"Next up on sports, we have small bore canon shooting with Bob Lowe as the canon and John Kirk as the small bore"

You're right, Craig. I've had me fun. Let's not go there.

Go on — I'm sure we could cook up an even dozen things to do with a copy of Angela's Ashes that doesn't involve reading the bloody thing! Really: Give me a memoir by an Irishman with a sober…

You really want to start me up on bullshit "Oirishness", and the bog scum who should be dangling by their necks from my family tree? No you don't.

__At the harvest fair she'll be surely there
And I dress in me Sunday clothes
And I said, said I
To a…

BTW, I notice that March 17 is impending. As always, I'll try to include in my prayers a wish that a cure may be found for the Irishness.

You really want to start me up on bullshit "Oirishness", and the bog scum who should be dangling by their necks from…

Christmas Cthulhu

Since you asked nicely...

that really gave me a good laugh – except maybe for the possessive 'my'.

Good on ya!

Haven't donned the kilt since I was a wee fella and I don't…

Does that make you the Caledonian equivalent of a self-hating jew?

Whatever rocks your bonny boat, my McNigger.

You also displayed an admirable sense of duty in taking over the bar.

The people that volunteer to take over the bar are always the worse choice.

My friend Baxter (who many people who passed through Otago University will recognise or know of) once volunteered to take over the bar…

If it's any comfort, I'm more likely to mock you for being a Westie than exhibit virulent Caledoniphobia. Though if you front up in a man-skirt and a grubby Metallica t-shirt all bets are off.

Craig, what is your gravatar? It look like a Christmas Cthulhu

You bethcha! I'm a little short of work safe and/or un-creepy pictures at the moment, and Hello Cthulu! is about as good as it gets. Seriously, the second choice was Nipples The Bear from web-comic Diesel Sweeties. (Link safe…

And I still don't care much for your tone.

I'm shaking in my boots.
Until you raised the nature or nurture issue I'd have put that down to genetic predetermination. I do happen to have a Scottish surname, which I acquired in the regular genetic fashion.

And I still don't care much for your tone.

Would you have the thrasos to say the same thing with other minorities replacing the "Scottish" part of your post?

Minorities such as sanctimonious scolds? Betcha there's a gene for that too.

Would you have the thrasos to say the same thing with other minorities replacing the "Scottish" part of your post? See how it works with 'black' or 'gay' or whatever.

Though if they can preserve the gene that once made the respectably hung Ewan McGregor get his ting-tong out in every other movie, I would be grateful.

Heh!
OK, just the kilt gene. There has to be one. Switch it for something more decorative, like bioluminescence.

Ewww indeed, though it'll take more than underpants. Pray that they isolate the gene that causes Scottishness, that humanity may be rid of this scourge.

Though if they can preserve the gene that once made the respectably hung Ewan McGregor get his ting-tong out in every other movie, I would…

Ewww...

Ewww indeed, though it'll take more than underpants. Pray that they isolate the gene that causes Scottishness, that humanity may be rid of this scourge.

Please reassure me that he didn't wear a kilt.

Be assured — this story from The Scotsman killed any lingering fantasies about free-balling in what amounts to a glorified gym skirt.

Leading Scottish kilt-making firm Slanj has written a clause into its hire terms requesting that underwear is worn at…

Want to clarify that my assessment of Bruce Sterling was not about the Dubber stuff – I kind of enjoyed that, and they both had valid points.

Next time I shall endeavour to wear something more serving wenchly

I believe suggestions…

Craig "Highlander" Ranapia – There can be only one.

God made Craig and broke the mould... & fired the mould-maker..

Also confirmed Craig really is the guy I remember from school.

Craig "Highlander" Ranapia – There can be only one.

You also displayed an admirable sense of duty in taking over the bar.

Duty, yes. Not convenience...

Next time I shall endeavour to wear something more serving wenchly.

Indeed it was, though I should point out that when Craig says 'soberly', he's speaking for himself. I was elegantly trashed.

You also displayed an admirable sense of duty in taking over the bar.

He makes baby food?

No, he backstops for the Ottawa Senators. Or *did*, rather: he sucked so comprehensively they had to send him to the minors.

Actually, I think you'll find he works in printed circuitry – hence the technical bent of his name.

IKB – QED.

It was nice to meet you too, Emma, though not the most friendly environment for an intimate chat.

Indeed it was, though I should point out that when Craig says 'soberly', he's speaking for himself. I was elegantly trashed.

It's true, one has to bounce up to Craig oneself.

Though when you're on a boat, it's more like (sober) ducking and weaving. That was a fun night, but I don't know if messing around in boats is half as much fun as Kenneth Grahame would have you believe. It…

He makes baby food?

No, he backstops for the Ottawa Senators. Or *did*, rather: he sucked so comprehensively they had to send him to the minors.

I'm mildly curious about how long we can keep this up...

There should be enough material for a couple more rounds I would think.

No, Knowledge bro is definitely Gerber, not Leatherman.

He makes baby food?

I'm mildly curious about how long we can keep this up...

A great Great Blend last night. Scintillating conversations and the time just flew by..but I wonder if anyone else thought that Bruce Sterling came across as just a touch arrogant, scoring cheap points off Andrew Dubber.

I didn't really see it as cheap point scoring – more putting things in…

Did you talk with any obviously Orcon-sourced attendees?

I did have an interesting long chat with a fellow from Deloittes, and his teacher partner, who were sitting in front of us. But we were a bit trapped by the seating and I would have like to have introduced my wife…

Some of us were very happy to see Cassette live the same weekend as Foo over at Bethells Beach with Steve Abel where some very fine…

in my head Knowledge Bro is big and quite butch. Possibly a Leatherman.

No, Knowledge bro is definitely Gerber, not Leatherman.

Yes, and I had a wonderful time (the free coffee and pretzels didn't hurt). I just don't do the 'networking' thing, where you bounce up to total strangers and introduce yourself, with any conviction.

It's true, one has to bounce up to Craig oneself.

anyone with the slightest familiarity with his non-fiction or literary polemics/criticsm should be perfectly well aware that you don't piss in his direction without getting a waterblaster full of urine right back at you

Heh – I think Andrew Dubber may have started it, but not being at all previously…

Gosh, you mean you were hiding there too, Craig?

Yes, and I had a wonderful time (the free coffee and pretzels didn't hurt). I just don't do the 'networking' thing, where you bounce up to total strangers and introduce yourself, with any conviction. Probably should, but there you go and…

Not sure if the name badge thing would have worked, but alternatives not coming to mind right now

We could all wear t-shirts ;-)

A great Great Blend last night. Scintillating conversations and the time just flew by..but I wonder if anyone else thought that Bruce Sterling came across as just a touch arrogant, scoring cheap points off Andrew Dubber.

And no I didn't — come one, wasn't it a wee bit of a…

I also thought Sterling did not come across as a person I'd like to know at all, despite admiring his work. Plain rude at times – although Dubber probably asked for it the first time by dissing futurism in general.

Well, Sacha, if you think that was rude you should…

One thought for the next event--it may be a touch geeky (and a bit…

I also love Cassette, Flight Of The Conchords and Michel Gondry...but who doesn't love ole Gondry eh?

TPF played a gig where Mr Gondry was in the audience (it was an Eagle Vs Shark thing)...while we were packing up our gear we were going "was…

I thought I was very restrained. But, woo: Gondry.

Curse you and your Torrent-fuelled impatience. There ought to be a law, I tells ya.

(Gondry, ay. Was Spielberg sick then?)

Tell the fellas make it understood
It aint no good if there's too much wood
Make sure you know before you go
The dance floor bro/ho ratio
Five to One is a brodeo
Tell Steve and Mike its time to go
Wait outside…

I don't know about Julian Clary being gay but I do know he is a New Statesman columnist.

That's nice. The last I'd noticed he was trying to be Kenneth Williams, but only appeared to be succeeding in blurring the distinction between Carry On and carrion.

Knowledge Bro, the village's camp librarian? :)

For some reason, in my head Knowledge Bro is big and quite butch. Possibly a Leatherman.

I don't know about Julian Clary being gay but I do know he is a New Statesman columnist.

Romeo, Brooklyn and Cruz?

No idea. :)

You must be right, he knows the names of all Posh & Beck's children.

Romeo, Brooklyn and Cruz?

I'm not sure I get this Emma, you're suggesting Abraham Lincoln was in the Village People?

Only in the early years. They dumped him because the hat kept falling off when he danced.…

Just an act probably, I expect they're no more gay than Julian Clary is.

I'm sensing a hidden reference to the missing member of the Village People, Knowledge Bro.

I'm not sure I get this Emma, you're suggesting Abraham Lincoln was in the Village People?

Julian Clary *is* gay or so this article implies. I think it may be libel to suggest otherwise.

You must be right, he knows the names of all Posh & Beck's children.

Ron Jeremy is the Platonic Idea for short, balding, faintly unsavoury white men in a hideous shirts

The Platonic Far-From-Ideal, surely?

Mark:

I found a huge puddle of saliva in my lap

Saliva. Yeh. That's your story, and you're sticking to it...

Just an act probably, I expect they're no more gay than Julian Clary is.

I'm sensing a hidden reference to the missing member of the Village People, Knowledge Bro.

According to wiki:
Victor Edward Willis... [was the] original lead singer of the disco group Village People. He was also the only straight member of the original group. His persona was the "Cop" and "Naval Officer".

The Village People: I've always wondered if they were gay.

Just an act probably, I expect they're no more gay than Julian Clary is.

It looks like Dennis Franz to me – but I'd have to see his butt to be sure.

His butt.It's another part of his anatomy that he's generally recognisable by/famous for. :D

Um... no, Dennis Franz is notable for showing his butt in an episode of NYPD Blue. You are…

Otherwise I'm closing my eyes, blocking my ears and going LA-LA-LA-LA in the general direction of all you people (and you know who you are, and how damn many you are) who drop various kinds of hints about or offers…

I know it was only a minor part of the show but I felt a bit short changed by the FOO camp report personally, didn't really tell me much except a few geeks in tents gathered at Warkworth.

I'm sure there's much more to it. Where can I find more…

However, that aside: isn't the dude in the front of the Conga line with a moustache and the aviator sunglasses one of the Village People?

Indeed. Randy Jones — who used to be the cowboy and now runs the Village People — plays the doorman and is on the dancefloor…

It looks like Dennis Franz to me – but I'd have to see his butt to be sure.

His butt. It's another part of his anatomy that he's generally recognisable by/famous for. :D

And another excellent Media 7:

I know it was only a minor part of the show but I felt a bit short changed by the FOO camp report personally, didn't really tell me much except a few geeks in tents gathered at Warkworth.

I'm sure there's much more to it.…

ain't no good if there's too much wood"

heh, found a huge puddle of saliva on my lap at the end of that track.

Did I spot Ron Jeremy in there at one point, or was that just a Freudian reaction of some kind?

Every short, balding, faintly unsavoury white man in a hideous shirt looks like Ron Jeremy. It's a fundamental Law of Nature.

Did I spot Ron Jeremy in there at one point, or was that just a Freudian reaction of some kind?

I rulz, youz drulz.

That's Michel Gondry directing there. Yowza.

Coolio. Can't wait to watch that. (Can't watch now – at work.)