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

"does the knowledge of it make anything easier for you or does it make no difference at all?"

Oh, it made a very big difference when I first learned about it about eight years ago. I did a lot of reading and tried to see if there was any help from our medical insurance or the government. Nothing. I was left on my own. I have had to learn that not everybody is feeling or sensing the same things I am. I live in a different perspective than most people. I have paradoxical reactions to medication, heat, cold, fabric, sound, light. The job I had at an aluminum alloy foundry a couple years ago burned away a lot of my sensitivities and allergies, but I still am always about fifteen seconds behind and four inches to the left of everyone else's reality.

And what do you mean: you are not from the community you live in?

Like in 'being a foreigner'?

Or like in 'being different'?

I was born in Illinois and I talk much differently than these Texans.
I am ignorant of many of their customs and I chose to ignore others.

How do you cope working in two shops then? From what I've read, you'd probably fare better in a place where you wouldn't have to deal with customers so much?

It's a disgrace that there's absolutely nobody who supports you.
Are you a member of some -what's the name- help group or similar?
Is hootoo a place you like to be?
Sorry if that's too many questions (and maybe all the wrong ones, too).

How do you cope working in two shops then? From what I've read, you'd probably fare better in a place where you wouldn't have to deal with customers so much?

Ah, but my resume says either clerk work or grunt work. I've been a janitor, a dishwasher, a grocery clerk, a hardware store clerk and an inconvenience store clerk. I've worked in kitchens, factories and stores. I don't hate customer service so much when I don't have to work the graveyard shift.

It's a disgrace that there's absolutely nobody who supports you.
Are you a member of some -what's the name- help group or similar?
Is hootoo a place you like to be?
Sorry if that's too many questions (and maybe all the wrong ones, too).

Nope. No groups. A lot of aspies can't stand each other.
I used to spend hours per day at hootoo.
I was a founding member of the CAC, back when it was known as AGG-GAG, and long before it morphed into the Underguide.

But you're doing lots of graveyard shifts if I recall correctly.
I recently tried an additional job in a bakery shop. Starting work at 5.00am was hard enough, but working the whole night is something I really can't imagine doing.
Did you create the AGG-GAG blob?

"Did you create the AGG-GAG blob?"

The original one with the Groucho glasses, yes. The one with the aliens and the eggs was done by a community artist whose name escapes me.

I also created the Escape Pod Dreams logo.

The graveyard shift takes a lot of getting used to. On my previous job I worked three twelve hour shifts a week, 4:30 to 4:30 and later 7 to 7. When I started there I worked four ten hour shifts. That took a lot out of me, particularly since I was working in a hellhole. It was a aluminium/magnesium alloy die casting foundry. I worked in the furnace room.

I meant the Groucho glasses. I had to go and look up the other one you mention.

Your former job does sound like hell. I can't complain about my job, it's a nice job. It's just that I don't earn much.


I've seen the UG has come a-knocking. Will be interesting to see how long it'll take till FP.

I've been FPed a half dozen times over the years.

Oh, I'm sure it will be on the FP, it's just that it always seems to take years.

I've had every accolade I could wish for, except being banned from the site. I've been modded, pro-modded, censored and edited.

Oddly enough nobody ever bothered to mod or censor the EPDs.

Though Shazz thought one Platypus Dancing cartoon was in bad taste and I have since changed it slightly.

When I started editing the Regulars, I asked about the entries linked to from the EPDs - after all, the Post can't edit those. I never got any reply, so I didn't follow it up as it had been like that for ages. It's now Beatrice's job to edit them, I've been 'promoted'. I'm quite proud of that. Shame there's nobody here in RL to share it with.
Do you read the Post except for the Smudger Snippets?

I skip through it. I responded to one of Galaxy Babe's articles today.
I look at the other cartoons. I used to read Awix movie reviews.

Her astronomy column is fantastic.
I looked at Mala's cartoon, but my eyes glaze over and I don't understand a word. I liked yours, though. I think I even understood it this time.

Sorry. Most of my gags involve Englisch double-talk of some sort, or as the British say it, "double-dutch".

Which reminds me. Have you ever heard of "Simplicimus"?

Oh, that's not a problem. I loved the way you wrote this one, it made me laugh. It's like politicians talk, and people who try to hide their incompetence - it confuses the listener and makes them dizzy.

Half my job problem is "solved". I quit my part-time job last Tuesday in a fit of panic. So I have more free time and less money.

I hope it's not too bad.
And I completely missed your question about Simplicissimus earlier.
I mentioned it in my last guide entry: A39115253

I don't live far from Gelnhausen, where the Simplicius Simplicissimus originated from. It's a lovely medieaval town.

You are referring to a buch?
I meant the journal http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ARTsimplic.htm

Oh yes, there was that, too. It doesn't immediately spring to mind, though. Christpher von Grimmelshausen was on the 'Most Wanted'list of authrities back then, the journal must have been inspired by him.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/cotw/pip/m626z/

Wow. I'm learning all kinds new stuff.