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

but I still can't read it! It must be me, I can never do this kind of thing!

Ok - here's a less cryptic version: The Butler Did It.

With a rolling pin, in the gardens? HAH !!! I thought as much.

Thanks Alex!

Hi Leo,

First of all, this is a superb entry. It certainly iives up to the 'wry' part of your nickname!

I just wondered what your attitude was to the Editors' posting (#38) in this thread, requesting more examples of people who did the things described in the entry when seemingly or actually facing imminent death. Do you want the rest of us to suggest suitable examples, or are you happy with the entry as it is?

Please suggest! THe only reason I haven't included anything yet is lack of time.

This is just great!

here's a couple of minor things

>>...it may be smart to review the list of last-minute ideas thoroughly...<<
I would suggest: *this* list

>>...as you read this in your living room, consider this an option.<<
suggest changing the second 'this' - ie 'consider it an option'

This entry just gets better with each reading. I agree w/the eds, this could become a classic.

Well then, we'll need more spectacular demises. Think I should poke into Ask h2g2?

It worked for beardy ideas. Go for it.

Can I suggest if you have time before your own death that you register yourself on h2g2's deathlist game? You might be dead but you could bag up 100 points for it...

good ideas.

Meantime though, this has occurred to me

The heading 'Try to Prevent It' while a good header () seems not to be in sync with the paragraph that follows it - 'Get a Grip' seems more the point of the actual text.

</>

Bomba: removed references to suicide in first line

Added a reference to Willie Francis in the first section. Is there an entry on the executions of Willie Francis? There should be. Not many people are electrocuted more than once.

Aurora: Added Pascal's Wager. Found it a fascinating subject.

Did Richard Feynman say that? I'm delighted. I've only just discovered the fellow. Rather clever, wasn't he? Thanks.

Added Antonio Mancini's final words, thanks, Cardi-Bling.

Sprout: added Omar. Excellent case. Joe Simpson fitted in after Willie Francis. Danton quote added.

Pimms: Thanks for the Aron Ralston story. I fit it in under 'Say goodbye' because he videotaped messages to his family and anyway, there were already two anecdotes under "don't give up."

Sprout: added about technology. I even dug up an example of someone in the Twin Towers who had a long conversation with his wife as he died. Acquaintences father, actually.

Added organ donation under the Famous Last Words section.

Pailaway: edits taken care of. (edits taken of care? of edits taken care? Edits done.)




Questions:

Does anyone have any story that can fit under the "Make Sure you Can Be Found" catogory? I know body recovery is a big deal. Surely there must be some tale about it?


Benjaminmoore - deathlist game?

Off to Ask h2g2 then.

A18413985 - Death list game homepage.

"Does anyone have any story that can fit under the "Make Sure you Can Be Found" catogory? I know body recovery is a big deal. Surely there must be some tale about it?"

Erm, that guy, I forget his name... Anyway, him that flipped that speedboat at lake Windermere and didn't wash up on the beach for 50 years. Or Richey Edwards, the ex-Manic Street Preachers guitarist. He left a note and his clothes on a bridge and his body's never been found hence he's still 'missing presumed dead' after 10 years.

Oh, and I don't think you can link to the deathgame as it isn't in the EG.

The first of those two is Donald Campbell - divers eventually recovered his boat, Bluebird, and he is now buried in the parish graveyard.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2006/03/27/enjoy_people_donald_campbell_feature.shtml

Richey Edwards is a good example. He caused his family and friends a lot of grief.

He left his car by the Severn Bridge - I don't remember any note or clothes though?

PS re escaping the executioner - John Babbacombe actually escaped... He was hung three times, three times the trap refused to open... Sentence commuted to life imprisonment.

Really like the way this looks now -

sprout

Richy Edwards isn't dead, he just started eating again and went to work for B&Q in Romford in the flooring department

"If you laminate this, then your bedroom will be next"

Looking good Leo

Minor grammar point that has caught me out a few times - find and replace the oddly bold apostrophes - ’ - used a few times in the document (as appears in "it’s") with the hootoo standard ones - ' - (so the word appears as "it's"). Copying text from MS Word usually caused this problem for me.

The Great Escape or The Best Excuse

A man was arrested for streaking down a Melbourne street. The man explained to the police officers that he was running away from the local mortuary, where a doctor had just pronounced him officially dead. The newly-revived man was released without charge, but the fate of the mistaken doctor and shocked mortician attendants is unknown.

That's the final header and paragraph in my "Streakers and Streaking" A9559678 edited entry, and quite relevant for an example of a lucky escape