Seeking Knowledge

[coalescent]

Because I'm sure you people will know these things:

1. When's the new Hitch-Hiker's Guide series going to be on Radio 4? I'm sure it was originally meant to be February, but I haven't seen anything about it since December.


2. Road tax. I got my renewal notice just before Christmas, filled it in, went to the Post Office and gave them an appropriate cheque. The cheque cashed some time ago, but I haven't been sent a new tax disc yet. Should I be prompting someone? I'm getting a horrible feeling that the Post Office was meant to give me a replacement at the time, but they didn't.

And whilst I'm here, a roundup of reviews recently posted to instant_fanzine:

• Rock N Roll/Love Is Hell (Ryan Adams)


• Forty Signs Of Rain (Kim Stanley Robinson)


• The Time-Traveler's Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)

Comments

[ang-grrr.livejournal.com]

You should have had the replacement from the office that you went to. Why didn't they give you one?

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

You should have had the replacement from the office that you went to.

Bugger. I was afraid of that.

Why didn't they give you one?

That's an excellent question. I'll have to go and ask them...

[fba.livejournal.com]

Indeed - they should have given you a new disc and noted down the serial number of the one they gave you and your registration. You could be in line for an automatic £80 fine if you don't get this sorted asap.....

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

and noted down the serial number of the one they gave you and your registration.

The renewal form I got in the post needed my registration, but they just took that away; didn't give me anything in return.

You could be in line for an automatic £80 fine if you don't get this sorted asap...

Yes, I know. Hence asking the question, when I realised that my current disc has expired. On the upside, I have paid, so I shouldn't be caught by the automatic database check.

[fba.livejournal.com]

Ref Hitchhikers:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/cult/2003/09/02/6578.shtml

Looks like it may not have been true after all.....

[fba.livejournal.com]

Ummm - I do wonder if, having failed to give you your tax disc, if they have filled in the paperwork correctly.....

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Oh, they may not have done. But I've got a chequebook and a bank statement that say they've taken my money, so I just think I've got a reasonable case to argue here.

[ang-grrr.livejournal.com]

Ah. Just wondered if they'd said something at the time like "we can't handle tax discs here but we can send it to the DVLA for you."

I've just remembered that my MOT is due next week. Bugger.

NOT True

[xsabx.livejournal.com]

Principle recording finished in November, it's due... hang on... February 17th. BBc7 was due to broadcast the first 12 eps but it got canned due to 'copyright issues'...

Re: NOT True

[fba.livejournal.com]

OK - finding the information wasn't as easy as it should have been:

http://www.crazydogaudiotheatre.com/news.php?item=16

It appears that you are, as always, correct.

There haven't been any updates since though.....

I have *no* idea what happened to the artical on BBC Cult though.....

[fba.livejournal.com]

MOT? I don't need one of those for another 2 1/2 years..... ;-)

Re: NOT True

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Right. I think I actually heard about the copyright issues before, actually, but I wasn't sure whether that had prevented the broadcast entirely, or just delayed it. Thanks.

40 Signs of Rain

[applez.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting, I should read it.

---

Provoked a thought: you know, whether one is into sci-fi, or a conservative politician - there has become this expectation of 'magic bullet' Revolutionary solutions to come 'just in time' in Western society. I wonder how ready we are for much harder plodding, and whether we'll despair for defeated expectation?

As far as climate change is concerned - unless we can create some organism that will produce coal beds from atmospheric carbon quickly ... we are going to have a very hard time of it.

Re: 40 Signs of Rain

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting, I should read it.

Yes, you should. In fact, this is one of those books I want everyone to read, for different reasons! Geneva should also read it for the environmentalism, Tom should read it for the scientists, Zoe should read it for the language, Andrew should read it just because it's so very different to Charlie Stross and Cory Doctorow, Aileen should read it because it's a good Kim Stanley Robinson, Christy should read it for the characters...About the only person I can't recommend it to is nat, because it doesn't have any fancy postmodernist tricks. And to be honest, even there I'm tempted. :)

you know, whether one is into sci-fi, or a conservative politician - there has become this expectation of 'magic bullet' Revolutionary solutions to come 'just in time' in Western society.

Only certain types of SF, surely. I doubt there'll be any kind of magic bullet in this series, at least!

Re: 40 Signs of Rain

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Also, what's your excuse for not watching instant_fanzine, eh? Eh?

Re: 40 Signs of Rain

[applez.livejournal.com]

shitty_advice fills my 'Friends' postings enough as it is ... though I am considering dropping out of that anyway...

I'll consider your community, a'right?

Re: 40 Signs of Rain

[(Anonymous)]

Tom should read it for the scientists

I am not a number, i am a free man!

I can't recommend it to is nat, because it doesn't have any fancy postmodernist tricks

Ah, the old "no fancy postmodernist tricks" ploy, eh? The oldest fancy postmodernist trick in the book!

-- Tom

Re: 40 Signs of Rain

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

I am not a number, i am a free man!

Oh, my reasons for wanting to recommend it are entirely selfish; not because I necessarily think you'll like it, but because I want your opinion on that particular aspect of the book. :)