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

Three points to make:

- The Onion: Absolutely hilarious, bought their 'Our Dumb Century' book. 'JFK shot 376 times from 48 different angles' was a headline I remember distinctly.

- Mornington Crescent: I used to appear on York's MC server occasionally, but i had to take an enforced break for a while (makes it sound like I went to jail!) and when I returned it had disappeared...still, classic stuff.

- And finally, I am absolutely terrified of Bagpuss. That show was so scary to me as a child. Even now I can't look at pink and white stripes without screaming.

Anyway, just wanted to say 'hello' since you seem to move in similar web-circles to me

I saw an Onion book in Waterstone's recently. I rather liked the !st Jan 2000 article "Religious Right Ascend to Heaven", which brought about an "if only" feeling in me.

Were you called Monkey's Uncle on MC? I looked at York occasionally, but somehow it disagreed with Leeds Uni's server. That's taking regional rivalry a little too far for my liking.

You're the second person who's claimed to be scared of Bagpuss. Personally I loved it (according to my mum, I wouldn't watch anything that wasn't animated when I was little). What's so scary about it?

Yeah, I was Monkeysuncle on York. Actually, that was usually too much to bother typing so it became muncle or MU. Occasionally I was even Matthew, on the unimaginative days

I bought my dad one of those I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue audio collections for Christmas. Of course, I somehow managed to hear them beforehand, completely by accident, and then wrapped them back up in cling film before giving them to him. Made me have pangs for MC, so maybe I'll make an appearance on Wildpants' server at some point, now I've got some more free time.

As for Bagpuss. Well the thing that really gave me the screaming heebie-jeebies was the opening theme music and the voice over. Makes me shiver just remembering it...creepy plinky-plonky piano music. And bagpuss himself. And the mice. And that rag-doll. And I seem to remember some sort of owl thing with a hat on. Or am I getting confused with Green Claws now? In short, what /isn't/ scary about Bagpuss?

Do you know we currently have a game of "The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to Mornington Crescent" going on? Well, I don't suppose you do, but I thought you might be interested.

I did the same when I got my housemate some Goon Show tapes. It's nice to hear the experts playing MC.

Do you mean Professor Yaffle, the wizened old wooden woodpecker? What about Gabriel the toad? Are you scared of him?

Yeah, I just went and took a look at the Wildpants game of HHGTMC, strange to see how the news hit right in the middle...

Professor Yaffle. Yes. That sounds pretty scary to start with. Don't remember a toad, which is probably for the best. What scared me most was the theme music though, as I already mentioned. Just so creepy. And Bagpuss himself...I was very wary of all my stuffed toys for a long time.

Was there nothing about it that even worried you?

Yes, it was very unfortunate

No, I wasn't worried at all (although seeing it more recently, Prof. Yaffle sounds rather dodgy when talking to the prima ballerina in one episode "Hmm, yes, delightful")

Prof Yaffle sounds like one of my lecturers

Does your lecturer know everything? Prof. Yaffle does (at least he says he does).