RETURN: Purple rain, purple rain
Michael Holmes
and the sun is slowly setting on an unusually cold March afternoon.
The regular crowd is here. Chatting, discussing, laughing, hugging,
sympathizing. We've seen it before, we'll see it again.
The color of the sky is a bit odd today, a bit more mauve than usual.
It reflects into the odd corners of Callahan's, shading some discussions
in a royal purple.
<<could it be?>>
Discussions diverge, converge, following winding paths that sound
a bit familiar, yet new. Discussions of the nature of the Place.
Navel-gazing? Wisdom? Compassionate renewal? Inevitable comparisons
to times past are made, old discussions, former Patrons... names are
even bandied about which new friends have never heard before.
Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
could a former Patron be returning?
Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
--
"For man, as for flower and beast and bird, the supreme triumph
is to be most vividly, most perfectly alive." - David Herbert Lawrence
Quinn Inuit
little heralds in the computer go to the ends of the Earth to
proclaim:
>It's 5 o'clock on a Saturday... well, maybe not. But it's dusky,
>and the sun is slowly setting on an unusually cold March afternoon.
>
>The regular crowd is here. Chatting, discussing, laughing, hugging,
>sympathizing. We've seen it before, we'll see it again.
>
>The color of the sky is a bit odd today, a bit more mauve than usual.
>It reflects into the odd corners of Callahan's, shading some discussions
>in a royal purple.
>
><<could it be?>>
>
>Discussions diverge, converge, following winding paths that sound
>a bit familiar, yet new. Discussions of the nature of the Place.
>Navel-gazing? Wisdom? Compassionate renewal? Inevitable comparisons
>to times past are made, old discussions, former Patrons... names are
>even bandied about which new friends have never heard before.
>
>Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
>could a former Patron be returning?
>
>Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
???
Also, while I'm being curious, could someone explain some of these
past Patrons to me?
-Q.I.
--
Every little child learns
If you can't see dreams your eyes are blind
-Moxy Fruvous, "Fly"
Janet Miles
[...]
> The color of the sky is a bit odd today, a bit more mauve than usual.
> It reflects into the odd corners of Callahan's, shading some discussions
> in a royal purple.
> <<could it be?>>
Could it be? It is! Hello again, nice to see you, can I get you a BOYC?
JanetM
posted
--
Janet Miles (jmi...@usit.net) <www.public.usit.net/jmiles>
Loyal Webcrafter: PenUltimate Productions <www.worthlink.net/~ysabet>
Member: SSBB Diplomatic Corps -- East Tennessee
"Bananas in the fridge. Potassium is important." -- Slash Maraud 1/30/00
Janet Miles
> On 27 Mar 2001 20:24:18 GMT, Michael Holmes <mj...@bu.edu> had the
> little heralds in the computer go to the ends of the Earth to
> proclaim:
[...
>>Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
> Also, while I'm being curious, could someone explain some of these
> past Patrons to me?
[Janet grins happily, delighted at the opportunity to be useful]
Quinn, m'dear, allow me to introduce Mike Holmes, aka /*, aka The Purple
Guy, and the local representative of the Happiness Patrol. He tends to sort
of spread purpleness around him, but it's not permanent (unless you want it
to be).
Mike, this is Quinn, a newcomer to this fine Place. I suspect he would
enjoy hearing about some of your past exploits in and around the area.
The Trinker
Michael Holmes wrote:
> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
"Do mine eyes deceive me, or..."
(He's back, he's back!)
Welcome home!
The Trinker
--
DO NOT SEND REPLIES DIRECTLY TO THIS E-MAIL!
tri...@pacbell.net is a spamdump, and is not read.
Send mail you'd like me to read to <kat> @ <vincent-tanaka.com>
(remove the brackets, of course.)
Michael Holmes
:>Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
:>could a former Patron be returning?
:>
:>Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
: ???
Smiling a bit mischeivously, the former Patron in question opens
the door to Callahans, and waves.
"Sorry 'bout that, couldn't help but go for a bit of mystery in
my return. In here, in the past, I've been known as /*. Pleased to
meet you." He smiles and waves at Janet, hearing himself introduced to
Quinn.
Those assembled notice a bald man, 5'7" or so, with a small goatee and
wearing wire-rimmed glasses. Oh, and he's purple. Light purple skin,
deep amethyst eyes, wearing casual clothing of varied purple hues...
<<wait a second -- did you say "bald?" What happened to the unkempt
medium length hair and the foot-and-a-half long pony-tail?>>
/* overhears the comment, and laughs a bit. "Hey, is the LOR -- the
Light of Reality -- still around here?" A random patron runs to
the back room and pulls out a large free-standing light, like one
of those used at a photo shoot or on a movie set. /* wanders over
and turns it on.
Nothing happens. He scratches his head, and then kicks it. It flickers
on, then off, then on... and can't seem to stop flickering like a nearly-dead
fluorescent light fixture. When the light flickers on, the virtual
disappears, and the real remains... as much as there is a distinction
between the two, that is.
"Oh well, good enough." /* stands in front of the LOR, and as it flickers
over him, his purple skin turns caucasian, his purple goatee is shown
to be light brown with flecks of red, and his amethyst eyes become hazel.
His clothes remain purple, however. The strobe light effect is a bit
disconcerting, and /* remembers that some patrons aren't too fond of
the LOR, so he turns it off.
"Yep... in reality, I look a lot like /*, only slightly less purply.
So the bald head is in real life, too."
Sudden speculative conversations follow quickly. Did /* run off to
become a monk? Is there some medical problem in his past? Did he
renounce his peaceful ways and become some sort of street punk? Does
he sing loud metallic songs of angst and anger?
Laughing, /* holds his hands up in protest.
"Vanity, vanity, it was pure vanity. After I turned 30, my hair started
to thin, enough to be noticeable. While I was figuring out what to do,
a good female friend said 'you know, bald men are more attractive than
baldING men'. Well, that got me thinking... I mean, eventually I'd
probably have to expose my skull to the world, or else shell out the
bucks for rogaine, or implants, or rugs that could be snapped to my head."
"And, frankly, sometimes I just like to shake things up a bit. So
I shaved my head. Reactions were either shock or approval, and I enjoy
both, so for now I'm keeping my head smooth."
/* pauses, and tries to think of how to re-introduce himself after
all this time.
"I started posting in here in the early '90s, but I've been absent,
aside from a post or two here and there, for about the last 3 years.
I have lurked, but real life interfered a bit too much to afford me the
time that I think this Place deserves. I hope to be able to stick around
a bit longer now, though, as certain aspects of my life have eased
recently."
/* looks around, wondering what to do next. "I suppose I'm going to
have to explain the Happiness Patrol soon enough... "
Pat Kight
>
> It's 5 o'clock on a Saturday... well, maybe not. But it's dusky,
> and the sun is slowly setting on an unusually cold March afternoon.
>
> The regular crowd is here. Chatting, discussing, laughing, hugging,
> sympathizing. We've seen it before, we'll see it again.
>
> The color of the sky is a bit odd today, a bit more mauve than usual.
> It reflects into the odd corners of Callahan's, shading some discussions
> in a royal purple.
The Spinster, who's been napping down in the Lounge, sits bolt upright,
feeling the purple wash over her like a wave of promise.
> <<could it be?>>
"Nahhh ... not a chance ... or *COULD* it???"
> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
"You know," Jezebel remarks to a patron sitting nearby, "I do believe
I've noticed that alt.callahans just seems more ... purple ... today!"
The observant may also notice that this particular state of purplitude
seems to induce a subtle but definite shift in the emotional state of
those it touches. Something a little ... effervescent. Tingly, maybe.
Ever-so-slightly uplifting. Vaguely ... euphoric.
"If I didn't know better," one of the newfolx is heard to say, "I'd say
this felt an awful lot like ... HAPPINESS."
Jez bounces to the bar and lays down a single, just in case.
--Jezebel
kig...@peak.org
Gene Szedenits, Jr.
"Michael Holmes" <mj...@bu.edu> wrote in message
news:99qsti$r3j$1...@news3.bu.edu...
> It's 5 o'clock on a Saturday... well, maybe not. But it's dusky,
> and the sun is slowly setting on an unusually cold March afternoon.
[snip]
> Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
> could a former Patron be returning?
>
> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
Gene finds one of those pesky dollar coins in his pocket
and sets it on the bar for /*'s NBOC.
If I recall correctly, you favor grape Crush?
Gene
Bill Gawne
The Marine at the end of the bar looks out the window and notices...
> The color of the sky is a bit odd today, a bit more mauve than usual.
> It reflects into the odd corners of Callahan's, shading some discussions
> in a royal purple.
>
> <<could it be?>>
"Hey, Mike?" Bill asks the bartender. "Take a look here..."
Mike looks out the window, noticing the hues. He nods silently
to Bill, smiling.
> Discussions diverge, converge, following winding paths that sound
> a bit familiar, yet new. Discussions of the nature of the Place.
> Navel-gazing? Wisdom? Compassionate renewal? Inevitable comparisons
> to times past are made, old discussions, former Patrons... names are
> even bandied about which new friends have never heard before.
>
> Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
> could a former Patron be returning?
"Hey there /* !" Bill calls out. "It is you! How the heck are you?"
--
Bill Gawne, in Callahan's as in real life. <ga...@pha.jhu.edu> |
Astronomer at Large - Retired Master Sergeant USMCR - Nothing I
post represents an official position of any organization.
On the web: http://www.pha.jhu.edu/~gawne
Michael Holmes
: Michael Holmes wrote:
:> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
: "Do mine eyes deceive me, or..."
: (He's back, he's back!)
: Welcome home!
A darker purple blush blooms on /*'s cheeks... he shouldn't be surprised
by the warm welcome, but he is tickled by it. And no, he is NOT tickled
pink!
"Thanks, Trinker! I'd been lurking on and off, and when another
Patron (the purple guy nods towards a certainly friendly Marine)
let me know that the Happiness Patrol had come up in conversation
here, it just sort of seemed like the time was right for a purple return."
"Wow, though... the activity level is a bit intimidating. I am a bit
rusty at this... there's a lot to catch up on, and certainly there seems
a lot about myself that more recent patrons don't know."
/* pauses a moment in contemplation. Getting to know people is half
the fun, at least!
"Uhm... I know firelizards are still around... but would everyone be
okay if I brought in my dog (virtually) for a visit?"
Grant
<Snip>
'Hiya! Yep, I'm new here, and it's nice to meet ya.' :o)
---
Grant
- :o)
Remove the "UHUG" from my email address to email me.
Janet Miles
> "Uhm... I know firelizards are still around... but would everyone be
> okay if I brought in my dog (virtually) for a visit?"
I can't speak for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't mind!
The Trinker
Michael Holmes wrote:
> /* looks around, wondering what to do next. "I suppose I'm going to
> have to explain the Happiness Patrol soon enough... "
"Bill Gawne told me that I'm supposed to show you
http://www.himonkey.net, by the way..."
Travis McGee
Michael Holmes wrote:
> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
Hey! The Purple Guy! A lurker I know (glance to the rafters) told me
about you. Um...I think :0$ Either way...BOYC?
_____________________________________________________
STILL
I ATE'NT DEAD
/\
-Granny Weatherwax
_____________________________________________________
Travis Mcgee
AIM:MingtheConqueror
MSN:afoolishma...@hotmail.com
The Trinker
Michael Holmes wrote:
>
> The Trinker <tri...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>
> : Michael Holmes wrote:
>
> :> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
>
> : "Do mine eyes deceive me, or..."
>
> : (He's back, he's back!)
>
> : Welcome home!
>
> A darker purple blush blooms on /*'s cheeks... he shouldn't be surprised
> by the warm welcome, but he is tickled by it. And no, he is NOT tickled
> pink!
>
> "Thanks, Trinker! I'd been lurking on and off, and when another
> Patron (the purple guy nods towards a certainly friendly Marine)
> let me know that the Happiness Patrol had come up in conversation
> here, it just sort of seemed like the time was right for a purple return."
"I shall remember to thank Bill for shaking you loose from
the Rafters, then."
> "Wow, though... the activity level is a bit intimidating. I am a bit
> rusty at this... there's a lot to catch up on, and certainly there seems
> a lot about myself that more recent patrons don't know."
>
> /* pauses a moment in contemplation. Getting to know people is half
> the fun, at least!
(oh, good! Imagine our relief!)
> "Uhm... I know firelizards are still around... but would everyone be
> okay if I brought in my dog (virtually) for a visit?"
"I can't speak for *everyone*, but I'm okay with your dog,
so long as he's not prone to licking people who don't like
being licked, and all that sort of thing. Oh, and would
you care for a drink or a snack or something?"
gi...@nospam.pobox.com
> "Sorry 'bout that, couldn't help but go for a bit of mystery in
> my return. In here, in the past, I've been known as /*. Pleased to
> meet you." He smiles and waves at Janet, hearing himself introduced to
> Quinn.
Rachel blinks, rubs her eyes, and blinks again as Soora flutters toward
/*. "Wow, I can't remember the last time I saw you! How are you? Buy
you a drink of your choice (BYOC)? Are you still in the Boston area?"
Rachel hopes to settle in for a long catching-up...
--
R. S. Silverman
http://www.gingicat.org
"It isn't my fault that I'm supposed to be living in a musical and got
stuck in a dramatic production." --Robert Cooke, on rec.music.filk
mae...@npit01.fweep.fnal.gov
>
> Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
> could a former Patron be returning?
>
> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
oooooooh, goody, goody, goody! Welcome *home*, /*! Or do you want to be called
Mike today? It's wonderful to see you again. BOYC?
maenad :) :) :)
--
---------------------------------------------------------------
You know how to mail me, don't you?
Just pull your wits together, and *don't* ...
___________ maenad <at> npit01 <dot> fnal <dot> gov ___________
mae...@npit01.fweep.fnal.gov
> "Uhm... I know firelizards are still around... but would everyone be
> okay if I brought in my dog (virtually) for a visit?"
A royal blue firelizare with midnight-blue wings flecked in gold plummets, er,
swoops out of the rafters, narrowly missing /*'s bald head, and picking up an
aura of purple.
<dog?>
<prairie dog?>
<gopher!>
<bring dog!>
giggling, maenad throws Garith a pretzel and promises him some gopher meat
later. "I don't think that's the kind of dog he meant, dear heart. But let's
wait to meet the dog - I bet hie'll be fun to play with."
<play!>
The purplish-blue lizard takes off like a shot, grabbing peanuts from the bowls
on the bar and distributing them individially to each Patron, visiting every
corner, nook and cranny. Peanut shells fall out of the rafters; giggles and
squeaks of alarm echo from the far reaches. Eventually, Garith reaches the Free
Lunch and pulls up short, eyes whirling, captivated by Pernicious and utterly
tempted by the ham sandwiches.
"Oh, dear..." moans maenad.
maenad & Garith
D.J.
/*:
[]<<could it be?>>
Hello ! Whats all this then ?
No rutabagas !?
Hi Mike !
D.J. urf, gots to get ready for working, I'm late, I'm late !
But I'm not Alice.
--
djim55 at tyhe datasync dot com. Disclaimer: Standard.
Updated: March 24, 2001
drive-in Movie theaters:
http://www.datasync.com/~djim55/drivein/index.html
Quinn Inuit
had the little heralds in the computer go to the ends of the Earth to
proclaim:
>Quinn Inuit <quinn...@POINGyahoo.com> wrote:
>> On 27 Mar 2001 20:24:18 GMT, Michael Holmes <mj...@bu.edu> had the
>> little heralds in the computer go to the ends of the Earth to
>> proclaim:
>
>[...
>>>Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
>
>> Also, while I'm being curious, could someone explain some of these
>> past Patrons to me?
>
>[Janet grins happily, delighted at the opportunity to be useful]
>
>Quinn, m'dear, allow me to introduce Mike Holmes, aka /*, aka The Purple
>Guy, and the local representative of the Happiness Patrol. He tends to sort
>of spread purpleness around him, but it's not permanent (unless you want it
>to be).
Cool, thanks for the introduction. I can live with a bit o'
purpleness every now and again. Pleased to meetcha', /*. BYOC?
It's so cool how happy everyone is to see him. Old friends are
remembered here.
>Mike, this is Quinn, a newcomer to this fine Place. I suspect he would
>enjoy hearing about some of your past exploits in and around the area.
You bet I would.
-Q.I.
--
And if I should leave this lonely world behind
Your voice would still remember our melody
-"Melodies of Life"
gi...@nospam.pobox.com
> The purplish-blue lizard takes off like a shot, grabbing peanuts from
> the bowls on the bar and distributing them individially to each
> Patron, visiting every corner, nook and cranny. Peanut shells fall out
> of the rafters; giggles and squeaks of alarm echo from the far
> reaches. Eventually, Garith reaches the Free Lunch and pulls up short,
> eyes whirling, captivated by Pernicious and utterly tempted by the ham
> sandwiches.
Soora, the green fire lizard, has been watching in amusement from Rachel's
shoulder. <<Silly young one, isn't he. Oh. I think he may need to know
that Cats Are Not Toys.>>
<<I think Pernicious can take care of himself, Soora.>>
<<Yes, but can Garith?>>
With that pronouncement, Soora launches herself from Rachel's shoulder and
heads toward the Free Lunch to gently chide the younger firelizard. On
her way, she drops a note at /*'s table, which reads, <<I think a dog will
be just fine. We're getting overloaded with cats... even my dear human
becomes one on occasion.>>
TBird
>:>Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
:-)
:::TBird smiles and waves then starts to look nostalgic::::
I grew up in New York...the city....Manhattan proper....
And while I was growing up there was a gentleman who became well known in
Central Park. Eventually, I noticed that he must live in my neighborhood,
because I'd see him pedaling up the street outside my 2nd story window....
Now - why I am reminded of him was that he was known city wide as "Adam
Purple".... he was an older gent, with long white hair and a long white beard,
and he rode a purple bicycle, and wore purple clothes and had a purple bag in
which he carried purple bubbles to blow for the kids in the park. At one
point, he campaigned for cars to be banned from the island, and only bicycles
be allowed (oh, and busses and taxis).....
Was he any relation?
TBird <----- remembers NYC as a magical place if one paid attention
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You've got to kick at the darkness
'Til it bleeds daylight
~~~ BC
Allison
i'm new. *very* new, actually... only a few months.
nice to meet you :) BYOC?
-al
ps. my favourite colour's purple! ;)
Michael Holmes <mj...@bu.edu> wrote in message
news:99qsti$r3j$1...@news3.bu.edu...
Michael Holmes
: On Tue, 27 Mar 2001 20:47:09 GMT, Janet Miles <jmi...@use.usit.net>
:>Quinn, m'dear, allow me to introduce Mike Holmes, aka /*, aka The Purple
:>Guy, and the local representative of the Happiness Patrol. He tends to sort
:>of spread purpleness around him, but it's not permanent (unless you want it
:>to be).
: Cool, thanks for the introduction. I can live with a bit o'
: purpleness every now and again. Pleased to meetcha', /*. BYOC?
/* grins, and thanks Quinn. "I'm glad you can live with a bit
of purpleness -- although I have to admit I like a *bit* more
than a *bit*"
"You see, when I started here as /* back in the Dark Ages, I
decided to give myself a virtual ability that was just an extension
of my real life, er, uhm... *attachment* to the color purple."
A nearby Patron mock-snidely whispers that apparently 'attachment'
has become a new synonym for 'obsession'.
/* tries to glare at the aforementioned nearby Patron, but can't
really hold the glare-face for too long without breaking into
laughter. After all, the accusation is a fair cop.
: It's so cool how happy everyone is to see him. Old friends are
: remembered here.
"Yeah, it is very nice, quite the boost. Makes me wonder why the
heck I waited so long to return!"
:>Mike, this is Quinn, a newcomer to this fine Place. I suspect he would
:>enjoy hearing about some of your past exploits in and around the area.
: You bet I would.
"Hrm... hard to know where to begin. Although some Patrons prefer
one type of thread over others... like preferring VR fluff over
serious discussions... I tended to be someone who'd float in and out
of all sorts of different threads."
"I did indeed bring my own... adjusted... version of the Happiness
Patrol in here, as well as a woman who was also a photocopier, and
a purple firelizard named Morado. And we did participate in some
of the group stories, like the ones done for Halloween... or the picnics
out back, where there was a ferris wheel... " /* looks around,
wondering if those are French Doors way in the back?
"And I occasionally punned, though it's not my forte, and there
were times when I offered support, and other times when I was the one
being supported. I mourned a cherished grandmother and bemoaned
a [formerly] fundamentalist brother, as well as a whole family who
couldn't understand my religious choices."
"And then, more serious discussions... sometimes challenging, sometimes
a bit unpleasant... the usuals, guns and politics and religion, but
some of the more memorable were always the flame wars about flame wars."
"And old-timers talking about how Callahans had changed." /* smiles,
a bit wanly this time.
"Ironic, isn't it, that I'm returning in large part because of a
nostalgia thread... me, one of the Oldtimers. Y'know, within my
first year here, I was struck... and a little hurt... by some of the
'oldtimers' commenting on how different Callahans had become, and how
something seemed diminished because it had grown so much. 200 posts
a day!" /* smiles again, hoping that he isn't re-opening barely healing
wounds. Gently, gently, purple guy.
"Back then, to me, Callahans was an amazing place. The people I'd met!
The warmth and support! The fun! How could anything be missing? Was
it me, was I just not quite as 'good' as 'the Originals'? Or were they
being too 'clique-y'? All the things they said they missed still seemed
to be here. It didn't seem fair. It was not their intention, but in
a way I felt a bit like a second-class citizen."
"And now, I'm a returning oldtimer who is a bit intimidated by a volume
of posts that is more than twice what it was when I first wandered in
so many years ago. And things do change. They can't remain the same.
That's stagnation, death."
/* shakes his head, clearing cobwebs. "I am WAY too young to be
acting like an old fogey, regardless of how long ago I first entered
alt.callahans!"
The purple guy smiles at Quinn. "But, you know what? You very aptly
pointed out the real important thing... one of the real 'threads' that
runs through this Place, and has for as long as I can remember --
friendship, warmth, old friends remembered and happily welcomed back."
"That's as fine a way to begin again as any I could think of."
Michael Holmes
: Rachel blinks, rubs her eyes, and blinks again as Soora flutters toward
: /*. "Wow, I can't remember the last time I saw you! How are you? Buy
: you a drink of your choice (BYOC)? Are you still in the Boston area?"
"I'm fine, Rachel, thanks. You might have seen me briefly, last year or
so. I'm pretty sure I popped in to update people on the saga of
purchasing the family summer home from recalcitrant relatives... I am
sort of still near Boston... I moved out to the suburbs, and am really
closer to Providence now, though I still work in Boston."
: Rachel hopes to settle in for a long catching-up...
/* laughs, thinking of the long-winded post he just made. "Is
the catching-up long enough yet? Just wait! I didn't make the
Lamplighter's top ten list of largest single posts for nothing!"
In VR, as in RL, the purple guy can be a bit verbose... to put it
kindly...
Michael Holmes
:>:>Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
: :-)
: :::TBird smiles and waves then starts to look nostalgic::::
[...]
: Now - why I am reminded of him was that he was known city wide as "Adam
: Purple"... he was an older gent, with long white hair and a long white beard,
: and he rode a purple bicycle, and wore purple clothes and had a purple bag in
: which he carried purple bubbles to blow for the kids in the park. At one
: point, he campaigned for cars to be banned from the island, and only bicycles
: be allowed (oh, and busses and taxis).....
: Was he any relation?
"Hi, TBird... no, not that I know of, though I'd bet he's spiritual
uncle of /* to be sure! And hey, I already own the purple clothes and
the purple bag... "
/* thinks Adam Purple sounds like quite the fun character, and is now wondering
whether or not he should buy a purple bike...
Michael Holmes
: Michael Holmes wrote:
:> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
: Hey! The Purple Guy! A lurker I know (glance to the rafters) told me
: about you. Um...I think :0$ Either way...BOYC?
/* gazes up at the darker recess of the rafters, a location he inhabited
up until very recently.
"Hmmm... I don't know whether to flattered or disconcerted... oh, well,
I'll opt for 'flattered'."
:-)
"Thanks, Travis, I'd love a drink. Sitting in those rafters can be
a thirst-inducing experience... "
John Vinson
>Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
>could a former Patron be returning?
>
>Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
John the Wysard looks up with interest. Then he starts energetically
rummaging in his capacious magical carpetbag. "Let's see... bell jar,
iodine crystals, heating plate, Tyrian purple dye fresh from the vat
(mind the stench!), an eggplant, a so-called 'red' cabbage, now where
is that patent 'Purple People Eater Repellent'..."
He also puts a Saccie on the bar for an old friend's welcome...
John the Wysard jvinson *at* WysardOfInfo *dot* com
Michael Holmes
>mjmh wrote:
:> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
: "You know," Jezebel remarks to a patron sitting nearby, "I do believe
: I've noticed that alt.callahans just seems more ... purple ... today!"
: The observant may also notice that this particular state of purplitude
: seems to induce a subtle but definite shift in the emotional state of
: those it touches. Something a little ... effervescent. Tingly, maybe.
: Ever-so-slightly uplifting. Vaguely ... euphoric.
Could be Schweppes grape ginger ale... or could be a returning purple
patron... or maybe even a returning purple patron drinking a Schweppes
grape ginger ale!
: "If I didn't know better," one of the newfolx is heard to say, "I'd say
: this felt an awful lot like ... HAPPINESS."
Which, as we know, WILL PREVAIL!
: Jez bounces to the bar and lays down a single, just in case.
...and a certain purple guy taps her on the shoulder, gives her a great
big grin, and spreads his arms wide, offering a patented Purple-izing
hug...
Michael Holmes
: "Michael Holmes" <mj...@bu.edu> wrote in message
: news:99qsti$r3j$1...@news3.bu.edu...
: [snip]
:> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
: Gene finds one of those pesky dollar coins in his pocket
: and sets it on the bar for /*'s NBOC.
: If I recall correctly, you favor grape Crush?
"Wow, impressive recall indeed. Grape Crush is one of my favorite
virtual beverages!"
......digression....
/* chuckles, as he almost said "beveraggio", which is a Happiness Patrol
in-joke... having to do with a recital several RL friends attended, with
one medieval Italian song as part of the concert. /* grew quite
indignant when he read the translation and original verse in the program
provided, as he was QUITE certain that someone just made up the word
"beveraggio"... and now, years later, should you stop by the purple
guys' home, you are as likely to be offered a "beveraggio" as a "drink"!
BetNoir
> It's 5 o'clock on a Saturday...
/The regular crowd shuffles in/
(I'm sorry...that is my absolute fave Billy Joel song, 'sides 'Only the
Good Die Young')
> Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
> could a former Patron be returning?
> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
I sure have!
Purple is Good!
--
BetN - NEVER parry with your head
Benevolent Cap'n, Bad Ship BetNoirian-You there! Hoist something!
First Mate Midnight Rose-Don' MAKE me break dis lightsaber offn yo' ass!
AFR Goddess of Pith and Vinegar
Proud Member #014, Assassins' Guild-Nihil Privatus
If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible
warning
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist
the black flag and begin slitting throats-H.L. Mencken
To desire the end is to desire the means-Draka saying
We close our eyes, and the world has turned around again-D. Elfman
Humans say Hell is paved with good intentions.
Why? Do they think there's a shortage of bad ones?-Karm'Luk P'an Ku
Michael Holmes
[...]
: "Hey there /* !" Bill calls out. "It is you! How the heck are you?"
/* waves to Bill. "I am pretty darned great, actually! I have to
admit I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at my return, but it's also
Amazingly Cool."
The purple guy tosses a coin onto the bar, and lets Mike know that
Bill has a drink coming to him, in gratitude for shaking /* out of
those rafters...
Michael Holmes
: /*:
: []<<could it be?>>
: Hello ! Whats all this then ?
"Oh, I'm just causing a ruckus, as usual! Heya DJ, how you doing?"
: No rutabagas !?
"Nope, but I've got a few eggplants, will those do?"
: Hi Mike !
: D.J. urf, gots to get ready for working, I'm late, I'm late !
: But I'm not Alice.
"Nope, nobody seems to be Alice anymore... "
Michael Holmes
: Michael Holmes <mj...@bu.edu> wrote:
:> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
: oooooooh, goody, goody, goody! Welcome *home*, /*! Or do you want to be
: called Mike today? It's wonderful to see you again. BOYC?
"Hi Maenad! /*, Mike, it's all pretty much the same to me. The
'official' pronunciation of '/*' has always been Heisenbergian in
its uncertainty... "
"I do seem to remember, one of the last times I attempted to return,
that I was uncertain about being able to spend the necessary time to
be '/*' and wondering if it would simply be easier to post as myself,
sans persona. This time around, though... it's just as easy to get
back into the habit of /*, and I figured if I need to post as Mike,
I can do that, too. But I certainly have never minded people pronouncing
'/*' as 'Mike', either!"
/* tilts his head slightly, a contemplative gaze on his face. "There're
just some things about the '3rd person' expressiveness of a persona that
I like, that seem to make it easier to convey emotional tone that is
often missing from simple straight discussive text... "
The purple guy shrugs, and thanks Maenad for the drink.
"It's so great to be back. I just need to point out that Happiness
seems to be Prevailing all over this darned place... "
John Vinson
>one of the real 'threads' that
>runs through this Place, and has for as long as I can remember --
>friendship, warmth, old friends remembered and happily welcomed back."
>
>"That's as fine a way to begin again as any I could think of."
"Amen..." says John the Wysard, happily offering his friend a {{HUG}}
and very willing to be purple for a while...
Lee S. Billings
>Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
Hey, Purple Guy, welcome back! It's been a while... BOYC?
Celine
--
"Only the powers of evil claim that doing good is boring."
-- Diane Duane, _Nightfall at Algemron_
D_Jim
/* says:
>"Oh, I'm just causing a ruckus, as usual! Heya DJ, how you doing?"
Fairly well. I'm employed full-time, with medical benefits.
I have a new pickup truck.
Cars just didn't have any space for me to sit in the front seat...
Well, they did, but the center of my head would have been about halfway
into the roof of the car... and I wouldn't have been able to see
along the road.
>: No rutabagas !?
>
>"Nope, but I've got a few eggplants, will those do?"
Certainly. As long as ya don't make stew out of them. :-)
>"Nope, nobody seems to be Alice anymore... "
Linda the Starship, "I've always wanted to be Alice in Wonderland !"
Its a wonder I get any navigation done...
Linda, "You have the astrolabe upside down..."
Oh.
D.J.
--
djim55 atty datasync dotty com Disclaimer: Standard
http://www.datasync.com/~djim55/
http://www.crosswinds.net/~drivein/ drive-in movie theaters update March 24,2001
D_Jim
/* wrote:
>/* laughs, thinking of the long-winded post he just made. "Is
>the catching-up long enough yet? Just wait! I didn't make the
>Lamplighter's top ten list of largest single posts for nothing!"
>
>In VR, as in RL, the purple guy can be a bit verbose... to put it
>kindly...
tsk tsk. :-)
You and me both.
Oh wait, I was in the 'weekly top number of posts' for awhile waaay
back when. I don't think I've made the list of top ten largest single
posts. Shrug. I may have.
D.J. a talkative Texan, a redundant statement.
D_Jim
/*:
>"I did indeed bring my own... adjusted... version of the Happiness
>Patrol in here, as well as a woman who was also a photocopier, and
>a purple firelizard named Morado. And we did participate in some
>of the group stories, like the ones done for Halloween... or the picnics
Yup, the ghosties will never be the same... :-)
>out back, where there was a ferris wheel... " /* looks around,
>wondering if those are French Doors way in the back?
I hate to say this... the French Doors[tm] are there, but
the Amusement Park wasn't there last year. In 1999 very few
people wanted to play there, for more than a week. Shrug.
Maybe I'll open it again this year. I haven't decided yet.
>"And old-timers talking about how Callahans had changed." /* smiles,
>a bit wanly this time.
[ not punning ]
Yup, a recurrant thread running thru the cloth of this newsgroup.
>something seemed diminished because it had grown so much. 200 posts
>a day!" /* smiles again, hoping that he isn't re-opening barely healing
>wounds. Gently, gently, purple guy.
Not wounds for me. But we did have 400-500 postings per day back when.
And a few, IIRC, posting days of 500-700 posts per day. The number
ebbs and flows, almost like a tide.
I didn't see them, bad newsfeed. I have a better one now.
D.J.
Barbara C Brugger
>and the sun is slowly setting on an unusually cold March afternoon.
>
>The regular crowd is here. Chatting, discussing, laughing, hugging,
>sympathizing. We've seen it before, we'll see it again.
>
>The color of the sky is a bit odd today, a bit more mauve than usual.
>It reflects into the odd corners of Callahan's, shading some discussions
>in a royal purple.
>
><<could it be?>>
BarbaraFox glances at hte sky and smiles warmly at the
Marine at the end of the bar.
"Interesting meteorological effect, innit?" she says softly
to a newcomer as she makes her way to the bar.
>Discussions diverge, converge, following winding paths that sound
>a bit familiar, yet new. Discussions of the nature of the Place.
>Navel-gazing? Wisdom? Compassionate renewal? Inevitable comparisons
>to times past are made, old discussions, former Patrons... names are
>even bandied about which new friends have never heard before.
"Now, *that* may be the single most succinct description
of the Place I've heard in a while," the Raven Haired Temptress
says to big Mike Callahan, as she lays down a single for a
purple beverage.
The Irishman nods.
>Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
>could a former Patron be returning?
>
>Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
"Oh, I do hope so. There's been a distinct lack of purpleness
in these parts of late, and the Happiness Patrol hasn't made
a stop in too long."
She glances down at her clothing, "I wonder if a /* hug would
give me a purple GoodWench jacket? That would be a fine
and a happy thing...."
Zaphkiel
>"And then, more serious discussions... sometimes challenging, sometimes
>a bit unpleasant... the usuals, guns and politics and religion, but
>some of the more memorable were always the flame wars about flame wars."
Hello /*, nice to see hue again.
--Zaphkiel
Stacy & Matthew Peterson
> It reflects into the odd corners of Callahan's, shading some discussions
> in a royal purple.
Maraud senses uncertainty... and immediately removes a small stone from his
left lobe.
<Damn Betazoid earrings...>
> Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
> could a former Patron be returning?
<Quoth the Gremlin...
COULD BEEEE!!!!!>
> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
<That explains why my Gin and Turnip looks like a a Sex on the Beet.>
Maraud. Hmmm... Foreshadowing is an important literary technique... 8>}
Stacy & Matthew Peterson
> become a monk? Is there some medical problem in his past? Did he
> renounce his peaceful ways and become some sort of street punk? Does
> he sing loud metallic songs of angst and anger?
<Has he become a professional wrestler?>
> "Vanity, vanity, it was pure vanity. After I turned 30, my hair started
> to thin, enough to be noticeable. While I was figuring out what to do,
> a good female friend said 'you know, bald men are more attractive than
> baldING men'. Well, that got me thinking... I mean, eventually I'd
> probably have to expose my skull to the world, or else shell out the
> bucks for rogaine, or implants, or rugs that could be snapped to my head."
<Two words: Chia Pet. If ya don't mind a verdant tint... Though it might
clash with
the purple...
Welcome back, man!
I have a drink or seventy paid for... Pull up a home, make yourself a
chair...>
Maraud. The Slash rebellion has begun!!! Soon we should have our powerbase
consolidated, and march on Baskin Robbins!
Lollee Roberts
>
>"Uhm... I know firelizards are still around... but would everyone be
>okay if I brought in my dog (virtually) for a visit?"
>
The nursepractitioner wench in the seriously sensible shoes keeps one eye on
the Warm Fuzzies and Dust Bunnies cuddling with several patrons and the other
eye on Pernicious, asleep atop the pile of ham sandwiches. (IRL this would
result in badly crossed eyes, but in VR it is possible to do both gracefully.)
"Nice to meet you /*!" she says, waving her purple stethoscope in his
direction. "Your dog is welcome here as far as I'm concerned...you just might
want to watch out for interspecies fraternization. There's also a troop of VR
ferrets on their way back from weasel boot camp. When they get here, all bets
are off!"
She searches her lab coat and pulls two singles out of her pocket PDR.
"Can I get your next one? Purely for medicinal purposes, of course!"
Lollee
John Barnstead
: Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
: could a former Patron be returning?
: Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
Pernicious the Musquodoboit Harbour Farm Cat and his faithful amanuensis
and general factotum suddenly note a distinct *purplish* cast to the white
bread of some of the ham sandwiches comprising the Free Lunch (tm), as
well as to Pernicious the Musquodoboit Harbour Farm Cat's Wedgwood saucer
of 32% cream -- even Pernicious the Musquodoboit Harbour Farm Cat's
faithful amanuensis and general factotum's beaker of fayalin has undergone
a perceptible spectral shift violet-wards from its customary ruby-red
effervescence...
This can mean only ONE thing...
"/*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" they cry out simultaneously, and thread their
way through the gathering crowd of well-wishers to get in line for a big
hug from (and for!...) the Purple Guy.
"WELCOME HOME!!!!!!!!"
John Barnstead
: Hello /*, nice to see hue again.
: --Zaphkiel
"Zaphkiel! My goodness gracious me, it *is* Old Home Week! I haven't
seen you in an *age*," cries out Pernicious the Musquodoboit Harbour Farm
Cat, turning his freshly-purpled but formerly-white furry jabot
Zaphkiel-wards in hopes of a hug... Pernicious the Musquodoboit Harbour
Farm Cat's faithful amanuensis and general factotum, meanwhile, showers
Zaphkiel with peanuts, and devoutly hopes that the Patronage-at-Large is
*not* going to start brushing up on their Shakespeare in response -- "All
Hues in his beholding..." he mutters to himself, shaking his head at the
thought of pun-sonnets yet to come...
Looking Wolf
[...]
>The color of the sky is a bit odd today, a bit more mauve than usual.
>It reflects into the odd corners of Callahan's, shading some discussions
>in a royal purple.
[...]
The wolf leaps to his feet as the purple invades his corner by the bar
(which almost certainly qualifies as an "odd" corner). He sniffs carefully
at the encroaching hue, then looks out over the chairs, tables, and what-
have-you, searching the Patronage most carefully.
"/*?" he asks, incredulous. "Is it really you? Are you back at last?"
...Looking Wolf
the Ginger Cat
> "I'm fine, Rachel, thanks. You might have seen me briefly, last year or
> so. I'm pretty sure I popped in to update people on the saga of
> purchasing the family summer home from recalcitrant relatives... I am
> sort of still near Boston... I moved out to the suburbs, and am really
> closer to Providence now, though I still work in Boston."
"Actually, I was gone from a.c. for a few years myself, and only got back in
October. Something about having an SO-- now fiance-- who turned out to be a
Callahanian (shoulda known!)."
> /* laughs, thinking of the long-winded post he just made. "Is
> the catching-up long enough yet? Just wait! I didn't make the
> Lamplighter's top ten list of largest single posts for nothing!"
Rachel laughs. "I've been posting rather a lot myself lately. And listening
more than responding, unlike the old days."
--
R. S. Silverman
http://www.gingicat.org
"It isn't my fault that I'm supposed to be living in a musical and got
stuck in a dramatic production." --Robert Cooke, on rec.music.filk
Michael Holmes
:>From: Michael Holmes mj...@bu.edu
"Oh, man... " /* groans appreciatively. He's plum crazy about puns
and wordplay...
"Hey, Zaph, nice to see you, too!"
Michael Holmes
: On 27 Mar 2001 20:24:18 GMT, Michael Holmes <mj...@bu.edu> wrote:
:>Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
:>could a former Patron be returning?
:>
:>Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
: John the Wysard looks up with interest. Then he starts energetically
: rummaging in his capacious magical carpetbag. "Let's see... bell jar,
(.../* steps in, and watches these proceedings with great curiosity...)
: iodine crystals, heating plate, Tyrian purple dye fresh from the vat
: (mind the stench!), an eggplant, a so-called 'red' cabbage, now where
: is that patent 'Purple People Eater Repellent'..."
"Yikes!" /* looks around nervously. One thing about being a Purple
Person in a virtual reality, you never know if that d@^ned one-eyed
one-horned creature might put in an appearance.
The purple guy grimaces. "I hate that song!"
: He also puts a Saccie on the bar for an old friend's welcome...
Grinning, /* thanks John and mentions his appreciation for the
anti-Purple-People-eater efforts...
Michael Holmes
: Michael Holmes wrote:
:
:> It's 5 o'clock on a Saturday...
: /The regular crowd shuffles in/
: (I'm sorry...that is my absolute fave Billy Joel song, 'sides 'Only the
: Good Die Young')
"Goodness, no apologies necessary. Although I have to admit picking
a favorite Billy Joel song is a little bit like trying to pick which
shade of purple is my favorite... there's so much to recommend about
so many!"
/* admits to a fondness for the album "streetlife serenade".
:> Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
:> could a former Patron be returning?
:
:> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
: I sure have!
: Purple is Good!
*chuckle* "Darn tootin! Of course it helps that in RL my mac is
set to purple backgrounds and presets wherever possible! Gives
the appropriate 'purple' feel to my posts, dontcha know!"
Michael Holmes
: On 28 Mar 2001 02:52:33 GMT, Michael Holmes <mj...@bu.edu> wrote:
:>one of the real 'threads' that
:>runs through this Place, and has for as long as I can remember --
:>friendship, warmth, old friends remembered and happily welcomed back."
:>
:>"That's as fine a way to begin again as any I could think of."
: "Amen..." says John the Wysard, happily offering his friend a {{HUG}}
: and very willing to be purple for a while...
...and /* is very pleased to oblige, increasing purpleness and
happiness in the process!
"Have I mentioned how cool it is to be back?"
Michael Holmes
: /* wrote:
:>In VR, as in RL, the purple guy can be a bit verbose... to put it
:>kindly...
: tsk tsk. :-)
/* hands his head, appropriately chastised. :-)
: You and me both.
: Oh wait, I was in the 'weekly top number of posts' for awhile waaay
: back when. I don't think I've made the list of top ten largest single
: posts. Shrug. I may have.
"Hmmm... I may have very briefly inched into the "top number of posts"
listing, but I'm pretty sure I was more likely to end up in the "longest
posts" category... "
: D.J. a talkative Texan, a redundant statement.
Mike is a mouthy Massachusettsian... er... Massachusetter... uhm... oh,
let's call the whole thing off!
Michael Holmes
: /* says:
:>"Oh, I'm just causing a ruckus, as usual! Heya DJ, how you doing?"
: Fairly well. I'm employed full-time, with medical benefits.
"Hey, two Very Good Things!"
: I have a new pickup truck.
"Make that three, three Very Good Things, mwah-ha-ha... "
(You do remember that Sesame Street's Count had purple skin, right?
Second cousin once removed on /*'s mother's side... )
: Cars just didn't have any space for me to sit in the front seat...
: Well, they did, but the center of my head would have been about halfway
: into the roof of the car... and I wouldn't have been able to see
: along the road.
"That doesn't seem a very good driving posture, unless perhaps you are
a Flintstone? No? Then pickup truck it is. Have you noticed yet the
effect that the pickup truck has on your popularity when people need
to move things?" :-)
:>: No rutabagas !?
:>
:>"Nope, but I've got a few eggplants, will those do?"
: Certainly. As long as ya don't make stew out of them. :-)
"I think I'll just gaze adoringly at their color... I'm allergic
to eggs, so I'd bet that I'm also allergic to the plant they come from... "
:>"Nope, nobody seems to be Alice anymore... "
: Linda the Starship, "I've always wanted to be Alice in Wonderland !"
: Its a wonder I get any navigation done...
: Linda, "You have the astrolabe upside down..."
: Oh.
/* stage-whispers to DJ, "I know a doctor who can fix that for you...
a man with an inverted astrolabe should get it looked at right away!"
Michael Holmes
: Michael Holmes wrote:
:> "I'm fine, Rachel, thanks. You might have seen me briefly, last year or
:> so. I'm pretty sure I popped in to update people on the saga of
:> purchasing the family summer home from recalcitrant relatives... I am
:> sort of still near Boston... I moved out to the suburbs, and am really
:> closer to Providence now, though I still work in Boston."
: "Actually, I was gone from a.c. for a few years myself, and only got back in
: October. Something about having an SO-- now fiance-- who turned out to be a
: Callahanian (shoulda known!)."
"Well, sure, you should have!" /* leans onto the table, waggles his
eyebrows, and says in his best Rico Suave voice, "That's why *I* come
here... for the ladies!"
Observant patrons will note that this performance goes a LONG way in
explaining why the purple guy is currently single... :-)
"Great news, though, Rachel. Belated congratulations!"
:> /* laughs, thinking of the long-winded post he just made. "Is
:> the catching-up long enough yet? Just wait! I didn't make the
:> Lamplighter's top ten list of largest single posts for nothing!"
: Rachel laughs. "I've been posting rather a lot myself lately. And listening
: more than responding, unlike the old days."
"Listening, that's always the trick. Read twice, post once, is that
the right motto?"
(OK, so it's not quite as pithy as 'measure twice, cut once'... but
apparently /* is not in a pithy mood today!)
Michael Holmes
: Michael Holmes wrote:
: <Snip>
: 'Hiya! Yep, I'm new here, and it's nice to meet ya.' :o)
"Well, it's nice to meet you too, Grant. And, to be honest, in
some ways I feel 'new' here, too. There's clearly been some changes,
and it may take me some time to catch up on new traditions."
(For example, I can't quite figure out what CEPT stands for... I get
the general idea from the posts, but haven't grokked the acronym... )
Janet Miles
> (For example, I can't quite figure out what CEPT stands for... I get
> the general idea from the posts, but haven't grokked the acronym... )
Choose one from each column, for each row:
Callahan's | Callahanian
Emergency | Ecumenical
Positive Thoughts | Prayer Team
JanetM
posted
--
Janet Miles (jmi...@usit.net) <www.public.usit.net/jmiles>
Loyal Webcrafter: PenUltimate Productions <www.worthlink.net/~ysabet>
Member: SSBB Diplomatic Corps -- East Tennessee
"Bananas in the fridge. Potassium is important." -- Slash Maraud 1/30/00
Michael Holmes
: welcome back! the place seems awfully happy to see you :)
"Hi Allison, thanks for the welcome! Yeah, the response to my
return has been very heartening. I suppose if I were a bit
more humble I'd be getting less of a kick out of it!" :-)
: i'm new. *very* new, actually... only a few months.
: nice to meet you :) BYOC?
"Nice to meet you, and thanks, I'd like a Grape Crush, if you don't mind."
: -al
: ps. my favourite colour's purple! ;)
"Yay! You are obviously a person of extraordinary taste and style!"
(at least in /*'s completely unbiased opinion.)
Michael Holmes
:> Sudden speculative conversations follow quickly. Did /* run off to
:> become a monk? Is there some medical problem in his past? Did he
:> renounce his peaceful ways and become some sort of street punk? Does
:> he sing loud metallic songs of angst and anger?
: <Has he become a professional wrestler?>
"SSSSHHH!!!" /* was hoping that the first step in his plan to be
elected governor of Minnesota would go by unnoticed...
:> "Vanity, vanity, it was pure vanity. After I turned 30, my hair started
:> to thin, enough to be noticeable. While I was figuring out what to do,
:> a good female friend said 'you know, bald men are more attractive than
:> baldING men'. Well, that got me thinking... I mean, eventually I'd
:> probably have to expose my skull to the world, or else shell out the
:> bucks for rogaine, or implants, or rugs that could be snapped to my head."
: <Two words: Chia Pet. If ya don't mind a verdant tint... Though it might
: clash with
: the purple...
"Ah, mon frere, you forget that purple is 'the new neutral' -- it goes
with everything!"
(Somehow, nobody buys that in RL, either. Fashion visigoths!)
: Welcome back, man!
"Thanks!!!" (Excessive exclamations express enthusiasm!)
: I have a drink or seventy paid for... Pull up a home, make yourself a
: chair...>
/* gladly pulls up a home, although the chair he begins to make looks
a bit more Surreal than Mission, and he can't really get anyone to try
sitting in it. "Maybe I'll just stick to the seventy drinks... "
: Maraud. The Slash rebellion has begun!!! Soon we should have our powerbase
: consolidated, and march on Baskin Robbins!
Too long have the Slashes been downtrodden! Let my people go... to
Baskin Robbins!
[uh, how far can a rebellion of two go?]
-- /*, he's a rebel and he's no darn good. But he does like ice cream.
Bill Gawne
/*:
> (For example, I can't quite figure out what CEPT stands for... I get
> the general idea from the posts, but haven't grokked the acronym... )
(Callahan's Ecumenical Prayer Team)
--
Bill Gawne, in Callahan's as in real life. <ga...@pha.jhu.edu> |
Astronomer at Large - Retired Master Sergeant USMCR - Nothing I
post represents an official position of any organization.
On the web: http://www.pha.jhu.edu/~gawne
Janet Miles
> "Vanity, vanity, it was pure vanity. After I turned 30, my hair started
> to thin, enough to be noticeable. While I was figuring out what to do,
> a good female friend said 'you know, bald men are more attractive than
> baldING men'.
Hmph. Personally, I disagree with your friend. However, it's your head,
and if you're happy with the look, then I will be happy with you :-) .
Michael Holmes
: Michael Holmes <mj...@bu.edu> wrote:
:> "Vanity, vanity, it was pure vanity. After I turned 30, my hair started
:> to thin, enough to be noticeable. While I was figuring out what to do,
:> a good female friend said 'you know, bald men are more attractive than
:> baldING men'.
: Hmph. Personally, I disagree with your friend.
:-) "Interesting... so are you a fan of the comb-over? Or the bad
toupee hurriedly placed on backwards?"
"Many of my RL friends drool over agent Skinner of _the X-files_.
However, for some reason, simply shaving my head hasn't reproduced
that effect... " :-)
However, it's your head,
: and if you're happy with the look, then I will be happy with you :-) .
"Actually, I am surprisingly happy with it, for all that during my
teens and twenties I did the typical '80s guy things... mousse, blow
dryer, gel, etc. And of course the tail, which I really dug. But
the dramatic change was good, and aside from breezy New England days
(never forget a hat!) I am enjoying it."
"Plus I think I managed to find the one look that my mother liked
less than the ponytail. Bonus score!" /* grins.
Janet Miles
> : Michael Holmes <mj...@bu.edu> wrote:
> :> "Vanity, vanity, it was pure vanity. After I turned 30, my hair started
> :> to thin, enough to be noticeable. While I was figuring out what to do,
> :> a good female friend said 'you know, bald men are more attractive than
> :> baldING men'.
> : Hmph. Personally, I disagree with your friend.
> :-) "Interesting... so are you a fan of the comb-over? Or the bad
> toupee hurriedly placed on backwards?"
Um, no. :-) I am a fan of the "going bald with equanimity" look, where the
hair recedes at its own pace and shape, and remaining hair is dealt with as
the owner chooses (but is kept neat and clean). Dale, for example, is
pretty near bald on top, and wears what's left in a ponytail (not 18 inches
long, though). I like it.
I will note that I think balding with the fringe kept short is attractive
(cf Patrick Stewart or my father-in-law); so is not-balding. Completely
bald I tend to blink at slightly. I don't find it icky, but it doesn't do a
damn thing for me. (No offense is meant, Mike; like I said, I'm honestly
happy for/with you, since you're happy with it.) I expect Dale will
eventually end up nearly bald, but I sure hope he's able to retain some
fringe. If he doesn't, I'll deal. It's not like he's doing it deliberately
or anything :-) .
Lee S. Billings
>(OK, so it's not quite as pithy as 'measure twice, cut once'... but
>apparently /* is not in a pithy mood today!)
Well, that'th good, I gueth...
Celine
--
"Only the powers of evil claim that doing good is boring."
-- Diane Duane, _Nightfall at Algemron_
Michael Holmes
: /*:
:>"I did indeed bring my own... adjusted... version of the Happiness
:>Patrol in here, as well as a woman who was also a photocopier, and
:>a purple firelizard named Morado. And we did participate in some
:>of the group stories, like the ones done for Halloween... or the picnics
: Yup, the ghosties will never be the same... :-)
"Poor things... we really should be more kind to the life-challenged... "
:>out back, where there was a ferris wheel... " /* looks around,
:>wondering if those are French Doors way in the back?
: I hate to say this... the French Doors[tm] are there, but
: the Amusement Park wasn't there last year. In 1999 very few
: people wanted to play there, for more than a week. Shrug.
: Maybe I'll open it again this year. I haven't decided yet.
"See how it goes. Even a week is a good thing. And maybe the time
will come for something just as fun, only different."
:>"And old-timers talking about how Callahans had changed." /* smiles,
:>a bit wanly this time.
: [ not punning ]
: Yup, a recurrant thread running thru the cloth of this newsgroup.
"I guess, given how special it seems, particularly the first time you
find it, that it makes sense as a recurring theme... I guess we are
always nostalgic for our 'first time'."
:>something seemed diminished because it had grown so much. 200 posts
:>a day!" /* smiles again, hoping that he isn't re-opening barely healing
:>wounds. Gently, gently, purple guy.
: Not wounds for me. But we did have 400-500 postings per day back when.
: And a few, IIRC, posting days of 500-700 posts per day. The number
: ebbs and flows, almost like a tide.
"Wow, I think that's definitely more than I had seen. But I do
remember the ebbs and flows of discussion. Tongue-tide."
gi...@nospam.pobox.com
her brain since /* walked in.
"Hey /*," she says, signaling Mike to bring over a bottle of Fruit of the
Vine grape juice* "was it you who brought in the sentient photcopier named
Sunshine? Or are my memories just all muddled together?"
Rachel sips at her juice and remembers the first RealSpace she ever
attended, when DangerMouse came to visit from Australia way back in 91 or
92. "Turns out a friend I met there-- known here as Castellan-- was a
college friend of Jacob's. Amazing how that happens."
* Fruit of the Vine is wonderful stuff, made by an organic juice company
called After the Fall. It comes in wine bottles with beautiful labels,
and it's even kosher (unlike any other juice they make... go figure).
barbara trumpinski-roberts
> >Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
>
quinn:
> Also, while I'm being curious, could someone explain some of these
> past Patrons to me?
"this particular P.P. is /*," says kitten. "i don't know how to explain
him, but he is happy."
--
barbara trumpinski-roberts smotu
kit...@uiuc.edu ACES Library 226 Mumford Hall
"but hell, when all you can give is vision, being visible feels
like a sacrament." john palmer
barbara trumpinski-roberts
> and the sun is slowly setting on an unusually cold March afternoon.
>
> The regular crowd is here. Chatting, discussing, laughing, hugging,
> sympathizing. We've seen it before, we'll see it again.
>
> The color of the sky is a bit odd today, a bit more mauve than usual.
> It reflects into the odd corners of Callahan's, shading some discussions
> in a royal purple.
>
>
> Discussions diverge, converge, following winding paths that sound
> a bit familiar, yet new. Discussions of the nature of the Place.
> Navel-gazing? Wisdom? Compassionate renewal? Inevitable comparisons
> to times past are made, old discussions, former Patrons... names are
> even bandied about which new friends have never heard before.
>
> Is it magic? Synchronicity? Conjured out of the air, invoked by Name,
> could a former Patron be returning?
>
kitten jumps up, squeals purply, and hugs /*, which turns herself a lovely
shade of lavendar. "i have missed you!!!!! i'm so glad you are back.
how's life? how's the lake house? how's the bionic girandole? and what do
you think of the dumb stuff happening on AMC?"
she skips to the bar and fetches an array of wines, koolaid, and purple
champagne...not to mention a plum steamer (hot milk and spice and the
loveliest shade a pale purple) for /*.
Grant
>
> Grant <gra...@uhugihug.co.nz> wrote:
> : Michael Holmes wrote:
>
> : <Snip>
>
> : 'Hiya! Yep, I'm new here, and it's nice to meet ya.' :o)
>
> "Well, it's nice to meet you too, Grant. And, to be honest, in
> some ways I feel 'new' here, too. There's clearly been some changes,
> and it may take me some time to catch up on new traditions."
>
> (For example, I can't quite figure out what CEPT stands for... I get
> the general idea from the posts, but haven't grokked the acronym... )
Grant smiles. 'Other people have explained the CEPT... Now, something
that's been nagging at me is what on earth the name "/*" means or refers
to... If it's not too personal, would you mind explaining it?' :o)
---
Grant
- :o)
Remove the "UHUG" from my email address to email me.
Keith Merritt
> : Maraud. The Slash rebellion has begun!!! Soon we should have our
powerbase
> : consolidated, and march on Baskin Robbins!
To which, */ replied with purple (what else?) prose:
> Too long have the Slashes been downtrodden! Let my people go... to
> Baskin Robbins!
>
> [uh, how far can a rebellion of two go?]
>
> -- /*, he's a rebel and he's no darn good. But he does like ice cream.
"Make it a rebellion of three," intoned Keith Merritt, arming himself
with a six-string axe... "Key of F, right??" as he begins playing the
opening chords to Weird Al's "I Love Rocky Road".
(Unfortunately for Le Revolution, Keith doesn't know *how* to play
guitar IRL...)
Peace be with you,
Keith Merritt
The Ol' Goaler
Michael Holmes
:> "Uhm... I know firelizards are still around... but would everyone be
:> okay if I brought in my dog (virtually) for a visit?"
: I can't speak for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't mind!
"Well, there seems to have been no vocal opposition... "
/* gets up, goes to the front door, and opens it up. "C'mon, Dante,
let's go!"
In dashes a small blur of tan and white, moving at a breakneck pace,
only to come (rather ungracefully) to a stop behind a chair. /* sits down,
and a small dog paces around his chair nervously.
"This, folx, is my dog, Dante." There's a lot of warmth in his voice
as /* introduces the virtual version of his RL companion.
Now that patrons can get a better look, they notice a very thin,
aerodynamically-built dog, fairly small, about 14" height at the shoulder,
with relatively tall, thin legs and a deep chest. His head is narrow with
a long pointed nose, and he has deep brown eyes. His color is mainly
light brown, often referred to as "fawn" -- which is doubly appropriate,
since many people who meet him often mention a deer-like quality to the
way he moves, and his timidity.
A nearby patron asks /* if Dante is a whippet. "Close, actually.
He's a 3-and-a-half year old Italian Greyhound... but he's pretty much
the largest Italian Greyhound you'll ever see, so he's frequently mistaken
for a whippet, or for a greyhound pup."
"I adopted him from the local IG rescue league almost exactly one
year ago. He's a very sweet dog, and his favorite thing in the world
is to curl up on the couch with me while I read or watch TV."
"There's a little more of his story to be told... there's a rather
sad reason he was put into the rescue league, quite a bit of
emotional abuse in his past, not to mention probable physical abuse.
But that's all in the past, isn't it, little guy."
****The web-site is very new and very much a work in progress, but
pics of Dante _should_ be up at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~perfectlink1/wsn95A8.html
Tina S.
"Michael Holmes" <mj...@bu.edu> wrote in message
news:99t63k$kob$2...@news3.bu.edu...
<snip>
> : <Two words: Chia Pet. If ya don't mind a verdant tint... Though it
might
> : clash with
> : the purple...
>
> "Ah, mon frere, you forget that purple is 'the new neutral' -- it goes
> with everything!"
>
> (Somehow, nobody buys that in RL, either. Fashion visigoths!)
The redhead at the end of the bar gives the purple fellow a somewhat shy
smile and says, "Err... *I* believe that. Mostly. There's very few colors
that I *won't* accessorize with purple. Or perhaps I should say that
there's very few colors I won't use to accessorize purple. It just depends
on usage. Of course, any color that *really* clashes with purple is simply
removed from my awareness as quickly as possible."
In any case, welcome back to the Place, /*. It's nice to meet you.
Tina (who definitely subscribes to the 'It's purple, I must own it' school
of shopping.)
Michael Holmes
: Michael Holmes wrote:
:> "Uhm... I know firelizards are still around... but would everyone be
:> okay if I brought in my dog (virtually) for a visit?"
: "I can't speak for *everyone*, but I'm okay with your dog,
: so long as he's not prone to licking people who don't like
: being licked, and all that sort of thing. Oh, and would
: you care for a drink or a snack or something?"
"Thanks, Trinker... and over there (in that other thread I just
created), I'm introducing Dante to the bar. He's fairly small,
so it's easy enough to prevent him from doing anything untoward.
He isn't much of a licker, though, thankfully. And he's pretty
shy about approaching strangers, although he's becoming friendlier
and friendlier as he feels more secure in his environment."
(Yeah, I've had him a year, and the change has been astonishing,
but he still has some quirks and emotional scars from his former life... )
Michael Holmes
: Michael Holmes <mj...@bu.edu> wrote:
:> (For example, I can't quite figure out what CEPT stands for... I get
:> the general idea from the posts, but haven't grokked the acronym... )
/* notices that Bill and Janet have both answered his question...
: Choose one from each column, for each row:
: Callahan's | Callahanian
: Emergency | Ecumenical
: Positive Thoughts | Prayer Team
"Ahhh... light dawns on Marblehead... thanks!"
The purple guy appreciates that there seems to be room for the nonprayerful
folk to offer their version of positive wishes -- though he'd expect no
less from this Place!
Michael Holmes
: In article <99qsti$r3j$1...@news3.bu.edu>, mj...@bu.edu says...
:>Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
: Hey, Purple Guy, welcome back! It's been a while... BOYC?
"Hi Celine, yep, it's been much too long. I'd love a drink... all this
talking and catching up is good for the soul, but ah do find ah'm a bit
pahched... "
(Is it a southern drawl? A Boston brahmin accent? /* certainly doesn't know!)
Michael Holmes
:> It reflects into the odd corners of Callahan's, shading some discussions
:> in a royal purple.
:> Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
: <That explains why my Gin and Turnip looks like a a Sex on the Beet.>
: Maraud. Hmmm... Foreshadowing is an important literary technique... 8>}
"Yeah, especially since backshadowing never really caught on. Although
it is fun for the temporally challenged... "
.....digression.....
In real life, there is a gas station near where I live that has been
closed for some time. The sign explaining the closing reads:
"This location temporally closed."
Really, truly, honestly, that's what the sign says. Time waits for
no man, but apparently it has paused at this particular pump...
mae...@npit01.fweep.fnal.gov
> Michael Holmes <mj...@bu.edu> wrote:
>
>> (For example, I can't quite figure out what CEPT stands for... I get
>> the general idea from the posts, but haven't grokked the acronym... )
>
> Choose one from each column, for each row:
>
> Callahan's | Callahanian |
> Positive Thoughts | Prayer Team |
maenad adds -----------------------> ^^^^^^^^^
But, anyway, you get the idea. :)
maenad
--
---------------------------------------------------------------
You know how to mail me, don't you?
Just pull your wits together, and *don't* ...
___________ maenad <at> npit01 <dot> fnal <dot> gov ___________
barbara trumpinski-roberts
> /* pauses a moment in contemplation. Getting to know people is half
> the fun, at least!
>
> "Uhm... I know firelizards are still around... but would everyone be
> okay if I brought in my dog (virtually) for a visit?"
"as long as he doesn't chase kittens," says kitten.
Janet Miles
[...]
> /* gets up, goes to the front door, and opens it up. "C'mon, Dante,
> let's go!"
> In dashes a small blur of tan and white, moving at a breakneck pace,
> only to come (rather ungracefully) to a stop behind a chair. /* sits down,
> and a small dog paces around his chair nervously.
[...]
> http://home.earthlink.net/~perfectlink1/wsn95A8.html
Awwww -- he's adorable!
I understand shy and skittish, so I'll just sit quietly over here and admire
Dante. If at some point he feels comfortable enough to come over, I'll be
happy to skritch his ears and tell him what a good boy he is. :-)
barbara trumpinski-roberts
> >[Janet grins happily, delighted at the opportunity to be useful]
> >
> >Quinn, m'dear, allow me to introduce Mike Holmes, aka /*, aka The Purple
> >Guy, and the local representative of the Happiness Patrol. He tends to sort
> >of spread purpleness around him, but it's not permanent (unless you want it
> >to be).
quinn:
> Cool, thanks for the introduction. I can live with a bit o'
> purpleness every now and again. Pleased to meetcha', /*. BYOC?
>
> It's so cool how happy everyone is to see him. Old friends are
> remembered here.
"old friends, like old jokes, are best served warm...." says kitten. "i
don't know what i meant by that...maybe i am channelling dreamy jim (who
is very profound)."
gi...@nospam.pobox.com
> Now that patrons can get a better look, they notice a very thin,
> aerodynamically-built dog, fairly small, about 14" height at the shoulder,
> with relatively tall, thin legs and a deep chest. His head is narrow with
> a long pointed nose, and he has deep brown eyes. His color is mainly
> light brown, often referred to as "fawn" -- which is doubly appropriate,
> since many people who meet him often mention a deer-like quality to the
> way he moves, and his timidity.
Rachel watches the little dog, then morphs into the Ginger Cat and wanders
over to introduce herself to Dante, gently touching noses. <<I see you're
one thing he hasn't managed to turn purple.>>
Zaphkiel
>"Zaphkiel! My goodness gracious me, it *is* Old Home Week! I haven't
>seen you in an *age*," cries out Pernicious the Musquodoboit Harbour Farm
>Cat, turning his freshly-purpled but formerly-white furry jabot
>Zaphkiel-wards in hopes of a hug... Pernicious the Musquodoboit Harbour
>Farm Cat's faithful amanuensis and general factotum, meanwhile, showers
>Zaphkiel with peanuts,
Hug hopes realized, and returned. The purpleness will probably
rub off, but having things rub off on you is an inherent risk when you
enter the place.
I've been a rafter dweller, as time and internet access permitted.
--Zaphkiel
barbara trumpinski-roberts
> > Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
>
> <That explains why my Gin and Turnip looks like a a Sex on the Beet.>
>
> Maraud. Hmmm... Foreshadowing is an important literary technique... 8>}
kitten laughs loud enough to scare the undergrads!!! "this is a library.
you aren't supposed to make me laugh like that!" (can i have a sex on the
beet? it sounds ...... interesting.
Michael Holmes
: Michael Holmes wrote:
:> /* looks around, wondering what to do next. "I suppose I'm going to
:> have to explain the Happiness Patrol soon enough... "
: "Bill Gawne told me that I'm supposed to show you
: http://www.himonkey.net, by the way..."
The purple guy zips over to the web address provided, and spends several
minutes enjoying the quirky site.
"I have to admit I couldn't stop smiling while reading about the visit
by the monks, and the pictures were great, too."
(Thanks, Trinker! (and Bill!))
Michael Holmes
[...]
: Grant smiles. 'Other people have explained the CEPT... Now, something
: that's been nagging at me is what on earth the name "/*" means or refers
: to... If it's not too personal, would you mind explaining it?' :o)
/* laughs. "No, I don't mind at all!"
"I guess part of it had to do with wanting to enter Callahans with a
unique identity... I mean, my RL name is Mike, the bartender of the
establishment is Mike, and when I first entered there were already about
4 or 5 active posters named Mike or Michael. So I figured I should
choose some non-Mike related name to lessen confusion."
"But then the question was... what name? I didn't really have
a strong alternate persona, or an attachment to a specific piece
of fantasy/sf that stood out and could offer a persona to me."
"But I did remember a conversation with a RL friend -- one of those
bizarre two am flights of fancy conversations. Topic: In the future,
when people's names are symbols, what sort of symbols would you like to
have?"
"Well, obviously, I thought that '/*' would be the 'cool' name to
have. And so there was a short-lived in-joke where I would be
called 'slash' or get mail addressed to '/*' -- we had a very forgiving
local post office -- and so that popped into my head when figuring
out how to enter alt.callahans."
"plus it has the advantage of being pronounced however people want
it to be!"
barbara trumpinski-roberts
> In dashes a small blur of tan and white, moving at a breakneck pace,
> only to come (rather ungracefully) to a stop behind a chair. /* sits down,
> and a small dog paces around his chair nervously.
>
> "This, folx, is my dog, Dante." There's a lot of warmth in his voice
> as /* introduces the virtual version of his RL companion.
kitten bounces over and pets the pooch on the head, hoping that dante
doesn't mind being called a pooch.
Lee S. Billings
gi...@nospam.pobox.com says...
>* Fruit of the Vine is wonderful stuff, made by an organic juice company
>called After the Fall. It comes in wine bottles with beautiful labels,
>and it's even kosher (unlike any other juice they make... go figure).
After the Fall also makes my favorite tipple -- Spicy Lemon Soda. Have you
tried it? It's one of those things that people either love or hate at the first
taste -- sort of a gingery lemon flavor with a peppery aftertaste. (And it's
damnably hard to find around here!)
Michael Holmes
: Rachel finally remembers something which had been niggling at the back of
: her brain since /* walked in.
: "Hey /*," she says, signaling Mike to bring over a bottle of Fruit of the
: Vine grape juice* "was it you who brought in the sentient photcopier named
: Sunshine? Or are my memories just all muddled together?"
"Nope, you are indeed remembering correctly. I think when I'm more
up to speed, she might make a return, although it's been a real long
time since she visited here."
: Rachel sips at her juice and remembers the first RealSpace she ever
: attended, when DangerMouse came to visit from Australia way back in 91 or
: 92. "Turns out a friend I met there-- known here as Castellan-- was a
: college friend of Jacob's. Amazing how that happens."
"That long ago... wow."
Michael Holmes
: "Michael Holmes" <mj...@bu.edu> wrote in message
:> "Ah, mon frere, you forget that purple is 'the new neutral' -- it goes
:> with everything!"
:> (Somehow, nobody buys that in RL, either. Fashion visigoths!)
: The redhead at the end of the bar gives the purple fellow a somewhat shy
: smile and says, "Err... *I* believe that. Mostly. There's very few colors
: that I *won't* accessorize with purple. Or perhaps I should say that
: there's very few colors I won't use to accessorize purple. It just depends
: on usage. Of course, any color that *really* clashes with purple is simply
: removed from my awareness as quickly as possible."
/* blinks. "That's one of the most insightful solutions to the purple
problem I've ever heard! Woo hoo!"
Doesn't go with purple, doesn't enter my awareness. perfection!
: In any case, welcome back to the Place, /*. It's nice to meet you.
The purple guy chuckles. "Thanks, Tina, it's nice to meet a fellow
purplephile."
: Tina (who definitely subscribes to the 'It's purple, I must own it' school
: of shopping.)
/* nods. And looks around at purple pens, purple paperclips, purple
push pins, purple tape, purple rubber bands... yep, he's tenured faculty
at the "it's purple, I must own it" school of shopping... :-)
Michael Holmes
: Michael Holmes <mj...@bu.edu> wrote:
[...]
:> :-) "Interesting... so are you a fan of the comb-over? Or the bad
:> toupee hurriedly placed on backwards?"
: Um, no. :-) I am a fan of the "going bald with equanimity" look, where the
: hair recedes at its own pace and shape, and remaining hair is dealt with as
: the owner chooses (but is kept neat and clean). Dale, for example, is
: pretty near bald on top, and wears what's left in a ponytail (not 18 inches
: long, though). I like it.
"Ah, I see. The 'nature taking its course' school. The patience and
acceptance philosophy. That's certainly a very wise and nurturing
attitude..."
"... for everything except hair!!" /* grins to show he's joking around.
"I dunno, I just didn't like that option. For me. And, really, why do
something patient when you can do something extreme and radical?" :-)
: I will note that I think balding with the fringe kept short is attractive
: (cf Patrick Stewart or my father-in-law); so is not-balding.
"Really, the not-balding was my first choice. It didn't work out." *smile*
Completely
: bald I tend to blink at slightly. I don't find it icky, but it doesn't do a
: damn thing for me. (No offense is meant, Mike; like I said, I'm honestly
: happy for/with you, since you're happy with it.)
*grin* "No offense taken. I suppose maybe somewhere in the back of my
brain I expected that my shaved head would make me universally attractive
to everyone on the planet, but I've learned to live with disappointment
in that area."
(Oddly enough my experiments with leiderhosen also failed to make me
universally attractive to everyone on the planet... who knew?)
I expect Dale will
: eventually end up nearly bald, but I sure hope he's able to retain some
: fringe. If he doesn't, I'll deal. It's not like he's doing it deliberately
: or anything :-) .
"Actually, male pattern baldness is one of our strategies in the
War of the Sexes. Part of the Testosterone Offensive!"
Michael Holmes
: /*
:> >Has anybody noticed that alt.callahans just seems more purple today?
:> ???
: quinn:
:> Also, while I'm being curious, could someone explain some of these
:> past Patrons to me?
: "this particular P.P. is /*," says kitten. "i don't know how to explain
: him, but he is happy."
/* bursts out laughing, tears coming to his eyes. It takes him a moment
to collect himself.
"First, being referred to as P.P. is pretty darned amusing, but that
description of me just tickled my fancy immensely. It's much too
perfect, kitten, and I hope you let me use it!"
/*, purple guy, with visions of business cards with that phrase on it...
Michael Holmes
:> http://home.earthlink.net/~perfectlink1/wsn95A8.html
: Awwww -- he's adorable!
*grin* "I think so, and I am so AMAZINGLY unbiased on this one, it's
not even funny, but he is CLEARLY the cutest dog EVER."
/* laughs at himself, such a proud papa! "He really does have several
very endearing qualities, and he's not at all shy about using his cuteness
to get away with occasional naughty behavior."
[some of the next paragraphs may be unsettling to those who are
particularly sensitive to animal cruelty issues... ]
"His previous owner... well, let's be kind... they had some emotional
issues, and ended up owning about 2 dozen dogs. Which they didn't really
train, or take care of. Imagine, if you will, living in a home with
2 dozen poorly house-trained dogs. Dogs who need to fight with each other
for food or treats. Dogs who end up everywhere -- on tables, on counters,
eating food wherever they can find it because of the need to compete. Dogs
who often were simply pushed out of the way, or carried around like sacks,
if they got in the way of the couch, or the tv."
"Now... imagine that this owner didn't leash-train them, or take them
to the vet regularly, or take them outside much at all."
"And imagine that the owner, while not housetraining them, would also
get randomly mad at them for messing in the house. Without
consistency, the confusion for the dogs just made the situation worse."
/* gets quiet. "Now imagine that this owner leaves. Frequently. Some
times for a week or two at a time. With no one to watch the dogs. Alone,
in the house for days and days, with their food supply dwindling and their
messes mounting."
The purple guy goes quiet for a bit. It's hard to think about for any dog,
but he'd alreaady bonded with Dante, had him for 3 months, before he
heard the full story of Dante's past. He just couldn't believe that someone
could be that cruel to his little boy.
"When the owner lost their residence because of issues related to the
extreme number of dogs, the rescue agency came in and found some
pretty nasty things, even beyond the everyday stuff these dogs had to
deal with. One of them had a broken leg that was never set by a vet.
Another had an untreated puncture wound from a fight. And one of the dogs
that was identified by an early visit was missing completely, presumed
dead."
"And then, the dogs were rescued... within a week, some of them were
in another state (mine) and went to the vet, were examined, got their
shots and got neutered (a requirement of the rescue league) and a few
days later Dante came home with me. My friend Ruth drove me to get him,
and said she had never in her life seen an animal more frightened than
Dante. His whole life had never been very stable, but even that life
had been turned completely upside-down."
"He didn't realize it then, but his life certainly got safer and happier
after that day... "
: I understand shy and skittish, so I'll just sit quietly over here and admire
: Dante. If at some point he feels comfortable enough to come over, I'll be
: happy to skritch his ears and tell him what a good boy he is. :-)
"He is, a very good boy, indeed. But I think his history explains a lot
about his quirky behavior, and his extreme shyness. He still has what
I think of as 'abandonment' issues, and gets nervous whenever I'm not
around. He stays with Ruth during the workdays, and he's bonded well with
her and her dog Rudy, and he's fond of most of my friends... but people he
doesn't see often still make him skittish."
Virtual Dante is a bit intimidated by the sheer number of people around
him, but he is also an explorer, so he starts cautiously sniffing around
the tables, getting nearer to some of the closest patrons, looking up
at them questioningly. On a regular basis he casts his gaze back up at
his papa for reassurance.
margaret szedenits
Michael Holmes <mj...@bu.edu> wrote in message > ****The
web-site is very new and very much a work in progress, but
> pics of Dante _should_ be up at:
>
> http://home.earthlink.net/~perfectlink1/wsn95A8.html
>
What a little lovie! Thanks for the pix, that made my day.
Our dogs Levi and Fratzi were in the Place recently, just
briefly to say hi to Banshee.
Dante may still notice their scent.
Here's a picture of us and the pups, with thanks to Bill for
posting it on his site
http://www.pha.jhu.edu/~gawne/stash/szedenitz.jpg
May I get you a grape crush?
Margaret
Sarah M Wheaton
:
: Tina (who definitely subscribes to the 'It's purple, I must own it' school
: of shopping.)
I'm sitting here, smiling a 'gosh I'm not the only one' smile!
Sarah (proud owner of purple boots with silver buckles)
Michael Holmes
: Rachel watches the little dog, then morphs into the Ginger Cat and wanders
: over to introduce herself to Dante, gently touching noses. <<I see you're
: one thing he hasn't managed to turn purple.>>
Virtual Dante is a bit startled, and his ears flatten a bit, but then
he sniffs the nose in front of him.
(In real life, Dante hasn't had much exposure to cats, and isn't
really sure what to make of them... )
Michael Holmes
:
:> In dashes a small blur of tan and white, moving at a breakneck pace,
:> only to come (rather ungracefully) to a stop behind a chair. /* sits down,
:> and a small dog paces around his chair nervously.
:>
:> "This, folx, is my dog, Dante." There's a lot of warmth in his voice
:> as /* introduces the virtual version of his RL companion.
: kitten bounces over and pets the pooch on the head, hoping that dante
: doesn't mind being called a pooch.
Virtual Dante takes kitten's bouncing a signal that it is time to play!
"And boy, can he bounce! They are little guys, but they are jumpers!
I've found him on my dining room table. I've found him on the kitchen
table. He does NOT need to use a chair as a 'leg up' to get there, either!"
"And forget about those gates that keep kids and dogs contained... he
can leap over those without even a running start!"
Perhaps the purple guy should be more upset at these antics, but
he prefers gentler training methods... and certainly Dante has learned
that he is NOT supposed to be on top of these surfaces... he does so
want to be a good boy...
Janet Miles
> Janet Miles <jmi...@use.usit.net> wrote:
[...]
> [some of the next paragraphs may be unsettling to those who are
> particularly sensitive to animal cruelty issues... ]
[details snipped, because they were sad and unhappy-making for me]
> : I understand shy and skittish, so I'll just sit quietly over here and admire
> : Dante. If at some point he feels comfortable enough to come over, I'll be
> : happy to skritch his ears and tell him what a good boy he is. :-)
> "He is, a very good boy, indeed. But I think his history explains a lot
> about his quirky behavior, and his extreme shyness. He still has what
> I think of as 'abandonment' issues, and gets nervous whenever I'm not
> around. He stays with Ruth during the workdays, and he's bonded well with
> her and her dog Rudy, and he's fond of most of my friends... but people he
> doesn't see often still make him skittish."
Oh, absolutely. That makes perfect sense, and if I ever have the
opportunity to meet Dante in RL, rather than VR, I will be very quiet and
gentle around him.
> Virtual Dante is a bit intimidated by the sheer number of people around
> him, but he is also an explorer, so he starts cautiously sniffing around
> the tables, getting nearer to some of the closest patrons, looking up
> at them questioningly. On a regular basis he casts his gaze back up at
> his papa for reassurance.
[Note: Aha! xthreadx, I just realized when I am likely to use third-person,
rather than first. I'm about to interact with someone who *isn't* really
here, but who is being represented by a Patron. Same as when I was
interacting with the small fuzzy grey Misunderstanding. I couldn't quite
manage to talk directly to a construct, so I went to third-person. And now,
I can't quite bring myself to talk directly to a construct-dog (rather than,
say, a dog-avatar of a Patron), and so I'm going to third-person again.]
Janet sits quietly on the floor (so she won't be so overwhelmingly large)
and waits patiently for Dante to explore over in her direction. When he
does reach her, she gently holds out the back of her hand for him to sniff.
"Hello, little guy," she says, softly. "Who's a pretty Dante, hm? Do you
like having your ears skritched? Or maybe under your chin? Or if you'd
rather just keep an eye on me for a while, I'll understand. My Dad's dog is
kind of shy about some people, too -- although mostly children, he's pretty
good with adults."
And with that, she waits again for a response from Dante.
Marc C Allain
>
>: D.J. a talkative Texan, a redundant statement.
>
>Mike is a mouthy Massachusettsian... er... Massachusetter... uhm... oh,
>let's call the whole thing off!
>
Welcome back! (And we'll just skip the common term for people from
your state by people of my state.) Any chance we can talk you into a
visit to the New England Callahanicon Annex? (No details yet until I
get some fairly firm subscribers.)
--
Marc C. Allain m...@cisunix.unh.edu http://pubpages.unh.edu/~mca
"I want to be Nobody when I grow up...because Nobody's perfect!"
Eric Allain - age 10.
Kirsten M. Berry
On 28 Mar 2001 16:46:19 GMT, Slashterisk wrote:
}D_Jim <dji...@webcheesydatasync.com> wrote:
}
}: I have a new pickup truck.
<gentlesnip>
}: Cars just didn't have any space for me to sit in the front seat...
}: Well, they did, but the center of my head would have been about halfway
}: into the roof of the car... and I wouldn't have been able to see
}: along the road.
}
}"That doesn't seem a very good driving posture, unless perhaps you are
}a Flintstone? No? Then pickup truck it is. Have you noticed yet the
}effect that the pickup truck has on your popularity when people need
}to move things?" :-)
The MouseWench, who remembers the purple guy (though he's not likely
to remember her - at least not in this persona), grins. "I still need
to make good on a promise I made my OSO to buy him a bumpersticker I
saw:
YES, IT'S MY TRUCK.
NO, I WON'T HELP YOU MOVE.
Meanwhile, lemme freshen up that Grape Crush for you...."
K`shandra
who was once Kiri, and is fond of the button, "Anything purple is
mine. Anything not purple can be dyed or painted."
--
Kirsten M. Berry square peg in a round planet
ksha...@mindspring.com http://www.mindspring.com/~kshandra/
Ali ;-)
>"plus it has the advantage of being pronounced however people want
>it to be!"
Personally, I pronounce it "purple".
Ali ;-) (Being my favorite color....)