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

Hi EE,

Hope you don't mind me creating a separate thread for this.

Yes, fine thanks. I've been busy writing another couple of entries, and I'm shepherding them through Peer Review. The UK's snow-bound today, but it's improving quickly.

How are things with you?

It's cool to have a separate thread, Icy.

All's well in Dublin. The sleet stopped falling during the night and it is just under 9 degrees in our greenhouse. No need for snow ploughs.

Here's hoping a thaw comes soon to the UK.

Yes, separate threads are always the best way. I remember when I started here I occasionally trod on a few people's toes by posting to 'private' conversations. I hastily unsubscribed from them and now I tend to have a separate thread going for each two-way chat.

UK weather report - the sleet has melted the snow, but it's still weather for penguins, so I'm staying put.

It's been a long time since I was in Dublin (20 years I think) - had a great time at a wedding. I must go back one day.

Icy

Dublin has been transformed in the past years. It would be interesting to see what changes you would find on a visit. We have a very new development at Dundrum which is going to be one of the largest shopping complexes in Europe.

The city skyline is full of cranes and buildings under construction.

So long as the bars are still there - that's all I remember, apart for the sheer numbers of traffic lights.

They've been building ever-larger shopping centres all over England over the last 10/20 years: Metro Centre, Brent Cross, Lakeside, Bluewater, Cribbs Causeway, Merry Hill. All it seems to do is turn the old shopping centres into ghost towns. I hope the new one doesn't spoil the character of Dublin.

I took a train trip to the North of England yesterday, and it struck me how much of the industrial revolution architecture was still being used in towns like Birmingham, Burton & Sheffield, while in the south it's all been swept aside for vacant steel and glass offices for an IT industry which has passed by the UK and gone to India.

I have to admit that I like shiny new shopping complexes. They are very warm and clean. Also, there is a tendency to employ friendly staff. I'll think further about your thoughts on the subject of changes to cityscapes in the British Isles. I was amused to see that you still remember Irish bars. They are very important. I had some interesting news about blog awards which I've been discussing with Bel. Thought you might enjoy it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F4996925?thread=3431427&post=45674498#p45674498

Thanks EE, I'll look up that blog awards thing when I get a few moments.

Thanks, Icy.

I enjoy your sense of humour, Icy.

I thought that this Youtube link might entertain you.

Regards,

Anouilh

http://moderntwist2.blogspot.com/2007/03/blog-post_23.html#links

Hi EE - great link - I really enjoyed that.

I've worked in IT since the mid-1980s and I've seen things which are just like that.

I once had to demonstrate a computer system to the senior director of a military establishment - he was a naval officer, very English 'stiff upper lip' type. This was in the 1980s, and the computer mouse had only just arrived into the office, and this was the first time this guy had seen one.

Anyway, I switched his PC on, and ran the program for him, and then I said "There you are, why don't you click on a few things and see how it works?"

He sat motionless with his hand on the mouse and said (after a long pause) "How do I get the little arrow to go left and right?"

"Well", I said, "you move the mouse left and right on your desk". He did this. "Oh, yes" he said in his clipped fashion.

"So ... how, do I get the little arrow to move up and down?"

"Well, you move the mouse up and down!"

I then had to bite my lip hard, as I watched this guy lifting the mouse up off his desk and putting it down again.


Icy

That is humourous. I've sent your story to some friends, to cheer them up, Icy.

Anecdotes of people struggling with new tech systems are everywhere on the web.

I'm glad you enjoyed it - I'll never forget it.

To complete the story of the Naval secretary - his office was an enormous oak-panelled affair, and it was the first time I'd been summoned there. When he finally got the computer working, I turned around to leave and realised that there were a number of doors in front of me.

I said something cheerful like "If you need any help, just give me a call", then opened a door and walked straight into his broom cupboard.

Now I'm laughing out loud. Much needed after a bizarre interchange with a computer firm this morning. The 'phone kept going dead and I'm still not sure if I had been speaking to a person or a machine.

It's difficult to tell sometimes, isn't it? My job puts me in contact with an Indian helpdesk, and I think that sometimes they can get so frustrated with the communication difficulties that they simply hang up.

A week away from 'phones and computers has left a mellow feeling.
We were in Yorkshire, a wonderful place.

Hope all's well with you, Icy.

Hi EE.

Yes, I love Yorkshire too - the Dales particularly. There's something very English about the stone walls, the steep hills and winding roads, and the pubs selling proper real ale. Yorkshire Tea's my favourite too. My grandfather was from Yorkshire, so I'm probably eligible to play for the cricket team.

Must dash, unfortunately - speak soon!

Thanks for the feedback, Icy. I'm posting photos to my blog to share what we saw on holidays.

Hi EE - That sounds interesting - I'll take a look when work lets me.

I had another entry published on the <./>FrontPage</.> today - a very silly one about saying Grace in Latin.

See you around!

Your Latin post is excellent, Icy. It also reminds me why I'm content to hang out in the foothills of society. I can manage the occasional "et cum Spiritu tuo", however. Shall post a link from your post on my blog, as it could come in useful.

It has struck me that I should ask for permission to link your post to a personal blog,Icy.