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Monday 11 March 2013

Google doodles Douglas Adams of Hitchhiker Fame




So we love Star Trek here but when it comes to laughs in space look no further then the classic radio show "The Hitchhikers Guide To the Galaxy", which was turned into a book, computer game, film and any other merchandise the corporations could bleed out of it, but hey, who's complaining.

The story was about Arthur Dent, an ordinary man who was rescued from the destruction of the earth from a race called the Vogon's by his friend who he didn't know was an alien called ford prefect from the planet Betelgeuse. The kind of thing you obviously miss when meeting people at the pub.

The Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy was in an electronic guide book to the known universe where you could request information about something and get a answer back in text, pictures and voice. Ford prefect was a contributor on that book and his entry for the earth was "Mostly Harmless", does this sound a bit like Wikipedia anyone?

Looking at it now, we literally already have this tech with mobile/cell phones, tablets and the internet and when it comes to searching for that kind of info, who better than Google.....what do you mean bing, seriously, you jest..... Shown here was a Sci-Fi vision which at the time seemed far far away, but appeared pretty much within 35 years.

To celebrate what would have been his 61st birthday (he died in 2001) google have dedicated today google search doodle to him, a much deserved accolade,

If you haven't read the books and there were five hitchhiker books written by him you should definitely go check them out.


Someone posted what seems to be the full hollywood movie on youtube, so check it out while its still up.

BBC TV version Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6

There are also radio recordings, original BBC Series and a Hollywood movie, which kinda miss the whole joke and strayed a little too far from the book, like down the street and around a corner wearing a disguise representation.

BBC TV Series (1981)                                                   Hollywood Movie version (2005) 

Anyone who's read the book would know that quotes from the series have become household terms. like "The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything" being 42, search for that one on a web engine as see what comes up :)

Also when every your going out, especially if its dangerous, know where your towel is.

Stick a babel fish in your ear to understand people who speak different languages, though swearing in English is pretty universal I find, certainly breaks the cultural barrier, though it does occasionally have the affect of you running for your life screaming, which is also universal and requires no translation.


And of course who can forget what was enscribe on the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, the words "Don't Panic". Because panic is so not built in our DNA, like wetting yourself at the sight of a lion chasing you.
Please go check out the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy books, they are a good and fun read, also check out the other media based on the story.

Douglas Adams, thanks for the memories and,

"So long and thanks for all the fish"


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