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

The very first Doctor Who episode I remember was the one where Bill Hartnell apparently died (of radiation poisoning from a Cyberman attack, I think) and then magically changed into Patrick Troughton!

OK all, as a result of a suggestion by agcBen (in fact I was thinking of doing it but may not have got round to it) this thread has now been edited together in an entry here A858666

Now don't go whinging your suggestion wasn't included, I was harsh, only things that used to exist, that don't now and that are hard to explain the actual concepts and ideas of to the modern or near future generations are inclded (with a few small exceptions)

Any more ideas either here or on the entry.

Thanks all - I think I've added everyone to the list, if not please let me know.

CH

"Now don't go whinging your suggestion wasn't included"

I'm not. You included *three* of mine - Daleks, terrifying public information films, and TV which didn't start till lunchtime and "closed down" for the night.

What I AM whinging about is despite this, my name isn't on the list of contributors.

H.

That's your own fault for being a researcher who I'd obviously been to the home page of in the history of my browser - I went through the list clicking on the unvisted researcher links, till all had changed colour - I guess I'd visited your page before

Fixed now

CH

Oh and whilst I searched for a few things in the list in the Guide, if anyone spots anything on the list with an *edited* guide entry then please let me know



CH

H.

Am I allowed to expand a previous (unincluded) thing to see if it becomes worthy?

I mentioned having to wait for games to load, but really I mean waiting for technology in general. In fact maybe it is wider than technology. Expecting to have to wait for something, anything! Everything has to be instant these days, from your microwave dinner to broadband. Next time you are complaining that your internet connection is too slow, or it is taking *forever* to open some document (approx 20 seconds) think about how long it used to take to do anything on a computer.

While I am about it, can I add cassette tapes?



k

That's SUCH a good one Kelli

H.

Cassette tapes reminds me of my first computer a Sinclair ZX81 with a membrane keyboard (built in)and a massive 1 K of memory. Yes - one K! I still have it. When I bought the add on (velcro strip supplied) Ram pack it added up to 16K, wow. The computer I have now has 80 million million times the memory of the first.
(You could load a program with a cassette tape).

Waiting is good, espcially when the younger yoof (sub teenagers) have to wait for something for the first time.

Cassette tapes, for me don't count as they can be simply explained to next generations as data storage medium, there will always be such devices, the shape, size, format may vary but the job they do remains.

The biest thing my dad bought for our BBC B was a floppy drive, plus the eprom board, which we could "blow" programs to to have them in permenant fixed memory.

CH

how about those 45 r.p.m. vinyl records we use to listen to which got replaced by c.d.`s and m.p.3`s and minidiscs. looking at some old records last night actually and found a very rare stone temple pilots picture disc from 1993. it does bring back some memories but kids of today won`t remember record players the way they were

chunky

Going off to Wimbledon Common in search of Wombles.

How about a a living memory of daddy with a full head of hair which isn't grey.

Does anyone else remember Sweet Cigarettes. They were in a packet much like a packet of real cigarettes with a card inside. They were long white sticks with a red tip to look like a lit cigarette. They were especialy entertaining in colder weather, when you could see your breath, and could make like you were really smoking.

Of course, this would be extremely incorrect now, almost shocking. You can now get candy sticks, which come in the same box and still have a card, but there's no red end. Not much fun. Children probably don't see the point of them.

with Xmas using real candles in stead of electric light

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I remember them Cleo they also has a red sugar frosting at one end so it looked like you were actually smoking it.

There were also chocolate cigarettes rolled in paper which were delicious. They had a picture of a camel on the front I suppose like the Camel cigarettes.

Yes - and you weren't really supposed to eat the paper, although I always did - disgusting.

The idea of the socially acceptance of smoking has been added to the entry - it certainky is one I find hard to explain.

Another thing I will add to the entry is Daylight saving/Summer time - Whilst still with us I simply couldn't explain why it was needed to a 12 year old on Saturday night.

CH

It has something to do with scottish farmers, I believe.

I don't think you can say that Daylight Saving is something that we can't pass on to our kids though, even if we are not too clear on the explanation for it

Mmmm OK, but if it were to stop next year I couldn't explain why we had it and in 10 years the children would think you were making it up, so it is sort of, maybe a new section in the entry, one which I did initially ask, things we hope will end and then be difficult/impossible to explain

CH