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

I've become somewhat jaded with this site recently. Obviously recent events have played their part. Plus, as others have observed, the general level of discussion has deteriorated. And I never seem to see much of the people I like best. (You know who you are - I hope. Do try and post a bit more!)

Nevertheless, inertia is my guiding principle, so I'm not planning to shuffle off. There's still lots of Guide Entries I'd love to write. I enjoy the writing in general, and particularly get a buzz from the process of investigating a whole new topic. I'm not making a new year's resolution to get stuff done, but here's my wish list of what I'd like to cover:

The Baader-Meinhof gang
Bhagat Singh: Indian revolutionary.
Jessica - The Thinking Man's Mitford
Less Than Zero: Oswald Mosely and British Fascism
Cassowaries
Slime Moulds
Bonobos (About time, surely. A sub-section for Gnomon's Animal Sex entry?)
The Benin Civilisation
Interesting Ingredients From 'Ethnic' Food Stores
Tom Wintringham and the Revolutionary Origins of the Home Guard

Oo! I love slime moulds! Fungus that can slither around. And isn't their reproductive behaviour incredible?

I know very little about them...which is why I want to write an Entry.

But they're not fungi, are they? They're a whole new Phyllum or possibly even Kingdom...and possibly *two* phyllums/kingdoms. And they can exist either singly or collectively.

And you can hold better conversations with them than with most h2g2 current contributors...

I want to write more entries, too. I am also trying not to give up hope on the interesting conversation places- SoRB is back posting, as are other people I like to read. I can ignore AA, SS and their ilk.

I'm looking forward to reading any entries you might write on the topics you mentioned. I, personally, love the stuff you write.

I know very little about them...which is why I want to write an Entry.

But they're not fungi, are they? They're a whole new Phyllum or possibly even Kingdom...and possibly *two* phyllums/kingdoms. And they can exist either singly or collectively.

It seems to be common knowledge on the www that Bosch included 22 types of slime mould in his 'Garden of Earthly Delights'. Unfortunately this is one of those entries that has been cut-and-pasted so often that it's difficult to find out anything more. I shall have to dig out my Bosch book.
(Ah..Just remembered...I was planning an Entry on Picasso.
And why not on Bosch too?
And one on The Wilton Diptych...)

And you can hold better conversations with them than with most h2g2 current contributors...

It's always good to see you around, Edward. I was just thinking I hadn't seen much of you recently. I'm mystified by your reference to "recent events". I suddenly feel I've missed out on some big kerfuffle or hoohah.

The only recent events as far as I'm concerned are Christmas and New Year which took me away from the site for a while.

What an interesting selection of delectable delicacies. I look forward to sampling a few and perhaps even contributing the odd gem or three.

Not a fungus... oh, that's right. People used to call them fungi when I first found out about them.

Still nifty, though.

And Bosch is wonderful. Most of my pet snails are named after him.

That reminds me, i have a question for you Snaily...what does snail poo look like? I suspect i have a snail or several lurking in the plants which i brought inside for the winter. There are a few holes in leaves, which obviously points the finger, but there are some odd black sticky looking lttle lumps of stuff, rather like fresh mouse poo but about half the size.

By the way, how long do snails usually live? (assuming annoyed gardeners or hungry french people don't murder them)

zdt

Snail poo looks like gooey string.

Hmm...wonder what the mysterious black stuff is then???

zdt

Sounds like Spider Poo.

Spider poo is clear. Sounds like caterpillar poo to me.

Depends on the spider. The ones in my shed have black poo.

What kind of spider are they?

I haven't been able to trace the exact species. They are long-legged sheet web spiders of some sort, similar to Tegenaria gigantica.

That should read Tegenaria gigantea.

Information on the web on spiders seems to be limited. Lots of sites say this is the "house spider" and pictures of it match my ones. But a report on spiders in Ireland says that it is rare in Ireland although common in the UK, so it may be some other sort.

Then I put it to you that the poo in your shed is something like centpede poo, not spider poo. House spider poo is clear and watery, sometimes with white bits in, and it dries to nothing. Centipede poo, I say!

(Not that I spend a lot of time looking at poo, or anything. )

Oh gawd, i can see i am doomed to comb through my tradescantia until i find the culprit. It's now spread to Eric the Spider plant.

zdt