"Ode to a Small Lump of Green Putty I Found in My Armpit One Midsummer Morning"

[Grendal_71]

Happy Birthday, and thanks for your wonderous contributions!

[Reepicheep]

Theres a frood who knows where his towel is.

[BlueBard]

I'm missing something here...

But I guess it's somebody's birthday...

Happy Birthday!  ...I guess?

[Glitch Girl]

Douglas Adams, a man who knew where his towel was.

The google doodle for the day was quite fun

[The Phantom Eyebrow]

Sorry I hadn't sassed this hoopy thread before now. 

[Grendal_71]

No worries mate.  I'd hoist a pint with you before city bulldozers or Vogon ships tore everything up anyday of the week.

[BentonGrey]

Ahh, NOW I recognize it!

[stumpy]

Thank goodness that was cleared up. I thought I had missed Gumby's birthday!

Now to attend to that couch stuck in the stairwell... ;-)

[thalaw2]

I never could figure out the babble fish business

[Glitch Girl]

it's simple Law...

Make sure you get the junk mail before the planet blows up.  Then on the ship, remove your robe, hang it on the hook, spread your towel over the grate, put the satchel in front of the cleaning robot panel, put the junk mail on top of that, and then, push the button on the vending machine.  Voila!  Babblefish!

[rictus grin] What could be easier?

yes, that's the solution to the infamous Babblefish puzzle in the HHGG text adventure game.  Without hints, you can't solve the puzzle without restarting because there aren't enough fish in the vending machine to learn about all the chaining elements you have to block.

[Reepicheep]

I never could figure out the babble fish business

Dead giveaway

*disappears in a puff of logic.*

[thalaw2]

it's simple Law...

Make sure you get the junk mail before the planet blows up.  Then on the ship, remove your robe, hang it on the hook, spread your towel over the grate, put the satchel in front of the cleaning robot panel, put the junk mail on top of that, and then, push the button on the vending machine.  Voila!  Babblefish!

[rictus grin] What could be easier?

yes, that's the solution to the infamous Babblefish puzzle in the HHGG text adventure game.  Without hints, you can't solve the puzzle without restarting because there aren't enough fish in the vending machine to learn about all the chaining elements you have to block.

Oh is that all?!?!  I just thought I had poor puzzle solving skills.  Thanks GG...you just answered a question that has bugged me for about 20 years now.  I think I can finally get a good nights sleep...after I try that solution.