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

Hi Jimi,

I've fininshed the last entry in the project, so it's time to turn over the controls to you... and there's no one I could turn them over to with more confidence. Thanks for taking this on. I appreciate it.

I'm going on holidays tomorrow for two weeks, trekking down to Louisiana, with a quick stop in Kentucky for a julep.

There's certainly no need to hurry, in any case. I've been fiddling with the thing for ages.

Cheers.

JTG

I've posted a note on the University Admissions Office page to let Chris, or whoever is working the levers at the moment, know that I've reached my maximum level of done-ness, which means you should be issued edit buttons, I think.

JTG

Thanks John. I've already listed you in my 'projects' page (my virtual to-do list) and I reckon Chris will hook me up on Monday.

If he doesn't, I'll start posting rude comments to his personal spaces until he gives in.

Like I said, I'm motivated to do this project since I'll be working in the garden full-tilt for the next few weeks getting ready for the frost and dormant season.

Have a good trip and try to stay out of trouble down south!

- X

Almost finished.

I've got a question on the nitrogen cycle however where you said:
'The urine (ammonia) is converted by bacteria in the soil first to nitrites, then to nitrates; which are used by plants to produce chlorophyll for photosynthesis...'

I didn't think there should be a double nitrates there, but of course, I could be wrong.

Otherwise, a fine entry!

I got a bit link-happy, and if you want, I can remove the ones you don't like.

Back again.

The South was beautiful, as were the Southerners. We stayed out of trouble, I think, by getting the heck out of New Orleans... won't go near there again.

The nitrate conversion process is about gaining and losing oxygen atoms (as I understand it ). Nitrate compounds have one less oxygen atom than nitrite compounds... or is it the other way around? At any rate, the nitrates and nitrites represent different stages in the cycle. I did't want to get into the chemistry too deeply, mainly because I'm not up the the task, but also because I want to keep things firmly in the macroscopic view from the shed window, as much as possible.

Thanks for the links. I intended to add some myself, but I was keen to finish before we went away.

1) You're not supposed to be back yet. I wanted to finish these before you returned. So go away!

2) I'm going to blame my poor monitor and not my failing eyesight for missing the subtle distinction between 'nitrIte' and 'nitrAte' - different words actually have different meanings?

3) Glad you had a nice trip.

Nitrates have an NO3 group (i.e. one nitrogen and 3 oxygen atoms). Nitrite is NO2 (i.e. one fewer oxygen atoms).

Glad to be of seeerviiiice.

Oi. You'll get your crack at these entries soon enough!

*strains on leash*

*ties leash to bumper of car*

Finished.

Completed.

Fin.

Two more to go...

============================
These are brilliant. I'd have gotten started with the edits sooner, but I've printed them out and am using them in the garden. It's 80 as I'm typing this so I'm trying to prepare the garden for next year and get my pruning done and while I'm at it, I'm propagating some privet...

You'll do yerself a mischief.

I'm glad you're having fun with them, and that the information is useful... you're not using them as a mulch, I hope.

It's been beautiful here today, too. Although we have had some ferocious little Pittsburgh-esque storms racing through. I spent today taking up fountain grass and cannas for winter storage... and watching the rain from the shelter of a gazebo.

JTG

That same storm is expected here on Thursday morning - and drop the temperature 30 degrees when it's gone.

I guess winter had to begin sometime...

And mulch? That's what newspapers are for.

I *knew* they were useful for something...

Nice work Jimi - I'll add them to my list of projects to check over. We've got five in at once!

We've had incredible flooding around Cambridge - the park near me is under two feet of water!

Do I need Mina's help in restraining you?

I've still got two more to Sub before I'm done with the project!

Down boy! Down!

Oh go on - at least throw me a stick!

I can feel a project about newspapers coming on... mulch, bird cage liners, sun hats, wrapping chips...

JTG

Quiet you.
I still write for a local paper once a week.

Heh. What am I saying? I've still got two more entries to edit...

...now where did I leave that red marker...