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

I think that the first sentence here is misleading, in that it reads as though Frank Zappa was born on 21 December, 1961. The point that is being made is obviously that Keneally and Zappa's birthdays were on consecutive days. But Zappa was, of course, much older. He was born on 21 December, 1940.

You are right, in fact it was not worded like that in my original draft. Mine said "Mike Keneally was born on December 20, 1961 (his birthday is one day before Frank Zappa's)". I wonder if this can be corrected so as not to confuse anyone?

This could possibly be done - although probably not until Monday, as all the h2g2 staff will now be off for the weekend. I'll e-mail one of the Italics and do my best to sort something out.

I'm worried about what the Subs might do to my Entries now...

Yo, lay off the Subs; I didn't do that. The sentence was just as Proglodyte had written it when I sent in my subbed version. I think it was a little ambiguous already, because the words 'birthday' and 'birthdate' aren't always used unambiguously. Maybe the best thing to say would be that Keneally was born the day before Zappa's 21st birthday.

So, have you already written the Italics, Ormy, or shall I?

GTB

No, I haven't mailed anyone, and I'll happily leave it to you, GTBacchus. Sorry for pointing the finger of suspicion at you. My unjust assumption and my mistake.

No offence taken, Ormondroyd. I'd have assumed the same thing. Now we'll just get this thing straightened out... but the change won't show up til Monday morning, London time.

GTB