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

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A626438

Just wrote this during a few days off work with Achiles Tendonitis (and yes, that is a medical condition, not a Greek friend of mine). Hope you like it,
Frogbit.

I like this a lot . The iron in the spring water leading to the tor - that's amazing. I like taking the history of a place right back to how it was formed, I've been doing this myself.

One thing that would help in reading it on screen though would be spaces between the paragraphs. Have you tried and round them?

Amazing how Arthur spread himself about the country isn't it.

(PS I liked the Mendips entry too.)

Ah, is it? I'll see to that tommorow after I've had some sleep. Thanks for the praise. And yes, I like the iron theory too, so elegant.

I really liked this one, not much I can say to improve it,

On the subject of place names, there are some very interesting names scattered through the article, "Sweet Track" and "Chalice Well", it would be nice to add a footnote on each of them explaining the origins of their names.

Also, just a personnal preference, is it possible to break up the longer paragraphs, some of us "oldies" find it difficult to concentrate on a page full of text.

Just to finish, these really are minor points, the article as a whole was excellent and really well thought out



Whisky

Ok, this should be a little more palatable. I would have done this earlier, but am new to guide ml. It reads a bit better when broken down, and I have annotated the Chalice Well reference (although it is still a bit of a mystery). As for the name of the Sweet Track, I cannot find a single iota of information regarding its nomenclature. If anyone can help. . . . .

Hi, frogbit!
I think this is a great entry - I love the geological background you provide, and the breadth of information about history and legends. It really makes me want to visit the area. There is huge scope here for external links: a google search on "wetland archaeology" produces a very good recent article about the Somerset levels and the Sweet Track, including a couple of good photos. It would be great to include a link to that.

Apart from links, is there anything else to add? Perhaps an explanation of a few of the more unusual words - rhines, mumps(?) etc. And it might be worth including an actual date for the end of the last abbot - not everyone reading will be automatically familiar with that era of English history.


Azara

Oh, and the Britannia chronology website says that the Sweet Track is called after its discoverer, Ray Sweet.

Azara

Oh, and the Britannia chronology website says that the Sweet Track is called after its discoverer, Ray Sweet.

Azara

Thanks Azara. Yes, you're right about the external links, there is huge scope, but as you've amply demonstrated, if people are interested they will look for themselves. I don't know about you, but I always find links and cross-references distracting - so maybe if I put in a bunch at the bottom of the article. . . . I know the wetland site you mean and yes, it's a very good article.
And yes, I have ommitted the date of the execution of the Abbot, something I will rectify probably tonight, if Morpheus doesn't get me. . . (not a Matrix reference).

Mumps = big hillocks or small tors

Rhines = Dutch I believe, to describe large ditches.

I'll include a description on the next update. Again, thanks, your input is encouraging.

ps, 2 coincidences (coincidenti?) we joing H2G2 in the same month, and I was the first plant in the Natural History Museum! Believe it or not it only started a couple of months ago - a dreadful neglect.

for the s

No problem Wazu - and thanks Azara - I had a half a notion the Sweet Track was probably named after its discoverer. Didn't think about Britannica though. Have a drink , and you Wazu

All footnotes done - I think.

This is a good entry, but I want to query one thing: When you say Cromwell's Remeberances, I take it you mean Thomas Cromwell? You might want to clarify that, as most people would immediatey think of Oliver.

The Prophet

Well done Prophet, all ammended. Cambridge?

That's right. Why do you ask?

The Prophet.

Just looked up the meaning of your name in your space. I used to live there, knocked about with some (in those days)East Anglia poly students (this was about 10yrs ago mind).

Just looked up the meaning of your name in your space. I used to live there, knocked about with some (in those days)East Anglia poly students (this was about 10yrs ago mind).

I was there after that; it was Anglia Uni by then. Nice town though.

The Prophet

Hi Frogbit! I'm glad to see you mentioned me in your article.

One myth about the winter-flowering tree planted by Joesph of Arimathea is that it flowers every year on January 5. This would have been 25 December before the loss of 11 days in the 18th Century!

There is still at least one place in the article where you say "I think". Rephrase this so as not to use the word I.

Done. Keen eye, Gnomon. And thanks for the dating tip. Although the thorn *does* bloom in winter, tying it down to a particular day is a little too precise to be precise. (Not that I was accusing you of doing so. You rightly refered to it as a myth).