MetaFilter posts tagged with DouglasAdams

Do you realize that robot can hum like Pink Floyd?

fogovonslack — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:00:44 -0800

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was (originally) a radio series, broadcast on BBC Radio during March and April 1978. It was a success. Since then it has spawned a 5-book trilogy, additional radio broadcasts, a television adaptation, a computer game, a comic book series, a movie, and at least one minor holiday. However, subsequent releases of the original radio series were edited (in part for copyright reasons), and the original broadcasts have been unavailable, until now. A software engineer and H2G2 fan has now tracked down the recordings of the original broadcasts, analyzed the differences between them and the official CD releases, and provided patches and instructions to update the CD release to match the original broadcast. Not only that, but he has written software to automate the process.

Kakapo Love

homunculus — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:53:20 -0800

'You are being shagged by a rare parrot'. Stephen Fry and zoologist Mark Carwardine have been revisiting the animals on the edge of extinction which Douglas Adams described in Last Chance to See. Here they make the acquaintance of an amorous kakapo.

Make a toaster from scratch

ShadePlant — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:15:13 -0800

Toast always reminds me of the global division of labor. A British artist inspired by Douglas Adams is attempting to make a toaster from scratch. Apparently this concept was also addressed before in an essay, "I, Pencil," by Leonard Read, a founder of a Libertarian think tank. Bottom line: Pencils and toasters are difficult for one person to make and using a microwave to smelt stuff for the toaster is apparently cheating.

...I didn't actually read the link...

Artw — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:06:48 -0800

It’s only natural that if you wish to present yourself as a well-read person, a certain degree of complete bullshit is required. There’s no shame in lying about what you’ve read. There’s only shame in getting caught. Then you look like a doofus, and an illiterate one at that... How to lie about books.

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.

matthewr — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:18:20 -0800

From the Infocom treasure trove: Milliway's, the unreleased sequel to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

The fourth part of three

humuhumu — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 01:33:47 -0800

The fourth part of a trilogy of interviews with Douglas Adams before he got all famous. "I find the difference, for me, between having no money and having quite a bit is that the bills get bigger. And that's it. The lifestyle doesn't change." Well, he certainly didn't. And for that, much thanks.

That was one of mine. It won an award, you know.

humuhumu — Tue, 01 May 2007 13:16:25 -0800

"Lovely crinkly edges." Third and final part of an excellent series of unpublished interviews with Douglas Adams, with the first Hitchhiker's book still to be complete and script editing on Dr Who taking up much of his time.

douglas adams and ringo starr walk into a bar...

humuhumu — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:26:18 -0800

"Graham Chapman and I were commissioned by Ringo Starr, of all people, to write a one-hour US TV special for him. That was SF comedy." Fantastic unpublished interview with Douglas Adams from 1979 just after the radio series of Hitchhiker's and before the books, the tv show, and everything else wonderful for which we remember him. Part 2 here.

Hitchhikers Guide to the Web

Gratishades — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 09:58:30 -0800

Prescient documentary about the web on the web (Google Vid) (synopsis here). Douglas Adams (of Hitchhiker fame) anticipates t’ internet. He was a funny writer in love with deadlines; he loved the whooshing noise they make when they go past. He was a farsighted chap and creator of the word and concept of babelfish amongst many other adopted cultural references.

More of a Babel facehugger than a Babel fish

imperium — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 02:01:54 -0800

You whisper "Je t'aime", the machine says "I love you". Carnegie Mellon offer the prospect of a real-time automatic face-mounted translation device.

...almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea.

loquacious — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 01:32:01 -0800

"...the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything is..." "Yes? Yes!?" "...42."
via Dyson, Montgomery, Princeton, a cup of tea - as presented by Seed Magazine.

Forty-two.

rooftop secrets — Sat, 25 Dec 2004 04:52:17 -0800

Douglas Adams will soon be coming to the silver screen (again). New concept art, casting info, updated news, as well as some background on the project has been diligently compiled. A short trailer and some additional concept art can be found on the official movie site.

Hoopy!

CunningLinguist — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 16:25:21 -0800

New Hitchhiker's BBC radio series debuted today. I managed to miss it but one can listen online starting Thursday. Previously discussed here.

SlartybartFAST!

Blue Stone — Thu, 24 Jun 2004 07:23:00 -0800

Win a part in the new Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy movie, by submitting to The Guide, a photograph of the place on Earth you think most deserves to survive the planet's inevitable destruction. Deadline: Friday 25 June 2004.

Trailer for The Tertiary Phase of H2G2

feelinglistless — Mon, 21 Jun 2004 11:20:55 -0800

The trailer for The broadcast of The Tertiary Phase of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (by Douglas Adams). It doesn't just sound great, it doesn't just sound amazing, it sounds amazingly amazing! [via]

HHGG Screenwriter Self-Interview

GriffX — Thu, 03 Jun 2004 14:02:24 -0800

A fairly reassuring self-interview with Karey Kirkpatrick - the American (gasp!) screenwriter tasked with getting Douglas Adams' original script for "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" into filmable condition.

Here's hoping they don't screw it up...

Cup of tea?

Mwongozi — Wed, 02 Jun 2004 05:13:57 -0800

How to make a cup of tea
A guide by the sorely missed Douglas Adams which is part of his own creation, the now BBC owned H2G2.

Buy Douglas Adams' tent

feelinglistless — Tue, 27 Apr 2004 14:45:03 -0800

Buy Douglas Adams' tent What I really want is his towel.

And, well, everything ...

feelinglistless — Tue, 04 Nov 2003 16:35:52 -0800

Stunned to see that a Tertiary Phase of the radio series of The Hitch-Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy is going into production and everyone (apart from the obvious) is back for it. It'll be a dramatisation of the third novel Life, The Universe and Everything. A fourth series covering everything else will follow. It's being produced by Dirk Maggs who's worked with Douglas Adams before and has rejected one my own radio scripts in the past. Not that I blame him. It was pretty awful. It's going to be odd not hearing Peter Jones as The Book, but his seat is being filled by William Franklyn. I was hoping for Oliver Postgate if anyone was going to do it. Anyone have a sample of how Mr. Franklyn's voice sounds?

douglas adams in mp3

crunchland — Thu, 24 Jul 2003 16:07:19 -0800

douglas adams mp3 audio archive ... "The Douglas Adams media archive is presented here by the wi2600.org groups for your enjoyment. This allso is to serve as a tribute to Mr. Adams's great, but suddely shortened career. Those who have not heard his voice and those who know it well will both enjoy having this material available. We will miss him!"

Authors au naturel

starkeffect — Fri, 27 Jun 2003 16:05:52 -0800

Don Swaim has posted numerous unedited interviews recorded in the 1980's with famous authors, including Anthony Burgess (who has some troubles recalling "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"), Douglas Adams, William S. Burroughs, and many more... even Richard Nixon. (RealAudio)

Good 'ol Dr. Who

GriffX — Wed, 21 May 2003 22:36:20 -0800

Have you seen the episode of "Dr. Who" written by the late Douglas Adams, that was done completely in Flash animation?

The TARDIS hung there in space, exactly as a brick wouldnt.

blue_beetle — Sat, 03 May 2003 03:57:35 -0800

Dr. Who Shada Episode by Douglas Adams Flash or Real Player

ed — Mon, 19 Nov 2001 00:55:29 -0800

Final Hitchhiker's Novel Found: A Salmon of a Doubt, the sixth novel in Douglas Adam's series, will be published next May upon Adam's death. But is this a serious effort from a man who was growing tired of the Hitchhiker's series towards the end of his life or an easy way to cash in on Adams's death, V.C. Andrews-style?

briank — Wed, 16 May 2001 10:26:53 -0800

Towel Day -- tribute to Douglas Adams Here's an idea for those of you who want to show some sort of public sympathy for Douglas Adams. This site is proposing May 25th be "Towel Day" - carry a towel prominently and use it as a talking point for discussing Adams with people. I can't decide if this is lame or cool, so you tell me. (via FARK)