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

Hi Jimi I'm working on an update to the 45 links article I did in the post for the third anniversary. And I'm doing an update on the people who had 42 articles last year including you good self. I was thinking of doing a bit from each of the five of us to nominate our favourite article of our own writing and a bit about why we write so much. If you can give me something along those lines I'd be grateful.

Wow, that's a tough one...

I always figure my best entry is going to be the next one I write.

Let me give this a think and I'll get back to you. What's your deadline?

Monday week I suppose. I have three of the others. Well OK one is me and I'll write it anytime now.

OK, after much deliberation...

I liked A732818 - Pennsylvania State Farm Show because it's got a lot of good insider information from a lifetime of going to the show.

But I'm also very fond of A793695 - Old Mill Crab House, Bethany Beach, Delaware, USA which I feel is more what Douglas was looking for in entries.

But if you're forcing me to pick my favourite I'm going with the Crab House (a non-Pennsylvania entry?!? ).

As for why I write for h2g2 - the answer is simple really.
My wife works three nights a week at a posh restaurant so after I get the kids to bed and I finish the housework, I can either watch TV or do something productive.

After nearly a decade of working at newspapers where I was asked to write creative, informative articles each day, the past three years working in public relations and writing vapid wishy-washy press releases has been torture (But the hours, money and benefits are great!).

So have I sold my soul? Possibly. But my kids have got to eat!

So for me, h2g2 really provides an ideal outlet for me to release some of my pent up creative energy without being told by anyone *what* to write. I can do whatever strikes my fancy and I'm sure of it being read (if only by a few people).

After I finish my master's degree I expect that I might try to do some freelance writing and get paid for my 'creative outbursts'. But until then, h2g2 is really quite a nice outlet to preserve my sanity and keep my craft sharp.

Besides, the idea that I'm adding to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy still has its own appeal as well...

==========
Sorry for rambling on so much there...

I guess I could have just said I contribute to h2g2 simply so I can beat DD to 100.

I will add that last statement in as well Jimi. It is sp[oken from the heart no doubt.

Just writing this up what is your Master's degree in? The readers may want to know

Master of Journalism.

Yeah I know I am getting the copy in before the deadline, but what's the degree stupid.

In one of my classes, I actually new more than the instructor (real world vs university experiences). That was fun.

Still once I get my degree, I'll be qualified to teach.

Ah good. So the speed of writting entries should slow down then what with you having to prepare classes and mark assessments and all then.

I don't know about the UK, but here in the US college professors have *lots* of free time...

Or so it seemed to me as a student.

Darn. Need to become a full time politician then.

I'm not sure where to write this message but well thanks for a lovely welcome am I the only newbie around?

Hello there opticalillusion!

I don't know quite what you're referring to, but then again, I don't know lots of things.

If you're a 'newbie' does that make me an 'oldie'? 'Cause if it does, I reckon I'm going to re-register just so I'm not an 'oldie but goodie'!

I've been banging around this site since 1999-ish. But if you'd like some pointers, I'd be more than happy to steer you in the proper direction.

One easy way to find other 'newbies' if that's what you seek is to click the 'Who's Online' link and check out the users' names that say (new this week) beside their names.

Welcome to h2g2!

If I can be of help, just give me a shout in this forum or start a new one at my personal space U53353.


- Jimi X

Thanks Jimi X I didn't realise that it stated that I was new next to my signinname so I guess what happens is that people change their personal spaces and say hi to the newbies like you did to me. I would put a smile here but I'm not sure how to use the emoticons yet. Having visited several peoples spaces yours as well as theirs have inspired me to create my very own great space. I may well need a helping hand though seeing as I don't know much about computers but I am learning. Anyway thanks again see you around this site sometime.

As far as emoticons go, if you click on one, it'll take you to the page with all the shortcut codes for them. There should also be a table of about two dozen whenever you respond to a forum posting...

And as for creating a great page, let's just say my learning curve was rather steep. But once you learn the ins and outs of GuideML, you'll find it wasn't nearly as bad as you'd feared - and then you'll be ready to dive into html and some xml.

Or at least that's what happened to me.

A friend of mine is a whizz at computers but I don't want her to help me create my own space I'd rather do it myself and have people on here help me. Html and xml etc sound really scary, hopefully they aren't as bad as they sound.

It's not bad at all really...

You'll be surprised at how fast you pick it up. Have you seen the Guide ML Clinic yet?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/hub/GuideML-Clinic

It's a good place to get an overview of the whole thing!


- Jimi X

Pretty easy really. And if you do get stuck you can always shout at one of us old timers we tend to know a thing or three.

*creaks of into the distance*

Young whipper snapper.

Thanks for the web address for guide ml. Hopefully I can pick it up quite quickly I am eager to see my finished space. Thanks also goes to Demon Drawer for being willing to help a newbie.