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

Hi Fords, I've been given your spicy entry to sub-edit.

You can find the result here: A39787131

I have made a few alterations.
First of all, I've changed the title to 'The Art of Making Devilled Eggs

The one you had gave me the mental image of this:

and that's completely unrelated to the content, as it's not about chickens, and only partly about the shell.

Furthermore, I have altered the Miracle Whip bit to include an alternative as requested in PR.

I'll clear with the eds whether the trademark sign needs to be put (it's a bank holiday in the UK today, so I'll only find out tomorrow at the earliest.

Apart from that, I'd say it's ready to go. Please have a look and tell me whether xou agree with my changes.

Bel

OK, the TM sign doesn't need to be there, as it's not done in other entries, either.
As for the title: the eds agreed with me that yours was a bit far-fetched.

Bel

Oh, and I was just reminded that I had to guess what a tspoon is.

I went for tablespoon (in all cases), so please tell me if there are teaspoons amongst them.

Bel

Hi there B'Elana:

Anyone, who has been subjected to my comments in PR, might well have noticed that I'm something of a stickler when it comes to titling entries. My stance is that they should give the reader a clear idea of the likely content, so thanks for making me stick to this for my Devilled Eggs entry.

Still, I hate to lose the humour of phonically comparing the devilled eggs to another appetizer, oysters on the half shell. Perhaps we could come up with a way of including that line as a header or subheader inside the entry?

[Briefly described, devilled eggs are appetisers made from hard boiled eggs that...]
I don't remember whether I used the term 'hard boiled', but I believe that the most accurate cooking term is 'hard cooked'. Boiling the eggs can make them harder to time, allow the green to form around the yolk, and make them difficult to peal.

Yes, I'll admit that I prefer to add mild humour where possible, to keep possibly dry entries as readable as possible. For example, I noticed that another 'header' has been changed. I really rather liked the 'Gather to Thee Eggs' bit as a way of over-aggrandising the statement by making it harken back to a Biblical proclamation; if you think we can get it back in.

I appreciate added links, but the 'correct technique' link takes the reader to a conflicting entry on making boiled eggs. The research that I put into making easier to peal, more appealing eggs, is in this entry. The reader should not need that information, especially because the conflicting styles would lend a confused aspect to the entry. I'd like the link left off.

Other than those minor points, it looks absolutely stunning!

Thanks again for the new title, and for clearing up the trademark thingy!

Hi there Fords.

It's not problem to remove the link, although I'd see it as an addition (the other entry tells about all variations from soft, medium to hard), and it would never have occurred to me to compare the two entries, or even confuse them, but if you feel strongly about this, then the link can go.

That header you mention: it didn't do anything to me, if I'm honest. It's not about gathering the eggs, and I thought the thee was a typo, because I thought the correct form should have been thine.
However, I've never read the bible in English, so I wouldn't recognise any bible references.
Again, I'm happy to put it back if it's just me being stumped by it.

I've never heard of hard cooked eggs, are you sure you want to have that exchanged? After all, you describe the actual process in great detail. No problem to exchange boil with cook, though.

Oh, and suggestions as to what the 'chicken on the half shell' could have referred to were:

Venus on the Half shell (a sci-fi book)

and

Heroes in a Half Shell (Ninja Turtles).

Nobody seems to ever have heard of your oysters, so that would need explaining. Tell me whether you'd still want it in the entry, and I'll think of something.

Nice to work with you.

OMG! Culture Clash!

Venus arising from the sea, is a reference that I'm not surprised to have missed; but, Turtles on the half shell? That one I should have seen coming!!
Actually, Turtles on the half shell is a direct reference to Oysters on the half shell. The dish is raw oysters, with a bit of lemon juice, hot pepper sauce or a vinegary mignonette sauce (red wine vinegar, chopped shallots, grated lemon zest, white pepper, and salt).

If this is not an international enough standard, feel free to drop the attempt at humour.


I've given some thought to the link, and I guess I do strongly about linking to an entry with conflicting information. The hard-cooking technique mentioned there is rather pedestrian and does not render a dependably satisfactory result. Please do drop that particular link.

Although I did mention the biblical pronouncement idea behind the 'thee', it is really more of a reference to Monty Python, a truly international group of comics that does have a great following on the hootoo site. They had one memorable line, about gathering shoes in abundance, in one of their movies that comes to mind. It's not tremendously important to the entry, but I think it would find appreciation by those who make the connection. I've been complimented on previous pieces for my eccentric headers and subheaders.

Perhaps you could pass it by someone like Gnomon and see what he thinks?

On hard boiled vs. hard cooked, let's go with hard boiled. I've noticed more cooking sites going for the more accurate cooked, but a quick Google search left no doubt that hard boiled is the more common terminology.

Thanks, always, for your patience and help!

Oh, the Venus on the Half Shell was a suggestion from Gnomon.
I am very thorough, and if in doubt, I do ask my peers, especially Gnomon. I'd never change an entry just because I can. I wouldn't want any sub-ed to do this with my entries, so rest assured that I checked - not only with other sub-eds, but with you, too, as you can see.

I will happily put the header back and remove the link, it's really no big deal. I only tried to explain why I removed it in the first place, but in such things I'm the first to admit that I lack the cultural background and that my ignorance is no reason for others to change something commonly known.

Btw, the title was Heroes in the Half Shell, referring to Ninja Turtles, not turtles on the Half shell.

I'll try to think of something to get your chicken on the half shell in, but I don't want it to look clumsy (because I guess I would have to mention the oysters somehow), so if you have a suggestion, I'm all ears.


Bel

Sorry, just a quick question: is it really 'gather 'to' thee eggs'?

Bel:

I so much appreciate your conscientiousness. I probably should have expected that you would involve folks like Gnomon in your circle of go-to people.

You are absolutely right; that it was Heroes on the half-shell. I should have known better there, too. I used to read them as an underground comic series, and my son practically grew up on the figures, cartoons, and movies!

And, after all your other kindnesses, you caught another one for me. If you are going to put the line back in, it would be "Gather unto thee eggs".

I'm so happy that I get to work with people who take all aspects of their role so professionally.

It's ok, Fords, you couldn't really have expected that; you can't see what's going on in the sub-ed group, and we've never worked together before, except for the few exchanges in our respective PR threads.

So far, I've never had any complaints and only very few EF (I only know of two things that somehow escaped me), and I'd like that to stay this way.

I've altered the Header, and I've put your former title as a subheader in the only place I think is suitable. Let me know whether that looks ok, or whether you'd prefer to do without after all.

Bel

B'Elana:

It's looking just fantastic!

[The Devil, you say!

For any who may not already be familiar with the concept, 'devilled' means highly spiced. It often means using mustards or seasonings, but has also come to be used to describe dishes coated with seasoned breadcrumbs and grilled. In the case of devilled eggs, it refers to both the seasoning and the method or presentation.

Chicken on the Half Shell]

I love the idea of the footnote! Just my kind of kicker!

I do see one alternative to the subhead placement, and I'll leave this up to you and call it good. We could use it as an alternate title like.

The Devil, you say!
Or, Chicken on the Half Shell2 (with the footnote)

Either way, I am thoroughly content!

Thanks again!

I'm not really a fan of a header immediately followed by a subheader, I think it doesn't really look good. (especially in Brunel, where you can't see the difference between headers and subheaders anyway).
I'd be happy to leave it as it is (and hope we'll get away with the footnote in the subheader, cause I'm not at all sure it should be done there )

So, if you are happy (and it looks as if you are), I'll return it to the eds now.

Thank you for your patience and collaboration, much appreciated.

Thanks, B'Elana!

You know, I never thought to view it from other than Alabaster!?

Glad you know your stuff!!

You're most welcome.

To be honest, I rarely view it in another skin than brunel.

Hey Fords, your entry has got a blob. I'd have loved for it to have a devilled egg or two - any chance you could take a photo of some?
I think it would still be possible to change if you sent it to the <./>photographers</.>

And, Front Page too!!

I'll see if I can work up a decent photo. Time to mess up the kitchen!