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Douglas Adams Remembered By Those Who Knew Him 181

Posted by Zonk from the rotating-in-his-grave dept.
John "Widgett" Robinson writes "IGN FilmForce tapped a bunch of folks who knew and worked with Douglas Adams, asking them to share some stories of their time with the man himself. They've posted the results as an article that includes responses from Pythoner Terry Jones, author Neil Gaiman, actor Stephen Fry, Rutle Neil Innes, zoologist Mark Carwardine, and Monkee Michael Nesmith. I've never heard any of these stories before, so the thing winds up being a unique tribute to a very cool frood."
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Douglas Adams Remembered By Those Who Knew Him More

Douglas Adams Remembered By Those Who Knew Him

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  • Hollywood Vultures (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Henry V .009 ( 518000 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @11:56AM (#12385014) Journal
    Yeah, I'd love to have a bunch of my friends get together to remember me after I'm gone...just in time to hype a major new Hollywood Blockbuster.

    • Re:Hollywood Vultures (Score:5, Insightful)

      by nacturation ( 646836 ) <nacturation&gmail,com> on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:02PM (#12385110) Journal
      Overrated? I think the parent post is rather insightful. According to this BBC article [bbc.co.uk], DNA died almost four years ago. Suddenly, right before a movie launch of one of his works, a company that has ties to the movie industry decides to release a bunch of stories about him? I haven't read them and I'm guessing the individuals are all very sincere, but I'd question the motives of IGN. It could very well be that their motives are very sincere, but there's no harm in looking at it with a critical eye.

      • Re:Hollywood Vultures (Score:3, Insightful)

        by Chibi ( 232518 )
        The stories are from FilmForce. They are IGN's movie site. So, of course, they'll do this story around the time of the release of the movie, as opposed to when the author originally passed away. Not every site is like Slashdot, where anything and everything gets posted, no matter how irrelevant. :)
      • And I'll agree with you, the motives here are suspect indeed. M.J. Simpson's "thoughts" on DNA (see page 6 of the article) are nothing more than a plug for yet another posthumous publication of DNA's work, while actually bagging on the upcoming movie itself. Somewhat confused in intent, but message certainly doesn't sound much like an affectionate anecdote.

        Hey, M.J., thanks for taking what was supposed to me a fond remembrance of DNA and turning it into a soapbox; I'm sure the family is warmed by your se

        • Re:Hollywood Vultures (Score:3, Interesting)

          by Doc Ruby ( 173196 )
          Hey, MJ, thanks for taking what could have been a hypocritical opportunity to join promotion for a film you panned, and instead turning it into mention of another work that will probably (in your opinion, at least) better fulfill DNA fans.

          TG, no thanks for failing to comprend "integrity" (and "intent"), or for misunderstanding a couple of sentences explaining why that posthumous publication of DNA's work might be more satisfying than either the film bringing the message to you, or even the rushed, inadequa

    • Having seen a special screening of the movie last night, I can tell you that Douglas Adams' face shows up in the movie. It's actually the very last thing you see before the credits roll.

    • Slashdot Bittermen (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Doc Ruby ( 173196 )
      Who cares what their motives are? After I'm gone, I expect my friends will immediately share stories of me, and take at least some joy in it. If a sleazy Hollywood producer, for whatever purely selfish reason, got some friends, a few years later, to share some stories of me with a wide public, and more people got some joy from that, it would be worth it. In fact, one of the few saving graces of such Hollywood sleazebags is that their personal benefit is sometimes tied to improving the lives of the rest of u
    • "Yeah, I'd love to have a bunch of my friends get together to remember me after I'm gone...just in time to hype a major new Hollywood Blockbuster."

      So... are you expecting that Hollywood NON-Vultures shouldn't talk about the last highly anticipated movie you had a hand in both inspiring and in making?

      Not everything's about money, Ass.
    • Vultures? Not entirely. After all, the movie is coming out, DNA is getting a lot of attention (relatively), but alas, the silly sod couldn't get his timing right (again) and isn't available for interviews. So, they talk to people who know him, who can give us an idea of what he was like.

      It's no different than when Titanic came out. All the news agencies that 'suddenly' did stories on the disaster weren't vultures, they were providing background and information. And, whereas DNAs death was covered by the sa

    • Re:Hollywood Vultures (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Boronx ( 228853 )
      One of the responders mentions that the script of the movie is not Adams' script at all, and that Disney rejected his outright. If that's so, where is his script, and what would it take to produce it?

  • Adams slightly less remembered... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 29, 2005 @11:56AM (#12385024)
    ...by those who did not know him.

  • And I thought I was the only one (Score:4, Funny)

    by Fox_1 ( 128616 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @11:56AM (#12385028)
    "So Doug,' he growled, 'We're gonna eat a little lunch, maybe take a few moments to go over the idea and the money - and then we're gonna talk about what kinda animal ya like to sleep with..."
    who ever had this conversation.

  • Douglas Adams is dead?!! (Score:4, Funny)

    by donutello ( 88309 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @11:59AM (#12385077) Homepage
    I thought it was just a fake rumor on Slashdot!

    • Re:Douglas Adams is dead?!! (Score:4, Informative)

      by Andy Mitchell ( 780458 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:38PM (#12385529) Homepage

      Unfortunately it is true, he died in a Gym. Lalla Ward, actress and friend of Douglas Adams, had this to say on this matter:

      I think the only thing that might conceivably have made Douglas laugh was the thought that some of us now have an excuse never to set foot in a b****y gym ever again, because that's where he died.

      You can read/listen to the full interview of Lalla Ward here [bbc.co.uk]

      There are some interesting bits in this interview that show just how many people Douglas Adams knew. For example Lalla Ward met her 2nd husband Richard Dawkins (Famous evolutionary Biologist and author of such books as "The Blind Watchmaker" through Douglas.

  • "Cool"?! (Score:5, Funny)

    by matthewmichaelagee ( 555968 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:00PM (#12385080) Homepage
    You mean "froopy".

    Clearly you do not know where your towel is.

  • rememberance and full article mirror (Score:4, Interesting)

    by winkydink ( 650484 ) * <sv.dude@gmail.com> on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:00PM (#12385088) Homepage Journal
    I had the privelege to listen to Adams speak at a lunch in San Jose back in '96. He was a very engaging and entertaining speaker and was very approachable afterwards to just chat.

    The mirror is here [networkmirror.com]

    • Re:rememberance and full article mirror (Score:5, Interesting)

      by donarb ( 30560 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:34PM (#12385486)
      Adams did the closing keynote at the Apple Developer Conference in 1997. He told a great story about how Microsoft wanted his opinion as a writer on using the latest/greatest version of Word. He talked about how most word processors were not conducive to the writing process (cutting/pasting story snippets, notes in the margins, organizing plot outlines, etc). He tried to explain to the pointy heads in Redmond about the features that would turn Word into something that writers could use (as opposed to what business people use). The response he got is that it would be difficult to add those features because they wouldn't have enough key combos for all of them.
    • I did two of his Islington tours many years back when I lived in London. His tours were not only extremely informative but also very entertaining.

      As a fan of his work it was really enjoyable getting to spend time with him in that kind of setting.

  • Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:00PM (#12385095)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  • DNA (Score:3, Funny)

    by alia_ea ( 867962 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:00PM (#12385096)
    Endlessly readable, never forgettable. There was a guy who really knew where his towel was.
    • Endlessly readable, never forgettable. There was a guy who really knew where his towel was.

      Except if you had read TFA [ign.com] you would know that he _didn't_ know where his towel was.

      "I thought, of course. You have to be the kind of person who doesn't know where his towel is to notice that the people who do are the truly cool people. And I was glad Douglas didn't."

  • An example of classic British humour (Score:5, Insightful)

    by amstrad ( 60839 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:03PM (#12385124)
    Most probably read over this part and didn't give it a second thought:


    GRAHAM CHAPMAN
    (writer, author, ex-Python)

    (Mr. Chapman could not be reached in time for deadline)
    ...classic. Perfect example of the dry humour of both Adams and the Pythons.

  • Only things I remember... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by ackthpt ( 218170 ) * on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:10PM (#12385212) Homepage Journal
    In a talk Douglas pointed out that W W W is 9 syllables, 6 more than what the abbreviation stands for 'World Wide Web' He suggested calling it "Triple-U"

    Also a question of who inspired Ford Prefect, it wasn't Eric Idle (as I'd guessed, from his minor involvement with the Pythons) but a college roommate, whose name he didn't give.

    There's my minor nuggets.

  • Just Gotta Say... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Esion Modnar ( 632431 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:13PM (#12385246)
    Douglas Adams left this earth too soon. That said...

    Douglas Adams Remembered By Those Who Knew Him

    Of course. He's not going to be remembered by those who knew nothing about him.

    • Re:Just Gotta Say... (Score:5, Funny)

      by dr_dank ( 472072 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:40PM (#12385555) Homepage Journal
      Of course. He's not going to be remembered by those who knew nothing about him.

      Why not? It would seem to suit his humor.

      Steve Jones, Auto Mechanic

      "Douglas Adams? Wasn't he the guy that was busted for taking his dick out on the merry-go-round at the county fair?"

      Mary Franklin, Attorney

      "I can say, without a doubt, that Douglas Adams was the most underutilized character on that Adams Family show."

  • Saw him speak (Score:5, Interesting)

    by mikeg22 ( 601691 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:13PM (#12385252)
    I saw Douglas Adams speak at Cambell Hall at UCSB a couple weeks before he died. He was a very friendly, funny guy who believed in embracing technology.

    One example he told about was how 10 years ago, society's view of cell phones was that they were devices only bought by gabbers who liked to annoy other people. People had this viceral reaction when they saw a person with a cell phone, something like, "Oh God, that person thinks they are SO important, but they just look like an idiot gabbing away." His daughter (I think) told him one day, "Why should I use a phone with a cord when I can use a phone without a cord that I can take anywhere?" When Mr. Adams had this epiphany, he immediately went out and bought a cell phone.

    This was an insightful story and really hit home because I was one of those people who had a very negative view of cell phones around 10 years ago, for no real reason other than they were new. Irony of all ironies though, Mr. Adams died on a treadmill (fake walking device) soon after.

    • Re:Saw him speak (Score:4, Interesting)

      by smooth wombat ( 796938 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:37PM (#12385525) Journal
      One example he told about was how 10 years ago, society's view of cell phones was that they were devices only bought by gabbers who liked to annoy other people. People had this viceral reaction when they saw a person with a cell phone, something like, "Oh God, that person thinks they are SO important, but they just look like an idiot gabbing away."

      Ten years later and this view hasn't changed.

      And no, this isn't a troll or flamebait. The next time you are out and are behind someone who's waddling along talking on their cell phone, actually listen to what they are saying. 99% of the time the conversation will not be about something important ("I'm at the store, do you need something?"; "Are you alright? I'll be right over.") but rather someone talking to someone simply because they have a cell phone.

      Doubt me? Have a listen.

      • Re:Saw him speak (Score:5, Funny)

        by JPelorat ( 5320 ) * on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:49PM (#12385655)
        Never mind that they're generally not paying attention to anything other than said bullshit conversation, and tend to do stupid shit like -

        ) Forget they're driving. This is Not Good with a capital WTF.
        ) Be totally oblivious that they're blocking an aisle or line in the store/restaurant/whatever.
        ) Talk really loudly as if they're the only ones in the general vicinity.
        ) ???
        ) Get stabbed in the face - profit!

        • Re:Saw him speak (Score:3, Insightful)

          by mikeg22 ( 601691 )
          This is exactly the kind of reaction Adams was talking about. Think about what you're saying...bullshit conversation? To who? You? Is it a bullshit conversation when someone is talking to someone standing right there next to them about everyday things? Why is it now stupid and bullshit when they are using a cell phone?
          • Yes, exactly. It's all bullshit to me. Bullshit in the sense that it doesn't matter to me what they're talking about. Whether it's on a cellphone or not. I'm not passing judgement on the intelligence or content of their conversations, I'm saying I don't give a shit. There are multiple meanings of that phrase, you know.

            I don't care that they're talking to someone about what the fuck ever they're talking about. I care because that act of talking on a cellphone inevitably distracts the bloody crap out of them

      • Re:Saw him speak (Score:3, Insightful)

        by op00to ( 219949 )
        "I'm at the store, do you need something?"
        Other side of conversation: "Yes, please get my nitro pills, as I am having heart palpitations.

        Very unimportant. It's truely unfortunate that we all can't have as exciting and important conversations as you do.

        • Re:Saw him speak (Score:5, Funny)

          by Hentai ( 165906 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @02:12PM (#12386616) Homepage Journal
          You parsed his statement wrong. He was implying that "I'm at the store, do you need something?" and "Are you alright? I'll be right over." are examples of IMPORTANT conversations, and that most conversations WEREN'T like that at all. I.e., most cellphone conversations consist of things like:

          "Ohmygod, did you see what she was wearing at the party last night!? I know! Totally! Total! Skank! So Joey says, he says, hang on a sec, I've got another call - Jamie! Ohmygod, where did you get that dress last night? That was so hot! No way. NO WAY. NOOO WAAY. Wow, cool! You'll have to take me by there sometime. Listen, my mom's on the other line, I'm at the store getting her medication. Thanks babe! - So anyway, guess who THAT was? Yep. I told her I was talking to my mom. Can you believe her? I just... hold on, I got another call - Heeey, Thom... what're you doing later tonight? I dunno, Joey's out of town... I thought maybe we could - yeah. Your place? Sure. Bye. - Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod. THOM just called me. We are hooking up TONIGHT. SO SURREAL. No. No, of course not. Michelle, if you tell Joey you are DEAD. Do you understand me? Dea..."

          and so on.
          • But how is that different from most ordinary phone calls in general? Or most conversations in general?

            Why should cell phones be restricted to 'important' things?

            I'll concede that no, you can't say anything on a cell phone when in a public space. But I can't for the life of me see why you can't talk about any of the things people talk about in public. As long as you adhere to the rules of etiquette that apply to public conversations. (E.g. don't be loud, don't talk about initimate things) And really, on a

            • Re:Saw him speak (Score:3, Interesting)

              by Hentai ( 165906 )
              Very true. The problem is, cellphones are an enabling technology for loud and obnoxious behavior. Think about it - a loud and obnoxious person is only loud and obnoxious when talking to other (usually ALSO loud and obnoxious, otherwise they would become irritated and leave) people. This is limited to times when other such people are available for conversations. Without cellphones, loud and obnoxious people must travel in packs in order to display their attrocious behavior. With cellphones, they can have con
      • 99% of the time the conversation will not be about something important ("I'm at the store, do you need something?"...)

        Uh... saves gas, time, money... I'd say that's rather useful.

      • Re:Saw him speak (Score:2, Insightful)

        by Moofie ( 22272 )
        What's unimportant about finding out if somebody else needs something at the store I'm standing in? I just saved somebody else half an hour. Who are YOU to judge that that isn't valuable?
      • but rather someone talking to someone simply because they have a cell phone.

        ...and it was in their pocket ringing?
    • DNA was one of the first people to buy a portable phone, back in the mid-80s, when such a device was a handset attached to a massive luggable thing. The story goes that after he bought it he took it down to the beach with him one day and got so frustrated by its total failure to work that he left it there.

  • RIP Doug (Score:3, Funny)

    by multipartmixed ( 163409 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:14PM (#12385264) Homepage
    Now there was a guy who always knew where his towel was.

    So long, and thanks for all the books.

    • Re:RIP Doug (Score:2, Interesting)

      by object88 ( 568048 )
      Now there was a guy who always knew where his towel was.

      Apparently, you didn't R the FA. To quote the imminently quotable Neil Geiman:

      There was a sudden scurrying and commotion as a Douglasy sort of noise came from upstairs, followed by the arrival downstairs of Douglas's stepmother. "He says there aren't any towels in the bathroom and he's in the bath. Where are the towels?" she asked...

  • No David Prowse (Score:2, Interesting)

    by guru42101 ( 851700 )
    I'm surprised they didn't have an interview with David Prowse. He was close friends w/ Douglas Adams and worked with him on the BBC HHGTG show. I met him at DragonCon several years ago, shortly after Adams' death, and he had many interesting stories to tell.

  • Also ... (Score:4, Informative)

    by chkorn ( 799133 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:21PM (#12385353) Homepage
    ... don't forget the towel day this year guys!
    http://www.towelday.kojv.net/ [kojv.net]

  • Remember this headline? (Score:3, Informative)

    by Rude Turnip ( 49495 ) <valuationNO@SPAMgmail.com> on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:22PM (#12385367)
    Anyone remember when this was posted? [slashdot.org] Man, the earth stood still that day for me.
    • I know exactly what you mean.

      I read down to the point where someone posted the bit where Marvin reads God's Last Message to his Creation and just busted out crying like a little kid. I think I scared my wife since I am normally extremely difficult to upset -- I just didn't know how to explain to her the sense of loss I felt. I mean, here I am an adult man bawling into my hands because one of my favorite authors had died. It was really strange.

      In an unrelated sidenote, I have the words "Don't Panic" ins

      • In an unrelated sidenote, I have the words "Don't Panic" inscribed in large, helpful letters on the inside of my wedding ring. I've found it exceptionally good advice.

        Now that is a remarkably good idea...
    • Anyone remember when this was posted? [slashdot.org]

      ISTR it was Sat May 12, '01 07:33 AM, but I may be wrong.

  • Stephen Frye is the new voice (Score:3, Informative)

    by Stonent1 ( 594886 ) <stonent AT stone ... intclark DOT net> on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:22PM (#12385376) Journal
    Just an FYI. And he does it very well from the examples on the international HHGTTG movie site.

  • Nice to see (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Badgerman ( 19207 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:30PM (#12385447)
    Douglas Adams was one of my influences in my writing, my humor, and my ability to take a look at things in life. I'm glad he's getting additional attention with the film.

    Goodbye and thanks for all the books.
  • But I remember him too, and I didn't know him.

    What gives?

  • Dawkins on Adams (Score:5, Informative)

    by tootlemonde ( 579170 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @12:59PM (#12385751)

    Two memorials by Richards Dawkins from 2001 are here [guardian.co.uk] ("a keening lament, written too soon to be balanced, too soon to be carefully thought through") and a eulogy here [edge.org].

    The latter piece includes this quote from Adams:

    There are some oddities in the perspective with which we see the world. The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas-covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be, but we have done various things over intellectual history to slowly correct some of our misapprehensions.

    It's a reminder that the best way to remember Adams is to re-read what he wrote.

  • That we might have known him... (Score:4, Informative)

    by UniAce ( 713592 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @01:03PM (#12385780) Homepage
    Back in 2001, when I was Co-President of the UCLA AstroBiology Society [ucla.edu], we were planning a very large event and inquired as to whether Douglas Adams might be interested in being the headlining speaker. He was very interested, and even willing to appear at a much discounted rate! Then, alas...

    We erected a tribute page on our website in his honor:

    http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/abs/douglasadams / [ucla.edu]

    Two years later, we finally ran our Big Event, with Bill Nye the Science Guy [nyelabs.com] and Dr. Jill Tarter [seti.org] of SETI fame. We opened with a dedication to Adams. Here are pictures from the event:

    http://homepage.mac.com/uniace/PhotoAlbum21.html [mac.com]

  • I know, from reading infinite interviews, that DNA hated writing. I also know that he was utterly fed up with writing the HHGTTG books. You'll notice that books two, three, four, five and six ALL "finish" the story.


    I wonder just how much the combined stress of trying to get Hollywood to make a movie, plus fighting off rabid publishers after another HHGTTG novel, contributed to his heart attack.

  • I think Stephen Fry says it best... (Score:3, Funny)

    by galfridus73 ( 873250 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @01:09PM (#12385848) Journal
    The Stephen Fry anecdote in the article is great:


    He was a huge man: when he was in a house it rattled and you always knew he was there. He did the same to the Earth. It doesn't rattle anymore now that he's gone.


    Amen to that.

    • 110% agreed.

      I spoke with/met Adams on more than one occasion; once during a radio interview when he was talking about Last Chance to See, and once about 3 years earlier at a book signing - he signed a towel I brought in (and I still have and know where it is). Stephen Fry's comments brought the memory back of Adams trying to figure out how to sign the towel and hold it flat at the same time (in the end, I held the towel still while he signed it). After he signed it, we chatted for a few minutes and then

  • HHGTG Game Interview (Score:5, Informative)

    by boa13 ( 548222 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @01:15PM (#12385919) Homepage Journal
    The Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy game is one of the best and most difficult text-mode adventure game ever written. It was co-written by Douglas Adams and Steve Meretzky (author of the famous Planetfall and Sorceror, among others).

    The BBC has an interview with Meretzky about how his collaboration with Adams went, a great, long and detailed text, full of information. Now, that's good reporting!

    Read it here:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hitchhikers/stevem.sht ml [bbc.co.uk]
  • Perpetual motion device: Harness the energy of DOUGLAS ADAMS SPINNING IN HIS FUCKING GRAVE. I _just_ got back from seeing the movie, and as much as i love HHGTG, it was _horrible_. In Hounor of Douglas, let's all pretend like it never happened.
  • Perhaps some of you might enjoy an alternative review from a local radio station here in Los Angeles.

    I received this comment today from a friend who has only recently begun to read Hitchhiker's. I'm taking him to see the movie tonight, so he's been forwarding me little tidbits here and there.

    "Anywho, I was listening to 89.7 while flipping thru the radio stations because they had a review on Hitchhikers. And well it wasn't until the end where it said 'tries to explain the meaning of life through primarily

  • Knew the guy who killed him (Score:5, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 29, 2005 @01:38PM (#12386215)
    I didn't know Douglas Adams, but I knew the guy who killed him.

    Adams lived and worked out in Montecito, CA, right next to Santa Barbara where I live. At the time I worked out at a small gym called just "The Club" down on lower State Street. It was kind of a personal-trainer gym and most of the people who worked out there had trainers.

    Three of the trainers decided to start their own private gym in Montecito, and one of them had Adams as a client. That was where he died.

    Apparently the private gym didn't have defibrillator equipment, nor had these personal trainers had any classes in using that kind of equipment. Adams' unexpected heart attack didn't have to be fatal. As he lay gasping his last breaths at the foot of this trainer, a guy I had seen around The Club, the trainer just stood there staring helplessly, wondering what to do.

    It's a sad story, and the lesson is, make sure your gym has defib equipment, and make sure the trainers know how to use it. It could save your life some day. Don't let yourself end up as another preventable tragedy like Douglas Adams.

    • Re:Knew the guy who killed him (Score:2, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Unfortunately, as much as we would like to think that early defibrillation is a sole life saver, it is not. Early defib is only only piece of a puzzle that needs to happen. Even with defib right there during a heart attack, unless the heart has gone into an deadly ventricular arrythmia such as v-fib or v-tach a defibrillator is as useful as a alapping a dude with a fish head. Now had the Gym had a fully staffed Coronary Cath Lab, that would be a different story!
      • http://www.nitcentral.com/oddsends/defibril.htm [nitcentral.com]

        The Defibrillator File

        Begun on July 15, 1996

        Latest Defib-Flubs from the Guild

        While doing research for a novel that I've been working on for six years and I came across a piece of information that absolutely stunned me. I was discussing emergency room procedures with Darla Neff--an emergency room nurse--and we eventually got around to the "defibrillator."

        You seen it in action hundreds of times on television. The doctor or nurse grabs these paddles, slaps t

  • GRAHAM CHAPMAN (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward

    GRAHAM CHAPMAN
    (writer, author, ex-Python)

    (Mr. Chapman could not be reached in time for deadline)


    He did in fact pass away in 1989.
  • I think it is interesting, and a little sad, that Douglas's name has been so low-key among all the publicity and hype for this movie. The trailers just said "From the celebrated best-selling novel" - but omitted to mention who wrote it. On the other hand, it may be best for Douglas Adams's reputation that he isn't linked too closely with the film. Despite what many people are saying, he didn't write it. He wrote a screenplay which Disney rejected, then he died, and then another writer came in and wrote a ne

  • I actually met him once (Score:3, Interesting)

    by wdavies ( 163941 ) on Friday April 29, 2005 @02:36PM (#12386881) Homepage
    I dont get to name drop on this forum much, but when I was a teenager back in Wales, there was a stage production of HHGTG at the local student theatre (Sherman Theatre?). I remember them serving Pan galatic gargleblasters during the reception, and that myself and my friend James got to say Hi to him. I dont have any witty epitaphs to report, just remembering that he was very tall and sanguine. Thinking about it now, sort of a taller, thinner, less bearded Terry Pratchett.

    Winton

    • Having spoken several times to both Terry and Douglas I strongly recommend that should you ever be in the position to repeat that observation to Terry, DON'T.

    • heh heh :^)

      I've never actually spoken to Terry Pratchett, other than to say "err, its for my friend actually" at a book signing (kidding, he was very gracious, and signed all 30 paperbacks I brought with me). Again, falsehood :) but you get the point. I love both of them, and wish Adams had the output of Pratchett! I remember he inspired me somewhat to finish writing my thesis at the time, when he said he just has a target to write 400 words a day (or was it 4000, I forget).

  • News From the Future! (Score:2, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    From tomorrow's AP newswire:

    Havoc brought the Internet to its knees today with the opening of the movie "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" across the United States. Millions of fans, a disproportionate number of whom work in information technology related fields, scrambled to connect to clogged servers to change their passwords. Apprarently, upon realizing the positive press the movie was receiving, and assuming that the resurfacing of certain plot elements into the public consciousness was imminent, h

  • Towels (Score:2, Funny)

    by MrNiceguy_KS ( 800771 )
    I was reading the article with the free version of Opera. I looked up in the top-right corner and noticed that the Google text ads were suggesting two places I could buy towels.
  • While Douglas Adams was visiting Anchorage Alaska he gave a talk "An Evening with Douglas Adams" in 97/98.

    After a rather lengthy soliloquay on his doings, mostly consisting of his in depth searches for very rare animals on the planet (dolphins in the Yangzee for example), he opened the gathering to question and answer time. Fortunately he'd apparently already alotted half the time to doing this cause lets face it.. Fans Have Questions.

    A friend of mine stood up and thanked him for taking a side trip

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