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

I do that a lot now. I find myself signing in only to unsubscribe from the gazillion threads where some vocal people bang on again and again and again about the perceived mistakes that were made by the volunteers.

Yes, we've heard it all before. A gazillion times now.

Trouble is, as a CE I really *should* be subscribed to know what is going on. But then I cannot posts there anyway. Anything I'd say would be held against the Senior volunteers (yes, some people are very good at twisting everything somebody they do not agree with says).

I'll sign out again now. There are nicer things to spend time with.

I tend to unsubscribe from any conversation which has more than 20 posts I haven't read yet. It's a sign that the conversation is moving too rapidly for me, or that I am not interested in the subject.

So if people are banging on about something, I never even get to read it.

I agree with Gnomon. Sadly that usually means unsubbing from Bel's journals because I can't keep up.

I also unsub from Bel's journals regularly because so many people love her.

I know what you mean, Bel.

I'm keeping me 'ead below the parapet


*waves to Gnomon and Benjamin*

not here much anyway, no time to read anything!

*waves to all, leaves a andfor Bel*

I am encouraged by you wise folks.

For one thing, I am encouraged because you all recognise a futile conversation when you see one. I do not take that sort of wisdom for granted.

I am also encouraged because all you wiser heads know that adding to those conversations would just make things worse. You take in the information, shrug, and move on. Excellent, say I. You have my vote of confidence in this.

There's a verse in an old collection of wisdom sayings that says, 'Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.' (Proverbs 26:4)

*waves to lil in hiding*

*trips over Lils mat on the way in*
*looks in his diplomatic bag, moves the grenades to one side, rummages deeper, finds....ah
*shares , so, owt 'appening round 'ere then?

Thanks all.

I took a day 'off the PC' yesterday (well, more or less) and tarted knitting something (when I didn't read, that is).

Here's what I attempt to knit:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/-k99DE7gDyAs/TsAComTEQiI/AAAAAAAAH7k/4gn-8IiYM0Y/s1600-h/_DSC1850%25255B3%25255D.jpg

Not sure I'll manage, mind. I haven't knitted anything more complicated than this for decades:

http://www.2page.eu/userdaten2/004876/17/bilder/strick-rechts.jpg

Plus, it's the first Advent on Sunday, and I want to get some decorations up (the advent wreath, for instance).

I don't expect to be around much this weekend.

It worries me though, that many of us didn't get involved in any of the discussions as to what "h2g2 should be" when the BBC announced its intention to dispose of the site. Those who did thought that the Community had decided what way things should be, when it was in fact just them, not the community. Now they're wondering why things are different.

In Ireland, people are much more cut off from the church calendar, so Advent calendars go up on the 1st of December, whether it is Advent or not.

That is really pretty Bel. Good luck with it. I can't keep track of stiches so I couldn't do a project like that.

Must say I would not have the energy to be a CE

I enjoy being an ACE, mainly for the rare moments when someone replies to a welcome message, either talking or asking a question (evidently, being able to answer the question adds to any enjoyment)

Sometimes I find these discussions a little vague, Gnomon. Not a criticism. It's just that I can discuss practical details - say, 'What do we want on the Front Page?', but I don't know what to do with a question like 'How do we make the volunteer and feedback structure more responsive to the evolving needs and webuse patterns of the Community?'

To me, the second question sounds like, 'Do we *want* fire that can be nasally applied?' I go off and , which is not useful.

Gnomon, Advent calendars start on 1st December here, too. But the first Advent Sunday id the fourth Sunday before Christmas. That's when you light the first candle on the wreath.

When I was growing up, Advent was 'against our religion'. It was for Methodists, and frowned upon. (Baptists and Methodists were like PC- and Mac-users.)

More recently, it's being adopted by 'First Baptist' churches. That makes it a class thing. The fancy people do something called 'The Hanging of the Green' on the first Sunday in Advent.

Now, where my dad lived, the old folks viewed this innovation with skepticism. They referred to the ceremony as 'The Hanging of the Greens'. One old fella volunteered to bring the mustard greens, turnip greens, and collard greens...

Oh, and there's something awful called a 'Chrismon tree'. My mother loved her Christmas tree, but did not want it inside the church.

Chrismons are a shabby dodge. All the ornaments are 'Christian symbols'. Gag me with a spoon. A little beaded chi-rho, the vesica piscis, etc. Try to keep a straight face when some clueless kids are standing in front of it and singing something in a language they don't understand.

Me to tenors and basses in adult choir: 'Do you know what 'qui tolles peccata mundi' means? Then why sing it? You might be inciting to riot, for all you know!'

End of anti-intellectual Chrismon rant...

For years, Catholics didn't allow Christmas trees inside churches, because they were pagan.

Then they came up with the idea of a Jesse Tree which was a tree hung with Christian symbols, used a teaching aid. Last time I looked, the Jesse Tree had fairy lights, coloured baubles, tinsel and all the other stuff. It is a Christmas Tree in all but name.

My grandfather always had a Christmas tree, until the year he turned 13. Unfortunately, his birthday is in December, and the rabbi got quite annoyed when he came round to discuss arrangements for the Bar Mitzvah...

In Pittsburgh, this kind of tree is known as a Hannukah Bush.

The one in the Swedish classroom caused our Hebrew teacher (from Petah Tikvah) to deliver a highly entertaining rant on the evils of syncretism...

Ranting against syncretism in Pittsburgh is a lost cause...