HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: siemerin@cs.utwente.nl (Ben Siemerink)
Subject: The Meaning Of Life
Keywords: 42; meaning of life; multiply
Organization: University of Twente, Dept. of Computer Science
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 17:42:24 GMT

Hi Folks!


Michael John Bushnell wrote:
> Just wondered whether anyone has yet mentioned that the meaning of
> life (42) is in fact that ASCII code for multiply (*).
>
> This seems like a pretty logical meaning for life to me.

I like this one!

By the way, there was quite a lot of talk about multiplying, but people kept
focused on muliplying numbers with numbers!


Ben.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ben Siemerink                           University of Twente, The Netherlands
siemerin@cs.utwente.nl                         Department of Computer Science
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: cczcole@mips.nott.ac.uk (Marlon Cole)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: Re: "Doctor Who - Shada"  US video release information
Date: 13 Oct 92 08:40:07 GMT
Reply-To: cczcole@mips.nott.ac.uk (Marlon Cole)
Distribution: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Organization: Nottingham University

In article <1992Oct13.020218.28936@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>, ira2p@faraday.clas.Virginia.EDU (Iain Robert Asplin) writes:
|> "Shada," the unfinished Tom Baker (4th Doctor) "Doctor Who" story
|> written by Douglas Adams is now in video release in America from
|> CBS/Fox video.  
|> Much of the material from this untransmitted story was reused and/or
|> lifted and used in "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency."
|> 
|> [ other interesting stuff deleted ]

Can you give us (or just me?) a more detailed summary of Shada?  All I've ever heard is that DGHDA
was based on it - is it closely based or not? I for one would welcome I little plot spoiler :-)
Any takers?

Cheers,
	Marlon

------------
Marlon Cole                  email:  cczcole@unicorn.nott.ac.uk or
Systems Programmer                   cczcole@uk.ac.nott.unicorn depending.....
Cripps Computing Centre
University of Nottingham
NOTTINGHAM. NG7 2RD
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
From: BKD@USLVM.USL.EDU (Brian K. Dore')
Subject: Re: Mostly Harmless ending questions (definate spoiler)
Organization: University of Southwestern Louisiana
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 13:02:51 GMT

 
Darn, I lost the attribution (Darren or Jay I believe) quoted from MH.
 
>"This was all very distressing for him [the Grebulon Leader], but he knew that
>he  had to start talking positive action.  He ordered the turrets to turn."
>
 
I think it has something to do with the astrological calculations that
the Grebulons made.  The leader knew it was going to be a very bad month
because the Earth was rising in Capricorn (this is from memory, don't flame
me on this)  so he decided to do something about it. IE: destroy the Earth.
Trillian knew because she had done the astrological calculations.  It still
dosen't explain how the absence of the earth would affect the astrology of
the Grebulons.  There is more to this, and the more I think about it, the
more things seem to fall into place...
 
Brian
From: csedlack@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu (Christopher Sedlack)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: Re: MOSTLY HARMLESS
Date: 7 Oct 92 19:14:04 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

Where specifically????? I must know!!!!!!

Chris Sedlack
csedlack@uiuc.edu
csedlack@imsa.edu

The sigless wonder, and also rabid to buy _Mostly Harmless_
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
From: sja@lk-hp-16.hut.fi (Sakari Jalovaara)
Subject: Re: Last Chance to See
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Date: 10 Oct 92 18:03:26 GMT


"Last Chance to See" is science fact.  It tells about Adams' travels
around the world to see animals about to become extinct (hence the
name.)  It is pretty funny at times, though not like the Hikers' stuff
- only true stories here.

It's in paperback, came out last year.  Might be in travel books in
your bookstore.  Recommended?  Hard to say.  To misquote a movie ad,
"If you only read one book this year - you sure should read more."

You see, there are these man-eating dragons...

				"Think of a number.  Any number." -Eddie
									++sja
From: v120qldp@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Zaphod Beeblebrox)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: zb: Mostly Harmless
Date: 14 Oct 92 17:20:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

I guess that not all ISBN numbers are the same.  Here's the info for my copy:

ISBN - 0-517-57740-2

Published by Harmony Books, New York

Copyright (C) 1992 by Serious Productions


Patrick A. Ferrel - ferrel@acsu.buffalo.edu | WWIVLink 1@17659 | Disaster Area
v120qldp@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu | WWIVnet 1@7659 | IceNET 1@7659 | (716)683-6657
"Ford, what is this fish doing in my ear?" - Arthur | 14.4k v.32bis * 9600 v.32
From: kiemschies@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: Re: Mostly Harmless - POTENTIAL SPOILER thread (?)
Date: 14 Oct 92 14:22:41 EDT

In article <uerics.718947525@mcl>, uerics@mcl.ucsb.edu (Eric D. Shepherd) writes:
> SPOILERS -- PROCEED AT OWN RISK!
> 
> As I read it, at the end of MH, the Vogons successfully destroy the Earth
> again, with Arthur, both Trillian and Tricia, Ford, and Random all on it.
> Maybe I seriously missed something.
> 
> Actually, I _know_ I missed something -- I haven't the slightest idea what
> the last thing the Leader of the Grebulons (had to look that up in the
> book) did -- all I know is that he seems to be pleased with it.  Who's
> responsible for the destruction of the Earth -- the Vogons, the Grebulons,
> or somebody else?  Nobody?  Who?
> 
> Actually, looking it over again, it's possible that Arthur & Co. managed
> to get off first, I suppose -- DNA doesn't actually say they die, although
> that's what I took the "He knew that at last, for once and forever, it was
> all now, finally, over" bit to mean.  But I _suppose_ that could just
> refer to the whole bit about knowing he wasn't going to die until visiting
> the restaurant.
> 
> But what of Zaphod?  Good point!  And I'd like to hear more about Marvin,
> even if he _did_ rust out after a few zillion years or so.
> 
> - Eric S.
> 
> --
> Eric Shepherd  |  Internet: uerics@mcl.mcl.ucsb.edu  |  AOL: Sheppy
> -------- ACM Member ----- Apple II Alliance Charter Member --------
> "Apple II Forever!"   is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
> 						 Isn't that ironic?
  O.K. the Grebulons destroyed the Earth (with the turrets) and they were
manupulated to do so by the Vogons (via the Guide). Not only, however, was it
destroyed, but because the multi-dimensional guide was there, or for some
reason like that (the specific reason I'm not sure about) all possible Earth's
were destroyed. Earth was erased from ALL posibilities, no Earth now no Earth
ever no Earth in any parallel Universes. No Arthur, no Trillian, no Tricia ever
existed, or ever could have existed. The Vogons had to do this because due to
the position of Earth (in a plural sector) if you destroyed one another would
pop up, therefore the Vogons got rid of all possible Earths.



                                                 -----Ollie
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
From: bjelli@eule (Brigitte Jellinek)
Subject: Request:ISBN of Mostly Harmless
Organization: University of Salzburg / Austria
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Distribution: world 
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 13:10:54 GMT

Dear fellow Hitchhikers

Could someone please post a full description of 'Mostly Harmless',
I mean: Title, Author, Publisher, ISBN, .....

I need the data so I can order the book from Austria.
And I guess there might be other fans who are father than
walking distance away from the next british bookshop and who
will be thankfull for the info.

thanks 

        Brigitte

------------------------------
I think fish is good -
but then I think rain is wet,
so who am I to judge
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
From: nivin@sabine.cs.tcu.edu (Jeff Nivin)
Subject: Mostly Harmless
Organization: uh-huh, i'm sure.
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 06:01:57 GMT

Hey froods,

    Anyone know anything about DNA being anywhere in Texas besides the Houston
area.  I live in Dallas/Ft Worth and am willing to make the 5-6 hour drive for 
DNA and the new book, but would rather not if I don't have to.

BTW, I WILL be going regardless, so if anyone has any questions they want asked,
feel free to mail them to me.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ford, you're turning into a penquin.  Stop it." - Arthur Dent

                                      nivin@guadalupe.cs.tcu.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: Re: WANTED: Hitchhiker's guide to the netreg
From: cbarilleaux@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu (Cyberpreppie)
Date: 12 Oct 92 22:57:15 -0500
Organization: The CyberSwamp

In article <1992Oct11.231423.20010@eskimo.celestial.com>, thalos@eskimo.celestial.com (Kris Knien) writes:
> A while back, I read a 12-part story called The Hitchhiker's Guide to the
> Net.  Unfortunately, I only was able to find the first 11 parts and never
> got to read the conclusion.  I would really appreacite it if someone would
> mail this to me, (all 12 parts). Better yet, post it, I feel it's good
> enough to share with other readers of a.f.d-a. :)
> 
Send it to me or post, please!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Charles Barilleaux III                 occasionally know at Miami Univ
CBARILLEAUX@MIAVX1.ACS.MUOHIO.EDU         as Cyberpreppie.

"A paperless office is about as usefull as a paperless bathroom"

Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
From: BD24@DKAUNI2.BITNET
Subject: Re: ANG - Library Theft
Organization: University of Karlsruhe, Germany
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 18:43:10 GMT

  Where the librarians are lurking ? In L-space of course.
  L-space is created by books disturbing ordinary space.
  The key equation (if I recall it correctly) is
  knowledge = power = energy = matter
  so your library is just a black hole which knows how to read.
  for further reading see: Terry Pratchett, Guards, Guards !
  (I know it's not DA, but it's good)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
From: kyraan@bach.udel.edu (Stephen Ch Litterst)
Subject: Re: Mostly Harmless ending questions (definate spoiler)
Organization: University of Delaware
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 03:06:04 GMT

In article <6444@m1.cs.man.ac.uk> ross-c@scs.leeds.ac.uk (R Clement) writes:
>*******SPOILERS*********
>
>
>
>In article <1bebapINNo0v@bigboote.WPI.EDU> jseaver@bigwpi.WPI.EDU (Jason John Seaver) writes:
>>In article <1bd4p2INN4e5@aludra.usc.edu> cokin@aludra.usc.edu (Darren Cokin) writes:
>>>confused by the ending.  It may be a while before I have time to reread it,
>>	Aren't you supposed to be? :)
>>>Ok, let me tell you what I think happend, and you tell me how right I am.
>>>The Grebulons destroyed the earth.  This of course is nothing new, it's been
>>
>>	Huh?  I thought the Vogons destroyed the Earth all by themselves in the
	READ THE DAMN LAST PAGE!!!  DA does not say who does what, he just says
that the Grebulons do something, and the Vogons are done with they're job. The 
ending is a typical DA ending in that it gives him the option of writing 
another book or not.  NO ONE KNOWS (other than DA) WHETHER OR NOT ANYONE DIES!
So stop blaming DA for killing off Arthur and Trillian.  The only concrete 
thing about the ending is that Arthur enables his destiny by going to 
Stavro Mueller BETA.

>
	About Arthur being a projection of DA... In his own words:
" Arthur wasn'tbased on Simon Jones... Nor, by the same token, is it auto-
biographical."  
	In the original plot synopsis (from Don't PAnic) Ford's earthling
companion is named Aleric.  No explanation is given for the switch to Arthur, 
but I don't think it's because of its similarity to `author.'

						Steve
						kyraan@bach.udel.edu
From: thalos@eskimo.celestial.com (Kris Knien)
Subject: WANTED: Hitchhiker's guide to the net
Organization: -> ESKIMO NORTH (206) For-Ever <-
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 23:14:23 GMT


A while back, I read a 12-part story called The Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Net.  Unfortunately, I only was able to find the first 11 parts and never
got to read the conclusion.  I would really appreacite it if someone would
mail this to me, (all 12 parts). Better yet, post it, I feel it's good
enough to share with other readers of a.f.d-a. :)
From: loki@orthanc.freeside.com (Biggles)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: DA in Houston
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 92 11:44:36 CDT
Organization: Society for Balrog and Nazgul Understanding and Recognition

He will be appearing for those of you in Houston on October 25 at
Future Visions Book Shop (I think).



"How can you be at two places at once,         loki@orthanc.freeside.com
         when you're not anywhere at all?"       (you can call me Biggles)
                   --Firesign Theater
From: d2fouvi@dtek.chalmers.se (Viktor Fougstedt)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: "Mostly Harmless" has arrived in Sweden!
Date: 7 Oct 92 12:33:19 GMT
Organization: Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg Sweden

Just like to tell you all out there that "Mostly Harmless" has finally
arrived! To Sweden, that is!

It is just as wonderful as the three first books (the fourth, in my opinion
had a significantly lower tempo, and it was not as action-packed as the three
first. That is not to say I didn't like it, though!).

"Mostly Harmless" is also just as comfusing as the three first, and surely
shows what a completely insane writer Douglas Adams is :-) He is, of course,
also to be considered a genious, and could just as well have been a scientist.
Thier theories are often even less believable than his.

I thought of writing a little something about what the book is all about, but
i figured you wouldn't like that, so I didn't.

You can all rest assured that the book is remarkable, and as far as I can tell,
Douglas Adams has the potential to write at least three more parts in the
"Increasingly Inaccuratley named trilogy". "Mostly Harmless" is sure
worth waiting for, so hang in there.



d2fouvi@dtek.chalmers.se

Viktor Fougstedt, Pl 335, S-430 64 Hallingsjo, SWEDEN
*****								  *****
** When you see the light at the end of the tunnel, remember that it **
** might be the train coming.					     **
*****								  *****
From: loki@orthanc.freeside.com (Biggles)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: Houston visit
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 92 21:52:29 CDT
Organization: Society for Balrog and Nazgul Understanding and Recognition


Alright for all of you within the Houston vicinity, I've got comformations
on Douglas Adams visit.  It will be on October 25 at Future Visions Books.
He will be appearing from 2:00 to 4:00 (not long enough).
The phone number for Future Visions is (713)683-4212.  Their address in the
phone book is 10570 Northwest Frwy.  I'm planning on calling to get further
directions, so you can mail me individually if you need further directions
(or I'll post it if there's a demand).


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"How can you be at two places at once,         loki@orthanc.freeside.com
         when you're not anywhere at all?"       (aka Biggles)
                   --Firesign Theater                                        
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: okes@essex.ac.uk (Oke S)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: Re: Remembering all letters in Scrabble
Date: 14 Oct 92 12:36:33 GMT
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of Essex, UK.
In-reply-to: mei172@cch.coventry.ac.uk's message of 13 Oct 92 12:51:39 GMT

In article <Bw2925.1tF@cck.coventry.ac.uk> mei172@cch.coventry.ac.uk (guru) writes:
|>>Doesn't the board tell how many letters should be in the game? At the bottomleft
|>>when you hold it upside down?  At least the Dutch version does, but I don't
|>>think Arthur would have used that one. BTW: there's only one y in the Dutch
|>>version of the game. Good for 8 points!

|>guru sez:
|>	   yes, the board does tell you, but Arthur scratched his board into the
|>	   top of a tree-trunk, and I don't remember seeing the numbers of letters
|>	   scratched into the corner....

The board doesn't tell you how many tiles there are of each letter if you
have the deluxe version... but you can always read the rule book.
--
This signature is copyright 12/6/1992 Simon Oke. All rights reserved. If you
like it and keep a copy for your own use, you owe me $20. Please pass it on
to your friends with all documentation.              Email okes@essex.ac.uk.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analysis of television viewing figures has shown that 80% of people in this
	country are crap.
From: mei172@cch.coventry.ac.uk (guru)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: Re: Remembering all letters in Scrabble
Keywords: Scrabble, letters, Arthur, what do you get when you multiply six by
Date: 13 Oct 92 12:51:39 GMT
Organization: Coventry University

In article <1992Oct6.153953@cs.utwente.nl> siemerin@cs.utwente.nl (Ben Siemerink) writes:
>> Ah, but Arthur pulled _ALL_LETTERS_ out of the towel, didn't he? But then, I
>> expect it would be too much for most people to be able to remember the exact 
>> distribution of letters in a Scrabble set after so much travelling in time and
>> space.
>
>Doesn't the board tell how many letters should be in the game? At the bottomleft
>when you hold it upside down?  At least the Dutch version does, but I don't
>think Arthur would have used that one. BTW: there's only one y in the Dutch
>version of the game. Good for 8 points!

guru sez:
	yes, the board does tell you, but Arthur scratched his board into the
	top of a tree-trunk, and I don't remember seeing the numbers of letters
	scratched into the corner....
-- 
      /~~~) /   / /~~~) /   /  
     (___/ (___/ /     (___/   These mind-expanding drugs have given me so much
        /                      imagination, I'm hallucinating grey vividly....
   (___/ mei172@cch.cov.ac.uk                       Victor Lewis-Smith
From: ucjtrjf@ucl.ac.uk (Jonny Farringdon)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: giving your add to a hitch-hiker
Summary: the world  in an address is no use at all
Keywords: the world
Date: 12 Oct 92 16:28:30 GMT
Organization: Bloomsbury Computing Consortium



There is someone currently giving their address as:
{name deleted}
Ericsson Telecom
Karlstad
The World (Tellus)
The Milky way
Universe


This is about as much use to an intersteller hitch-hiker as

The Company
The Town
The World
The Milky way
Universe

Which world, which Milky Way, which Universe?
(Tellus, yes do tell us  ;-)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams,news.answers
From: rik@hplb.hpl.hp.com (Richard Beckett)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: Question for DNA
Date: 12 Oct 92 09:16:21 GMT
Reply-To: rik@hplb.hpl.hp.com
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Labs, Bristol, UK


	Perhaps if someone sees DNA at a book signing, they could ask him
	this question for me :

	"How do you feel about becoming the Salman Rushdie (?sp) of the
	Sci-Fi world ?"


	I just read MH, and was enjoying it, then it ended.

	I hope someone feeds his grandmother to the Ravenous Bugblatter
	Beast of Traal.



		RIK


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rik O'Chet, Bristol, England.		
Email: rik@hplb.hpl.hp.com		One's never alone with a Rubber Duck !
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
From: naran@fraser.sfu.ca (Travers Naran)
Subject: Mostly Harmles in Vancouver, Canada
Summary: It's here.
Keywords: mostly harmless book
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 19:04:31 GMT

It arrived a couple of week ago at W.H. Smith's here in Vancouver (or at least
at the Lougheed Mall store). Picked it up for $19.95 (GST not incl.) and
started reading it on the bus on the way home.

So far it is kind of interesting and it is sort of funny, but the first chapter
so far lacks the zing of the original quadrilogy. 

Well, here's to happy reading this weekend! :-)

-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travers Naran						| "We fear
Mail address: naran@fraser.sfu.ca or naran@sfu.ca       |  change. WHACK!
Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada	| WHACK! WHACK!"
Cmpt. Science student wanna-be				| -Garth 
Trekker, Leaper, Red Dwarf'er, Prober, etc.		|  "Wayne's World"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: richard@aiai.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: Re: Censorship: Kneebiter
Date: 7 Oct 92 17:15:58 GMT
Organization: AIAI, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

>|> Additionally, the entire essay on the
>|> word "belgium"(excuse my vulgerity) was intirely for the benefit of
>|> amreican publishing companies so they wouldn't have to print the word
>|> "fuck".

This seems most unlikely, since it's in the radio series.

Of course, the BBC would not have allowed the word "fuck" in this
context anyway.

-- Richard
-- 
Richard Tobin,
AI Applications Institute,                                R.Tobin@ed.ac.uk
Edinburgh University.
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
From: neilg@fraser.sfu.ca (Neil K. Guy)
Subject: Re: Green Smiling Planet
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 03:56:02 GMT

mduhan@husc10.harvard.edu (Matthew Duhan) writes:

>   Does anyone know where the green smiling planet originated from and why?

 None of the British covers, to my knowledge, have the grinning planet
on it. I believe that only the American ones do. The original
paperback cover for The Guide (circa 1979, not 1970) in the UK simply
had "The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" written in chunky letters.
It was probably shot from a TV screen to give a coarse, video look.
The "Restaurant" cover had the title in glowing neon letters suspended
in space, "Life..." had a floating pull tab off a tin of beer or pop and
the cover for "So Long..." was completely black with a small picture of
a walrus in the middle. (the same as the hardcover edition, except
that the walrus wasn't a lenticular sticker that turned into a
plesiosaur when you tilted it) The original vinyl LPs also lacked
green planets. The double LP had a video shot similar to the paperback
release of the first novel, and the second record was bright red with
a yellow rubber duckie on it. The omnibus edition was a lousy-looking
computer graphic cover with rectangular stars and ugly orange-purple
lettering. And the radio scripts cover was a less lousy-looking
computer graphic cover, blue and red, with a teacup and an ear on it.
As for "Mostly Harmless," well, someone who actually has a copy will
have to comment on that.

 Of course this is all from hazy memory, and I'm sure some eager
net.pedant is standing, flamethrower at the ready, to correct any
minor errors.

 - Neil K. (n_k_guy@sfu.ca)

 (by the way, Canadian covers have all been the same as the English
ones to date. You can sometimes buy American editions in Canada from
discount stores and the like, but the ones printed by whichever
Canadian publisher happens to have the rights to the book have the UK
artwork.)