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

So, how are you liking the new "Big Brother" version of h2g2? I much preferred it when moderation was a reactive mechanism, rather than a "let's moderate everything as it's posted and remove anything offensive because the BBC doesn't want to take any chances".

All external URL's disabled? Ooo, what fun this place is now. I think it's much better off without all that pesky artwork that people used to have on their pages.

I can't find any of the old conversations, all the threads people started on my home page are gone, we're not allowed to swear and are apparently restricted to the English language, possibly because the BBC fears that other languages, or even the gibberish you and I throw at each other, could conceivably contain coded pro-terrorism secret message.

Hey, watch this: f**k

No, I didn't put any asterisks in that word. It's "Big Brother". The stupid thing is that is the first time I have ever put a swear word in a post on h2g2. Pretty sad.

Hope you're back soon.

Well, it's a day later since the last post. I've discovered that my old conversations are back along with two or three threads on my home page. All my pictures are still missing, though (as are yours) and my other pages are still pending moderation, including the glorious weevil pages.

I think perhaps they should have moderated everything before reopening the site. It would have lessened the shock, I think. And they did say they were going to e-mail everybody when the site reopened but I've never received one. Perhaps this is why you have not come flocking back here yet.

Oh yeah, I changed jobs whilst I was away from h2g2. Back into game programming again. Guess I just couldn't keep away for very long.

Just couldn't resist coming back. I think I can cope with the terms and conditions as long as TPTB (now all a little sinister) don't get too heavy-handed with moderation. I think I'm grown up enough to self-moderate, and I'd be interested to see what, if anything, gets censored.

But it's good to be back, even if under not exactly the most frilly loveliest of circumstances.

Shame though, as my phone bill recently has been scarily affordable

Yay! (can I say "yay"?)

Despite the rampant censorship and a complete lack of personal graphics of any kind, h2g2 just got a little bit frizzier. That's got to count for something.

It's certainly a shame so many of the old conversations have disappeared! I got all my guide entries back but none of the attached conversations - yet there are old conversations here. I'm not very sure what is going on.

Do you know if any of the church members have returned? How is the church doing? Has it survived the shake-up?

Ultimately, frizziness will seep through the whole structure of h2g2 and all will be well (actually, all will be a bit frizzy, but they're almost identical)

I believe your conversations will slowly reappear, as they are doing for me. When I got my page back up, there were no conversations and no journal entries at all. Now my journal stuff is restored, three of my home page conversations are back, as are most of my old conversations from elsewhere on h2g2.

Still missing all the weevil nonsense - hope it shall return soon.

Been feeling a little out-of-it for the past few days (a bit run down and low?) so maybe the return of all this insanity will perk me up a bit


I hate winter, it bites.

Isn't it getting spring-ish over there in old Blighty? We had rain today but it was a wonderfully mild seven degrees (celsius, of course).

Which weevil nonsense in particular are you referring to, Frizz? The church pages are back up, although it's devoid of all conversations started on the page.

Gosh heck, even Kensington's page is back up.

Oh, I don't know what I'm talking about anymore. Just ignore me

Didn't mean it - please don't ignore me

Blimey, I felt shockingly bad this morning - utterly miserable and did NOT want to go to work at all.

But I did drag myself out of bed,

and at lunchtime got dragged to the gym by a "lovely colleague" which although I really didn't want to go, did make me feel better

and then skived out of work early and had a quick sunbed session.

So I actually feel vaguely human now - and certainly more cheerful than I did earlier

So please don't ignore me

Ignore you? When have I ever?

Winter always seems to get me down. All this bloody rain. Snow is better than rain when it's cold, as it tends to sort of bounce off you, whereas rain tends to stick to your skin. Once there, it freezes, lowering your core body temperature until you are thoroughly depressed. And bloody freezing.

Being in general a peace-loving, warmth-loving individual, I tend to favour summer. Because it's warm. I can go outside and wear a t-shirt and look... well... skinny, I suppose.

Lots and lots of rain today, and cold, windy wind. Kind of forced me to go out to the Mexican restaurant for lunch today, as it's only two doors down from the office. Ironically, my chicken enchilada was served at approximately 7,000 degrees. Indeed, had my napkin so much as brushed the plate, it would likely have burst into flame. And they surround the bloody thing with refried beans, which must have some ingredient in it (beans, I suppose) that sucks up all heat energy in a three yard radius and retain it for hours (in much the same fashion as tomatoes on a pizza). Oh well, at least it got me out of the office.

When I left my old job, I got a rather hefty going-away paycheck which included my accumulated holiday pay. So, naturally (being a guy), I bought some gratuitous technology. I picked up a Marantz RC5000 universal remote control. It was way more expensive than a remote control should ever, ever be but, well, I've got it now, and it makes me happy, even though it took me four days to program it.

I also (finally) bought a laptop to replace the one I had to give back to the company when I left. A Sony Vaio PCGZ505LS. One inch thick, and possibly the last hi-tech purchase I will make for some time, or until I finish paying for it; whichever comes first. I should be picking it up tomorrow. It's one sexy piece of hardware, let me tell you (well, maybe that's a guy thing again, or rather, a geek thing). It's all so exciting.

So, go on then - how much WAS the remote control? I think we should be told about this outrageous piece of gadget-extravagance What does it do, for crying out loud!!

Weather-wise, it has been pretty lousy (*trying v. hard to come up with alternative to a rude word*). Wet, cold, windy, grey and I had to work late (lousy 12 hour day -- ok from now on, for 'lousy' read something a little stronger) so had to trudge home in the dark and rain. And was starving hungry - ooh, not good, lousy in fact.

But apart from that, how much was the remote control!!

Well, compared to the price of the laptop, it was practically a steal at $825.00. Now before you go leaping about, you should first realise that that's in Canadian funds, which is only about 35 pounds, I believe. So it's not too bad. It was on sale, if that helps.

But it's a touch-screen remote, with a backlight, no less. Plus, I can use a windows program to create all my own menus with my own graphics and everything. It was a frightening amount of work but very rewarding. Like somebody said, "It doesn't work unless you pay for it", although I think they were referring to psychiatry.

I could instead have purchased the Denon remote which, for $1000.00 supports RF as well as infra-red (for multi-room support), but it was ugly and ugly and I didn't like the look of it and it was ugly. Also, I don't need multi-room capability. Besides, $1000.00 crosses a certain threshold where, had I bought it, I would _never_ have told you how much it cost. In fact, I wouldn't even tell anyone I'd bought it; it would be my own dirty little secret.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that it can control virtually any device that understands infra-red signals (because I design all the menu screens myself, I can make as many buttons as needed. If you want to see it, you can go to the remote central site (remote central with no space in between). There's a picture of it there, I think (mine is champagne-coloured). Comes with a lovely matching stand that also charges the batteries.

Plus you can create macro buttons. So I have a "Turn Everything On" button and buttons for "Watch TV", "Watch a Movie", "Play a Video Game", which set all the correct inputs on the receiver and TV, etc.

It's currently replaced four of my remotes, and perhaps even a fifth if I've half a mind to control my mini-stereo as well.

Boy, that's one expensive remote control (and I'm afraid I have to question your grasp on the exchange rate ). Well, for that much I'd hope it controls absolutely everything - what an extravagance. I nearly choked on my muesli when I read that

So, how/what is the new job? Are you enjoying it?

As I said, it's a bit of an indulgence.

The job is going well so far. After two years of business programming, I now feel like I'm actually using my brain again. As it turns out, some bits of it (i.e., my brain) have developed a little surface rust, but nothing a little sanding and filler can't fix.

Please refrain from the obvious "what do you mean, 'using your brain _again_'" remark.

You always give me too much credit for coming up with fantastic put-downs

Have had one of those evil nights where I feel utterly old and decrepid. Spent the night in my local pub, which had a band playing, who happened to be on average about 12 years old. So the place was filled with youngsters (which I guess, by the fact that they were all pissed, was illegal).

Unfortunately, the main ramification of this is that I feel about 50 years old. My male friends, who I was drinking with, all spent the night blatantly drooling over these children, so making me feel utterly s**t (sorry about the swearing but I am drunk and angry, it is simply a reflection of the genuine colloquial language of dissillusioned Britain - sue me). I know it is little more than jealousy, but I don't care. I feel angry so I'm afraid I have had to vent it. It is not aimed at anyone in the h2g2 commnity (who are universally lovely) but at the state of my life.

(sorry)

Not really sure what to tell you. I suppose I used to feel the same way at some point, but I don't think it bothers me anymore. Just because you're older than they are doesn't mean you can't be immature and have fun. Look at me; I've got an apartment full of weevils, for god's sake.

Very true, young man, but you must be bordering on senility at your age

I do feel much more rational this morning, and rather unsurprisingly a little bit hungover. But I have dragged myself out of bed (to have a haircut - the frizziness is getting abit out of hand) and shall spend the day doing youthful frivolous things