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

oooh - no it's doesn't (not really) I'll get to what does work in a second. Hi! :-) My name is Clive and I am one of the ACE's here at H2G2. ACE stands for Assistant Community Editor. We are the official Meeters and Greeters of this wonderful site and bascially we try to be nice and friendly, answer all your questions and appear knowledgeable about stuff. Occasionally, on those rare occasions when we are totally flumoxed ouselves we will endevour to point you in the direction of someone else who can help. The ACE's are researchers just like youself who have signed up to this volunteer scheme. We flit from space to space and I've popped over to say a big friendly "Hello". :-)"HELLO!":-)<----- (BIG & *FRIENDLY*) Following the tragedy in America at the WTC and Pentagon on the 11/09/01, the Community has a talking point dedicated to it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A630163 There is also a forum for leaving messages of condolence: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F76594?thread=140830&latest=1 H2G2 is huge and it can be quiet disorientating for new arrivals. Therefore I've got a couple of links to places around the site to kick-start your adventures. May I suggest first off looking in Preferences http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/UserDetails and sampling the site in it's more groovy state of Classic Goo. I'm not bias, promise. While your there you can also change other things about how the site is viewed on your computer like turning Frames on or off. This is all explained in more detail in a welcome message for all new researchers here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/welcome-newcomers Douglas Adams was intimately involved in the foundation of this on-line community before his sudden death earlier this year. He has a page on site which you can visit if you like to read more about him, the stuff he wrote (for and about The guide) or even leave a tribute: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/U42 If you are wondering how to draw those little smiley faces and pictures that I've been flinging about with glee abandon. This site has loads of 'em and you can find out all about how to use them in conversations like this on by clicking on this smiley face ---> :-) There are many, many different conversations being had here so try doing some investigating (or "Lurking" as it is known here on-site.) You can join in by clicking the Discuss Entry button to start up a brand new conversation or if you want to reply to a message in pre-existing conversation just hit the Reply button (9/10 times it doesn't hit back! ;-) ) at the end of the appropriate posting. We have our own newpaper - published weekly. With editorials and regular contributions from researchers all across the site as well as feature articles and not forgetting the superlative H2G2Life Cartoon strip. http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/thepost Those nice people at The Post have also gone to some lengths to gather their own list of useful links for researchers. http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A616718 To see where the community is talking http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/Talk - hosts a comprehensive list. Seek enlightentment here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/HowdoI Another good place to start here is http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/askh2g2 - here you can post a question about more-or-less anything! These are some of the popular forums where you can engage with the rest of the community. The forums form one half of the site, they are were reseachers meet and chat. Forums stem from particular Guide Entries writtten by researchers. For instance the AskH2G2 forums all stem from a page set up by the staff who run this site. The Powers That Be - fondly known as The Italics because there names all appear in bold italicised font - Gawd Bless 'em :-) all have pages on site. You can learn more about the team that runs the site here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/Team The f

Thanks clive, sorry for not reading your message for four days!
Demosthenes

Let me guess... you got your name from reading Ender's Game?

Best wishes on h2g2 - the thought's you've posted on the international situation are both sensible /and/ fairly original! Unusual around here...

Hey Hey Hey! Did someone say 'Ender's game'?????

Yes. It was me.

One of my favourite books ever.

- never heard of it.

Oh, uncultured barbarian!

Nah, I won't hold it against you. But it is a real classic novel. I suggest you read it at the soonest opportunity.

have you read the sequels as well????

No, I haven't been able to find copies anywhere...

Do you know where I might be able to get them?

well where do you live?

Near Oxford.

Hmmm... there may be a borders near you... but you could always order them online?

Ah yes... there's an outlet in Oxford...

it's back in print, then? When I last tried to find copies, I couldn't find any anywhere...

back in print? he's still writing them!

m'pologies...

that's ok...

I wonder where Demo has gone? he's into Ender's Game...

Yeah... his absence is conspicuous, especially since we're talking on his homepage.