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

One day I must have a look at AGG/GAG. Most of my day to day reading is non-fiction in RL and I tend to stick to PR.

The detox diet - yes I've been recommended to stick to it for 3 months. No sugar (inc alcohol, dairy products and fruit), no yeast (therefore no bread) and no mushrooms. As I'm already vegetarian ... well I'm sure I don't need to spell it out.

Still, my hair has started to shine again and my skin has improved.

Well, it is a column in the Post.

No salt?

Yes! I am allowed salt. Any amount of vegetables, rice, pulses, nuts, fish.

I'm doing some reading around our debt-based society at present. it makes sobering reading.

I'm still trying figure out our debt-based household...the unit's got to dig up the tax papers from last year, because she claims she got an extension...and the deadline is approaching for this year... and she is usually waiting until the last minute...and I don't know anything about it!

I'm taxed on a pay as you earn system, so generally, I don't have to bother about it. I do want to learn a lot more about money though. I don't manage my household budget nearly as well as I should.

Site went down last night, so I'm catching up quickly before I go to Bristol for a few days to see one of my oldest friends (in length of time known, not age!).


ee

yeah, and it went down today, too!
There is an interesting little book I once saw in the library.
it's called 'The Millioniare Next Door'. It had some interesting ideas.

Were you able to make use of any of them?

Site's been going down a lot recently.

It was lovely seeing my friend again. I signed up her daughter as a researcher. It seems they do stuff on third world debt in 'Geography' lessons. They didn't in my day. So she may have some interesting comments to make on my entry when I finish it.

I haven't gotten my spousal unit to agree to any of the tenets in the book. It really has to be a team effort and she's a shopping addict.

Some of the tenets I can remember:

Millionares are those who maintain their worth rather than displaying it. In many cases, even their children do not know what they are worth. They keep regular jobs, live in regular houses and usually drive used cars. They spend more time comparison shopping than most people do, usually carrying a notebook with a list of what they are looking for. They rarely buy anything on sale unless it is something they normally buy. They do not hoard because it is not cheaper in the short run. They keep their stocks, their cars, their houses, their jobs longer than most people. There is almost no sign of their worth.
They are not even completely cognizant of it. They live in strict habit and budget within an inch of their lives. They are not prone to fashion or new technology. They usually do their own repair work. They avoid credit cards and time payments like the plague. If they see something they really like or need, they don't hit the bank. They give something up and save specifically for the object in mind. Their savings is not theirs to use. It belongs to the corporation they work for. That corporation is called 'the future'. They will pay for their kid's college, but they make sure the kid's work as much as they can to pay a portion. They don't play golf or tennis or poker. They rarely watch TV. They do not day trade. They have a tendency to buy the same brand of clothes and shoes for life. When they buy stock, they turn the dividends from each stock to buy more of the same. They rarely invest in small businesses. They think giving them their trade is enough. They believe in recycling and gas mileage and preventative maintenance on themselves and their property. They rarely hold rummage sales because they don't have that much and they use it til it falls apart. They don't drink or smoke. If they donate, they do it anonymously. If they start playing with tax deductions, the IRS might start looking closely. And about once every five years, they go off on a paid vacation and they don't tell anyone where they went.

Sorry. That's all I could think of.

Yes, I agree, getting the finances on-line has to be a team effort.

The millionaire stuff sounds worthy but dull. I was wondering what the point of their lives was, but you answered it - investing in the future. Do they enjoy the present? That's all we have really. Now, I'm not saying that some of the stuff isn't right, I'm just wondering whether they have the attitude which allows them to appreciate the present. If it does, great, if it doesn't - pooh!

It sounds like the attitude of some of our upper class, who have shabby stuff round them, but are happy with it. A lot of middle class people must have the newest, most up-to-date stuff or they're not happy, and often when they do, they're still not happy - it's the politics of envy. We call it 'keeping up with the Jones's'. Not a nice way to live.

In the main, the happiness seems to come from knowing they can escape the rat race any time they please. They also have a tendency to donate time to churches and causes and stuff and to hold backyard barbecues and park picnics rather than eating out. They seem to have a horror of food franchises.
I was reading a horrifyin piece on the advancing use of Ritalin in Scotland and the refusal to allow food therapy because it is 'unproven'! The writer of the article postulated that the poor nutrition of the parents and the continued lack of nutrients in the kid's diets have helped contribute the to the supposed rise in ADD and ADHD cases, while there are still veteran doctors who believe that it cannot be diagnosed because we do not know what causes it.
Some idiots have been giving it to children as young as eighteen months!

Oh, sorry, Tonsil, I thought you were ignoring me and it was vice versa!

I'm sure eating habits have a huge impact on health. I'm hoping that I will be much improved after I've finished the one I'm on, although I'm not finding it easy. I went to a place where food was provided at lunchtime and what did I find? Sandwiches, when I'm not supposed to eat bread because of the yeast. I was so hungry, I ate it in any case.

Sprog isn't allowed dairy products and I'm now trying to restrict the sugary sweets he has, but I'm still allowing him chocolate, as I think he has to have some pleasure. There is a noticeable difference after he has had a Coke or a Pepsi, so he doesn't get those often.

He went to the dentist yesterday and had to have four fillings. At his age, the dentist doesn't drill the teeth, just took out some loose stuff with a thing like a little spoon and put a paste filling in. Quite painless, and he was very good. So a for the dentist.

Sorry, were you gone? I have conversations spread out across months on my space.

The spousal unit is in a weight loss class again.
She thinks I have been losing weight. It is possible. I gave up beer a bit ago and I have been very cautious about what I eat because of my bad teeth. I am scheduled to see the Oral Surgeon next month.
I have a wisdom tooth that had lain down and it buried in the jaw...

The trip to the dentist and the OS will wipe out our dental benefits for the year, which means anything the wife and the kid need will come out of our pocket...

I am trying to talk the spousal unit into shopping more responsibly and into a no added salt program. She lives for the stuff, that and
that blue sugar substitute. I call it rat poison.

I used to have an acquaintance who completely avoided yellow dyes in his food and clothing. He claimed that he became a new man.

Youngster had four fillings, but not with the drill, as I had thought. The dentist just scooped out any loose material with a sort of spoon and put filling material on top. Painless. I was most impressed. Himself thought he was 'very kind'.

I can understand someone avoiding yellow colouring in food - tartrazine and the rest, but yellow clothing? Does it really have any effect?

We've a 16 year old staying with us this week - mother's gone to Nigeria to visit a very sick relative. She's been no trouble at all and youngster thinks it's wonderful to have a big sister for a bit.

Missing Mr Millignan, are you?

I'm sorry, who?

Spike Milligan - he often used to pronounce his surname 'Millignan'!

(If not, what's the Needle Noddle Noo and the bugle about?)

Ah, yes, that's it. I never heard him except in the Goon Shows and a couple of movies like Brian.

I have a little memoriam entry on my space.

Kind of lighting a leek...

My life would have been unrecognizable without the Goons and their influences on other people.

Sometimes when I want to make little 'n laugh, I sing the Ying Tong Song to him! He thinks it's hilarious, but I think he thinks I'm making it up!

Goon but not forgotten! Prince Charles was a huge fan, you know. I can remember my dad saying they were stupid - he said that about Money Python as well. I had all the Goon Show records and my ex has them all now.

Did you ever get to hear 'Much Binding in the Marsh'?

BTW, one of my entries made the front page today!

Good for you!

No, but I am aware of that 'air'field. I've been wandering around the British comedy sites since I got on line. I've got two of them on my desktop...I've always been interested in radio and I hope to write for it some day.