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

"THAT"?

I don't know whether to or .

The thread title - where's the thread asking what we should call the recent hiatus?

Isobel?

(necessary when 'On Yer Bike')

The Great De-Beebing.

AFAIK it's officially "The Foop".

How about "The vanishing"?

How about 'The varnishing'? Or is that putting an unnecessary gloss on things?

Watch yer step, young man, or you might get a good shellacking!

And does Foop have any particular reference? The finish of old patronage?

I have not read the books in a coon's age (will that pass now?) but I believe it was the sound expressed by the entire universe when it fundamentally gave up and went away ...

I thought it was the sound of the Krikkit men's ship appearing... no, wait... that sounded like thousands of people saying "Whop!" at the same time. Foop was the sound of the Krikkit men's ship going away.

Speaking of coon's... The only time I've ever hit an animal with a vehicle was a few months ago. I was riding my motorcycle through a neighborhood and a big raccoon darted out in front of me. It was too late for me to avoid it. I felt a bit of a bump, stopped the bike and looked back. He wasn't there. I fretted about it for a while until I realized that if I'd actually ran over him the "bump" would have probably thrown me from the bike. I must have only ran over his tail. I still feel bad about it, but not as bad as I did.

By incidence and accident, I have caused the demise of atleast 4 stray cats (protect them caretakers!), several squirrels, one coon and one fox. Maybe even one armadillo but that was undetermined. Each and every time, I have felt bad and not slept well for days.

I had a heck of a clean record up to that point. Although, I did blame a rabbit for an incident that ended with my car in a ditch. There was no rabbit, but there was a hyperactive teenager in the back seat (we were in high school) who wanted us to do a "power slide" on a gravel road by pulling the handbrake at 40 mph.

SPLOOOSH!!!

Well, I had to tell the cops something.
Darn that rabbit!

More like 'One Swell Foop' I think.

Maybe it's a good thing that I didn't do any "licensed" driving until I was well grown, and bought my own wheels. 2nd marriage, in fact, happened not long before.

If I see a tailless raccoon, I'll know it was the one you hit.

I have no bluddy idea how I came to be here ... and not only do I know I shouldn't be here, but here shouldn't be here either.

This morning, I heard something on Radio 4 about being alert to early signs of dementia in the elderly. Could someone let my GP know, please?

It's OK. In real life, I'm a ... Well, actually I'm "Doktor"... it's a theological degree... in Forbidden Science... from a cult.

But as a Doktor, I recommend you relax. Take two of these , it'll all work out.

Most excellent, Doktor, and I thank you

Tell me, should I have one in each hand or take them sequentially? I may need to practise, to improve my technique - as I'm sure you understand.

Thank you too, to Peet, who somehow got me here