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

Not really a question. Well...unless it's: Will you do this for me?

You may need a calculator or pen and paper.

Pick one of these numbers 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Multiply that number by 2.
Now add 5. Multiply by 50.

If you've already had your birthday this year add 1751. If not, add 1750.

Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

You should now have a 3 digit number. The first digit being the number you picked at the beginning. The second 2 digits will be your age.

2001 is the only year that this will work.

Nurse! The screens.

Why is it called Chilli when it`s hot ?

I've always found that odd ...

Why if an orange, being orange, is so called, is a Lemon not called a Yellow?

Hello,

Okay. Here you go (for the case where you've had your birthday this, year; you can work out the other one):

x = [2 - 9] the number you pick
y = year you were born

50(2x + 5) + 1750 - y = (x * 100) + (2001 - y)
100x + 250 + 1751 - y = 100x + 2001 - y
2001 - y = 2001 - y

If you've had you're birthday this year, your age is 2001 - y. If not, it's 2000 - y. That's the reason for the 1750 or 1751.

It's a neat trick. I'm sorry I had to ruin everybody's fun by breaking out the algebra.

Yours,
Jake

Just ask a chile addict! (or chili, or chilli) ...

The term "chile" (as we in Southwest USA spell it) is actually Spanish in origin, and is the word given to the very spicy fruit of several varieties of plants indigenous to the area. The original term is not Spanish, however. While most of use here in New Mexico constantly correct our tourist friends from spelling it "chili" or "chilli" (unless that's the dish they want, see below) the actual term comes from a Native American word for the fruit, spelled "chilli." I'm pretty sure it's a Nahuatl term.

The Spaniards were the first Europeans to settle this part of the New World frequently developed terms for things they heard in the local languages with their own phonetic spelling in Spanish. (I think this is because the Native Americans didn't often have a well-developed written language, at least the way Eurpeans were used to - I could be wrong) Hence, due to the pronunciation of the Native Americans of their term, "chilli" being roughly equivalent to how a Spaniard would pronounce "chile," it was henceforth known as "chile" around these parts since the area was settled primarily by the Spanish. It's come to refer to the fruit itself as well as just about any food using the spicy fruit as a primary ingredient. But if you're around here in the Southwest USA, take note that "chili" usually means a red-chile beans-and-beef type of stew, whereas "chile" usually means roasted, chopped fruit (red or green) on top of your food, but it could mean anything depending on what region you're in.

So. It really has nothing to do with being cold or cool at all ... at least, I don't think so. I don't speak Nahuatl, so I could be mistaken.

if love makes the world go around what makes the moon go around?

why are 20 sheep still sheep not sheeps ?

what's the plural of hippopotamus?

> what's the plural of hippopotamus?

trouble.

Okay, I suppose that would work better with rhinoceros rather than the "water horse", but what can you do. Thanks, you've been a wonderful audience. I'll be here all week.

Yours,
Jake

actually hippopotumi(?) are more dangerous than they look.(notsure how)

MMM
I found they looked pretty dangerous when they yawned at me

if survival of the fittest works, how come the nerd genes got carried thru the brute ages?

*ahem* what about poor eyesight, hearing, immune system, hemophilia, asthma, diabetes, etc. genes? those woul have been an even greater threat to survival in the stone age times.

Poor eyesight and hearing tend to get worse as people get older. Anything that does not kick in before reproductive age is not selected against by reproducion.

Also they are worse now because (1) continuous correction of vision leads to deteriation of the vision and (2) hearing is bad these days because of continuous loud noise levels, eg factories, artillery, rock concerts. So they are worse now in industrial and opthalmic societies than in pre-historic ones.

Haemophilia is carried by a recessive gene.

Asthma and diabetes are made considerably worse by 20th and 21st century lifestyles - pollutants, over refined carbohydrates etc. So they were probably not an issue in prehistoric times.

Immune system... not sure.

agcB

immune diseases are probably also recessive genes, now that i come to think about it.

Actually, Diabetes, at least the Type I (or heredity-related variety) was less common before 1922, when artificial (nonhuman-based) insulin became available. Prior to that, Type I - formerly known as Juvenile Diabetes, was a self-limiting disease. Most victims died before they were old enough to reproduce, and therefore kept the population with this particular defective gene from occuring more than somewhat rarely. Once insulin enabled these diabetics to survive to reach reproductive age (and some of them didn't get it before they reproduced, which is why it never died out completely before 1922, I'm thinking) the number of people carrying this recessive but persistent gene were able to hand it on to the future.

And before you start typing furiously, Type II is the DIET RELATED disease -- indeed, it is a VERY different form than Type I in which the pancreas stops producting insulin almost completely. In Type II diabetes, the body becomes resistent to its own insulin, due to weight gain and inactivity. Research is now discovering that the lot of people with Type II diabetes can be CONSIDERABLY improved with the loss of a relatively small percentage of weight and the addition of simple walking to their lives, along with learning to eat more sensibly.

By the way, this is not an excuse to blame Type IIs for their own disease -- it is NOT the fault of the diabetic! Why I have it when my brother, who is considerably heavier percentage-wise (and less active!) has perplexed me for years!

Just thought I's throw in my two pennies...

SC

"Just thought I's throw in my two pennies..."

Damn! You try to proofread before you post, but...!

And thats another "think" to while away the hours: Why, when given a prefectly good opportunity to go over what one posts, does one still have these #$%&&#) typos!!!!

SC

It seems that a lot of people on my fathers side of the family, including my father, have diabetes. So I can be pretty sure that if I get overweight I will get it. Luckily I am known for being chronically skinny

Anyways, about the immune system does anyone know why it seems to ignore the bacterias that destroys our teeth?

Like Herr Doctor Freud said, "Sometimes a cigar ..is just a cigar."

*the Freud reference is to space-cadets question about typos and not anything to do with Xanatic's oral hygiene - sorry about the simulpost*

Sorry to lower the tone but:

Why is it called a blow job when you - er - suck?

agcB

(Working on a Short Guide to Short Words - link on my home page, comments welcome - which is why I thought of it. Honest.)

Hey, have you got an obsession or what?