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

I like to think of myself as a Sinophile, if you except the more recent eyeblink's-worth of current events that have flowed over the rocjbed of Chinese civilisation. I wish I could lay my hands on a copy of Charles Needham's opus on China for my retirement!

I will read anything you have to tell us about the written Chinese language with enormous interest.

Welcome to the Guide, by the way. As you may have already discovered, one way to explore the site is by clicking on a researcher's name and following the links you find at _their_ user page that interest you. Stalking is a perfectly acceptable activity here! SO feel free to follow me to any of my usual haunts.

I'm sure one of the h2g2 ACEs will be by shortly with more concrete info in the form of specific URL's that you can visit for advice and information.

Lil

I'm not an ACE, but I'll do in a pinch.

Greetings, fellow researcher! My name is Big 'Evil' Dan, and I am an H2G2 Guardian Angel. If you need any help around here, don't be afraid to ask me, or any of the other Saints. (To get in touch, you can visit http://www.h2g2.com/A300943, visit my page by clicking on my name above, or just hitting reply).

Other important links:

Newcomers Welcome Page
http://www.h2g2.com/A5752

ACEs Homepage
http://www.h2g2.com/A214796

H2G2 Quick Reference Guide (A large group of links)
http://www.h2g2.com/A344756

Dear Lil:

Than you so much for writing, taking an interest, and offering help! I am indeed a newcomer, and I am happy to say that you have made me feel very welcome here.

I took a peek at your home page, and it seems that you have some fascinating interests of your own. Of particular interest to me was the link you included for the Guide's historical Society- it seems that there is a conspicuous lack of Chinese history there. Sounds like a future project, huh?

Anyhow, while I teach myself GuideML and prepare my entry on Chinese characters, please tell me what your interest in things Chinese is. As I say, my areas of interest are Chinese Language (spoken and written), as well as Chinese history. I am deeply interested in Chinese historical linguistics and dialectology, though I can only consider myself a hobbyist!

Just to whet your appetite, while I am sure you are aware that Chinese is a tonal language, did you know that tones in Chinese may not have developed until as late as the Tang Dynasty (618-907)? Chinese is full of surprises, that's for certain! I hope to write on this subject in the near future, but please stop by often for a chat.

Thank you for all the links, help, encouragement, and good neighborliness! (Is that a word- it should be.) With your support, I am sure I will settle in quickly. Now, if I can just figure out how to write Chinese characters in GuideML...

I hope you'll be interested to join the salon at http://www.h2g2.com/A304354 , Lil's (my) Atelier, where your interests would, I'm sure, generate lots of discussion. It WILL help if you can think of a "handle", a nickname for yourself so that we can address you easily. Some people use their real names, some have fanciful names (like me). You can give yourself a nickname by clicking on "My Details" on your home page and updating the information there.

You'll notice that, on the details form you have a choice of "skins". If you are currently using the white or "Alabaster" skin, be sure to experiment with Classic Goo. Much of the site, like my home page and my Atelier, was designed to be seen in Classic Goo. But of course you go with whatever suits your aesthetic best!

The history of Chinese ideographs interests me, too. I think I have always had an affinity for Chinese art forms, and I learned more about their belief systems when I did my philosophy degree (and discovered the I Ching and its underlying texts). Did you know about a computer game called Qin that was released back in 1996? Not only an exploration of the tomb of Qang ... have forgotten other two characters even though I can hear them pronounced in my head ... it was also an introduction to Chinese archeology, artworks of the period and to the history of the Chinese language, with lots of spoken Chinese in it.

Thanks, Lil. I took your advice and gave myself a handle, Miao Hong Zhi- stolen from Lu Xun's "Kong Yi Ji". It just means character practice paper; it's what kids use when they learn. I will always only be a toddler with this Chinese stuff, as far as I am concerned

Philosophy, eh? I am interested, but eternally puzzled, especially by people like Li Zhi who say that it's good to be selfish. Hmmm. You must be thinking about Qin Shihuang, the "unifier of China", and the Emperor with the amazing terracotta army buried with him in Xi' An. I was not aware that there was a game, but thanks for the tip. And yes, I am interested in the archeaology, too.

Gotta go, I have finals next week!

Lovely name!
And you have the right emperor, except that the name in the game is given as Qin Xuang Di. *sigh* which goes to underline what you said about pronunciation systems.

Good luck with your exams, and we'll look for your company on the other side of them.

Just thought I'd jump in and say Hi Miao -- great to see yet another interesting person joining up at h2g2. Welcome!

I know very little about Chinese history, other than what I learned while working on a play called 'White Boned Demon' -- which is about a production of Ibsen's 'A Doll's House' performed during the Cultural Revolution in China -- and getting to know a wonderful Chinese actress because of that project.

There is definitely a need for entries which you could add to this guide.

As others have already said, if you need anything -- help with GuideML or anything else -- just jump in and ask us!

Redbeard

I have no technical skills, just a love of knowledge. I will visit your entries often. Thank you!

Hi there Miao Hongzhi,
I'm sorry you've not had an 'official ACE greeting' before now... but it seems that you don't really need one...

I hadn't realised that Chinese is a tonal language, but that sounds fascinating. I can't wait to read more.

Joanna

Hi, Redbeard, thanks for stopping by! Thanks also for the encoursgement, words of praise, and offers of help- you and many others have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome, and I am very grateful. This is my first real foray into such a cyber-life!

Stopped by your page and found it most interesting, as well as helpful. Right now I am still exploring and learning about the intracacies and niceties of h2g2. There is a wonderful mix of interesting people here, all with something unique to contribute. Perfect!

You mentioned Ibsen's "A Doll's House" in your message. sometimes it seems China is obsessed with Ibsen, and "A Doll's House" in particular. References to Nora are plentiful in modern Chinese literature. I don't know much about it all, sorry to say. But I take my nickname from Lu Xun, one of the May Fourth writers and Ibsonites.

Well, I just wanted to drop by and say hello, and thank you for taking an interest! Hopefully I will be able to participate in building the Chinese language and history resources at h2g2- as well as other Asian resources as well. There's just so much to learn, share, explore, and enjoy.

Take care,
Miao

Dear Joanna (Prince of Darkness) ACE:

Hello there, and thanks for the ACE welcome! I wouldn't dare complain about a late greeting! No way, this is my first foray into an online community, and I feel that I have been welcomed very warmly. A little over whelmed? I didn't have any expectations when I arrived! Thanks for the concern, though- I do appreciate all that everyone has done to help me settle in, yourself included!

As I say, I am still settling in, learning about nettiquite, continuity, skins, GuideML, and so forth. However, there seems to be no shortage of interesting people out there, and all very, very friendly.

Hopefully I can add a bit to the Guide entries on Chinese language and history- and who knows what else. Take care, and stop by to chat often. (I have taken a peek at your page as well, and promise to drop in.)

Bye now,
Miao

Dear Joanna:

Horrors! I just called you "Prince" instead of "Princess" A thousand apologies! This migh be a goo dthing in my hometown, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, but not here. Sloppy, sloppy.

Please forgive me,
Miao

Dear ox:

Thanks for the note; I will try to update my page as often as I can, though I have finals next week. In mid-July, I will set off for Japan for two weeks, then off to the USA...this will be a busy summer. But once I get back home, I plan on buying a new computer, and that means more entries, yay!

I stopped by your page and am eager to learn more about you. By the way, if you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to send them my way. I am no expert, just a fellow student and lover of learning like yourself. Take care!

Bye now,
Miao

Don't worry about it, Miao, & most folks call me Joanna, thus eliminating the need for extra typing which could result in spelling mistakes

I read your entry on tones in Mandarin and found it fascinating. Last night I went to an event held for international students at Durham- I heard some Japanese being spoken. Naturally I had no idea what was being said but it was fascinating to listen to the way the speaker was using her voice & was using different pitches...

Joanna

Dear Joanna:

Great! My fiancee is Japanese, and I am doing all I can to learn fast! The Japanese usually insist that the language has no real tones, but in fact there are certain combinations that are allowed...more later.

Thanks,
Miao

Hello Miao-my page remains blank as I still learn Guide language. I was a professional musician for many years and now own a business and work at home. I grow orchids and practice yoga. I've found Sun Tzu's essays on The Art of War the best help in running my business. I can't wait to read more of your writings! Thank you again.

Dear ox:

Professional musician, you say? Wow, what did you play, what kind of music? "Ox" wouldn't happen to be a reference to John Entwistle (I am a big, big Who fan.)

I consider myself a veteran of the "Rock Wars" of Minneapois circa 1987-1997. I played in a number of bands with a range of styles as a bass player- (I just can't bring myself to say "bassist".) And they were bad bands, at that, really really awful. But some of it was a lot of fun, and I met some truly wonderful people through the years.

There are too many (horror) stories to tell, if you're interested. I'm just fortunate that the Chinese thing worked out for me- I had something to fall back on, while most of the others weren't nearly so lucky. In fact, far too many friends and accquaintances are no longer with us at all.

Sorry to be maudlin; I am very interested in all that you da and all that you have to say. Take care, stop by often, and good luck with Sunzi. Perhaps the best advice he has is to be strong by avoiding conflict whenever possible. Knowing yourself and your opponent's strngths, weaknesses, and plans isn't half-bad either.

Good luck ,
Miao

Hi, Miao! Acoustic guitar (bluegrass) and piano (classical) evolved into playing a variety of keyboards over the years and performing a lot of rock (mostly covers), singing lead (from jazz scatting to Janis Joplin), and currently my own rather off the wall blend of vocals/guitar/synthesizer.
I'm a big Who fan, too but the ox reference has an arcane meaning that helps keep my "hands on the plow" so to speak. I've set some lofty goals for myself.
I prefer the term bass player, too. I've completely had it with the pretentious slop (musically speaking) when all that really matters is having a good jam, feeling great, and making your audience feel happy. Sorry to rant on so...I actually had a lot of incredibly cool times! Plenty of fright tales, too. Anyway-really nice to talk to a band survivor. Great to talk to ya!

Nice to see some good musicians here! I guess I might as well add my music background also.

Classical piano training. Spent 3-4 years in the late 70's doing the lounge musician gig professionally, playing keyboards/backup vocals/straight man with a comedian/singer/guitarist, playing in hotel bars in nowhere towns across the midwest, and also doing some club dates/one-nighters/ show gigs, etc.

Also had a 7-piece basement rock band for awhile in the early 80's which performed a bizarre range of music from The Doors to Linda Ronstadt, Herbie Hancock to Pat Benatar

Now I keep on top of it by Musical Directing for shows for the Theatre Department on occassion (usually shows requiring only a small ensemble where I can play piano while conducting). I'm in the process of learning to play the musical saw for a production of 'The Grapes of Wrath' this fall.