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

here have the smileys glasses -->

Ah, that's better

Websailor

>Is that intentional or coincidental

Oh of course it's a coincidence. After all, what isn't?

Is this the thing about the 9/11 conspiracy by which Microsoft did that what had to do with the other bits of Bob knows what?

What was the conversation about again?

ah yes. Asian bowls, sugar sachets, cold and muddy feet. (there was a bit about the pitch blackness of underground bars with actually blind barmen which I didn't quite catch though.)

a comment on Bel's day though: The sprouting bowl thingy, its like half filled(or half empty) wine glasses which you stroke the edges with a wet finger, right?

(And of course you shouldn't have any idea of who I am but heck. salutations.)

Ahh, I see you've followed my invitation to my journal.

Tumsup mentioned the wine glasses.
I agree, the principle seems to be the same - the effects are quite different, though. There was a small girl, maybe two years old, who looked as if she'd love to climb into the bowl. One of the staff told the parents that they wouldn't mind if the girl did, and that it certainly wouldn't harm the bowl. He told them that people love the sensation when they're stood in the bowl.
Now go and try that with a wine glass.

As for the bar - I didn't say much about it because it was closed. The aim of the bar (as well of that dark passage) is to give you an impression of how it feels to be blind. We all agreed that it is very scary indeed, and that we'd most probably have panicked had we gone alone through that passage.

>Tumsup mentioned the wine glasses.
ah.. so I souldn't have skipped every odd(or is it even?) page then.

>Now go and try that with a wine glass.

O'rly? I dunno about wine glasses but http://www.nbnakama.com/ext_img/dita-glass.jpg we can do wonders with martini glasses. (is this inappropriate? I tend to find it artful)

Over here we have a cave on the island of Rodrigues (NOT pronounced rodriguez) where they do similar stuff. Go in the cave, turn off the torches, try to spook each other out. But when I went there, the main attraction turned out to be a cockroach which had found its way deep into the bowels. and died there. funny thing, life.

So how is it pronounced then?

well, as Rodrigues. not Rodrigu-es or Rodrigu-ez. but simply Rodrigues.
say it like it would be said in french. the "drigues" is almost one syllable.

I am of the opinion that geograhic locations shouldn't really have names but since everybody wants to call places names, they should at most be called what the local human inhabitants call it. Since most other lifeforms don't normally care what where they are is called.

for example Germany should never be called Germany, but Deutschland. or "Doitchland"?

That would require a knowledge of the local language, and I think it's asked a bit much. I mean, just how would you call a location where the locals speak Kiswahili (which, btw, is called Kisuaheli in German)? Or Chinese, Japanese - the list is endless.

This might interest you...

http://www.kirchersociety.org/blog/2007/05/15/whitwells-system-for-a-rational-geographical-nomenclature/

>>That would require a knowledge of the local language

not at all. It's about habits my dear. If right from the start you set the local names on the maps. Everybody would be using the same names.

how do I go about explaining...

I mean it's a bit rude to call other people's home what sounds most convenient in your own language.

It's not like having different places having the same name, but the same place having different names.

Take Deutschland. It's Germany in english and Allemagne in french. and Bob knows what else in other languages. It would be much more fair or even "legal" to have a single name for it that everybody can use without confusion. And if it would come down to it, the locals have the majority vote as to deciding what it is.

If it poses some linguistic problems to some, well, as it would say on the back of the Guide if I had my way, in medium sized, purposeful letters "Deal With It". (we're supposed to adapt and evolve and all that)

It might even help humans worldwide realise that there's a whole lot more out there than their back and that it has a different point of view on things. Things implying Life the Universe and Everything.

as in there's a whole lot more out there than their backyard.

by the by, funny you should mention japanese. with their lack of L's, V's and other useful consonants. I think Japan is called Nippon-something by the locals.

I'm not sure it would help raise awareness that there's more out there than people's own backyards.
I think it would help if there was just one name for any location, though.