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

... deferred gratification indeed!

What is a Subcom? Why Deidzoeb?

*just gagging with curiosity, now*

B

To make a short story long, I used to sing & play guitar (or banjo, and/or harmonica) regularly at a coffee house's open mike night, using the name "Evil Bob Dayjob." This name ironically lets people know that I am very conscious about whether to quit my dayjob, so they don't feel the need to remind me.

At some point, I spelled the word "dayjob" as I thought it might be spelled in Italian, the way they pronounce "dei" similar to "day." I also meant to fool people into thinking it was a real surname, but doubt it has worked. So the proper pronunciation of "Deidzoeb" is either "Dayjob" or an Italian accent stumbling over the word "Dayjob".

"Subcom." is the abbreviation used by Subcomandante Marcos of the EZLN, the Zapatista uprising that started in Mexico around 1994 and still hasn't been totally squashed. The guy writes fairly well for a leader of a revolution, and even writes a series of stories for children featuring a cockroach who explains heavy revolutionary jargon and theories. I started using "Subcom." as part of my handle on h2g2 when I started the Zaphodistas.

Ah so. Thanks for that. Curiosity duly satisfied.

I have been meaning to ask you where you are in the US. GTBacchus and I are doing a tour in the summer, seeing as many researchers as we can. A rolling h2g2 meet. Where are you? Can I buy you lunch? Or at least give you a tellytubbie?

B

I got a talking La-La for my wife, but we don't have Tinky-Winky, Dipsy or Po. I'm in Michigan, somewhere between Detroit and Chicago. I'd rather not say on here which town exactly, but I'll email it to you. (There are some Texans who have written lovely things in my guestbook for a webpage I wrote titled "F**k Texas." I'd rather not mention exactly in which town I can be reached, because some of them have stated their intentions to reach me with a knife.)

Sure, that would be great if we could get together. I'd even be willing to drive an hour or two if it would put me more along your planned route. What areas are you planning to visit?

Ah Texans... Actually the only person I know (apart from GTB himself) who claimed to come from Texas had been moved there by his parents when he was in his teens. As a result I know I don't know what Texans are actually like, even though I do know what dumbass jerks who desperately want to be Texans think that Texans are like.

The plan? You think we have a PLAN??? Come on now! This is GTB and agcB you are talking about now.

The vague idea is to go up the east coast of the USA, seeing ~jwf~ at one end of Canada and cl zoomer at the other end. I guess we could dip into and out of Michigan on our way through. We start from - er - Texas early in July and get back there early in September.

I am going to buy a map tomorrow, and stick labels on it and pins into it, with colour coding, and threads and things!

B

No, the people in Texas are actually fairly cool. It's like anyplace else, some good parts and some bad parts, some good people and some bad people. Just no other place has a reputation like Texas. Not "holier than thou," but more like "bigger and better than y'all." Luckily not all Texans act like that.

In 1997 I moved to Houston to see if my penpal was as friendly in person as she seemed on paper. We got married and I dragged her back north. So there are some Texans I can get along with well.

T-shirt slogan: "I love G.R.I.T.S. (Girls Raised In The South)"

That joke might not work for you if you are not familiar with "grits" as an alleged food item tolerated by Southerners. It's not as scary as Marmite.

"not as scary as Marmite"

So often the people who are genuine are cool, and the people who really really wish they were the real McCoy are eejits. Same with the Scots and the Irish. There are any number of people who desperately wish they were Scottish or Irish, (because their father/grandmother/small dog/whatever was) and over-egg the pudding.

This non-Texan 'Texan' was also supposedly ex-military and ex-government too. And not surprisingly a large amount of my work (he was my manager for a while) now has his name on it and not mine. I should have planted a couple of easter eggs. Anyway - we ended up with the shorthand phrase 'Bulls**t's bigger in Texas'. I was delighted to discover this is true when I went to Australia. There they have entire factories given over to what this boy does all the time, making 'High Analysis Fertilizer'.

All the best

B

Around here, the heritage that people commonly brag about or lie about is that one of their forefathers came on the Mayflower, or that they are part Indian (usually a Cherokee Grandmother). A little over half of the population from Southern states believe they are descended from Gen. Robert E. Lee, hero of the "War of Northern Aggression."

I thought I was mostly German until a few years ago when I looked up my last name on the internet and found out it's English. Damn internet.

Btw - did you get my emailed response to my reading-homework? I am curious to know your reaction to my reaction!

B

Yeah, I emailed a long reply. I hope it didn't get lost in transit. I'm pretty sure I saved a copy if you'd like me to send it again. I think I sent it to a different email address than the ones you've used before. Is there a particular one I should use?

Thanks for your help!

[email protected] is the best - let me check

B

When I went back to my email to check, there was a "Failed delivery" notice. I sent a copy to your yahoo.co.uk acct.

Got it!

Thanks.

B

I popped another 3 to you in too much haste the other evening? Did they get to you?

Ping me on any of:
AGirlCalledBen on Yahoo Messenger
GirlCalledBen on AOL Instant Messenger
[email protected] on MSN
or AGirlCalledBen on Y!
if you see me online and are so inclined. If I don't reply it is because I am away from my PC.



B

Two messages rec'd 3 Feb and another message on 4 Feb. I replied on the fourth but I don't understand why it keeps bouncing back. I receive your messages from the hotmail acct, but when I reply to that account, they never get through. Luckily I saved a copy of my reply. Just forwarded that to your yahoo.co.uk acct.

I'm not usually on instant messenger except when I'm at home, which would be about 5-8 A.M. GMT?

7.00 to 8.00 am is usually fine. The only reason this trip came about is that Tony is a complete insomniac, and the only reason we can plan it at all is that I get up early and he stays up late!

I will let you have my personal addy next time I reply. It is much easier and better.



B

Get your ass on over to: F114962?thread=249092

Anna has said something about having a dozen Miners, and they are volunteering fast, bless 'em!

B