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

Hello
Would you like to be an exhibit in the Natural History Museum?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A416819

As you can see, I have only just started the plant collection. To join you must research a latin name for yourself.

Amy

Cool! I'll get to it ... errrm ... very soon now ... (as you'll see, if you look at the other replies I've posted at my site, I'm somewhat behind in my postings just now) ... thanks very much for the invitation! I love the idea. Warmly, Mag N. Olia

Hellooooooo, Amy!
Are you still accepting members at the NHM? This is ONLY 10 months after my first response to your invitation, saying that I'd be delighted to be included, so it may be just a teeny bit late ... Well, I'm ready with my botanical name now, finally.
*looking penitent*

That's ok. Time means nothing round here. What we need now is your latin name.

Oh thanks! I am delighted to hear it's not too late. Here's my latin name: Magnolia grandiflora -- please tell me what else I might need to do. I've just looked up the Britannica and it had masses about the genus. The species I've chosen is the flower/plant I had in mind when I chose the name.

Thanks again, magnlia

That's all you have to do. It's a great name.

I'll add you to the list now.

Woohoo! Thanks! It was fun to see the entry! What a great idea the NHM is!

I think it's pretty neat too.

Do you plan to include small graphics of each entry, eventually? *wondering whether to create a graphic anyway* And ... BTW, here's a treat:

*eats *

Thank you.

I think a graphic for each member would make the page size too big.

Hmm. You have a point. However ... here's another thought: s'posing the graphics were only icon-size -- not larger than a smiley -- AND each Researcher with an accredited NMH name would get to use that icon as a personal trademark? The page would look VERY pretty! And more people would know about the NHM. *fluttering away prettily*

Even then it would add 50 kB to a page. Too much for those with slow access and webtv users. And I can't quite see them letting me blob 100 pictures however small.

awww. That's a shame. However, even as I write this, I've had ANOTHER idea. You could confine the icons to a discrete number -- just the major orders, for instance -- so, for instance, I'd have the flowering plant-icon. Someone else would have the bird-icon. Or a mammal-icon. That way, however many members you have, there'd only be a small number of actual graphics in play.

But I can imagine something like this might become a logistical onsite nightmare!

I don't think that would be too hard. I already use smileys in that sort of way. I need more smileys!

... and how d'you get more smileys?