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

Hi . I got here eventually. It's been a busy few days.

I also eventually thought of something for Collective's Treehouse of Horror, a ghost story (a true one , sort of) - not Bearded Vultures. I've posted it to the Collective page copper_top pointed to.

Bearded Vultures are just misunderstood . I sometimes am one here on h2g2. I decided to be one for a story thread, and liked it so kept it. They are incredible fliers.

Pin's sent in a story for the Treehouse too.

Are you having a good Halloween in princess costume ? My Witches dance on Friday was bewitching. People usually dress up a bit posh for those dances, so seeing them all in witches outfits was and so many of them were unrecognisable until you got up close. We had fun. The dancing was excellent and we had live music, a man with accordian, for a change. Much better than the cds. I only managed to keep the hair and hat on for one dance, it was too hot!

I saw your photo of the kid in the mask. Scary . I took a photo of my meringue frogs, they didn't really look like frogs but they were cute.



I ordered the pc, and a printer/scanner to go with it. It should arrive in the next week but it might take time to transfer on to it. I don't want to risk it catching anything from this one. This one has a browser hijacker I can't get rid of, and I've an uneasy feeling there may be other things lurking though the checkers aren't finding anything. Then I'll be able to get broadband, go much faster and the camera will work. Oh, it's a Dell one. Went for them as they seem to have a reasonable reputation. Fingers crossed, hey?

Amazon UK doesn't do pcs. It does some accessories - I think I'd like one of those tablets you can draw on. That can wait for after Christmas - good point about the sales.

I am not looking forward to the of changing pcs. It'll be worth it though.

I am off now to see what's happening at the h2g2 Presidential Ball. Such goings on there last night, you wouldn't believe.

See you BlueBird, should be easier to keep in touch here.
Waz

Thank you very much WAZ to bring the Waterhole to my page! It is certainly very inspiring, because You did not even know the hard way for me to get there in h2!

My Halloween was practicly cancelled, and I am happy that happened will write you this on E-mail, because it is more proper to do so.

I am glad that you had a good time dancing and having fun.
Don't think for a moment that I am disappointed with my day, basicly I did the cancelation. I had so much fun before, did not miss a thing. You will know all the details.

Copper Top informed me shortly about the new project. I know you wrote something sure very good stuff, and so did Pin. But don't know a word about the stories, how could i contribute if I don't know how is that treehouse "going"????

First the Editor:Rowan will have to find the place for publishing.
I shall bother a little more Copper-top to inform me properly.

I am worried about your PC venture! I hope you will have some expert help, because even for my most knowledgable friend ( engineer) it is lot of work to get it going! He has plenty of experience and yet a new machine always has "bugs" to get rid of.
I don't know what did you get? Dell has many things, but what is cheap it is slow! The processor is the main thing in a computer if you want some pleasure to work with!
The printer/scanner together I would not do! Always buy separate machines. This "All in one" is not a good idea!

After the holidays in January I'll get a bigger machine, because with my photo-mania this little one is really having a hard time.
See you in E-mail soon. Blue bird

Sent photos to you on E-mail, but did not write. Blue bird
when I have time I'll do what I promised.

One photo, of a potty gardener , has arrived.

And the pc has also arrived - just in time. This one sometimes takes an age just to select, and another age to copy, and another age to paste...

Haven't got everything sorted out yet but it seems to be going fine. Still using the old one for the internet.

I shall write more later, I'm looking forward to hearing about your Halloween and it shouldn't be long before I can you that picture of the mule.
Waz

The turkey vulture is brilliant! Hope you don't mind, but I added him to the slide show I use as a screen saver on my work pc.

(Visitors coming in for meetings found that slide show quite distracting before - especially the skeleton rhino, now there's a vulture eyeing them up too . )

Couldn't reply at the time - got interrupted by a phone call, and now only have time for this quick post now because


s

I really did the "turkey-vulture" for you, because you said at my birdfeeder was no room for the bearded vulture.
Now I am working on the Thanksgiving issue in which I'll show for those who would not know:
" After the Thanksgiving dinner the left over big mess was cleaned up by the diligents scavangers: the turkey vultures" Very important birds!
Like the crows, because these beneficial birds are doing the cleaning job in Great Big Nature.
No need to say: the humans mostly hate them, chased them and take away their livelihood!
But some of them live at very high altitude in most hostile mountains where the humans can get! Or would die on the way there.
So much for Nature talk tonight!
In E-mail for you something else is waiting. Let me know if you get it? Bbird ( a vulture relative)

From time to time I come to the Waterhole to talk to myself. Don't worry, it is .
Just want to tell you that Copper-Top was really enjoying the PC "painting" for your "Jane" story.

I think you will get it only at work on Tue. Am I right?
Hope that with the new PC you will have a workable E-mail soon.
For my communication-- because of the photos and drawings----E-mail is essential. Love: blue bird

Hey - I didn't get to work today as the car had a flat battery but I did manage, eventually, to get this pc to open hotmail. It was incredibly slow but it managed! Didn't want to tax it by asking it to reply though.

The picture of Jane is great. I'm glad copper_top talked you into it. I see the shadow figure, the whole thing's all very fiery and poor Jane looks a bit lost.

If I remember right, she lived to 90 - I'll have to check that. A long time to live with that responsibility.

Difficult to see what to draw for Pin's, isn't it? Without going into the really horrific. I don't think I could do that. I shall have a think though. The apples are . Shiny, shiny, shiny.

I have got my digi photos on to the new pc . No trouble at all! I need to work out how to get them reduced in size though. Viewing them at 100% they're nearly twice the screen size - I don't understand that. Reduced to 50% the pixels show and look odd in places.

Scrolling around the 100% size version is fun.

I can get on the internet from the new pc now, but haven't done so other than to update the virus checker it came with. I don't know whether to add some of the free virus/firewall/anti-spyware programmes on as well .

I've got cold feet about taking the plunge into the internet ether with my nice clean, virus, tojan, hijacker free pc.

You are most welcome to come and talk to yourself at the Waterhole , I do the same sometimes.

When is your Thanksgiving, by the way?

Waz (shortly, as usual, going s)

Hello Waz! I think we have a guardian ,----emerged from Collective and his name is: Copper_Top. I just got here to the Waterhole (on my page, thank you) because from his E-mail I "heard" you wrote!

With all my fingers crossed ( hardly can type!) I hope that your PC will bring you a new life! Just load in all the virus, firewall protection there is what ever you have, just load them in! I have everything like that ( pay for it now) but I have never had in 4 yeras any problem. Though have been always very careful to open E-mails ( where the virus can come in) and always stayed with my connections that I knew!

I pay in advence for a year about $ 20.00, it is cheap and very effective. Sometimes I let them check and leave the PC for couple of hours to run till is scanned.( Makes them happy!)

I admire your courage to get that machine going all alone, I would not dare to do it by myself. Since my computer friend goes on vacation soon till January, I'll wait getting a new machine. He wants to install a NETWORK for me!

Copper_Top wants more illustrations but I am just thorn in every direction here with the coming Holidays! Thansgiving is always on the last Thursday in November. I made the Turkey Vulture into a Card, when ready send you a copy on E-mail. Some people think is verrrryyyy funny!

Yeah, I thought you will be happy with the drawing I made for your story,- but I understand about the busy times around a new PC!

About Pin's story is just too heavy for me, but C/T thinks you will do it! Never mind, just do it. Pin should help you if HE made it so horroble!!!

I have some works here to divert me from h2/Collectivw stuff, but will get to it, I truly enjoy it! Hope now you will have all your communications from home including E-mail and everything! Good luck!
Blue bird as always.

Well the pc came sort of ready to switch on. More or less. I am still putting off using it for the internet - so not much courage there, hey? Moving files over via e-mail is a little daunting. I've got most of the speadsheet and word documents sitting on the website e-mail account ready to download but all the pictures ... ! Luckily I still have the CDs for most of the old photographs I had here.

Tomorrow I'll get the extra firewalls etc and start using the new machine properly.

I will.

Really.

Tomorrow.

No more putting it off.

I've been playing with the scanner this weekend. Can't get the hang of sizing things. There's lots I want to do with scanning things into paintbrush, but I need to be able to make the sizes manageable.

I might have to read some 'help' pages .

The Turkey Vulture *is* very funny. It will make an excellent card , though people might wonder just what the vulture is giving thanks for!

Waz

Here is monday evening. Thanks for your updating information. I wish I could help you more.( I use the Help icon a lot!)

My live "computer help" was here, did not do much, he is very distracted by the event of going on a long vacation when he will be with his family: wife and 2 children ( 23 and 18) not babies.

In January I promised to get the big, new machine to make a network here. More details I'll write on E-mail!

I still say: you have a lot of courage doing the PC set up alone.

Copper-Top just informed me that the "Tree-house" is finished. Will go up soon in Collective I think in Members Project: horror texts with horror illustartions.

I am planning to make some quiet days for myself. Usually I stay away from traffic and crowds at holiday time as much as possible.
For me that is the best time when is just quiet around because everybody is stuffing their mouth with a lot of food---and nobody is bothering to make noise doing stupid things around the house.
So much for the turkey holiday. Blue bird
P.S. The vulture is giving thanks for the left-overs after the dinner an excellent opportunity for getting real good pieces what the celebrating humans could not get down anymore!

And this is Thursday. And this is the first post on h2 from the new pc . Finally.

I've got one pc for each hand now. But only temporarily. I'll pass the old one on once I've moved all my stuff. It's taking ages.

Reading on the internet I found out that it's not generally advised to have more than one virus checker or firewall active at one time - that's what delayed me again. It's all very confusing. But you can have more than one spyware programme. In fact they advise that. Anyway, other than moving files over I think this new pc is sorted now.

So on to more important things - Happy Thanksgiving! And I finally e-mailed that Spanish donkey. And it isn't even Christmas.

Saw your picture for Pin's piece - a difficult one to draw. Felt quite uncomfortable looking at it for long. You didn't take the easy option of drawing something other than the person. I think that takes more courage than setting up a pc.

Anyway, nearly midnight. Enjoy the rest of your quiet holiday.
Waz

Hi There Waz! With my utmost joy I am greeting your PC set up! You are to be admired, because I simply would not have the courage to do such a big job.
I am very much ready for a BIG PC, but I have to wait til my friend will go-- and come back and that is in January!

I really enjoyed ( with loud big bang noise) to see the ass's ass as you made it for eternety in digital recording! ( Before Christmas!)

Anyway: the antivirus protection is very important. I just buy every year the "Symantec" product for about $20.oo a year. I let them run their scanning ( takes hours) 2-3 weeks, but have never any problem in my 4 years here. But still I would not open an E-mail if I don't know about it.
Spam problem was long time ago eliminated with my server. They catch it and discard. I do have some pop up ads, but not very much and they go away easily.
Just wrote a comment in Collective about the Photo-Gallery! When you will get into dig. photo, you should send stuff to Collective.

I was today in a Birthday party for a 4 year old: Babsy the black labrador had a wonderful celebration. On E-mail I'll send some photos. He is on the Web Page: MY_JOURNAL---Url is on my h2 page.

The treehouse stories are on Collective as it came out today, but no illustrations yet. I am bothering Copper-top for info.

Here gotten very cold, below freezing.

I am cutting down on my Hospital work, because they were fresh with me and I do not tolarate anything like that.
Will have more time for PC. Also the holiday season is kicked in, have some obligations, but not that much.
I reduce many things, because it is just not worth to break your neck for mothing.
Congrat again, again. Bbird

here too. We had some beautiful days last week when the frost didn't melt all day. This weekend it's all back to mud everywhere. The BlueBug is presently a brown bug with a blue bonnet .

I'll wait for the illustrations for looking through the treehouse.

What I want to do today is load a few scanned pictures onto the website - but I have to remember how .

They were fresh with you? You're right not to ignore that, especially when working voluntarily. Make sure what you do is right for you though. I don't know who 'they' are in that sentence but I know I sometimes have to remind myself who I'm voluntarily working for - and it's not the people who organise what I do.

Sorry, you don't need me to tell you that, I'm talking from my own perspective. I do three lots of volunteering and the relationship with paid staff is uneasy in two cases. The third one I'm thinking of giving up - 15 years is long enough, but I'll miss some of it.

Babsy looks cute. My experience with friends' dogs is that you should be on the lookout for what they'll be up to next, or for what they've just done, when they look cute .

That squirrel lets you stroke him?
Waz

PS Got the new stuff on the site but it was quite disconcerting to see how different some pictures look on the new pc. Mostly the colours look faded and in some the extra brightness makes the effects of saving the files as .jpg or .gif files much more obvious. They are all also bigger.

I see how much you are involved with the new PC. Hope you enjoy it.
To load into the Web go to Yahoo-geocities! I lesrned it from you!
Get to the PAGE BUILDER. I still use the same way as before until I use up the MB they give me, than one can change the name etc.

I can have very tame squirrels, also I have a sick one, but he lives since last year.! He can not keep his balance,some times falls over, but comes every day for the penaut butter. Many things are mistery in Nature, but it is there.

The treehouse is out in full swing. Texts and illustrations!Not easy to find: A7321330 but you have to punch in the entire URL for collective: http://...etc.
It is worth to find it, because Copper-Top did a fabulous job with editing and the Gallery at the end after the stories is just very good. Really professional jobs! What is for next?
We got here the Holiday Season lot of pushing to sell everything there is. Not my time on the streets.

I am staying away from the Hospital this week. It feels good to do other things.The weather is totally crazy, almost record warm here, than in the midwest is snowing up to a foot, and IT will get here too, and this makes me sick!
On E-mail will send you pictures from Babsy ( the dog) Birthday it was a lot of fun. She is now 4 years old, perhaps in human time like 20 years.
Enjoy the new PC, I hardly can wait to get one in January. B.W. use only jpg because that is good for the Web. blue bird

URL: in collective:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A7386050

This the way to get to the Treehouse horrors and Gallery is following separately the texts.
Enjoy and share! Tell about it to your friends! Blue bird

My memory's like a sieve BlueBird, when it comes to setting anything up on that website. When I get into it, it's fine though and I got the pictures on. They're old ones but look a lot better there than on the backs of old envelopes where they are in RL.

I've also found how to adjust the monitor and reduce the brightness and contrast so everything looks more familiar now .

You ok? There were hardly any smileys in that post. Perhaps it's the cold. I could e-mail spring woods to walk through?

Thanks for the treehouse link - I went there again today and read the rest of the stories. Left a post on the page.

We have the same Holiday sales pushing here too. Apparently it says 'Happy Christmas Shopping' in lights across one of the streets in Shrewsbury .

Hey, there's money to be made in this idea. If we can get everyone sending each other 'Happy Shopping' greeting cards, then 'Happy Card Writing', then 'Happy Christmas Turkey Seasoning' in the run up to Christmas ... we'd be millionaires!

You design the cards, I'll draw up the business plan

Waz

Nice to see your message, like somebody is talking normal, but I am out of it.
It's a "domino effect"-- something went wrong-- and all the dominos follow. But there are only so many dominos and so I'll get out of it sooner or later. bbird

P.S. I would be satisfied with less than a million. bb.