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

Ok, first off, I'll admit it, I'm a

But...


What should I do today?

On the one hand, I've a metric s**tload of work on my desk.
On the other, I've a PC with Dolby Surround Sound, a DVD player and the disks for the extended version of The Return of the King sat on my desk.

Work? or, Close the office door and watch a film?

when should work be ready?

Unless you have a really big screen on your PC, I'd wait until you get home to look at it. How long is it, anyway? Is it an extra 30 minutes over the cinema version?

do the work, then you can feel all virtuous and enjoy the film even more, later, and guilt free

Ok, moral dilemma sorted... Working in an office-ful of fellow s has several disadvantages... One being that one of the b**gers has swiped the disks

To answer Gnomon, apparantly it's 48 minutes longer than the cinema release - with the usual extra two disks of documentaries etc... (20 hours) and a couple of Easter Eggs.

OK, so let's guess what the extra 48 minutes include:

The Voice of Saruman.
The meeting of Gandalf and the Lord of the Nazgul at the gate/on the wall of Minas Tirith.
Sam walking through the gate of the tower of Kirith Ungol.
The Mouth of Sauron.
Aragorn's horse being led away before the final charge.

An *extra* 48 minutes I could have done without the last 20 minutes of the cinema version!

Yeah, they should have just ended it with Sam and Frodo surrounded by lava, and then done a voice-over during the final titles:

"Sam went on to have thirteen children and became the Mayor of the SHire. Aragorn became the King of Gondor and Arnor, married the elf and live to be 240. Gandalf retired from his job of fighting against evil and did a lot of smiling..."

I saw an ad for the extended edition on TV, and Aragorn was showing the sword of Elendil to the Eye in the Palantír.


Zube

Ok, here goes -

Extra chapters
(and apologies for any dodgy translations - The booklet is in French)

The Voice of Saruman
Eowyn's Song
The fall of Gondor
Crossroads of the Fallen King
Sam's Warning
'A student of no other wizard'
Peregrin - Tower Guard
The Pirates of Umbar
Merry's Courage
The Witch King
The Houses of Healing
Aragorn masters the Palentir
The White Lady and the Captain
Sauron's Mouth

So you got two right - but no mention of the disappearing horses

Oh, and now I've _really_ got to get on with some work

Why break the habit of a lifetime?

If you haven't got dolby surround sound at home, I'd watch it at work. I'd rather have fabulous sound and a small picture than a big picture and mediocre sound.

"If you haven't got dolby surround sound at home, I'd watch it at work. I'd rather have fabulous sound and a small picture than a big picture and mediocre sound."

Hmmmm, tempting - you might have a new job but that doesn't mean I really want to go looking for one tomorrow

I still have to behave myself.

Since when have you _ever_ behaved yourself???

More than you know over the past three years.

only three yrs?

Well, as a Beeb employee nearly. I miss three years by around 3 weeks.

Oooh, welcome back the old mina... and look out everyone - here she comes