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

Hey Spike, read your haiku. Well done! I checked out your page and darn you make me look bad. We share almost every interests but I am relegated to words because I have a mind-block against html. For 3 years I have been trying, but no go. Maybe thats because I teach (ha ha). Two things I do not share with you (but no impediment for friendship). 1) I am far from an anglophile: I am 100% Irish catholic. 2) I like the English flavour of h2g2: I refuse to identify h2g2 with any other country (like regional chapters). Now, mind you, Raymond Chandler once said it takes genious to hold two opposing opinions at the same time. I don't claim to be a genious (far from it, ask Amy the Ant) I just don't want to be lumped in with my American brethern. I'll move to the UK before I join any USA chapter of h2g2.

That done and said, did you see Odo in the last episode of Enterprise? It was good to see R.A.'s face again. Oh, and in a rerun of TNG I saw Tuvak of Voyager playing a simple passed-out crew member. I wish to heck PBS would do the H. Guide again sometime, or maybe the SiFi channel would pick it up. One season on PBS a few years ago H.G. was run again but the episodes were out of order and the full series was never shown. I think someone in PBS programming thought H.G. was like Star Trek and each episode was intended to stand alone. I refuse to rent them, its such extortion, and at the time the series was originally shown in the USA few of us had vcr's (as you should know).

I am a Mac owner; iMac OS 8.6. On this subject I truely do think internationally and owe my cyber life to Amy the Ant. Any help closer to home is greatly appreciated. I have a friend who is a Mac wizard (Amy and I call him St. Colyn: he is a pagan however, not of h2g2) but he has become too busy to assist because he has a new son and also spends most of his time making Native American flutes.

I am a professor of history at a State University but lack a PhD so do not teach full time. I love esoteric trivia. The article on Cicadas written by Salamaner the Mugwhump was inspired, I believe, by me throwing odd facts (and some fiction) Sal's way. RE: those stringy little white things that stick out of a cicada's shed skin are the shed skin from the inside of the cicada's lungs. I guarantee this to be fact. Ask your favorite entomologist.

Anyhow, enough for now. I, too, could go on forever. My lectures last three hours: thats right, night class. Glad to have met you and hope to see you around h2g2 in the future. You will if you keep writing great haikus. Bye now, MM aka MJM

Hi, Micheal! Don't worry: the regional chapters are mainly for the sake of easier meet-up orginaization

I, personally, *am* a genious.

Actually, I'm not. Not all. Felt good to say it though. Oh, well.

I *do*, however, have a favourite entomologist: my sister. Actually, she teaches elementary school now, but she studied as one. We used to catch really neat bugs and freeze them for her.

Goodnight to you too. I'm now up frantically writing notes due tommorow regarding my science fair project. I'll get to bed eventually. Say, did I mention I just became a sub-ed? Very excited. I can't wait to...

-Spike A.

Hope you got some sleep. I am deprived: terrible insomnia. Glad to hear the regional chapters are loyal to the UK *homeboy*.

I made an error: the quote was from F. Scott Fitzgerald. Obviously I'm no genious.

I love bugs. Have you even encountered an Ant Lion, sometimes called a "doodle bug"? Very cool! Don't tell Amy the Ant I said this. I once found a beetle as large as a half dollar but I couldn't pick it up because his/her grip was so strong. Eventually it pulled in its legs, kinda tucked them in, and became so hard to grasp I lost it in the grass. I have always wondered what kind of beetle that was: big enough to be a VW.

I am going to try to sleep after I check a few postings.
Congratulations on sub-ed. Please describe it for me once you get the feel of it, if that is allowed.

Remember to take some time out to do nothing. Down time is very important.

G'night now.
MJM ACE

I actually did have some down time today. Our school has a required extra-curricular period at the end of the day in the fall and spring (optional in winter), and one one them has to be a team sport (soccer in fall, lacrosse in spring). Last fall I played soccer , so this spring I'm in spring drama as usual. Unfortunately, quite a few people were only in drama because we were doing The Importance of Being Earnest, and as we have decided against it now, they've switched to lacrosse.

So today, unsure what to do, we just took a nice, long walk for about an hour and a half. Such a beautiful day here. We had an early spring until the equinox, when we had a sudden lot of winter until just recently. Now it's summer; go figure.

Just went skiing this weekend up at Stowe, VT. Saturday was foggy and rainy, but Sunday was perfect. Except for the huge bald spots. One of which I hit. And skidded across. Ouch.

But, hey, it was fun. And the resort-type-place has hot tubs. And air hockey. And pool. And pinball. I can't wait for next year!

-Spike A.

I suggest "The Heidi Chronicles" over "Ernest" anyday. However, lots of foul language so some may be offended. Its a great play, very in tune with modern themes. I never got into sports much but it wasn't my fault: God gifted me with a bone disease as a child called Legg-Perthes. I had to wear a rigid leg brace for 4 years (age 8 to 12). Thus I was always side-lined. Technically I fully recovered but as the years went (and go) by arthritus has set into my bones much too early.

Have never gone snow skiing; would love to try but move all the trees. Vermont Huh? I have a heck of a story for you sometime about Vermont and the Canadian border. Too tired now and its a long story. Also I have some duties to carry out (I should be grading exams).

Kindly stay in touch Spike!
MJM ACE

My do I have work today! Thursday and Friday are Modern World (history) presentations, Thursday the rought draft of my Science Fair paper is due, Friday my annotated bibliography for my Modern World reaserch paper is due, and for Tuesday a paper and my reading notes. Oy.

Ah, well. Pray tell, what is this story of which you speak?

-Spike A.

OK. At least a decade ago a friend of mine was in northern Vermont with a bunch of his buddies out hunting. Well, some of them had rather sophisticated weapons (big $ people) they really shouldn't have had. They were driving around in an all-terrain (sp? sorry) vehicle shooting up stuff and eventually found themselves in Canada. They found a duty free story and loaded up on cigarettes and booze. Before they had a chance to drive off a RCMP arrived and arrested the lot of them. The "contraband" was seized, the auto weapons were taken as was the marijuana they 'just happened to be holding in large amounts', and finally (and this is the really funny part) they were served papers of Persona non Grata! What a riot. I have heard of politicos being served papers but not individual citizens. The papers look really cool, almost worth the experience I'm told.

So thats the story. What I have heard of Vermont I like: very relaxed folk. However, I couldn't take the long hard winters. Not unless I had large amounts of "contraband".

Don't work too hard: pace yourself. Need any tips on history, I'm the one to ask. Take good care.

MJM ACE

Tonight, for my homework pleasure, I have a 6-7 page rough draft to write from a few notecards and my experiment data, along with preparing an eight-minute presentation on science in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Wish me luck!

I hope I get to see Vira this weekend more than just Friday night.

-Spike A.

You will do well judging from your haiku. Think of the rewarding week-end you will have!

Good luck and have a good time.

MJM ACE

Spike, I went too far with that story. Let me clarify: auto weapons are wrong and illegal: marijhuana is illegal: smuggling is illegal. I would not accept any contraband. I should have skipped that part and gone straight to the Persona non Grata papers. It was just I story I heard told; second-hand knowledge. I had better read the house rules closer (actually I alredy have).

Good luck with the homework and have a plesant week-end.

MJM ACE (maybe)

Looks like it's back. Thanks, Mods! That's one of the great things about this site; a short disclaimer can get you far. Case in point: A591284.

-Spike A.

What a riot! Rolling lessons. Perhaps I was moderated. See "Sorry Spike" conversation. Busy day, must run. Thanks for the info and helping me relax. I am too high (no pun intended) strung.

MJM ACE