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

It's on the Front Page: just click on either the link or the photo, and it will bring you there.
Or rather: it was on The Front Page, it's gone now.
Maybe this link will work:
<./>challengeh2g2</.>

Thanks, Bel. I have discovered that there is a lot of serious work going on in that area.

Although I said I would think about writing a bit longer and with more scientific zeal, the workload here at the moment is enough to fill my days.

This week it's the garden. The pleasure of being out of doors at last is indescribable. The birch trees have dropped twigs everywhere, so I'll have good fun clearing up.

Is your day going well? You seem to get about quite a bit here, but I expect that you also have a lively social life in Frankfurt.

Well, I don't have a garden to keep me busy, and I'm good at procrastinating - especially housework.
I do have my work, family and my friends, but I don't go out very often, I don't have the urge to do so. actually, I'm quite happy spending my time at the PC, reading, researching and talking with friends.

You sound really contented, Bel.

I usually am, yes. I love to go to the h2g2 meets in London, though.

So there's more to being an Ace than meets the eye?

, I missed your reply. Happens too often, but I'm not ignoring you.
Not sure about your question - what about the Aces does meet the eye?

Just a metaphor, Bel. I had not realised that Aces had meetings until you mentioned it. In other words, there are activities involved in being an Ace that do not immediately meet the eye.

Searching for this metaphor led to a good site about coffee machines which you may enjoy:

http://reviews.ebay.com/Espresso-Machines-more-than-meets-the-eye_W0QQugidZ10000000000951264

Ah, now I see. No, it's not the Aces who meet, although there'll be some other Aces, too. It's members of the h2g2 community who meet twice a year - if they can manage/afford to go there.
A16619592

Do you have an Espresso machine? We have one at work, I wouldn't want to have one at home. They're big and take a lot of space, and they're incredibly loud. Our kitchen is inconveniently situated between the bedrooms, so anybody making at 6.00am would wake up the whole family.

Ah, coffee. We make it with a Melitta style paper filter system every morning for breakfast. It's important not to use boiling water, as it makes the grounds bitter. I learned how to make coffee in France. The list of instructions was interminable, but all the advice pays off.

We have quite a few good sources of excellent coffee in Dublin and Bewleys continue to be one of the best shops for beans.

You're right about machines being noisy, Bel. I like waking up slowly to the gentle drip of liquid into our yellow coffee pot.

We have a coffee maker similar to this one :
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/coffee-maker-ch.jpg

It does beep once it's finished, but the beep isn't loud enough to wake you up if you're still asleep.
I don't buy beans, it would just make quite a noise to grind them

That is one seriously sophisticated coffee pot, Bel.

I have been a bit befuddled today, as I got some remarkable news. All the blogging I mentioned when we first met has paid off, it seems. The Photo Blog I started in Spring, 2006 has been nominated in the Irish Blog Award system.

If it had not been for my chat room pals at The Lounge, I would not have known:

http://lounge.techfocus.net/showthread.php?t=13394

This may be of interest to other posters in H2G2. I'll add some more information in today's journal entry.

Hope your day is going well.

Hi eE, congratulations.
I read the first page of the link you posted, are they serious with what they say? In that case, it doesn't look as if they're happy with the decision.

Thanks, Bel. Don't worry about the entertaining reactions. Making witty remarks is an Irish hobby called slagging.

Oh, ok then.

Another quick "Hi" from Dublin.

Hello eE, how are you? Busy in your garden? We're having some nice, mild weather here, it's like spring.

I'm delighted to hear that your weather is good, Bel. Everybody is more cheerful here, now that we can go about in sunshine again.

I've run out of chat this week. Yes, the garden and greenhouse are a priority, as there is a lot of pleasant work and the temptation is to just garden.

However, I also set myself a project to use the blog directory, Technorati, with as much understanding as possible. It's and excellent site and needs quite a bit of study. Do you know it?

http://technorati.com/

Back in chatting mode this week.

The early Spring has meant a lot of extra work in the garden, which is very enjoyable, but means that one runs out of steam quickly when it comes to computer tasks.

I tried, and failed, to share a witty Emoticon on another thread.

Next week's task shall involve learning about Flash Players and Incredimail, an e-mailing program which brings colour and movement to communicating on the Web.

You seem to have had similar weather to us yesterday, Bel.
There were Westerly Gales blowing across Ireland for the Atlantic.
Shelley's poetry came to mind.

Aww, but you in Ireland are used to this sort of weather.

I'm very busy writing something for the site. I was out last night, skittling, and now my wrist aches and my hand is heavy and aches from all the typing.

I don't know anything about Flash Players, but my husband does, he has a website for the youths of his model airplane club.