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

Well, sort of.

For anyone who missed it, the current issue of is EMR's last as editor. She's done a wonderful job, at times under a lot of pressure, and I'm really sad to see her go. EMR, it really has been a pleasure to work for you

What it does mean, though, is that I'm taking over the editorship. Over the last few months, I've tried to get more involved in the 'top-level' editing, and I've even guest-edited on a couple of occasions. It still feels like a massive step to take over the post () full-time, and I only hope I can do the job half as well as EMR has. I'm half-excited and half-nervous, and I've found in the past that that combination of emotions works pretty well. Let's hope so.

Fortunately, I've got two wonderful assistants in Bel and lil, as well as the guiding hand of Shazz and the ever-present Titania. Of course, I plan to make them do all the work while I take all the credit. And when things go wrong, I'll have plenty of people to blame...

The downside is that I'm almost certainly going to have to scale back on my work in other areas; I'll have to do a lot less Subbing and Scouting, and may even have to hand those badges back altogether. The Aviators is also taking up a lot of my time, but recently I've enjoyed AVing and Post writing/editing more than anything else on-site anyway. In fact, the two are coming together in the next issue in the form of the long-awaited Beeblecast, and we may yet see more of this sort of collaboration.

So keep an eye on it. I'm sure me floundering and panicking every fortnight will be a joy to behold.

& for taking on the job.

The answer is mostly harmless & 42 floundering

If it would help at all, feel free to resurect my "Hootoo Home Of Today" thing.

zdt

It's all far too techie for me

Thanks guys!

It's interesting that you should mention that, Terri. I was thinking about HHoT this afternoon (I had a long drive); I had an idea a long time ago that I'll probably come back to over the coming weeks. I presume you're not talking about being tempted back to write any more for us, no?

Erm; yes i am tempted, but HHOT took up a load of time as a weekly thing & my computer was faster then, i could only do it if i sent it via you to do the HTML & possibly sort weak links out. (But not add others unless i ask for them; it would mean quite a bit of discussion via email or MSN, i don't want to give you even more grief!)

With luck, i may get a new Beast soonish; if so, life online & contribution to the site would become much more feasible.

zdt

Congratulations on your new job Skankyrich!

I'm sure you'll be brilliant, you're a great writer *and* a lovely caring person, so Editor should be no problem!

I have no doubts whatsoever, about your capabilities

I know you'll do a great job, Rich - just make sure lil* doesn't touch any techie stuff.










*I'm not any better at techie stuff than lil is, though, I'm just luckier.

Congrats and good luck!

I'm sure you'll do a good job.

Mags

look forward to your energy in the post...

Should be fun.

And looking forward to seeing the Beeblecast.

TRiG.

so your evil plan of world domination moves on yet again Seriously though, goodluck with it all

Terri, don't worry! We don't add any links anyway, and mainly because of time pressure. It's not like Subbing, where you have as long as required to get everything sorted out - we pretty much have a day to edit and archive everything that comes in. We're quite happy to sort out all the ML and so on, too - you can just submit the text to us. It would be terrific to see it revived again!

The same goes for all of you have have lapsed in column-writing - Working Stiffs, the Vice's Advice, El Mundo Del Deporte, Notes From a (Very) Small Island, Mancunian Blues, SEx Education... Need I castigate more? I suppose I'd best not, at least until another Absolutely Plumb is in the can

I'm forever holding up Webbie as a shining example, so sorry for embarrassing you once again, but Websailor's Wacky Wildlife World is exactly the sort of column I love seeing in The Post. It's always passionate and compassionate, and it really is writing straight from the heart. It's always a real joy to read. And that enthusiastic style of writing is all over The Post - from the endlessly cheerful Random Ramblings of Bel, GB's incredibly useful astronomy notes (which I'm going to be making great use of in the future now I can fit my camera to my mate's telescope), the wry observations of Escape Pod Dreams and tonsil_revenge's cartoons to lil's effervescent poems. And that's just the regular stuff - you never know when you're going to get a real gem like Starlight Paddling or one of Felonious Monk's insightful pieces. And when we're publishing twenty or so of these a fortnight, it's pretty mind-boggling.

I can't wait to get cracking, actually Thanks very much for all your encouragement!

There have been a few postive responses for ben's idea in the 'experiment' thread

F19585?thread=3289561&skip=284&show=20

and I know that Paff has written a few more 'Notes' - in his head, at least - but he's still busy settling into his new home, so that has priority.
We may get the odd submission from a friend of mine - he has promised, but it's an 'as and when'.

Don't mention 'Nigels Gardening Hints And Tips Then' .

I will go and sulk in the corner now .

Nigel