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

Considering the extent to which people will go to to get rhino horns, there is no future for the remaining rhinos: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17114463

Not the time of year for this sort of a disaster (if there is a time of year for this sort of a disaster):

"Shortly before 1 a.m. on Feb. 27, flames continued to spiral high above the 300 block of Creekside Village in Iqaluit, after a fire that started just before 10 p.m. on Feb. 26 resisted the efforts of firefighters fighting to contain the blaze in the midst of -50 C windchills."

http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674fire_destroys_iqaluit_rowhouse_block_up_to_300_may_be_evacuated/



According to a news bulletin I read on twitter the firefighters were having trouble at times because the water was freezing as it came out of their hoses.

an update: at least two people died in the fire mentioned above: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/story/2012/02/27/north-white-row-fire.html?cmp=rss

Exploitation of illegal immigrants, with sheds in beds shanty towns in London: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17185294

Dereck Chisora has been suspended indefinitely by the World Boxing Council for his behaviour surrounding his recent fight with Vitali Klitschko.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/17200218

On the TV a report showed recession-hit women still shelling out £fortunes to have their nails done. They justified this decadence by saying it was their 'treat', it made them "feel better about themselves" and they weren't prepared to give it up. The report was gentle and the reporters seemed mildly amused, but I wonder how they would have reported, say, neglectful husbands wasting money betting on horses?

This is a common phenomenon - lippy and cosmetics sales often go up during a recession - people can't afford a whole new outfit/pair of shoes/other expensive item for tens of pounds so get themselves a new nail varnish or lipstick instead for a few quid. Didn't think that would apply to manicures too although I guess these can be *relatively cheap.

* cheaper than a new dress/pair of shoes for one, although it would depend on the frequency - every week would soon mount up!

>>cheaper than a new dress/pair of shoes for one, although it would depend on the frequency - every week would soon mount up!

The woman interviewed had fingernails done twice a month, toenails every month, and another instantly-forgettable money-drain also twice a month. But I don't accept any implication (if there was any) that frittering away fewer scarce resources on nails rather than clothes alters my main question; would we feel any sympathy if the husband argued he was now spending slightly less on the dogs instead of the horses?

*shrug* don't know - what is the normal bloke equivalent of buying clothes? This is a bit outside my experience - I get my toenails done by someone else about once or twice a year - usually just before a holiday (which we didn't do last year so I didn't have a pedicure) so don't see this sort of thing as normal upkeep of my appearance.

From your summary that particular woman sounds rather selfish, but what were her circumstances? I know someone who used to complain about her family being skint and then blow nearly 200 quid on a hair cut every 8 weeks and I always considered that unnecessarily wasteful too.

Depends really, if the woman in the piece is single with no dependents then what does it matter if she fritters her money on shallow stuff? If she is in a relationship where each partner has and manages their own money and joint purchases/bills are still being met then that is fine too, but spending money on those things when her kids need new shoes then that is something else entirely.

It did strike me as a "slow news day" type of story.

"what is the normal bloke equivalent of buying clothes?"


Bit outside my experience, too, but at a guess . . .

pack of smokes and an evening at the pub?

Or is that the equivalent to a manicure?

It all depends. There is no universal 'bloke equivalent of buying clothes' any more than there is a universal rule that all women a) like 'retail therapy' and b) buy clothes when they're out having said therapy.

The answer is always 'it depends' but there is evidence to show that cheapish cosmetic products increase in sales during recessions, so while not everyone does 'retail therapy' those that do switch to cheaper items when times are hard.

I wonder if the data that shows other changes in spending patterns are harder to pin on male/female spending than cosmetics, which, by and large, are generally bought by women (and emo/goth types of either gender I suppose but dount they account for the majority of the spending).

"what is the normal bloke equivalent of buying clothes?"

Let's ask this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PsnxDQvQpw

For husband-Dai, primarily gadgets,but also clothes, and - today - a man-bag ( not his first, either!)

Dai De'Ath. I like it!

Well, that's where I got my second name

Team of scientists study lesbianism in Bonobo communities: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17117661

Model 'burned down 3,500-year-old tree because she needed light to see what drugs she was taking' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2108028/Sara-Barnes-burned-3-500-year-old-tree-called-The-Senator-needed-drugs-doing.html

Attempt to save the South China tiger from extinction left in amateur hands: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-17142635