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

I did read "Last Chance to See" It was really good but a hard book to read. It was a while back and I'd forgotten about most of it except the komodo dragon part. I do remember the NZ bird part now. It was funny and heartbreaking too as I remember.

The Kakapo is the bird in the NZ chapter. A rellie of mine as it happens, although a distant one. A certain researcher is in fact researching Kakapo for an entry - or she is meant to be if she wasn't playing silly buggers on h2 all the time.


I'm not sure how hedgehogs came to be in NZ, I'll have to find out now. Possums were introduced to start a fur trade, and stoats to control the rabbits . And yep the rats jumped ship (although there were kiore rats here already that the Maori brought with them. The introduced rats ate most of them). Cats would have insisted on their own berth on the ship coming over.


HB I'm finding Last Chance to See a hard read too. I've only read the NZ chapter which was very funny* and yes very heartbreaking. Researching the Kakapo is heartbreaking too, not just because of the Kakapo, which is bad enough, but because of the whole general situation for birds species here.

*I know one of the people in the chapter - the helicopter pilot who when asked if he has any funny stories to tell says he set fire to his hands while sitting in the helicopter because he had forgotten about his fuel soaked gloves and he lit a cigarette. He wants to know if that is the sort of funny story they mean. That had me rolling on the floor. It's a very kiwi sort of humour.

I think that should be listed as another good reason not ot smoke. ...and you might set your hands on fire while flying a helicopter! - How unhealthy is that?

Potentially, terminal, I'd say - I'd forgotten about the helicopter pilot

So, you get the rabbits, then you need the stoats, I'm surprised no one brought in badgers to intimidate the stoats, wolves perhaps and then there's nothing else for it - we're going to need lions! All pretty daft really But yes, hedgehogs are an odd one - it's not as though they make great pets exactly.

Unlike polar bears.

True! (although Hilary is not technically a pet - he or she is a walrus deterrent, a working animal, much like a sheep-dog or a performing hamster )

Oh yeah! I'd forgotten.
Were sheep introduced or were they all strangers to each other?

I think someone did suggest lions, or something similar

Who is Hilary?

Ah. In my capacity as piano and banjo-player in the bar of the Hitchhikers Hotel, I live in a tent in the grounds - the tent next door is occupied by Hilary (Speartooth Tuskbotherer III), a polar bear of free-floating gender who protects me from walruses.

My PS has links to Hotel, bar and tent (mine, not Hilary's) - the tent thread also has the walrus explanations. Please do drop by some time

Yes, do. You'd be most welcome.

I'm intrigued! Thanks for the invite

And you'll find out how I became Prime Minister of New Zealand - with Trin's help.

And you can find out how I became Vestboy's long lost twin sister too!

Is that you Helen?

Nope...

I was asking Vestboy

He really did get to be Prime Minister of New Zealand for a bit - did you not notice? Full campaign details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F15602?thread=408843&skip=60&show=20

Well Helen does act a little strange at times so maybe she needed a stand in. Can't remember what she was doing in April (oh except she did steal the seabed and foreshore from Maori and then deny them the legal rights that all other NZers have)


>>Who's Gandalf<<

I'd have been asking "Who's Peter Jackson?"

Will catch up on the full campaign tomorrow