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

It's happened - I don't know how but it has ... you've been ACEd.

Don't worry, it's nothing bad, in fact it's generally seen as being quite a good thing especially if you happen to be ACEd by me. Not because I'm better than the others but just because it is.

Yes, as an ACE (Assistant Community Editor) it is my job (along with my legions of fellow ACEs) to scoot around the web, offering words of wisdom and generally helping newbies find their feet when they first arrive. So here I am ... doing just that.

I notice from your conversation in the H2G2 feedback forum that you had a bit of a slip-up with your entry on Leprechauns ... I had exactly the same problem when I started and just had to grin and bear it.

So, yes. Here I am. Ready and willing to help you find your feet in anyway that you require. If you get lost or stuck, or perhaps want to get lost or stuck, leave a reply to this ever lengthening message and I'll see if I can't answer any questions you might have. If I can't answer it then I should know someone who can, and if they can't well then we'll point you in the wrong direction and then run off to join the circus - I've always fancied being a clown ...

So there we go. Have a wander around, lurk in any conversations you want to, and let me or any of the other ACEs know if you have a problem - a list of us, can be found on my homepage which you can reach by clicking on my name.

The main thing is to enjoy and we'll see you around.

Ekki

Hiya!
i keep getting lost and stuck, but not purposely, i swear. i'm having problems with an entry of mine. i'm trying to use guide ml, but i have no idea what its about, even after going through the clinic. it keeps coming up with errors and i don't know what the problem is. it tells me to put stuff in and then it says its not closed or something. whats this about? can you help?its really frustrating but i don't want to give up. furthermore, how do you get your writing to go orange and stuff? does it do it automatically when you put in ? I'm feeling really lost here. please help.
thank you
p.s. is your name taken inspiration from monty python and the knights that used to say ni?

Hi there again, hotblack ...

Don't Panic, my dear, it can all be a bit confusing in the early days - we've all been there so there's nothing to worry about.

OK, so what's the problem?

Usually you find that there'll be the smallest of things wrong and the whole thing'll go wonky. The amount of red that you see when you preview is a good indicator of the amount of errors that need correcting.

If you want to you can leave the text for your entry here and I'll have a look through it and see if I can see any problems.

Main things to remember is to always close any tags. So if you type don't forget to close the tag with .

If you do keep having problems, write out your script and leave it here for me to look at and I'll see if there are any problems.

As I said, don't panic and don't worry - that's what we're here for, to help you find your way and hold your hand ...



Ekki (as yous suspected, taken from Monty Python ... )

Right, problem numero uno:mina said to make sure i had




i have this [in caps] but it says ''only one element allowed on top level'' or similar. i don't know how to enclose my text here so i cannot.
at the bottom of the entry it says its expecting OL.
i know what ol is but i don't know why it wants that. nevertheless i put it in. whenever i fix whatever problem lies therin, a new problem comes to light.
why does it keep doing this?
is the Guide schizophrenic? is it trying to make me lose the plot? [sorry that was rhetorical].
thank you and goodnight.
i would be glad if you could direct my sail, for my mind misgives...
hotblack

Right, problem numero uno:mina said to make sure i had




i have this [in caps] but it says ''only one element allowed on top level'' or similar. i don't know how to enclose my text here so i cannot.
at the bottom of the entry it says its expecting OL.
i know what ol is but i don't know why it wants that. nevertheless i put it in. whenever i fix whatever problem lies therin, a new problem comes to light.
why does it keep doing this?
is the Guide schizophrenic? is it trying to make me lose the plot? [sorry that was rhetorical].
thank you and goodnight.
i would be glad if you could direct my sail, for my mind misgives...
hotblack

Ok, what you want to do is the following:

Make sure you've changed the style by clicking on "GUIDEML" and then "Change Style"

This will automatically put the ... tags into the text box.

Then put your entry in the space between the two.

I'll go an do a test on the Leprechaun page and see what I can do ... don't go away and let me know if this helps!

Ekki

OK, I'm back!

I took a little bit of your entry and put it in GuideML for you ...

If you go to the edit page bit and change the style to Guide ML then put this in between the tags (as explained above) and then preview what's been done, it should work.

I'll explain some of the tags:
... means a new paragraph
... gives you a bulleted list
... puts the text in between the tags onto a blue back ground
- this is a break in the text and can be used in stead of the Paragraph tag.

I hope this helps, and if you have any more problems you know where I am!

Leprechauns are largely believed to be mythical beings. This is untrue and essential for your knowledge! They are mostly a harmless people and only attack when someone attempts to steal their gold. In this article you will find details as to:
Their whereabouts
Their appearance
Misleading rumours
Their lifecycle
Ireland - the National cover-up
Leprechaun spotting
A guide to Leprechaun speak

The Whereabouts of Leprechauns
The Leprechauns, it is widely suspected, live in Ireland.
Unfortunately, not all irish people will admit to this and will get very irritated if a hitch hiker should inquire as to this unusual yet lovable species. This makes it very difficult for hitchhikers to spot Leprechauns, for although it may be a small country, it is still a large place to look for a Leprechaun. After studying them for many years and completing extensive research, I can reveal that Leprechauns in fact live underground in burrows.
This was not always the case. They once ruled the land, but, the Irish men grew resentful of their riches, magical powers, and charm and rebelled. They despised the leprechauns for charming all the irish women and forced them underground, where their powers grew weak. The only time they get stronger is after it rains and there is a rainbow. They must leave the underground and protect their gold, which, it is widely known is at the end of a rainbow. This is the only chance a hitchhiker has of meeting one (and becoming rather a rich hitch hiker at that).

I'M SO EXCITED!!!!
its done! tedious as hell, but its done! and it has orange bits and everything! when i work out how to put in pictures i'll do that then.
thank you so much for all your help! thank you thank you thank you!
will they change the score, do you think? i looked it up before and it was 49%, not bad for a first attempt, i think
thanks again,
hotblack

That's what we're here for hotblack!

It's looking good.

One word of advise though, you might want to get rid of all the *'s at the end, only because they throw the formatting out ... a bar is put in before the footnote so it has the same effect.

If you need a hand with anything else, you know where I am.

Have some and in celebration!

thanks ekki!
ya i did that. the post are gonna put it in...er... the Post. well they would, only i can't get it to work. oh well, i'm sure it'll all be okay. i couldn't have done it without you! thanks!!
hotblack

... sheesh!

oops! i never meant to make a grown ACE blush! and a scotsman at that i see!
Jen
[shh about the name, i still like to retain an air of mystery to my fellow hitch hikers]

It doesn't take much to make me ... believe me! Don't worry your secret is safe with me, Jen

good to know i have a confidante/ accomplice in this crazy world/ site, Alex.
p.s. you're not the only one!

I'm not? ... ...

So, Jen, where are you from in Ireland? You say you spend your summers by the Ocean ... does that mean you live there all year or that you only go ever there for your holidays?

Just like to know these things - nosy as I am!

Nothing wrong with being nosy, Alex. I live in Limerick city from september-may. In June we go to our summer house in lahinch, co.clare. I stay there til the end of august every year. This year [oh happy occassion] before I go back to limerick, I am going to Slane to see u2, rhcp, coldplay, jj72 and relish!I cannot wait!

So, Alex, are you gonna reveal anything about yourself to me? go on!
Jen*
p.s. if you're lucky you might find out what my summer job is!

I can't believe you're going to Slane ... that's so unfair! I woke up at 6:30 on the morning the tickets went on sale and phoned every 5 minutes for 2 1/2 hours only to be told they were sold out ... ... SO jealous you have no idea!

I was in Ireland a few years ago and I think we drove through Limerick. We did a sort of round Ireland camping trip, but stuck mostly to the west coast - absolutely amazing ... loved every bit of it (including not quite seeing the Cliffs of Mohar 'cos there was so much fog - could only see about 3 feet in front of us!)

Still jealous ... !

What do you want to know about little old me?

Ekki (intrigued as to what the summer job is)

Hahaha! yeah, I was the same. well, no, not really. I got my friends to do that plus queue since 8pm the night before for me, but to no avail. Only one of my friends and her brother got tickets. Then...he decided to go touring europe and sold me his ticket! everyone is happy! minus you, maybe. sorry.
You're better off not remembering limerick- it sucks! west coast is definately brilliant. weather sounds typical. cliffs of moher aren't far from where I am now.
okay, I am currently a computer programmer. only for a while though. I do get stuck with crappy jobs like filing and typing documents as well. but its good enough as i get to go online all day.
Incidentally I'm finishing up pretty soon, as i'm missing the actual summer.
Hotblack
p.s. anything! you don't reveal all that much in your page. Are you at work right now, as I am, or are you in the comfort of your own home? whats Scotland like? I've always wanted to go - love the accents!

Well, Jen, much like you I'm not in the comfort of home sadly! Nope, stuck behind a desk in a scuzzy office, surrounded by some of the most boring people in Britain, in the smell and yuck that is London ... .

As for Scotland, well it's not that different from Ireland. When the weather's good nowhere beats it, but when the weather's bad it's horrid. I live in the middle part between Edinburgh and Glasgow where it's rolling hills and greenery surrounded by some of the most disgusting towns you'll ever see! The people aren't that different from the Irish - a little more uptight perhaps but then it would be hard to be any more laid back than the Irish!

As for the accent - in spite of having lived there all my life and been schooled there for most of my life, I don't have any accent ... I wish i did but I don't so there we go. incidentally, I think the Irish accent is on about the same level as the Scottish one (Glasgow accent rather than Edinburgh) ... it's an absolute cracker ...

Other bits to do with me, well I'm not that different from what you see here ... you can probably tell that I don't take life too seriously and find people who do extremely funny ... ironic as that is. All I really want to do in life is travel the world for a few years and see what else is out there. I've done a fair bit before now but there's always more to see, and the more you see the more you want to see ... just a matter of money!

(still jealous of the Slane tickets ... )

Seriously? you've got no accent? wow!i don't think I do either, but who knows, you might. if you catch my drift. if not, who cares? I've lived in ireland all my life and I still can't understand cork accents and some dublin area accents too. I don't know how tourists are expected to comprehend them if a native can't even manage it.
I suppose we're pretty much the same, although I do have a serious side...only for serious occassions though. Those, and, when I'm forced into meeting new people I really don't like I get quite serious and quiet.
Its okay to be jealous - everyone is!
I'm really interested in travel too. When i get older, I'd love to just leave Ireland and move to Tahiti or something. Seeing as Ireland is gonna get covered over with water eventually, due to global warming. Its a nice place for the moment though!