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

oops sorry, just realised I had repeated myself a bit in that last posting . . . (old age!)

The good news is that at least once a day, for absolutely no reason that makes any sense, I feel like the happiest and most blessed person in the world. And well, as with all fleeting moments this one also fleets. But it's a good moment.

az

ps
that wasn't made up!

so, did you get my email?

az the incredibly annoying . . .

ps
makes a change from az the amazingly insecure . . .

On second thought, don't read the email. It's too silly.

Now, what else can I do at 5.45 am? Insomnia sucks.

az

Too late. And I suspect you're being paranoid. Doesn't mean they're not out to get you though.

So, why do we only get insomnia during the night? I mean, getting off to sleep first thing in the morning is easy, right?

Couldn't listen to the radio programme before as I didn't have a spare plug for my speakers, but I'm at a loose end right now, so I'll see if I can work it out.

Noggin

hello friend,

<>

Oh, I know that one all too well. After having been awake most of the night I *finally* feel so exhausted and ready for sleep about 15 minutes before my alarm is about to go off.

Meanwhile, thank you for not taking my last email seriously (though did you like the attachment I sent you previously?)

The thing about these postings and emails is that they are so immediate. So you can write something in a state of whatever and send it off and then later go all cringy wishing you could take it back again. I'm especially bad at that because I have a tendency to get quite emotional and - since I'm not English - don't have that reserve thing happening. So I often make quite a fool of myself I think. Oh well, worse things happen at sea, I am told.

Did you sort out your speakers? If so, also check out the Celtic Heartbeat programme on the Radio Wales listing. That was the other one Alji told me about. It's quite wonderful. I think I am going to make it my Sunday morning routine, to listen to the previous Saturday night show the next morning.

az

Ah, so you've noticed that English reserve thing, then?
And I'm way over on the introvert end of the scale as well.

There wasn't anything actually wrong with my speakers. The power socket was just temporarily in use for something else. Another of those little rules of life - No matter how many power sockets you have you always need one more (or at any rate, the spare socket is an entirely different part of the house)

I'll have a listen to Celtic Heartbeat

Noggin

>>Ah, so you've noticed that English reserve thing, then?
And I'm way over on the introvert end of the scale as well. <<

No kidding!

az

Okay then, so what *is* it about the English reserve thing? (Alji, if you are there, feel free to join in).

I have never understood if it is a good thing or a bad thing. What do you think?

I mean, when I spent a year and a half in Bristol it seemed like I was constantly putting my foot in it. By . . . saying what I felt or thought. And not in any sort of belligerent way at all. Just speaking my mind. Apparently this is 'not done'. In fact, an English friend of mine told me that since I was not born and bred English that I could never hope to understand all the little nuances, what lies beneath what is not said.

And well, although I can understand being very careful and tactful when discussing a very delicate issue, it seemed to me that the English do this about practically everything! Really, I found it very tiring.

And all that stiff upper lip stuff. Why? Why is that so important? To always pretend that you are not feeling what you are feeling.

Since I am Canadian I don't (I hope!) fall into the category of the 'ugly American' who constantly speaks in a loud voice and throws opinions out to all and sundry without any care at all about how their opinions might be taken. Honestly, I never do that. First of all, I have the tiniest speaking voice ever and secondly, I am far from insensitive.

But I do speak my mind about most things. Like, big deal. If someone doesn't agree with me, then so what? I don't mind.

Anyhow, I am not criticizing the English about this. It just seems so not understandable to me. That displaying any sort of emotion is seen as 'bad form'. That expressing an opinion is taken in the same way as if one had - oh I don't know - committed some sort of crime.

Noggin and Alji, can either of you enlighten me on this? Are the Welsh different from the English in this manner? I really am curious. I think the Irish are quite a bit more earthy when it comes to this sort of thing. As for the Spanish - it depends on where you live in Spain. In Sevilla, where I live, people tend to be amazingly superficial. But if you go out to little villages, etc, then you will get a total earful of various opinions on all sorts of matters. Which I find quite refreshing.

There was a quote, can't remember it correctly or who it was from - I think John Fowles. Who said that the English are so polite that they are rude. Any comments on that? I could see what he meant, and again, I am not being critical. Just a bit confused.

I mean, the English once ruled a large part of the world. And I'm sure they didn't do this by saying - 'oh please excuse me, sorry to intrude but would you mind terribly if we conquer your city?'

The mind reels . . .

az

Az, English reserve is totally alien to me. I talk to anyone and everyone.

Nogg, I have nine sockets in use and one free.

Alji

hi Alji,

Well, guess we won't be hearing from Noggin on the matter as he is too introverted.

I have power sockets all over the place, but some of them are the wrong kind. I'd change them but am afraid of accidently electrocuting myself.

Time for

az

You shouldn't snack between snacks!!!

Al

I'm not! This is my dinner. Too hot to eat real food.

az

hey Noggin,

Check this out. Go to this site and you can do your own astro-chart. I found out today that I have Libra rising (whatever that means). And well, of course I am a Capricorn - I've always known that.

Are you still going through your mid-life-sort-of-ish crisis? I think maybe you're just bored.


Alji,

Don't you also have Libra rising?



az
(up much too late)

I forgot the link! What an idiot!!!

Told you I was up too late - be right back . . .

az

Me again.

So, this is the main page:

http://www.astro.com/


And this is the link to do your birth chart:

http://www.astro.com/cgi/ade.cgi?ra...9703d77326777&lang=e&rs=3&btyp=w2gw



Okay, have finally downloaded my last song for the night - can go to bed now.

az

Yes az, I too have Libra rising and I have all the planets spread from the nineth to the twelth with the Moon in the third.

Alji

hi Alji,

I haven't got any planets in 7-8-9, my moon is in the fifth, my sun in the third. What does this mean? I think it would be helpful (in my case it's totally necessary) if this web-site also gave some sort of explanation with the chart.


az

Found the explanations! Also have no planets in 4.

az the goat
(aka shawn the sheep)

Gets out my Shawn the Sheep to remind me of Az

Al