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

I'm actually waiting for it to come out on DVD ... True surround-sound, high-definition imagery, all that techno-babble stuff. And hopefully, in understandable English !!!

on DVD?? but surely Romeo and Juliette is published on DVD??

Hi Babette - Dinosaur
Our families had history Do Tell


Bob...

To be totally honest, on the very rare occassions that I look for a video to rent, Shakespeare is never very high on my list of "what to look for".

Here's something I have been chewing on for a full day now. Maybe you friends have a perspective?

There was a young man, about 25, 6' 5" or so, very shy and retiring. Always stepping aside when meeting anyone. It took a few months, but we became casual friends at work. If we met in the coffee room, the smoke-area, where-ever, we could chat pretty easily. He was still extra-ordinarily quiet, but had a lovely dry sense of humour. He was single, had family, made no mention of any romantic interests, but was really into the labours of taking a very run-down house and making it his home.

Wednesday, something must have triggered. He was escorted to the medical officer, perhaps medicated for depression, and sent home for lunch. With direct orders to meet a counselling session in the afternoon. When he didn't show, the military police (and civilian counter-part) checked at his home. In some fashion, he had killed himself in that couple of hours.

How would any of you come to grips with this?

That is something very difficult to come to terms with. I dont know what to say so just have lots of

There's nothing I can say except, it's such a tragedy and such a waste of a young life

someone else's books are hard to read, harder to understand.

..

no criticising, no judging.

People are killing themselves all the time.
If he was very quiet, felt that he could talk to no-one then he must have been at his wits' end.

Posting comments up here on the BBC can be frustrating sometimes. Especially if, forever whatever reason, one is feeling paranoid and think the DJs are talking about them. If they get the way that person is feeling wrong, and nobody can be bothered to listen, or there wasn't anyone available to listen, what else could he do?

I'm now home, and as it was a 2 hour drive from the airport, a Corporal filled us in on the sequence of events, and the end. I'm more than a little angry at some of the people that I work with, for having missed some very obvious concerns. And dealing completely wrong. The lad might still have been with us.

Mind, if he was in a bad enough place, then I suppose it would happen sooner or later. In the end, it's just such a waste of a good heart and young life.

That's a horrible story...
Makes you wonder if it could have been avoided if he'd had someone to talk to earlier. Sometimes that can help.
*sigh*
So many sad stories, in life.

Of the days leading to his tragic demise, there were such obvious signs that he was not right, distressed somehow. Of course, we will all work past it. But for a time, there will be some folks with very guilty consciences ... And not very popular at work.

Such a shame, I just hope no-one joins him down that road

the poor guy
but sometimes, with some people, they are so down they really can't see a way out
and talking to someone (professional or not) can easily lead to them concluding that there IS no way out.

you'll be needing a lot of

Something about the military beast seems to be somewhat more prone to such excesses. Both of you ladies will know that from your own visions and versions of the road. So, sad as it was, life will go on. With a noticeable hole for a time.

I thank you both for your thoughts. &

indeed, I encountered a couple of this type of extreme in my time. It's never nice, but the machine moves on.

Yeah, it does. So picking up the pieces and moving on ... with a if you don't mind ...

Has there been any bit of celebration in your world, good Lady?

yes, starts a new job today, I ran 7km and was hungry for more last night, and currently I'm in my jammies waiting for a guy to call to arrange a job interview.

for you for me

how are you feeling?

On the whole, not too badly. For 4 am. Somethings, it just takes me a bit of time to wrap my head around. Today, I'll just focus on clearing away fresh and old snow that has accumulated. Wouldn't ya just know it, the first real winter arrives while I'm out of town?

But hey !!! I finally get to play with my snow-blower again.