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

*sweeping in*

Welcome to h2g2!

I am one of the h2g2 Guardian Angels, and we are here to help newcomers.
If you have any questions, just feel free to ask me!

You'll find some useful links here:
http://www.h2g2.com/A521687

If you would like to find out more about the smileys, just click on this one ---> and it will take you to the h2g2 smiley page!

Hope U don't mind me dropping in Catwoman. very catchy name. caught my attention since I have family of tonkinese cats here in devon. Your project with children sounds like the sort of thing that will enrich the imagination of children and good luck with it!
Enjoy your researching on this amazing site. All the best.

How odd that you should be in Devon - of all the people in the world who could have replied it turns out to be someone who lives just up (or down) the road. I live in this usually glorious, sometimes grey, partially open county too. Huh, life!

Yeah, in all the gin joints in all the world, etc. did you get my other reply?

Yeah, I did get your other reply, however I'm currently going through a 'oh, s**t I clicked unsubscribe to conversation because I was trying to listen to someone at the same time as using this machine' minor crisis.

Yes, Tonks as Tonkinese are affectionately called. What are they? They're a cross between a siamese and burmese cat, being a pedigree in their own right. They're called tonks after the Bay of Tonka (seriously) which lies between burma and thailand. In fact, the first siamese to reach these shores in the 50's were very similar in appearance to present day tonks, contrasting points with aqua coloured eyes. They come in blue, brown, lilac, red, tabby, tortoishell markings. Very friendly and communicative. However, don't let them outdoors unsupervised cos of traffic. They're very curious creatures and good to have around.
By the way, how are u progressing with h2g2? Finding your way around OK? just discovered how to use smilies .Have u visited any particularly interesting places? I liked the weird dreams conversations. just asked moderator who guardian angels are. do u get the feeling the truth is in there or is it my paranoia? Weather not that good today, was it?

Well, at this site there are the 'official' helpers, like ACEs, Gurus, Scouts and so on - and then there are the Italics, people who actually work for h2g2 - and then there are 'unofficial' helpers, who find pleasure in helping new users just for the fun of it, and that's the h2g2 Guardian Angels (among others).

Come to think of it, the 'official' helpers might be doing it for fun too

You seem to be very well informed about that particular breed of cats - do you breed them or are you just very interested in them? Have you thought about writing a guide entry for them? I had a quick scan through the music pages yesterday and, although the choice of bands referenced was on the whole pretty cool, they are a few others I think I could write about. I've never been one for asking for help from official helpers - I usually just fumble my way through the process myself. If you've had any success or have any knowledge regarding this, let me know.

'Come and get it' has just been shouted to me up the stairs. Sadly, it's only tea time.

Catch ya later.

Yep, I agree there's quite a host of them looking down on us.

Tonks have been my companions for many years now. Both breed and show them, though the latter is for human's benefit. All told we have 5 adults and 1 kitten (4 months called Molly). quite a handful. 3 litter trays emptied twice daily otherwise they are liable to dump on the bed. I reckon giving them a loving home is karmic debt and can fully understand why you wish to come back next time wearing whiskers.
By the way I had to enter your space to get last message. Have I figured it out wrong when replying to a message. Do you need to keep same subject heading or what? haven't visited anything musical yet but may well do so.

OK, I give in. I need help (in more ways than one). You said to ask you if I had any questions, so here goes.

I've had a look through the guide entries for music, in particular bands, and there are a few that I know a bit about that aren't listed as having entries. I think I could write a some 'stuff' about some of them and would (obviously) like to put them forward for inclusion into the guide. After looking through the 'How to contribute...' pages I am still a little confused - too much information (Duran Duran, I think).

So my question is this (at last): What's the best way to go about putting something up for inclusion? Where do I write it? Who do I post it to? I'm sure there are many different routes to inclusion in the guide, but I'm impatient, short on time (heavy workload, not terminal illness) and quite possibly lazy, so I'm after the shortest/quickest route.

If I'm being overly stupid and/or lazy then tell me, please, and I'll find out myself, but to be honest this whole h2g2 thing really interests me and I'd like to get involved asap.

Oooh, sounds messy - litter trays, I mean. Having a single cat means that chore came and went fairly swiftly for me, thankfully. It's odd, though, how you sort of get used to it after a while and it becomes another household task like doing the washing up. Maybe 'cat litter trays' are something else you could write a guide entry about. 'How cat litter works' - I can see it now. Or 'Why cats insist on throwing cat litter all over the bleedin' place instead of keeping it in the box like nice little pets should do.'

On the subject of messages, I don't know. So far, I've had no trouble keeping up with the conversations I've been involved in. Nor do I know about changing the subject and whether this affects one's continued updates on the matter.

Shortest route to getting an Entry published?

OK, here goes:

First of all, of course, you'll have to write it, using a link at the very bottom of your user page, called 'Click here to add a new Guide Entry'

Then you announce it here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A395589

Someone will have a look at it, and maybe comment it, at the same place. You might receive some suggestions on changes, or how to complete it.

And then all you can do is to wait, and wait, and wait - if there are many entries waiting, it might take a while, so don't be disheartened!

Thanks Kristina, you've saved me alot of work too. Sorry Catwoman but I was slow off the mark. I've written a piece on Tonkinese cats which I'm going to submit. Good lick (sorry luck) with the music entry!!!!!!

Um, yes thank you Kristina. I'm off now to do some thorough, in-depth researching of my chosen topic. Maybe.

I've finally finished my piece on Tonkinese cats and submitted it for consideration. Took me about an hour. This is the procedure I followed: Click on "contribute" in own space site. Then when you are transferred to next page, click on "add an entry to the guide". After completing your submission it will automatically show up under "guide entries" at foot of your own site. I guess you then wait for it to be perused and approved by the editing team.

Zaphod, you have now written a Guide Entry, but it will NOT automatically attract any attention unless you put it up for Peer Review. You'll find the entry at the bottom of your page - 'My Most Recent Guide Entries'.

You see, you can write just for your own fun, and create as many entries as you want, but if you REALLY want to make it 'official' so that others read your entry, you'll have to let them know about it, that's the Peer Review. If your entry is edited, it will show up on the h2g2 front page!

I had forgotten about the 'Contribute' button, thanks for reminding me! You'll find more details about writing entries on the first page that pops up.

Oh, and one more thing - make sure no one else has already written an edited Guide Entry about the subject. If the subject is new, you have a better chance of getting it edited. If there already is an entry, try adding new facts in your own entry.

To find entries, click the 'Search' button.

Thanks again Kristina. You're right, there was more to it than I realised. Have you read my piece on Tonkinese cats which is presently being peer reviewed? What do you think as an opening contribution. I had problems inserting picture of black cat (the one that rums in front of screen). I typed in what was required but the text didn't convert to a picture on the final piece. Can you suggest where I'm going wrong?