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

Late-night party animal with writing skills required...

Posted Jun 28, 2002

Well it's been an amazing few years! I'm really sorry to see Mark leave!

I first talked to Mark via email; I'd been on h2g2 from the beginning and I sent him a copy of my CV on his second day at work, pleading for a job. He said he hadn't got any, but he'd bear it in mind. I didn't think he really meant it, but a month or so later he sent me an email to say that he was putting an ad in the paper for a Deputy Editor, and if I was interested, I should apply. But before the ad went out, he rang me up and asked me to come in and meet him, he wanted a Community Editor too, so would I like to come into the office to talk to him about it? Of course I said yes! Mark offered me the job then and there, and I accepted. He later told me that he planned to give the job to me on the basis of our long email communication, 'unless I turned out to be a complete pillock in real-life'. Thanks Mark!

So I handed in my notice and had to sit and wait impatiently for six weeks for my notice period to end. In the intervening period Mark interviewed the Deputy Eds (interestingly Sam was interviewed, but behaved in such a nutty way first time round that Mark didn't hire him then, he should have done he's such a lovely bloke!) and found Anna, so the team started to take shape.

Right from the beginning it was fun. None of us had any idea how to run a community site, so we made it all up, drew plans all over the whiteboards, and Mark jumped around being the hyperactive thing he always is! I found him to be hugely entertaining company, he was, and still is, one of the quickest wits I know!

We soon discovered a joint passion for staying out late, drinking too much and generally behaving badly. The TDV Christmas party of 2000 is one I'll *always* remember! Anyway we had great fun, and we're remarkably good friends now, I'm *really* glad I met Mark and pestered him for a job three years ago, without him it just *wouldn't* have been so much fun.

So I wish him all the best, and I'll see him when he gets back. Do you think the BBC will let me run an ad for 'Late-night party animal with writing skills required?

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Latest reply: Jun 28, 2002

The cat in the hat is back!

Posted Jun 25, 2002

Oh well, all good things have to come to an end. I'm back from holiday. It was great, I'm slightly browner than I was when I went away, and I'm definitely more relaxed. Being back in the office is bound to sort both of those out relatively quickly though!..

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Latest reply: Jun 25, 2002

On holiday...

Posted Jun 5, 2002

I'm off on holiday from tomorrow for a couple of weeks. If you need anything please just ask Natalie, Linda or Abi and they'll help you out.

Take care everyone, have fun and see you all in a bit!

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Latest reply: Jun 5, 2002

Posted Jun 1, 2002

It's a long weekend in the UK this weekend. It's the Queen's Golden Jubilee, so the great British population are using this as an excuse to close down, ship out and go down the pub. Everything is officially closed for a few days, including the h2g2 office.

Some of us may log on to h2g2 to join in the festivities, but if you're looking for an official response or a meaningful debate, you're out of luck, we're on holiday.

Normal service will be resumed when we're back in the office. Probably.

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Latest reply: Jun 1, 2002

New job!

Posted May 16, 2002

Hi h2g2 people!

You might have seen the announcement to say that we've changed the h2g2 team structure: F77636?thread=184265.

Mark U13, Jim U6 and myself now comprise the new DNA Team, which is responsible for the editorial, community and technical aspects of the DNA project. In non-geek speak this means that we're helping others to start and run new communities by training the staff, and generally talking through the concept and helping to advise on ways to proceed.

This doesn't mean that we're leaving h2g2; Mark is still Editor of h2g2 and I'm still Community Editor; it's just that we'll be working on other projects as well now, and might take a bit longer for us to reply to postings and questions on h2g2.

We're also hoping to have the opportunity to use h2g2 as a test-bed, because you give us such wonderful feedback when we suggest new features or projects. The idea is that we can pilot them here, develop them, and then extend them on across into other the DNA communities once we've refined and fine-tuned them.

It sounds like it's going to be good, and to working with Mark and Jim from now on!

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Latest reply: May 16, 2002