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

I found you from your piece on the ear - that was neat! What you say on your space about categorisation of people reminds me of "The Little Prince", where the narrator says that what's important about a friend is her favourite colour or what game she likes to play, or the problem she solved, but "grownups" are always asking how much her parents earn, or where she lives. I like your page, because I'm an aspiring ecologist who also likes history, languages, and mythology.
Cheers!
- Nora

'lo Nora-

Thanks for stopping by! I've been busy lately and just popped on when I was notified about the "ear" piece... and found your note. What a nice surprise. We seem to have lots of common interests... science, music, history, the environment, mythology, and of course, many of the same authors. I adore Charles DeLint... he makes me want to be Canadian. But then, I'd probably be a very American Canadian and that just wouldn't be pretty. Right now I am in exile from civilization in Houston, Texas. I miss the North, I miss the snow. How's Ireland?

You seem to be just getting started here, and so, welcome! Its a nice community and I've found that its been a pleasant place to meet interesting people for conversation.

cheers-
Karen

Hello!
Ireland's all right - I'm from Georgia so, far from missing the snow, I've got more than ever before. We had a good snowstorm on Shrove Tuesday, in which I walked the legendary two miles to school and had a great snowball fight in the grounds of Trinity College. I have a friend from Minnesota who says the same as you - he'd give a lot for another ice-cold winter. I've been here about a year, so I've had time to acclimate. A major difference is not having a car - and not being at home alone as much as I used to be, so no chance to play my dijeridu! The workload in my school is sizeable, but not usually overwhelming, as long as you don't fall behind.
Charles de Lint (I'm never exactly sure how to write his last name!) is great. My favorite is probably "Someplace to be Flying", though it's hard to choose. He's very hard to get over here; only the big chain stores carry him. Have you read Peter S. Beagle?
What sort of science do you do? Not the white labcoat kind... Does anyone do white labcoat science anymore? I suppose some chemists must. I'm just taking biology in school, but I want to diversify in college, and learn as many different things as possible. Originally, I saw myself working out in the field all day, but I'm not at all sure any more.
I'd love to do a little bit of everything, but most jobs aren't structured like that.
Anyway, good to hear from you. More soon..
- Nora

Hiya Karen... How are you? I've got the day off school, so I'm getting back in touch with everyone. I didn't know anyone in New York, but what has happened is still shocking. It's all anyone's talked about here for the past three days. I'm worried about a war, and violence toward Arabs and Muslims. Flying home is going to be a lot harder than before; fortunately we weren't planning any trips until Christmas. I know you're in Texas, but did you know anyone?

I have a fun naturalist's thing to go to on Sunday: I'm going to go out with the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club to look at rockpools. It's supposed to be for kids, but I need to learn about coastal life after growing up in a nearly landlocked state. The Field Club is a great bunch of people which goes back to the late 1800s. I also got my first newsletter today from an environmental club I joined about six months ago, welcoming me as a "new member"! Ah well - better late... The only bad news on the science front is that I'd forgotten how boring my biology teacher is.

I saw an unfamiliar Charles de Lint the other week, using Hispanic and Native American legends. Two sisters are trained in magic by their grandmother, but one of them forgets. I don't remember the title. Have you read it? Diane Duane is out with a new one. I'll get it for Christmas, but it doesn't sound as appealing as the first four. Apparently she's toned down the physics elements, which always fascinated me. I don't know if you read her - her best stuff is the Wizardry series, which is marketed to teenagers.

, Nora

Hi Nora,

So good to hear from you. I've been off a bit too, so I'm just checking in and got your notes. I'm from NY and so the last week has been very hard. Family was missing for several days but we located everyone by Wednesday night. My cousin's apartment was destroyed. My other cousins, Johnny and Billy, are both fire-rescue workers and are still there. The emotional toll is killing. I don't know how they are able to keep going back, facing the unbearable day after day. The worst was a friend we all grew up with, Brian Hickey, Captain of Fire Rescue 4, who died trying to shield a woman with his body during a collapse. In a cruel twist of fate, Billy found our friend and carried his body out of the rubble. My mother called me at work in tears, crying for the little boy she remembered playing when we wre all children. Billy took comfort from the fact that Brian died trying to save someone, but suffers the guilt of surviving. So many shattered lives; how do we put it together again?

There's no anger; bewilderment, deep grief and sadness, a strange gratefulness that most of my fiends and family are OK, worry for the other families and how my cousins will ultimately deal with everything they have seen, and fear that we as Americans could give way to the darkness that drives people to commit such atrocities. I hear people speaking of justice, which is fine, but I hope they know the difference between justice and vengeance. Too many innocents have died.

Hi Karen,

I had no idea. My aunt's a native New Yorker, too, and last I heard she had contacted pretty much everyone. I was worried about my uncle for a day or so - he works in the Pentagon - but he soon called to say he was all right. I'm sorry about your friend, but glad your family are OK. After all that's been said in the news media, it's nice to keep hearing from people who aren't out for revenge.

Sorry I didn't write earlier - back at school, and looking at slugs in a public park this weekend with naturalist friends. I haven't checked in since last week. There is still tension felt here, mainly over what steps will be taken in the name of justice. On the good side, it looks like the Northern Irish may see sense and start to work together.


Nora