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

The first of a series, no doubt.

"While it is well known that Ms Palin is no longer a real politician"
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-27211768

Ah, this is obviously some strange usage of the word 'real' that I wasn't previously aware of.

The article (the NR one the BBC referred to, not the BBC one you link to) actually says "a real political contender". That seems clearer in what it means - ie, she doesn't have a snowball's chance. Whether it's true or not I can't say...I'd like to believe it.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-27252841
Google Maps 'renames Basingstoke'

Chris Quintana of Hampshire's Chamber of Commerce had branded the gaffe "ridiculous", describing Basingstoke as "an amazing place". "Basingstoke is a major central link to Heathrow, to Farnborough airport," he said. "'Town Centre' - why would anyone put it down like that?' "This does absolutely nothing for inward investment into the UK. "This town is not called 'Town Centre' it has a name and it is called Basingstoke."

Ah, this is obviously some strange usage of the word 'amazing' that I wasn't previously aware of. Amazing place? Inward investment? Good grief Mr Quintana, get over yourself. Jeez, talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. If it was publicity you were looking for you've got it, but it's not the sort I'd want - you look like a now.

And shame on you for not mentioning the Hitchhikers reference.

So which one is THE Basingstoke roundabout?

Hard to say, since so many new road schemes have been built since then, but being as specific as that usually means the first roundabout you'd use, driving away from London on the the main road, to get into town, so maybe this one http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.26116500,-1.066100&hl=en&ll=51.263023,-1.066446&spn=0.003139,0.008256&sll=51.261155,-1.0661&sspn=0.012501,0.033023&t=h&z=18

A lot of roundabouts are named after nearby pubs, or pubs which used to stand in the vicinity, before there was a roundabout and the (now demolished) pub might have been a coaching inn at an important crossroads. I heartily endorse this idea

He is correct
Basingstoke is amazing, Amazingly Carp.
Best view of it is in the rear view mirror of a car or from the window of a non-stop train.
This does not apply to the surrounding villages, some of which are very nice and have proper old pubs

As for the roundabout
how about the whole of the ringway

Much like the M25 in miniature and just as evil when it's busy.
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.26116500,-1.066100&hl=en&ll=51.263023,-1.066446&spn=0.003139,0.008256&sll=51.261155,-1.0661&sspn=0.012501,0.033023&t=h&z=18

*ugger
You will have to zoom out to get it in its full "glory"

Sorry I thought the url would work.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.26116500,-1.066100&hl=en&ll=51.263023,-1.066446&spn=0.003139,0.008256&sll=51.261155,-1.0661&sspn=0.012501,0.033023&t=h&z=18

if you remove the "s" from the http, most links will work as the "s" signify secure sign in...
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.26116500,-1.066100&hl=en&ll=51.263023,-1.066446&spn=0.003139,0.008256&sll=51.261155,-1.0661&sspn=0.012501,0.033023&t=h&z=18
Voila

Ah, you're quite right. I'm a dead loss when it comes to spotting quotes, I must admit.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27360706
"However some Eurovision fans have argued that while it is definitely a win for tolerance, the character Conchita Wurst - created by Austrian singer Tom Neuwirth - could be just gimmicky enough to damage its credibility as a song contest."

Ah, this is obviously some strange usage of the word credibility that I wasn't previously aware of.

I think the phrase 'song contest' is also nearly as questionable

Quite right! There hasn't been a song title like Boom Bang a Bang, Ding a Dong, Pif Paf Pof or Winky wanky Woo in years.

Let's see. In recent years it's been won by a bearded drag queen and a heavy metal band in masks and costumes, and six Russian grandmothers singing a dance song came second.

No, not gimmicky at all

Oh... yeh... good point... maybe I need to grow a beard, then, for entring my bondage pony song for next years compeition...

No you just need to ensure the bondage pony is on stage and the RSPCA don't get a complaint in.

And Brian Blessed... i want a bondage pony and* Brian Blessed on stage... Its really esential to the whole 'act'... working... honest...

pony no problem

not sure how BRIAN BLESSED (said loudly as always will fit in)

He's just the obvious choice... in a dress, of course, to yell 'Ponies fly!', as the ponies on the stage start flying about... it'll be so... strange...

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-27364089
"Clearly this scheme was wrong and it is right that they're going to have to pay back the money."

Ah, this is obviously some strange usage of the word 'wrong' that I wasn't previously aware of. If it's wrong, why is it legal? If they're going to have to give back the money there was very clearly something dodgy about this scheme, and yet it's legal? Does not compute.

And if it is legal, why are tax avoidance schemes such as this, and the ones that multi-national companies have been using to pay little or no tax on millions and billions of pounds of profit, being condemned from all quarters now, and the people/companies who use them being brought in the spotlight to be named and shamed? Also does not compute.

Computer go bang.

Let's face it, we're talking about the tiniest of fractions of the overall number of companies and people who do this sort of thing, and it will never go away

And how did the Cameron family fortune come about? Offshore tax havens http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/apr/20/cameron-family-tax-havens

It can go away; it should go away; it won't go away. Not one of these companys, who's used a 'tax scheme' has done anything wrong; they've doing what they're meant to do, as stockmarket floated company's they're sole objective, is, really, to make profet for their shareholders. If they, the companys, individuals, can hire clever and expensive tax experts, who can 'read' tax lores, and work out ways to pay less tax, then these companys, or individuals have to do that; to do otehrwise, is not forfilling their responsbility to tehir shareholders.

Of course, at the same time, it would be nice to think, that a government, using appropaite experts on the law, and tax, would design, write, and implement a tax system, and a set of tax laws, that work, as they wish. ; they have clearly done this; the desired result, is companys ability to 'dodge' tax, or, bipass certain apsects of the tax system through means of using so-called 'tax schemes'.

The alternative would be to say these ompanys are breaking the law, which, as far as I can tell, no one has said.

Therfore, it would seem, that people in government are happy for the so-called loop holes, to exist, they have to be intential, otherwise they would not be there...