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

My project on sexual orientation was finally put on the front page, some two years after the work was finished. I'm having fun fielding lots of questions and watching a wide range of remarks from the readers. I'm glad the project is raising awareness about other subjects that are not covered in the Guide, including asexuality and celibacy.

I'm still living in New York City, having relocated somewhat since my last journal entry to my own apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn. I'm between a block of trendy shops and a large public park, some two blocks from the subway. It must be the sunniest apartment in America.

I'm currently working in Manhattan at the #2 law firm in the country. As an audiovisual specialist, I set up equipment for presentations, support training classes, video tape speeches, and so forth. The economy in the city isn't the greatest, so I'm glad to have a solid job.

I also have a new boyfriend, Peter, who has lived in Manhattan all his life. We've been together for about four months now. I met him while roleplaying at a local gaming spot called Neutral Ground, where I still play and DM for fun. I recently watched the 4th of July fireworks from Peter's parents' roof, and it was one heck of a good view.

After all the heartening response following the publication of the project, I'm considering contributing to h2g2 again. But first, I'll have to research changes to the contribution process and decide on a subject. Should I be silly or factual for my next entry? Hmm...

...both?

Hmm. That's a pretty tall order, young lady.

one which I'm sure you're up to...

so, what are your ideas?

That are both informational and silly? Um...er...ah...

I believe it can be done, but may detract from the accuracy of your hard won information. I have just attempted this in a series on 'Wilderness Survival on Earth' (Intro & Parts 1-5). A poor effort, perhaps, but I tried to include both humour and factual, useful advice.

I'd suggest you go for it. In the end, nobody reads it unless you want them too. And, f you chose to go merely serious, it could even help you sidestep intentional or inadvertent humour that you discovered in the process.

I just read your series of wilderness entries, FordsTowel. And I must say that I enjoyed them a great deal. The information is quite good, and it is indeed often funny. I am, however, a horrendous nitpicker and must therefore offer up a few practical suggestions.

First, you'll want to avoid repeating yourself as much as possible. So for instance, you might want to eliminate any information in the geographical sections about hunting, fishing, and trapping unless the information is very specific to that environment. For general instructions, reference your Hunt, Fish & Trap entry.

Similarly, you may want to add an entry called Fire & Water or something similar. I notice you repeat yourself somewhat when discussing how to procure these important things. Again, you can include area specific stuff in your geographically oriented entries. But otherwise, you may want to keep general information separate.

Second (and along similar lines) you may want to format your work a bit more. I notice you have distinct paragraphs, but they don't have lines between them. I found it a bit harder to read that way. You can simply add lines if you're writing in text format, or you can use paragraph marks if you're coding in GuideML.

It's potentially a lot of reading. But if you're interested in coding your entries so they can include things like pretty headers and links to referenced entries, GuideML is described here:

How to Write in GuideML
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/A264520

Approved GuideML for the Edited Guide
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/A395552

Finally, your project is so large that you may want to make it into a University Project. Theoretically, Peer Review is designed to handle single entries on unrelated subjects. The University was created to handle groups of related entries.

University Field Researchers Home Page
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/A339059

University Admissions Office
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/A338915

That's it. And I'm sure that's more than enough unexpected advice from me! But if it helps at all, you have inspired me. I would now very much like to write something both funny and informative.

I suppose some brainstorming is in order...

Well, I have a beginning. Is it informational? Is it funny? You tell me. And while you're at it, let me know if I've left out anything particularly good.

Tables
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1106984

Obviously, I'll be finlling in the blanks. In many cases I have left a series of links pointing to what I'll be discussing. The links may or may not see use. It's just the way I work.

Faragilis, Thanks for taking the extraordinary time necessary to read more than one of the entries!

Your points are well taken. Just to be clear how seriously I accept [and need] them, allow me to comment.

The repeating thing is a definite problem. I fought with this and lost. I was caught between mentioning them once, or having them available in each individual environment. Part of the reason I chose the latter is that it gave me that 'list' with which I could identically structure the entries. Your suggestion of a 'Fire and Water' [and other useful skills?] was one that simply had not occurred to me [although that was why I broke out 'hunt, fish, trap']. Thank you. I may need to incorporate this as a seventh piece.

Formatting has definitely been missing. I tried applying GML a couple of times, only recently to realize that the initiating headers must be included. I am stuyding up on the process, now. Thanks for the useful links!

University Project? That would NEVER have occurred to me! Of course, I never thought it would grow so long that I'd have to cut it into six or more chunks.

I particularly love that all of your suggestions are clear, specific, and actionable. Thank you so much, and I'm happy if they even gave you a chuckle or two.

I am off, now, to read your new piece.

When you have a lot to say and the subject is complex, it's easy for a single entry to turn into a series. Good luck with getting your series into top shape. I really hope the whole lot will show up on h2g2's front page someday, so other people can laugh and learn like I did.

Take care.

Frag,

I have just added Guide ML to my pieces on Wilderness Survival. Thanks for the nudge.

Wow! Check out the difference. Looks great, FordsTowel.

It looks like you may still be working on the Hunt Fish & Trap entry as I write this. I notice you're using a lamburger picture right now.

I dunno if it will appeal to you more, but here's a fishing picture.

Thanks once again, Fragilis, for checking in on my missives. I continue to tweak the GML, especially in applying forward/backward links to connect all the dots. It has made a tremendous difference in my satisfaction with my efforts.

I looked over the libraries pretty carefully for the right images to fit my personal sense of humour and style. I thought that the Wheelbarrow was particularly fitting for a pseudo-HGttG local guide entry. The next four I felt should be descriptive of the respective environments, but I wanted to close with a visual joke on Hunt, Fish, Trap.

I trust your sense of humour, so let me know if you think that it was too subtle. Perhaps it needs a caption that suggests catering?

As usual, I hope the whole lifestyle thing is coming together for you. New York and Denver are like two different planets.

Yep, the GuideML is looking great these days.

I'm afraid your humour escaped me the first time around. Now that you explain it, though, I do get it. Perhaps a caption *is* in order...

See what you think of my caption.
I hope you like it.



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'Because I'd like to keep them! ]

Yes indeedy.

Much better!