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

Caught news of this yesterday, when an Apache helicopter flew over us at work.

http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/news/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=News&tBrand=ESTOnline&tCategory=News&itemid=IPED23%20Oct%202007%2010%3A15%3A51%3A120

I made it into town this afternoon in time to catch the main event. In the town square a grandstand was put on for the top brass, a battalion was on parade fully tooled-up with bayonetted SA80s, and a guy with a big sword. A decent crowd and plenty of press, all craning their necks trying to work out which way the noise was coming from; the guy raised his sword, and three Apaches swung into view, chillingly slowly, no more than 20 feet above Lloyds Avenue. The middle one came right over, bowed to the town hall (now bearing a giant poppy) and just sat there for a while. At this point the noise was incredible and I was getting a real sense of dear God, this could go so, so wrong. But they turned away and went off up the main street, like some hardcore alien force looking for a functioning cash machine.

Nice little bit of excitement for a Wednesday afternoon. Apparently the regiment were exercising Freedom of the Borough - but have yet to exercise said right to drive a flock of sheep through the square. Some things are too much perhaps.

Sounds like it would've been cool to watch. I don't think I've ever seen anyone flying that low outside of a combat zone or training situation.

Of course, they're even louder from the inside. But I don't like to talk about that.

Sorry, I should clarify 20 feet above the Lloyds Avenue *building* - 20 feet off the ground would have been a tad complicated, especially for Lloyds TSB and Debenhams.

You've *been* in one of those things?

Well, 20 feet above the building is quite low enough, probably.

I have been in one of those things. But only for shits and giggles. I'm not exactly keen to talk about that in public, though...

Freaky, and a little disturbing. Especially if you like bad science-fiction movies and old X Files episodes.

http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/news/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=News&tBrand=ESTOnline&tCategory=News&itemid=IPED24%20Oct%202007%2017%3A19%3A46%3A477

No idea why this convo has appeared on my PS. The only person i know on it is Psychocandy & if it's Halloween Anagram stuff; sorry, but no spare brain cells right now.

zdt (stands for zen devil terri; as it always has & always will)

Sorry Terri.

Someone needs to help me come up with an anagram for Halloween, and quick! I can't come up with anything that doesn't suck.

Will settle for an acronym or haiku as well, actually.

Best I could find was Cyanyd Chops. Or Achy Sync Pod - you know, for those days when it's really giving you gyp

Acronyms cobbled together -

Puget Sound Yacht Club Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy Not Diagnosed Yet.

Haiku you're better off asking Ed.

Compact High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer Thermal Overload Protection High Error Rate

Hiya Christopher, hiya PC.

Sorry; it's just me, i have some sort of phobic reaction to the name-changing thing; my world is well filled with madness in reality & when i come on here, it's to relax & talk to people i feel i "know" by previous convos & indeed often via phone, email, MSN, & by post. Sometimes we are even lucky enough to meet up in reality!

But when a friend suddenly doesn't have the same name, i feel very disorientated & unsure who i am talking to. I know it seems like an over-reaction to the silly new halloween joke, but just imagine the following scenario:

*You had an online friend called GCDA & previously had both become close enough to discuss personal stuff; for instance, things involving death, sex,whatever.....

*Then someone called CADGer appears & says "Hey, my dog just died!"...is this some young Newbie having a laugh; or is it your "real" friend,for whom the death of their dog is a tragedy that could send them suicidal?

Fret not; i just mainly lurk until it's all over. I actually am very into anagrams & pretty good at wordy stuff; but i am also very "funny" about names. (PC, i will explain by email)

zdt

It's OK, Terri. I have plenty of things I am uncomfortable with, too. Honestly, half the time I'm reading posts these days, I've no idea who the hell the poster is anyway. In a way, it's cool; rather than reacting and responding in a "oh, it's just him/her/it again", I read every post all the way through...

Halloween's nearly here and done and dusted anyway. Normality shall resume shortly.