From: lkseitz@see.my.sig (Lee K. Seitz)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: Re: Stupid Question About Superman And Ford Prefect....
Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2005 19:11:31 -0000
Message-ID: <11q3fv3hoetonef@corp.supernews.com>
References: <1134605250.173132.205410@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>

Because Superman is a Kryptonian and Ford is a, er, Betelguesian.  The
red suns, which desipte that one similarity are still far from
identical, are merely one factor in the rise of life on the two
planets.  Just because life arose on both worlds does not mean their
evolutionary paths followed the same routes or that the organisms from
each are biochemically similar.  You also have to factor in size of
the sun, age of the sun, energy output of the sun, spectra of the sun,
distance of the planet from the sun, gravity, atmospheric composition,
land composition, sea composition (if present), period of rotation,
direction of roatation, length of solar revolution, degree of
planetary tilt, proximity of closest improbability field, average
temperature, limits of seasonal extremes, amount of rainfall, average
cloud cover, average number of visits by parties from advanced
extra-planetary civilizations, attitudes on evolutionary/social
interference by members of said parties, maximum wind speed, position
of continents (if any), size of continents, arrangement of continents,
plans for hyperspace bypasses in the area, amount of pollution,
evolutionary advancement of each species at the time Kal-el and Ford
Prefect left their respective planets, length of each being's trip,
amount of radiation shielding on each's vessel, method of propulsion,
number of years living on Earth, and the price of tea on the Galactic
Exchange.  (It would take to long to explain that last one.  Just
trust me, okay?)

You owe the Oracle a Kryptonite towel.  Oh wait, this is my
newsreader, not my e-mail client.  Never mind.