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

The man worked at an abattoir fergawdsake.
Of course he'd add insult to injury. I bet
he calls his wife a mad cow.

~jwf~

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/17/vatican-criticises-benetton-pope-kissing

yEAH..THE pOPE ONLY KISSES KIDS...

Vatican Reaction

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/pope-and-imam-'would-make-horrible-couple'-201111174557/

"And I don't see how this campaign is supposed to end hatred because I now hate Benetton as much as I hate homosexuals. Advert fail."

This is brilliant - it shows just how integrated some people can become in Scottish society.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15777852

A Muslim Rangers supporter who chanted sectarian remarks at a game at Ibrox Stadium has been fined £600.

Abdul Rafiq, 41, the only Muslim member of the English Defence League, was arrested at Rangers friendly game with Chelsea on 6 August.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15778446

"I'm a loveable rogue" - Biggs.

No, you're a crook.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/nov/18/neutrinos-still-faster-than-light

Neutrinos still faster than light, seemingly.

<---- to properly illustrate the story, this one should be wearing a red pajama.

French scientists have created a new lightweight plastic that is as strong and stable as other thermoset materials such as Bakelite, yet can be easily reworked and reshaped when heated.

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2011/November/17111104.asp

EU bans claim that water can prevent dehydration

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/8897662/EU-bans-claim-that-water-can-prevent-dehydration.html

Four elderly people died in a fire at a nursing home. Now a nurse has been charged with four counts of murder.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-19/man-arrested-over-nursing-home-blaze/3681548

Artur C Clarke would have enjoyed this one -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15754786

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-15783052

...or so he says.

F

"Politicians and lawyers are excluded from entering the annual event because organisers say they are too good"

"An application has been made to erect Olympic rings on Edinburgh Castle.

The London 2012 organising committee wants to place the five-ring symbol on the castle ramparts for four months next year.

The 8m-high (26ft) aluminium rings would be visible from several miles away and would be replaced later in the year with the Paralympic logo."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-15757202

off, just the off. Take your London Olympics logo and shove it up your . The Castle is also the Scottish National War Memorial and the idea of promoting such a tawdry event on the gravestone of over 200,000 dead Scots is disgusting. Peddle your geegaws on the Cenotaph why don't you?

Well, the olympics are supposed to (theoretically) have something to do with preventing wars and the resulting loss of life from them (but I fail to see any evidence of their having done so).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/15803140.stm

Basil D'Olivera has died.

I have been a cricket fan since I first encountered the game as a boy and he was the first cricketer that I was aware of. I feel a bit sad about his death. He lied about his age because he thought he would be considered too old to play for England. He was probably 83 when he died rather than 80.

PP

Unreal. £1.4m car.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15802266

Not sure I'd want one though - you can only get to A to B at a maximum of 70mph.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/18/mark-duggan-ipcc-investigation-riots

"Revealed: Mark Duggan was not armed when shot by police

Investigators find no forensic evidence he was carrying gun when killed"

"The investigation into the death of Mark Duggan has found no forensic evidence that he was carrying a gun when he was shot dead by police on 4 August, the Guardian has learned.

A gun collected by Duggan earlier in the day was recovered 10 to 14 feet away, on the other side of a low fence from his body. He was killed outside the vehicle he was travelling in, after a police marksman fired twice."

Um...so it was found ~12feet from the taxi Duggan was in?

How far could someone throw a gun from a taxi...over a low wall...?

Water Company Prepares Itself For UK Drought

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16113351

Umm - it's not a UK drought if it only affects one wee part of it.

Police pepper-spray students sitting on the ground during peaceful protest at UC Davis:
http://www.davisenterprise.com/media-post/ucd-police-remove-occupy-uc-davis-tents/

Assault and peppered?