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

It gets so disheartening conversations like that doesn't it? I mean the whole Two-Bit thing. I dn't know the chap and I know your'e going to tell me you've thought the same thing and how he surprises you from time to time--and I don't doubt that. It's just, I suppose, a prevailing opinion by a good deal of the the country in which I live and....it's wrong. There, I said it. I know opinions can't be wrong, but man, that guy really borders on the "i" word...

Hey King, hope you're well. 2-bit and I have crossed swords a lot. He has my views and I have mine. I'm glad to see you know that opinions can't be wrong - I don't think many people actually know that. I see that you've started a dialogue with him - I hope you don't mind if I lurk in the back-ground - it looks like the kind of thing the internet was made for.
I have no animosity towards 2-bit. He gets me riled from time to time, but I think that occasionally he's playing the devil's advocate to make us think about what we thought we knew. I have a half a feeling DNA himself would be looking in on the up and coming exchange...
I'm no fan of human affairs. Greedy men spoil what could be a wonderful world. This is why I like to hang around in the past, where climates have turned to stone. Where the only sounds were wind, rain, tides and the songs of animals. It will be like that again sometime in the future (not that I'm a great believer in the linearity of time).
It looks like you're getting to know people around here - what do you think?
I'm in the process of producing a digital map of the fossil localities of Somerset tonight - will be online on and off.
Frogbit.

"three inch high monkeys (recently rediscovered in China--long believed extinct--they used to turn the pages for the Emporer during the Ming Dynasty)."

Tell me more.

Actually, if you bung that sentence into google your entry comes up. Tread carefully friend - global fame is easy now.

It difficult to distinguish between drug addled stupors and reality, however, I am almost 100% certain I stumnled on to a fairly large conspiracy. I don't remember exactly when I read it, save that it falls somewhere in the mid '90's. Like every junkie, I always had a newspaper under my arem Junkies may not make for brilliant life planners but we are extremely well-read. Anyways, buried on the back of page 8, I see this 6 or 7 paragraph article where they say a monkey of exact proportions has been found over in China. The article goes on to say that history has this particular species becoming extinct around the time of the Ming Dynasty. Of course, I didn't save the article. What perplexed me the most was I distinctly remember the story saying only one was found. Like the suddenly disappearing asteroid on a collision course for 2023, I looked the next day and nothing. I asked and asked but no one else saw the article. I am not crazy, Frogbit. Only one? Seems a bit fishy, don't cha' think? A monkey the size of a mouse...What do you think?

Oh, and of course, drop by anywhere I am...

Only one seems a little odd. Although I read (don't know where) that a similar sized simian species used to mix paints for medieval artists.

How big were they?

I mean, by "simliar size" are we talking 3 inches and if so, where did you read it. Please don't kid about this kind of thing. Sometimes I think it's all that keeps me going...

I kid you not, friend, these were tiny monkeys, and I can't remember where I read about them. It was a fairly mainstream paper, and when I mentioned it to people, they just kind of shrugged. I was fascinated. Off for a hunt on the subject now...hopefully find something soon.

King - these sound really important to you - why?

(to qualify - I find them fascinating too).

Phew! We weren't dreaming!
http://www.ridgenet.net/~do_while/sage/v5i8f.htm
details the finding of some truly tiny monkeys the size of your thumb - unfortunately extinct now.
OK OK, it wasn't quite what I was looking for, but we've got a starting point. I'll keep digging, but at least now we have a suspect.

But now we're getting closer - they've found a new(ish) one (1996) of about 4", but the smallest is the pygmy marmoset (sp?) coming in at about 3.5". I kid you not, follow this link.
http://www.cnn.com/EARTH/9708/18/new.monkey.ap/

I still can't find my paint grinding ones though.
Frogbit.

Words cannot do adequate justice to the relief I feel...Yes, they are important for a number of reasons. Among them: Government intrusion (conspiracy) & Camus....

Thank you so much. I just printed those articles up. Good job. Seeings as how you're on a roll, what we really want is-- I believe, that the monkey they say is extinct is not. I mean, moreover, to suggest that China and the US are fully aware of certain facts that would lend credence to the theory that the thumb size simian is very much alive...

http://www.niu.edu/pubaffairs/RELEASES/2000/MAR/primate/Tinyprimates.htm


Try this.

Say that last bit again mate?

Well, it's like, you see, Frogbit--rather difficult to explain my infatuation with these bite-size creatures. If you've read any of that book I sent you you've undoubtably come to the conclusion that I may have certain "issues". I guess you could say these monkeys peak that interest....

Must be going for a while. E-mail me from time to time....

Will do matey - hope all is well.

Hey bumhole
Good to see you back - couldn't stay away for long - seen attack of the clones yet?

Funny you should ask that. As I was signing in I was wondering if anytone started a thread(?) about that yet. Yes, I have seen "Attack of the Clones". Like most, I found it more enjoyable than "Phantom" (though, truthfully, I think "Phantom" gets a bad rap--I mean, obviously it was flawed, but, overall, not a bad way to spend two hrs.), but still left wanting more. I am grateful that Lucas has brought the franchise back but what I really want to see is parts
6-9. Am I crazy or wasn't that the origianl idea--1-9, with 4-6 to start, 1-3 told as a prequel, and finishing with 6-9 updating the origianl story? From what I hear now, this is supposedly it as far as Lucas is concerned. But back to the movie: What I like best is Ewan McGreagor's Alec Ginneus(Sp?) impersonation--by far, the most interesting character, don't 'cha think?