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

Hi H,

I've just been finishing off my maths homework (funny time to be doing it, I know!). Thanks for the info. on symbols ... now I suppose I'd better get on with doing those infernal calculations! Thanks to Andy as well, though of course you are quite right in thinking his suggestions were way too complicated for me!

Re the God Knows thread, I did notice the same thing you mentioned ... we've got a few odd newbies! I did think about asking how offensive the following might be: For heaven's sake; For crying out loud; Oh my giddy aunt!; Lawks a mercy! but no, I'm avoiding it too now I've won the 10cc battle with Malagrowther!

Before I forget, sorry I didn't quite 'get' the reference to Venetia as I haven't been listening to the Archers much recently.

Love,
Mimi
xxxx

Hi Mimi and anyone else who might be around

You just caught me before bedtime. I don't think Andy's suggestion itself was too complicated. I was looking in vain for a root symbol such as you have in old-fashioned arithmetic - you know, that one that looks like a tick with a line emanating from the top - but it seems spreadsheets don't have one; so you have to do it by raising to the power of "1-divided-by-the-root-you-seek". A cube root is, therefore, a power of 1/3. What I thought you might not know is that you need to put brackets around the 1/3 to make Excel recognise that the ^ refers to the fraction. If you don't, it will apply the ^ to 1 so all you will get is a third instead of a cube root. I hope that's not too complicated!

Venetia Streatfield is Christopher Carter's new posh bird, and his snobby mum Susan (Susan Horrobin as was) is over the moon. She goes round saying things like "we call her 'Netia" and "do you know the Streatfields? Lovely people". She was even seriously thinking about going to the Pony Club Ball before Neil put his foot down. I just picked up on your saying what a lovely girl your son's lass was. Not that I'm suggesting you're a snob, of course - I just couldn't resist a little teasing.

goodnight all

H

Hello H,

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No, probably not, just made me scratch my head a bit - I find maths language quite confusing at times but just wait till I've finished my course and I'm brimming with confidence (well, up to the level of Yr. 7 - 1st year of secondary school). In case you're interested, the qualification is City & Guilds (unless the C&G I've seen in the courseware stands for Cheltenham & Gloucester). I don't understand all that stuff about Excel, though - I've never used it, not finding much use for spreadsheets etc. Also, I'm using Firefox now - would I have to launch Excel as well? Oh dear! I think I prefer it when I'm in blissful ignorance on IT matters ... having said that, I am quite proud of myself when I manage to do something new and clever on the Mac!

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Cor blimey, love a duck, I should hope not! I'll have to try and catch the Archers omnibus now - I do usually find it fairly amusing when I haven't been listening to it for a while.

Sorry, quite a few messages back you asked me how the writing was going. I've had my head more full of numbers than words recently but I have been doing exercises from the coursebook and extending them. So far, the idea has been to write very free-form, the first thing that comes into your head rather than constructing perfect sentences. I used to do that all the time when I was in my most prolific writing period but have had to re-train myself. To give you an example, the first exercise was to list five things you could hear at the time of writing and then note all the associations you have with those five things. It can be quite revealing!

'Bye for now - off the watch 'Ugly Betty', might be back later.

Love
Mimi
xxxx

Good evening all

<< Also, I'm using Firefox now - would I have to launch Excel as well>>

I don't know much about Macs, Mimi, but as Firefox is an internet browser it seems unlikely there's a spreadsheet embedded in it. So the answer to your question is probably 'yes'. You might find that web pages giving Excel links open your spreadsheet automatically. If you don't have "much use for spreadsheets" you might not even have Excel on your system. I have it as part of MS Office, which is a professional software suite and quite expensive (I don't pay the licence, I have it on a multi-user licence from work); if you're using the software that came free with your PC it might have a less powerful spreadsheet on it. I expect the symbols are the same, though. When I did my IT training we used MS Word and Excel but my first placement was at a place that used Ami Pro and Lotus 123. I had no trouble adapting almost immediately.

Is the Archers omnibus on Listen Again? I think it's last Sunday's omnibus you'll need to catch Susan's more cringeworthy contributions. Before that there was the farcical episode of Chris's request to bring 'Netia' home for dinner. Susan heard 'Nisha', assumed the girl was Asian, and set about creating as super-duper curry for the occasion.
Of course everybody on the MB had guessed the truth because there had been a Venetia at Alice Aldridge's birthday party.

Has your course-book technique resulted in any worthwhile writing yet? It looks a bit like 'stream of consciousness' to me; but it's not exactly the same thing, is it? I know something has to spark the creative process but I often wonder about writers whose titles are quotations from other works. Did Hemingway read his John Donne and feel inspired to write a novel? Or did he have a finished untitled novel and think the only title that would do it justice would be something from recognised literature? Or Raymond Chandler? Some of his lines are so brilliant that I sometimes wonder if he thought he couldn't let them go to waste so he'd better invent some characters and a plot to contain them.

I must dash now. If I don't get back this evening

goodnight

H

Hello everyone,
I really enjoyed La Fille du Regiment this evening - there is some particularly beautiful ensemble singing which I didn't recognise at all. Of course I did enjoy Juan Diego Florez's Tonio and Natalie Dessay's singing was gorgeous too. Felicity Palmer was superb - well, they all were! There's a rumour over on the R3 boards that it's been recorded for DVD release.

This will be my last post for a while as I've decided to give MJ a holiday from these messageboards. They're too addictive; it's impossible for me to pop in for just 10 minutes. I've really enjoyed reading everyone's posts on these h2g2 threads and I'll miss you all. I'll try to resist visiting but you may see me back again as I've very little will-power!

MJ
xxx

Good evening all

I'm glad you enjoyed the opera, MJ. You won't be surprised to read that I gave it a miss. I hope you enjoyed the recent glut of Sibelius too. I hadn't really heard his chamber music before and it was interesting to hear some of it in the lunchtime concerts. It was a bit saccharine but not intolerably so like, say, J Strauss.

I hardly need say that I'll miss you if you do stay away. I get your point about spending too much time on the boards. I find that stopping round about midnight and not logging in when I'm away from my own PC keeps me from being umbilically attached to the boards. At least you spread yourself around and stick to people who are interested in you. In my recent visits to DTA I've discovered there are some hopeless cases who reply to or expand on their own comments if they don't get a response - and that's not counting the ones who use glove-puppet IDs to spark controversy! You must, of course, do what's best for you but I'll be rather selfishly hoping your will-power isn't too strong! Anyway, there'll be a welcome for you here as soon or as late as you choose to return.

bye for now

H

Thanks H. I should've guessed I'd have a kind reply to my farewell and I shouldn't really reply having said goodbye but I htpp://am still here as I've just posted a byebye on our lovely songs thread over on the MC board. Now I'm thinking I'll want to reply to http://them tomorrow if they reply to me...how can I say goodbye then not respond to nice replies???
You obviously have more will-power than me. Once I'm here I do find it very difficult to go. It http://is addictive!

Goodnight - and thanks again for your kind comments.

MJ
xx

Oh bu**er! http://doesn't work here!!!

And of course htpp:// never works anywhere...

I am finding it hard to leave!!!

Posted: Sunday 28 January 2007 00:24:15

What was that about will power MJ?

Hello H,

I've just read about MJ's departure ... I can't believe it, I was about to leave a message on her page and now she's not even going to see it so I can't say goodbye. I think there's a good chance she'll be back at some point but I think it may be after a long break.

I could have done with some good news today, the weekend did not go to plan and I had another 'difficult' day at school ... thank goodness I am doing maths all day tomorrow!

Sorry, I don't feel like writing much more at the moment.

Love
Mimi
xxxx

Good evening all

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I think so; she said as much. I think there's a good chance she'll see your message, too. It's just posting she'll be avoiding. When I'm away I don't log in to the boards but I have a quick look now and then if I borrow someone's PC at HO or book 30 mins in a cyber-cafe (often the easiest way to get English-language information when you're abroad).
I'm sure MJ won't miss your Radio 3 performance on Saturday:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/operaon3/pip/xby4o/

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Hmm..not something I can imagine myself thinking, Mimi! Did it go as well as expected, then?

Are you coming to the end of a long period without pay like everyone round here. I think I last got paid on 20th Dec for some of my relatives it was even earlier. I don't really have a problem because I can always go to my savings; but stretching the current account over the extra 10 days has been a challenge. I should wake up to a healthy balance in the morning, though. Hurrah!

I must dash now. I'll look in again later.

'bye for now

H

Hello H,

I did tune in to R3 last Sunday morning as a bit of an experiment ... it didn't last long, I'm afraid!

Re maths course - it got a bit more complicated this week so I'm not quite as confident as before ... still ahead of everyone else, though, and the tutor seems pleased (and I have NO set homework, but I might do a bit of practice on the things I'm not so good at!). I mentioned I had been having some problems at school, though was very unspecific - you have probably guessed that they concern the girl I work with. I had a really bad day on Monday, which was the reason I was jubilant at the prospect of spending a whole day in school without having to go into class. (Today was ok though). Having said that, I am enjoying doing the maths ... though towards the end of the day I start to go a bit doolally!

Yes, I too was eagerly anticipating my salary going into my bank account today as I was up to the limit of my overdraft ... and I don't have any savings to fall back on!

I expect you've gone now, but if not

'Night 'night



Mimi
xxxx

Hi Mimi and anyone who's looking in

You were right to guess I'd gone last night; at 00:01 I closed down - how's that for discipline?!

I watched 'Party Animals' last night. Dreadful rubbish, I thought. I wonder if you liked it as I read somewhere it was billed as a cross between 'This Life' and 'The Thick of It'. Well, it's embarrassing to compare it with 'The Thick of It'. I know you're a 'This Life' fan (I'm not) so I wonder what you think of 'Party Animals' being likened to it.

I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with the girl you're trying to help. There was a piece on WH today about teachers being bullied at school. It was quite depressing, especially the bits where the parents seemed to think it was the teacher's place to take any nonsense the kids dish out. One mother even compared it with the way her child treated her as if that were some kind of excuse rather than a part of the problem. I hope you don't come in for anything as nasty. I think I've said here before that I don't know what keeps teachers going sometimes. I'd lose my cool - and my job - within days, if not hours!

I see you were asking about one of Kassandra's posts on WoM. I hope you don't mind if I respectfully advise you not to come between him and Jean. They're always arguing; mostly on the Woman Sour board, where I think someone once idly wondered if they were married, they were at each other's throats so much! He's also known as Le Crapaud d'Jerri (and Swami Upanunda, I think) and he and Jean have a history so long and complex that I can't really work out the rights and wrongs of it. But, trust me, it's not something you want to get mixed up with.

back later

H

Hello H - just you and me, kid!

'Party Animals' was kind of compelling in its awfulness (for just one night!), definitely not up to 'This Life' standard ... by the way, I think the main reason I liked that was because it was about lawyers!

Have you watched the video of 'Down The Line' on the front page of the Beeb website - do, if you haven't - it's only 15 mins.

The school situation is a bit complex and I can't really go into it here, I know you understand - suffice to say that the previous child I worked with was nearly always at arm's length or much further (he's very bright but visually impaired) whereas the one now is like a limpet!! It certainly is testing my mettle but like I said, I am well supported.

Thank you for your comments re Jerri and Jean, fully taken on board! I am aware of some of the history but I only give the WH board a quick glance now and then. Jean has made references to it on WoM so I followed up on a couple of these to see what she was talking about. They seem to converse politely on WoM (though it's not very often these days and quite often there is a bit of an 'edge' to the messages, especially Jean's). I certainly don't intend to come between them but I genuinely want to hear Jerri's explanation ... and so does Meldrew, so that's ok!! I will use utmost diplomacy, I promise.

Oh yes, thanks also for not mentioning .... you know what! (MG did today on the subject of the Orient, which led me on to West Ham).

Love
Mimi
xxxx

Good evening Mimi

Thanks for the info about the 'Down the Line' video. I have seen it but it's the thought that counts. It was a bit of a spoiler because some of the things in it hadn't been broadcast when the video went online. That bit with the woman saying she looked like the Irish singer, for example, was on this week. Amazing, isn't it, that Lucy Montgomery can be in something as awful as 'Tittybangbang' and something as good as 'Down the Line'. She must have needed the money when she made the former!

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I wouldn't want to try and influence your behaviour; I just thought maybe you didn't know about those two. I don't get to WH that much myself but every time I do they're arguing. It seems at times that Jean's having a go at him just because he's there but it's hard to judge without knowing the whole story - and life's too short for that!

I wouldn't tease you about the Hammers. I'm one of those softies who always wants them to stay up because of their historical commitment to attractive football. Chelsea, though...that's a different kettle of fish. Didn't we play them recently?

Must be off to bed now.

Goodnight

H

Good evening to anyone who's still looking in

I just thought I'd mention that I'm off to Amsterdam & London from tomorrow and won't be back until next Thursday evening. I don't usually log in while I'm away so don't be surprised if you do post here and don't get a response from me for a few days.

I'm sure you don't read the WH boards on a regular basis, Mimi; so in case you remember my mentioning the thread on BA's sexist policy I had to report today that I received an email from the airline confirming that they have a policy of not allocating unaccompanied children seats next to adult males. I was very disappointed as I had expected an innocent explanation for the stories I'd read; but my hopes weren't raised by the fact that it took them three months and several reminders to answer a simple question so I wasn't too shocked. I immediately replied informing them that they won't see a penny more of my money while this policy is in place and I'll be passing copies of the correspondence to my MP.

I'll be around until mid-afternoon tomorrow then it's off for the evening flight to Amsterdam - weather permitting; and not BA!

bye for now

H

Good morning, all.

Here I am back again after a very enjoyable holiday.

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My view on this, HtoHe, is that they have come to the right answer for all the wrong reasons.
I can't imagine anyone wanting to sit beside an unaccompanied child.
However, if they are to allow children to fly unaccompanied, the brats will have to sit beside someone.
It seems to me like discrimination in favour of men if they let the women suffer and the men enjoy some degree of peace.

Good afternoon Douglas

and welcome back. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your holiday. Where did you go? (you probably told us but my memory's letting me down). You didn't go to visit David Crosbie, did you?! By coincidence, he's just reappeared on the WoM board.

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I have a lot of sympathy with this point of view and I'm not one to cut off my nose to spite my face; but there's a huge matter of principle here that eclipses any considerations of convenience.

I'll be signing out in a couple of hours but I'll be back next Thur/Fri with a report about my travels.

bye for now

H

Hello H,

Just thought I'd send a welcome back message in time for your return - hope you've been having fun on your travels. I nearly went up to London today but decided to leave it until the weekend ... no engineering works planned on the railway lines so the journey should be more or less hassle-free (maybe I shouldn't have said that ... tempting fate or what?).

As usual, half-term is disappearing rapidly. I've been trying to get myself organised at home. Celebrated pseudo anniversary and Valentines Day by going out for a meal last night (also had my hair cut, which may not sound like much of an event but it was 10 months since the last one!).

I've got into a little sparring match with someone on WoM (why does this happen when you're not around??) - I don't think it will develop into anything nasty. (If you want to have a look, it's on "The Missing And In American Numbers").

Back later.

Mims
(this is my new nickname, thanks to Malagrowther, for friends only!)