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

OK, one is forced to wonder why a two paragraph entry on something as frivolous as nose hair has been given the prestigious place under Editor's Selection, while this impressive chronicle apparently warrants only a tiny mention underneath it.

The PTB are obviously loosing their minds...

I agree. This is the best new Guide article I've read in months.

As always, there's a simple but rather mundane reason.

Over the festive season we traditionally (well, for two years, anyway) schedule five new Edited Entries for each working day over the festive period. Nobody actually works during this period as the office is shut, so we have to edit all the entries, add artwork, schedule them to appear at the right time, write the front pages, schedule them too, sort out the Read and Month pages, and so on... all in December before the festive holiday starts.

To coincide with this festive slog, one half of our two-person art team took December off to visit her family in Australia, leaving us with just one over-worked artist for that period (Christmas cards and things don't wait!). To prevent a potential work crisis, we tried to get as many of the pictures done as we could in November, but because we didn't have the entries back from the Sub-editors to schedule using the normal system, we simply gave the art team a list of entry names which were with the Sub-editors, and let *them* pick which ones they wanted to illustrate. Therefore most of the illustrated entries were picked for their suitability for artwork, rather than their editorial excellence, because we *had* to get the artwork done quickly, or you would have had stagnation over the festive period.

The Editor's Selection has to go on the front page, and so it needs an illustration; therefore the Editor's Selection for a shortish period over Christmas actually meant the Artist's Selection (though normally it's a genuine editorial choice, and will be from now on). This entry wasn't picked simply because the art team looked at it and preferred other entries for illustrative purposes. It's not a comment on the content at all, just the ease of illustration when in a rush.

Real life, in other words, got in the way of semantic accuracy... apologies if this offended any sensitivities, but there you go.

No problem, Mark - at least this time you had a good reason! (Unlike the original Ripley navigation system...)

Pass on my good wishes for the new year/decade/century/millennium to all the PTB - here's hoping the Guide is still going strong next Millennium!

Here, here! (And here. Or is it hear?)

Doesn't matter which, the sentiments are appreciated. Thanks.

(Though it's 'hear'.)

Thanks Peet. Best wishes for the New Year to you too.

just a brief note from the author- thanks to everyone who raised this point, and I'm glad you liked the article.