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

Mother Teresa of Ballychilly, perhaps?



I suppose riding the donkey to the shop is out of the question?

You should hear Hapi on the subject of beer after we at a minimeet in Copenhagen spent a couple of hours at the Carlsberg Museum and afterwards sampled old and new beer types.

Especially the tale from times way back of how children pined away on teawater when they could not have their daily nourishing glass of beer...

I'm sure it is in the conversation in The Great Outdoor Bar - but where???

In France they wean the kids onto wine as soon as possible, start by diluting it with water, then just lessen the water content; your average 5 year old could probably get through a bottle of a day.

Yet they have a very low incidence of heart disease etc, even though just about everyone smokes, plus they adore creamy, greasy food, red meat etc.

Dunno if it's genetic or just that their general laid-back attitude is a major factor.

Meanwhile, i managed to get through to supermarket & apparently delivery of my addictions, plus rawhide chews for pup & pizza for me, should be here fairly soon. Send hootoo prayers, just smoked my last cig, drinking the last of cider & pup is chewing a shoe. Plus i am bloody freezing; let's hope they have dry wood in stock. I have vest, polo neck, Icelandic sweater & Icelandic cardigan on, still bloody freezing.

I wonder if importing Polar bears would be a better idea than Haitian orphans? Their ice floes are supposed to be melting & global warming seems to work in reverse in Ireland.

zdt

Have an to cuddle up with while you're waiting.

re post 55:

It's fascinating (in lack of better words) that there are people that obviously think they can do what the frak they want just because the have an imaginary friend to blame.

I'll leave it by that, to not risk being modded...

Indeed.

I would willingly adopt an orphan (i am one myself, since age 11), but wouldn't do it without first making sure the RL family wasn't able/willing to care for the child & make sure the paperwork was done properly. Plus i would try & ensure the kid kept its cultural identity, probably to the extent, i would re-locate to their home country.

I very much doubt that this would be the case with these kids, i think it's much more likely there is a shortage of 'cute black babies' available.

Ask Madonna; i lived in Malawi.

zdt

*nods in agreement with above posts*

As far as I know, there have been no further stories of loopy religion, child-stealing or combinations thereof reported today. I hope that means there's been an outbreak of sanity and genuine charity instead.

*Here's hoping*

I just saw an advice column dedicated to yoga exercises you can do when the stress of hearing about Haiti becomes too much for you. They will "give us more energy and purpose, while relieving our neck pain, anxiety and fatigue." Because that's really the top priority now, stopping it from giving you a headache...

And "A yoga pal of mine dedicates her practice every day now to the orphans of Port-au-Prince, sending them love and strength. She says it keeps her sane. I believe her."

How about sending them some real help instead? Note that she doesn't claim it does anything for the orphans of Port-au-Prince...

haiti does not make it to the headlines here any more

snow does

you would think that people get tired about reading and hearing about that too, but no - it affects themselves every day

Snow. It makes the headlines here when there's even a *possibility* of snow, but I'd have thought Northern Europe would be less excited by the stuff.

(Which reminds me - I saw a book today, called 'Things to Do with Dad'. I couldn't help thinking that if it does snow properly here one day i could grit the path with him. I bet *that's* not in the book. )

As for yoga as an antidote to Haiti... Words fail me. It reminds me of advice I once read in 'Punch', on what to do on seeing a bad acciden in the street. 'Sit on the kerb with your head between your knees until the feeling of nausea passes'. The thing is, 'Punch' was satire. Is there any chance the yoga people are being satirical?

No, I'm afraid not. They meant it seriously.

oh dear, we have an old joke here about two brothers picking up the urn with their fathers ashes on a cold winter day. after slipping and sliding on the iced pavement for some time they finally decide "enough with the respect already, let's grit"

Dad always did like being out in the open air...

As for yoga - I knew it helped with physical flexibility and being at peace with oneself, but I didn't realise it could make people completely self-centred and devoid of any concern for others. Dangerous stuff, clearly.

reminds me of the glasses mentioned in the

the ones that turn so black it prevents you from seeing anything

That's *real* yoga, Ivan - not the "look at me!" kind practised by bored, rich housewives... http://www.slate.com/id/2162283/

Oh blimey. Some people deserve a good slap. Just to see if they're conscious, you understand.

What a good idea!