs that WEREN'T fascist became too lame and wishy-washy to oppose fascism. And then somebody started a war.

(Congratulations on the 19 years of connubial bliss!)

Thanks!

As I have always understood, it is very hard to fly with only wings on one side.

Good observation! Is that a Dutch proverb I haven't heard before?

Not as far as I know, it just popped into my head.

So that's where those Dutch proverbs come from. Pithy Dutchmen.

It might just be an engineering observation pulled from a metaphor.

Metaphors do that to me, too - popping into the inner vision in literal form.