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

http://www.h2g2.com/A432433
If this is already here or is already in the guide I'm going to give up.

I would probably get rid of the bit at the end about next week. Although the entry on eraser shavings is good...

Yeah the last para will need to be vaped or changed.

"Some people have suggested a day in honour of pencil shavings..."

Hmm - is there anything else you can say about pencil shavings... can they be recycled?

Thanks guys, I will go and see what I can do to it now and post a link to the new version up here.

Kate

I have modified it and you can read it on the same address as before.

You've still got "This is why I propose we dedicate just one day a year to 'pencil sharpener shavings day' in honor of this marvellous aspect of our lives that is so often overlooked." - which still needs to be vaped... but that's certainly better

I think you should include a teensy-weensy paragraph on what they actually are, and how you obtain them - just for completeness.

Ok, I'll sort that out later today!

I'd agree with writing a little something on what they exactly are
(one of my mottos is "Never underestimate the power of human stupidity" - I wouldn't be surprised if several people didn't know what they were. Also, not everyone on h2g2 has English as a first language, and an explanation would help).
I'd also mention pencil sharpeners atiny bit at the start, but apart from that, great.

<BB<

I havn't had time to correct it today but all your views are taken on bored and I will definately do it tomorrow!!

Done. How is it now?!

Better. But you've still got "I"s - this time they're at the top...

I like this one too! Reminds me of the spoons one somehow...

I used to have a fried who made little Red Indian feather head-dresses out of them, you might want to mention that as an option.

Oh, and perhaps I ought to point out a typo- 'Probably' has been spelled with a 'U' somewhere in there.

*sighs* Will I ever get this right?! I'll go and sort it out later.

This is a great article, I will never look at pencil shavings in the same way again!

The only thing I noticed was the spelling of probably, I think you spelt it with a U but that can be changed

Well done

I have corrected Probably, taken out the I and if there is anything else wrong, the quite frankly I can't be bothered!!

You might want to point out something about the biology of pencil shavings. Pencil shavings, as you have noted are made of wood which is actually hollow, dead cells called Xylem. Xylem cells are used to transport water and mineral up a plant stem.

Yes I know that, I am about to start a biology degree...!!!!

Ok, I'll see what I can do.

You said you were going to say something about what exactly they are, and how you create them... is that ever going to happen?

Just a random fact on pencil shavings - did you know that Roald Dahl never got rid of his? He wrote in a shed in his back garden, using pencils which he would sharpen onto the floor. By the time he died, there was a carpet of pencil shavings about four inches deep.

And another one - I used to throw my pencil shavings onto our open fire. I found that the paint edging on certain coloured pencils gave rise to different coloured flames. Some lovely green ones, for example. Which element makes bright green flames?