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

In the search for knowledge and enlightenment, one finds the funniest things on the web.

Today, trying to chase down a story about world politics, I stumbled across the editors' blogs in 'Foreign Policy'. Wow. These fellas are articulate, well-informed, and possess an admirable sense of humour. I don't know how they do it.

I found my item. Then I was seduced by the following bits in their backlog, thanks to their version of the Infinite Improbability Drive:

Ridiculously photogenic Syrian soldier: There are memes out there not dreamt of on the Cheezburger site.

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/08/15/ridiculously_photogenic_syrian_soldier_a_weapon_of_mass_seduction?wpisrc=obinsite

Taliban accidnetally CCs everybody on its mailing list. Calling this faux pas 'Dilbert-esque' is sort of mind-blowing.

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/11/16/taliban_accidentally_ccs_everybody_on_its_mailing_list?wpisrc=obinsite

Bin Laden's porn has been found. Unfortunately, there are few details as to content.

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/05/13/bin_ladens_porn_has_been_found?wpisrc=obinsite

Is Norway a badly-behaved, low-quality country? Lutefisk jokes at the expense of China.

http://drezner.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/12/06/is_norway_a_low_quality_badly_behaved_country?wpisrc=obinsite

Apparently, the editors of 'Foreign Policy' give out ironic 'Vizzini Awards'. I could tell they were being ironic, but I wasn't sure about what. It turns out I know the wrong set of memes. (Again.)

The 'award' is given for misusing a common word - for example, someone gave it to the 'Jerusalem Post' one week for its use of the word 'hypocrisy'.

I was really puzzled as to why they were dissing a young people's author. It turns out the Vizzini they are referring to is a colourful character played by Wallace Shawn in the cult film 'The Princess Bride'. I watched that film once, under duress, but don't remember that much of it. But okay, the idea is humorous.

You should watch the film again. It is brilliant!

'You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.'

Get thee to Netflix pronto, Dmitri and watch it again and again and again..

I knew it. I knew this would bring out all the 'Princess Bride' fanatics.

Not *all* of them, surely.

I was keeping quiet

Heh-heh. You, too, eh?

I used to work with a college whose whole drama department was crazy about that movie.

I don't hold it against them, though - they turned me on to Mystery Science Theatre 3000.

Peter Falk, Carol Kane, Billy Crystal and Mark Knopfler? This can't be bad, must watch it someday

Hmm... you know, before you link to such alluring stories, you might want to mention that the website is subscription-only, and not available to us hoi polloi.


(And I like the Princess Bride too - it's a fun movie. But I dislike incessant quoting, so won't do that.)

I didn't pay any subscription.

Was that subscription for Foreign Policy? Weird that should be available for everyone especially for those countries 'blessed' by American FP interactions!

That's odd. I couldn't see anyway to close the 'please subscribe' box that was blocking the sreen, but maybe I missed something...
Did anyone else on this thread have a problem with the website?

Here in Denmark I have to sign up (for free) or sign up via for instance my Facebook account

Weird, I guess they just want readers outside the US to register to use the site and they have more info for the CIA or our Homeland Security to track you with.

UK get to browse with no subbing

Given our 'special relationship' probably they don't need to track us like, our govt does it for them and cheerfully hands it all over

The page loads, and then javascript runs to make a big "subscribe" banner appear across the article. If you disable javascript the article is perfectly readable.

TRiG.

Interesting, Trig. But since I live in the cesspool of socialism, porn, homosexuality and all other kinds of devilish debauchery I'm not going to waste my time trying