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At last, the Oxford boink show.

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Dr Robin Bignall

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Jul 2, 2003, 5:27:16 PM7/2/03
to
Here are a couple of photos of the June 21 boink.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/oxford.htm

--

wrmst rgrds
Robin Bignall

Quiet part of Hertfordshire
England

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/homepage.htm

Bruce Tober

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Jul 2, 2003, 6:49:26 PM7/2/03
to
In message <p3i6gvg15ku20tfqn...@4ax.com>, Dr Robin
Bignall <docr...@ntlworld.com> writes

>Here are a couple of photos of the June 21 boink.
>
>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/oxford.htm

And not before time.

Thanks.

--
| Bruce Tober, <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk> , <http://www.star-dot-star.co.uk> |
| UK, +44-780-374-8255 (Mobile) +44-121-553-4284 (land) |

Dr Robin Bignall

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Jul 2, 2003, 7:27:13 PM7/2/03
to
On Wed, 2 Jul 2003 23:49:26 +0100, Bruce Tober <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk>
wrote:

>In message <p3i6gvg15ku20tfqn...@4ax.com>, Dr Robin
>Bignall <docr...@ntlworld.com> writes
>>Here are a couple of photos of the June 21 boink.
>>
>>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/oxford.htm
>
>And not before time.
>

Things had to develop first. I can't make a case to replace my 1973 Canon
camera with a piece of expensive electronic stuff. You just have to curb
your impatience, or next time I *will* snap you sloshing Guinness around!

>Thanks.

You're welcome. Did I catch your best side?

Bruce Tober

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Jul 2, 2003, 7:38:24 PM7/2/03
to
In message <ocq6gv0fr0neprbpp...@4ax.com>, Dr Robin

Bignall <docr...@ntlworld.com> writes
>On Wed, 2 Jul 2003 23:49:26 +0100, Bruce Tober <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk>
>wrote:
>
>>In message <p3i6gvg15ku20tfqn...@4ax.com>, Dr Robin
>>Bignall <docr...@ntlworld.com> writes
>>>Here are a couple of photos of the June 21 boink.
>>>
>>>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/oxford.htm
>>
>>And not before time.
>>
>Things had to develop first. I can't make a case to replace my 1973 Canon
>camera with a piece of expensive electronic stuff. You just have to curb
>your impatience, or next time I *will* snap you sloshing Guinness around!

Yowzuh. I'll take that into consideration.

>
>>Thanks.
>
>You're welcome. Did I catch your best side?

Er, do I have a best side?

Dr Robin Bignall

unread,
Jul 3, 2003, 9:21:41 AM7/3/03
to
On Thu, 3 Jul 2003 00:38:24 +0100, Bruce Tober <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk>
wrote:

>In message <ocq6gv0fr0neprbpp...@4ax.com>, Dr Robin
>Bignall <docr...@ntlworld.com> writes

>>You're welcome. Did I catch your best side?


>
>Er, do I have a best side?

You should know. I'm no telepath.

Graeme Thomas

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Jul 3, 2003, 9:12:12 AM7/3/03
to
In article <p3i6gvg15ku20tfqn...@4ax.com>, Dr Robin
Bignall <docr...@ntlworld.com> writes

>Here are a couple of photos of the June 21 boink.
>
>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/oxford.htm

Thank you for that, Doc.

One can see clearly from these photographs that Jacqui is, like all[1]
other AUE women, tall, slim, blonde, and beautiful. All[1] AUE men are
bearded, of course. These shared features help enormously in
recognizing fellow boinkers. The above-average intelligence shared by
boinkers is not so readily identifiable at a distance.

[1] There may be exceptions to these rules, of course, but they are
insignificant in number.

--
Graeme Thomas

Bruce Tober

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Jul 3, 2003, 9:54:26 AM7/3/03
to
In message <pdb8gv0grgsa5vf64...@4ax.com>, Dr Robin

Bignall <docr...@ntlworld.com> writes
>On Thu, 3 Jul 2003 00:38:24 +0100, Bruce Tober <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk>
>wrote:
>
>>In message <ocq6gv0fr0neprbpp...@4ax.com>, Dr Robin
>>Bignall <docr...@ntlworld.com> writes
>
>>>You're welcome. Did I catch your best side?
>>
>>Er, do I have a best side?
>
>You should know. I'm no telepath.

Well, I'm told I have a cute back side. But I couldn't possibly comment.

Dr Robin Bignall

unread,
Jul 3, 2003, 11:21:08 AM7/3/03
to
On Wed, 02 Jul 2003 22:27:16 +0100, Dr Robin Bignall
<docr...@ntlworld.com> wrote:

>Here are a couple of photos of the June 21 boink.
>
>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/oxford.htm

Will the someone who just sent me an e-mail on this subject please try
again, as I clicked Mailwasher too fast for my own good.

Dena Jo

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Jul 3, 2003, 12:18:41 PM7/3/03
to
On 03 Jul 2003, Graeme Thomas posted thus:

> Thank you for that, Doc.

AOL!



> One can see clearly from these photographs that Jacqui is, like
> all[1] other AUE women, tall, slim, blonde, and beautiful.

[..]



> [1] There may be exceptions to these rules, of course, but they
> are insignificant in number.

Proud to be a redhead.

http://tinyurl.com/fy8x

--
Dena Jo (older than she looks)

(Email: Replace TPUBGTH with denajo2)

Laura F Spira

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Jul 3, 2003, 2:11:01 PM7/3/03
to

No wonder you never recognise me, Graeme.

--
Laura
(emulate St. George for email)

Graeme Thomas

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Jul 3, 2003, 5:17:33 PM7/3/03
to
In article <3F0471B5...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk>, Laura F
Spira <la...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> writes
>Graeme Thomas wrote:

>> One can see clearly from these photographs that Jacqui is, like all[1]
>> other AUE women, tall, slim, blonde, and beautiful. All[1] AUE men are
>> bearded, of course. These shared features help enormously in
>> recognizing fellow boinkers. The above-average intelligence shared by
>> boinkers is not so readily identifiable at a distance.
>>
>> [1] There may be exceptions to these rules, of course, but they are
>> insignificant in number.
>>
>
>No wonder you never recognise me, Graeme.

I *always* recognize you, Laura! This task is made much more difficult
by the fact that you always fail to resemble my prior mental image of
you (a problem that is more likely my fault than yours), but I have so
far managed it every time.

--
Graeme Thomas

tomca...@yanospamhoo.com

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Jul 3, 2003, 5:38:45 PM7/3/03
to
Bruce Tober <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk> wrote:

> Well, I'm told I have a cute back side. But I couldn't possibly comment.

If you circumgyrate quickly enough, you can check it out.

Mike Barnes

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Jul 3, 2003, 1:25:50 PM7/3/03
to
In alt.usage.english, Dr Robin Bignall wrote:
>Here are a couple of photos of the June 21 boink.
>
>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/oxford.htm

May I copy that material for use on the aue web site? I would add to the
list of boinks that you can see at

http://alt-usage-english.org/newsgroup.html#people

BTW I tried to send this message to you by e-mail and it bounced: "The
following addresses had permanent fatal errors <docr...@ntlworld.com>".

--
Mike Barnes
Webmaster, http://alt-usage-english.org/

Bruce Tober

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Jul 3, 2003, 6:50:14 PM7/3/03
to
In message <be27p5$lu9$3...@news1.radix.net>, tomca...@yaNOSPAMhoo.com
writes

>Bruce Tober <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> Well, I'm told I have a cute back side. But I couldn't possibly comment.
>
>If you circumgyrate quickly enough, you can check it out.

I don't/can't do anything much quickly these days.

Dr Robin Bignall

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Jul 3, 2003, 7:30:39 PM7/3/03
to
On Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:54:26 +0100, Bruce Tober <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk>
wrote:

>In message <pdb8gv0grgsa5vf64...@4ax.com>, Dr Robin
>Bignall <docr...@ntlworld.com> writes
>>On Thu, 3 Jul 2003 00:38:24 +0100, Bruce Tober <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>In message <ocq6gv0fr0neprbpp...@4ax.com>, Dr Robin
>>>Bignall <docr...@ntlworld.com> writes
>>
>>>>You're welcome. Did I catch your best side?
>>>
>>>Er, do I have a best side?
>>
>>You should know. I'm no telepath.
>
>Well, I'm told I have a cute back side. But I couldn't possibly comment.

I was too busy wiping the Guinness off to notice.

Dr Robin Bignall

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Jul 3, 2003, 7:36:05 PM7/3/03
to
On Thu, 3 Jul 2003 14:12:12 +0100, Graeme Thomas
<gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>In article <p3i6gvg15ku20tfqn...@4ax.com>, Dr Robin
>Bignall <docr...@ntlworld.com> writes
>>Here are a couple of photos of the June 21 boink.
>>
>>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/oxford.htm
>
>Thank you for that, Doc.
>

You are welcome.

>One can see clearly from these photographs that Jacqui is, like all[1]
>other AUE women, tall, slim, blonde, and beautiful.

You forgot pregnant.

>All[1] AUE men are
>bearded, of course. These shared features help enormously in
>recognizing fellow boinkers. The above-average intelligence shared by
>boinkers is not so readily identifiable at a distance.
>

With a sensitive nose, one can detect the odour of insouciance.

>[1] There may be exceptions to these rules, of course, but they are
>insignificant in number.

Me! (No beard, that is.)

Dr Robin Bignall

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Jul 3, 2003, 7:56:17 PM7/3/03
to
On Thu, 3 Jul 2003 18:25:50 +0100, Mike Barnes
<ReplyTo-...@alt-usage-english.org> wrote:

>In alt.usage.english, Dr Robin Bignall wrote:
>>Here are a couple of photos of the June 21 boink.
>>
>>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/oxford.htm
>
>May I copy that material for use on the aue web site? I would add to the
>list of boinks that you can see at
>
> http://alt-usage-english.org/newsgroup.html#people
>

Yes, of course.

If you want to sully the group even more, you can find me in the middle of
the upper photo at

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/fammain.htm


>BTW I tried to send this message to you by e-mail and it bounced: "The
>following addresses had permanent fatal errors <docr...@ntlworld.com>".

So it was you. (See my previous about my being too quick on the draw with
Mailwasher.) I shall unbounce you, pronto.

Laura F Spira

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Jul 4, 2003, 1:47:20 AM7/4/03
to

Were I able to influence your mental image of me, I think *I* would have
a rare talent, rather than a problem. But I am intrigued by this: what
do you expect me to look like? And why hasn't the reality overlaid this
mental image? My mental images of aue posters I have not met remain
unsullied but having dicsovered, for example, that Mr D does not
resemble Leonard Swindley, I shall never again expect him to do so.

, but I have so
> far managed it every time.

A challenge to my powers of disguise, then. We shall see.

Graeme Thomas

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Jul 4, 2003, 6:09:18 AM7/4/03
to
In article <3F0514E8...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk>, Laura F
Spira <la...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> writes

>Were I able to influence your mental image of me, I think *I* would have

>a rare talent, rather than a problem.

Given that I rarely have problems in maintaining an accurate mental
picture of those whom I have met, my inability to do so in your case is
more likely to be your talent, rather than my ineptitude.

>But I am intrigued by this: what
>do you expect me to look like? And why hasn't the reality overlaid this
>mental image?

I haven't the faintest idea of the answer to either of your questions.

>My mental images of aue posters I have not met remain
>unsullied but having dicsovered, for example, that Mr D does not
>resemble Leonard Swindley, I shall never again expect him to do so.

It is a commonplace event for AUE posters not to match their real-life
images; indeed, I'm not sure that I have *ever* met an AUE poster who
resembled his or her prior impression. It *is* rare, though, for
someone to continue this process after we've met.

And who is Leonard Swindley? Knowing that he doesn't resemble Mr D
doesn't help me much.

>A challenge to my powers of disguise, then. We shall see.

Note that your previous disguise, although capable of allowing you to
remain unnoticed by a friend on the bus, did not prevent me from
recognizing you in an instant.

--
Graeme Thomas

Santiago Zawojski

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Jul 4, 2003, 8:27:46 AM7/4/03
to
Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk> wrote in news:yg8HfxAOJVB$Ew...@graemet.demon.co.uk:


> And who is Leonard Swindley? Knowing that he doesn't resemble Mr D
> doesn't help me much.

<http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22leonard+swindley%22&sa=N&tab=wi&meta=>

This might not help much either.

Bruce Tober

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Jul 4, 2003, 9:53:43 AM7/4/03
to
In message <yg8HfxAOJVB$Ew...@graemet.demon.co.uk>, Graeme Thomas
<gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk> writes

>It is a commonplace event for AUE posters not to match their real-life
>images; indeed, I'm not sure that I have *ever* met an AUE poster who
>resembled his or her prior impression. It *is* rare, though, for
>someone to continue this process after we've met.

I've never met anyone in 20+ years of fidonet and usenet who matched my
prior to meeting image of the person.

Philip Eden

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Jul 4, 2003, 10:58:33 AM7/4/03
to

"Bruce Tober" <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk> wrote in message
news:gUXqakbnbYB$Ew...@btinternet.com...

> In message <yg8HfxAOJVB$Ew...@graemet.demon.co.uk>, Graeme Thomas
> <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk> writes
> >It is a commonplace event for AUE posters not to match their real-life
> >images; indeed, I'm not sure that I have *ever* met an AUE poster who
> >resembled his or her prior impression. It *is* rare, though, for
> >someone to continue this process after we've met.
>
> I've never met anyone in 20+ years of fidonet and usenet who matched my
> prior to meeting image of the person.
>
This is the same phenomenon as the way we create images of
radio presenters, isn't it?

When I worked on a London ILR station, ooh, all of 20 years ago, a
listener with a considerable skill in drawing cartoons drew all of
our presenters ... all of whom were intensely curious at how
people (well, one person) thought they looked.

Philip Eden


david56

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Jul 4, 2003, 11:55:15 AM7/4/03
to
"Philip Eden" <philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom> spake thus:

>
> "Bruce Tober" <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:gUXqakbnbYB$Ew...@btinternet.com...
> > In message <yg8HfxAOJVB$Ew...@graemet.demon.co.uk>, Graeme Thomas
> > <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk> writes
> > >It is a commonplace event for AUE posters not to match their real-life
> > >images; indeed, I'm not sure that I have *ever* met an AUE poster who
> > >resembled his or her prior impression. It *is* rare, though, for
> > >someone to continue this process after we've met.
> >
> > I've never met anyone in 20+ years of fidonet and usenet who matched my
> > prior to meeting image of the person.
> >
> This is the same phenomenon as the way we create images of
> radio presenters, isn't it?

And why Radio Times should _never_ publish photos of people
purporting to be actors who portray characters in The Archers. How
anybody could go to an Archers weekend to meet the cast is beyond me.
I think I would suffer a nervous breakdown.

--
David
I say what it occurs to me to say.
=====
The address is valid today, but I change it periodically.

R F

unread,
Jul 4, 2003, 4:17:43 PM7/4/03
to
On Fri, 4 Jul 2003, Graeme Thomas wrote:

> It is a commonplace event for AUE posters not to match their real-life
> images; indeed, I'm not sure that I have *ever* met an AUE poster who
> resembled his or her prior impression. It *is* rare, though, for
> someone to continue this process after we've met.

I find that the putatively male Brito-Australic AUE posters all seem
like middle-aged guys with beards. Based on posted remarks or
website photos, the only ones I've been wrong about thus far have been
"Doc" Robin Bignall (shown by photos to be beardless) and David56 (who
claims to be beardless).

It should also be noted that our only active South African poster,
Steve "Purple" Hayes, a man of proximate British heritage, conforms to
the beard style.

Dr Robin Bignall

unread,
Jul 4, 2003, 6:13:27 PM7/4/03
to
On Fri, 4 Jul 2003 16:55:15 +0100, david56 <bass.b...@ntlworld.com>
wrote:

Particularly if you came across the corpse of Walter Gabriel, me old pal,
me old beauty.

Dr Robin Bignall

unread,
Jul 4, 2003, 6:15:39 PM7/4/03
to

Maybe we could sell AUE hair tonic and make a fortune?

(That's you, Bob, hiding behind that disguise, I think.)

Jitze Couperus

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Jul 4, 2003, 11:05:12 PM7/4/03
to
On Fri, 4 Jul 2003 16:17:43 -0400, R F <rf...@sparky.cs.nyu.edu>
wrote:

>


>I find that the putatively male Brito-Australic AUE posters all seem
>like middle-aged guys with beards. Based on posted remarks or
>website photos, the only ones I've been wrong about thus far have been
>"Doc" Robin Bignall (shown by photos to be beardless) and David56 (who
>claims to be beardless).
>

One other who apparently attended this boink, but turned up
late, (GJV) is tonsorially challenged both on top and on the chin
IIRC.

The other distinguishing factor of many (most) male aue posters
is a tendency toward excessive avoirdupois in the navel region.
But again not GJV, which makes me worry

Har!

Jitze

david56

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Jul 5, 2003, 5:13:57 AM7/5/03
to
rf...@sparky.cs.nyu.edu spake thus:

> On Fri, 4 Jul 2003, Graeme Thomas wrote:
>
> > It is a commonplace event for AUE posters not to match their real-life
> > images; indeed, I'm not sure that I have *ever* met an AUE poster who
> > resembled his or her prior impression. It *is* rare, though, for
> > someone to continue this process after we've met.
>
> I find that the putatively male Brito-Australic AUE posters all seem
> like middle-aged guys with beards. Based on posted remarks or
> website photos, the only ones I've been wrong about thus far have been
> "Doc" Robin Bignall (shown by photos to be beardless) and David56 (who
> claims to be beardless).

Las Vegas microboink approaches - I will provide a witness.

Linz

unread,
Jul 5, 2003, 1:21:21 PM7/5/03
to
On Fri, 4 Jul 2003 11:09:18 +0100, Graeme Thomas
<gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>It is a commonplace event for AUE posters not to match their real-life
>images; indeed, I'm not sure that I have *ever* met an AUE poster who
>resembled his or her prior impression. It *is* rare, though, for
>someone to continue this process after we've met.

Oh, the men are pretty easy to recognise, being bearded.
I had no preconceived idea about what Katy looked like before I met
her but I recognised her instantly on Cambridge station!
--
I think that people are the greatest fun

Garry J. Vass

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Jul 5, 2003, 4:23:54 PM7/5/03
to

"Jitze Couperus" <couperu...@znet.com> wrote in message
news:3f063edc....@sd.znet.com...

> On Fri, 4 Jul 2003 16:17:43 -0400, R F <rf...@sparky.cs.nyu.edu>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >I find that the putatively male Brito-Australic AUE posters all seem
> >like middle-aged guys with beards. Based on posted remarks or
> >website photos, the only ones I've been wrong about thus far have been
> >"Doc" Robin Bignall (shown by photos to be beardless) and David56 (who
> >claims to be beardless).
> >
>
> One other who apparently attended this boink, but turned up
> late, (GJV) is tonsorially challenged both on top and on the chin
> IIRC.
>

I have spent a number of years attempting to convince my excess male
hormones that their priorities were of a more urgent nature than pushing my
hair out. I lost the debate.

I'm embarrassed to say that during the 70's, I resorted to a comb-over.
Witnessable at http://www.londonelegance.com/gjv/previous (with Irma)

Comb-overs actually only fool the comb-overer. To everyone else (the
comb-overees?), they look silly. It took me about 15 years to learn this.
I joined the comb-over cognizitti and now I laugh whenever I see one.

There's a guy in my building who is bald on top and the hair on his right
temple is about 7 inches long. Every so often one of the locks in his hair
falls out of place and droops down to his shoulder!

Finally, I started getting what the Brits call a "number two".

I have thought about growing a beard, and even started one on holiday once.
Two problems: it itches; and it's white :( Yuk. At least on top, there's
a decent blend of salt and pepper...

Kind regards,
GJV


Mike Oliver

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Jul 5, 2003, 5:01:07 PM7/5/03
to
"Garry J. Vass" wrote:

> I joined the comb-over cognizitti

"Those who know, but keep quiet"?

Arcadian Rises

unread,
Jul 5, 2003, 5:26:10 PM7/5/03
to
>From: "Garry J. Vass"

>Comb-overs actually only fool the comb-overer.

From what I heard, it's also a big pain on the head. A comb-over always needs
to keep track of the direction of the wind so that he would never go against
it. He also has to be very careful when coming out of the swimming pool.

John Hall

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Jul 5, 2003, 6:00:29 PM7/5/03
to
On 05 Jul 2003 21:26:10 GMT, arcadi...@aol.com (Arcadian Rises)
wrote:

He? He? Please be more careful with your sexist remarks.

--
John W Hall <wweexxss...@telusplanet.net>
Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
"Helping People Prosper in the Information Age"

Arcadian Rises

unread,
Jul 5, 2003, 6:10:16 PM7/5/03
to
>From: John Hall

>He? He? Please be more careful with your sexist remarks.

Touchy, eh? Why, are you losing your feathers? Don't worry, there is an ethnic
proverb saying that bad hair leaves a good head

John Hall

unread,
Jul 5, 2003, 7:05:57 PM7/5/03
to
On 05 Jul 2003 22:10:16 GMT, arcadi...@aol.com (Arcadian Rises)
wrote:

>>From: John Hall

Not touchy for myself, thanks. Merely concerned that your posting did
not allow for female comb-overs.

Garry J. Vass

unread,
Jul 5, 2003, 8:18:25 PM7/5/03
to
"Mike Oliver" <oli...@math.ucla.edu> wrote in message
news:3F073C93...@math.ucla.edu...

> "Garry J. Vass" wrote:
>
> > I joined the comb-over cognizitti
>
> "Those who know, but keep quiet"?

Yes. A small coterie for whom the veil has been lifted. The comb-over
cognizitti have secret signals: a knowingly sardonic glance to the heavens
accompanied by a playful grin.

Not as ritualized as when I was inducted into the DeMolay (which was *very*
cognizitti), or even in the propitious and honourable "Order of the Arrow".
The "Order of the Arrow" had (at least when I was a gung-ho Scout doing my
'good deed' daily) a period of "Ordeal" after which one could apply for
"Brotherhood". Quite the "in" thing for the cold-war era!

And cognizitti *certainly* keep quiet. Why spoil a good thing? Comb-overs
are funny!

But now I'm curious.

Are any of my good aue brethren former initiates in the "Order of the
Arrow"? Bearded or not? I know Donna would have had brothers likely for
such an order, but any genuine aue civilians out there with OA credentials?

Come lads, out with it! Smartly now with hands out of your pockets!

GJV

PS: Once firmly ingrained, the notion of "good deed daily" is fixed within.
My interpretation of "good deed daily", however, has changed a bit over the
years. I quite enjoy a "good deed daily" whenever the opportunity (and a
suitable partner) presents itself.


Frances Kemmish

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Jul 5, 2003, 8:31:41 PM7/5/03
to
Garry J. Vass wrote:

> Are any of my good aue brethren former initiates in the "Order of the
> Arrow"? Bearded or not? I know Donna would have had brothers likely for
> such an order, but any genuine aue civilians out there with OA credentials?
>

Not me, of course, but my son was in the Order. He has a beard, too.

Fran

Mike Oliver

unread,
Jul 5, 2003, 8:36:34 PM7/5/03
to
"Garry J. Vass" wrote:
> "Mike Oliver" <oli...@math.ucla.edu> wrote in message
> news:3F073C93...@math.ucla.edu...
>> "Garry J. Vass" wrote:
>>
>>> I joined the comb-over cognizitti
>>
>> "Those who know, but keep quiet"?
>
> Yes. A small coterie for whom the veil has been lifted. The comb-over
> cognizitti have secret signals: a knowingly sardonic glance to the heavens
> accompanied by a playful grin.

So I guessed correctly. But why the first "i"? _cognozitti_ would
seem to follow from my hypothesized etymology.

BTW your comb-over was not so bad, just sort of blatantly '70s. I
don't think a comb-over actually has to *fool* anybody to look OK.
It's the people that comb over five little strands and glue
them down on the other side that look ridiculous.

Martin Ambuhl

unread,
Jul 5, 2003, 9:01:23 PM7/5/03
to
Frances Kemmish <fkem...@optonline.net> wrote (05 Jul 2003) in
news:3F076DE...@optonline.net / alt.usage.english:

[Piggy-backing, since I don't remember seeing GJV's post]

> Garry J. Vass wrote:
>
>> Are any of my good aue brethren former initiates in the "Order of
>> the Arrow"? Bearded or not?

I was OA and have been bearded almost ever since. My father was a
Firecrafter (1934), and was bearded only when kept away from his
razor.


--
Martin Ambuhl
Returning soon to the
Fourth Largest City in America

Martin Ambuhl

unread,
Jul 5, 2003, 9:02:35 PM7/5/03
to
Mike Oliver <oli...@math.ucla.edu> wrote (05 Jul 2003) in
news:3F076F12...@math.ucla.edu / alt.usage.english:

> BTW your comb-over was not so bad, just sort of blatantly '70s. I
> don't think a comb-over actually has to *fool* anybody to look OK.
> It's the people that comb over five little strands and glue
> them down on the other side that look ridiculous.

Rudy Giuliani is OT here.

Mike Oliver

unread,
Jul 5, 2003, 9:05:19 PM7/5/03
to
Martin Ambuhl wrote:
> Mike Oliver <oli...@math.ucla.edu> wrote (05 Jul 2003) in
> news:3F076F12...@math.ucla.edu / alt.usage.english:
>> BTW your comb-over was not so bad, just sort of blatantly '70s. I
>> don't think a comb-over actually has to *fool* anybody to look OK.
>> It's the people that comb over five little strands and glue
>> them down on the other side that look ridiculous.
>
> Rudy Giuliani is OT here.

Even if I want to know if he's ever been mayor of Brooklyn (wbflciaiiwac)?

Mike Barnes

unread,
Jul 6, 2003, 5:14:26 AM7/6/03
to
In alt.usage.english, Mike Oliver wrote:
>I
>don't think a comb-over actually has to *fool* anybody to look OK.
>It's the people that comb over five little strands and glue
>them down on the other side that look ridiculous.

People with comb-overs or obvious wigs often look ridiculous but they
*do* look younger. It's up everyone concerned to strike the balance
wherever they think appropriate. Me, I'm an own-up baldie - I'd much
rather look old than look ridiculous.

--
Mike Barnes
Cheshire, England

Laura F Spira

unread,
Jul 6, 2003, 7:47:33 AM7/6/03
to
Mike Barnes wrote:
> In alt.usage.english, Mike Oliver wrote:
>
>>I
>>don't think a comb-over actually has to *fool* anybody to look OK.
>>It's the people that comb over five little strands and glue
>>them down on the other side that look ridiculous.
>
>
> People with comb-overs or obvious wigs often look ridiculous but they
> *do* look younger.

Do you think so? You might be disillusioned if you look at the backs of
their hands. Do people have Botox on the backs of their hands or their
necks, I wonder? Those are the two places where wrinkles really give the
game away.

It's up everyone concerned to strike the balance
> wherever they think appropriate. Me, I'm an own-up baldie - I'd much
> rather look old than look ridiculous.

Those who seek to look young in such ways probably don't have any sense
that they look ridiculous.

"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me...."

Wood Avens

unread,
Jul 6, 2003, 7:48:00 AM7/6/03
to
On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 10:14:26 +0100, Mike Barnes
<ReplyT...@senrab.com> wrote:

>People with comb-overs or obvious wigs often look ridiculous but they
>*do* look younger.

You think so?? You astonish me. Especially given the fashion in
various twenty-something circles for shaved heads and/or no-1
haircuts. I've never seen a comb-over on anyone born after, oh, 1950
or so.

--

Katy Jennison

spamtrap: remove number to reply

Mike Barnes

unread,
Jul 6, 2003, 10:21:16 AM7/6/03
to
In alt.usage.english, Laura F Spira wrote:
>Mike Barnes wrote:
>> In alt.usage.english, Mike Oliver wrote:
>>
>>>I
>>>don't think a comb-over actually has to *fool* anybody to look OK.
>>>It's the people that comb over five little strands and glue
>>>them down on the other side that look ridiculous.
>> People with comb-overs or obvious wigs often look ridiculous but
>>they
>> *do* look younger.
>
>Do you think so? You might be disillusioned if you look at the backs of
>their hands. Do people have Botox on the backs of their hands or their
>necks, I wonder? Those are the two places where wrinkles really give
>the game away.

Agreed, but what I was thinking of was not the impression that close
scrutiny affords, but the overall impression. I can bring to mind a
couple of people with comb-overs and bad wigs - and some celebrities
with very good wigs - and visualise them with bald heads. They look
older - older than I generally think of them as being - no doubt about
it. But their looks then have a coherence that more than makes up for
the extra years.

Mike Barnes

unread,
Jul 6, 2003, 10:25:35 AM7/6/03
to
In alt.usage.english, Wood Avens wrote:
>On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 10:14:26 +0100, Mike Barnes
><ReplyT...@senrab.com> wrote:
>
>>People with comb-overs or obvious wigs often look ridiculous but they
>>*do* look younger.
>
>You think so?? You astonish me. Especially given the fashion in
>various twenty-something circles for shaved heads and/or no-1
>haircuts. I've never seen a comb-over on anyone born after, oh, 1950
>or so.

Try imagining what they would look like without the comb-over. Younger
or older?

Padraig Breathnach

unread,
Jul 6, 2003, 10:58:45 AM7/6/03
to
Mike Barnes <ReplyT...@senrab.com> wrote:

Interesting question. I tend to be so distracted by the comb-over that
I usually have little idea how old the comb-overer is.

Since so many young people now favour shaven or very close-cropped
styles, the association of youth with hair has been weakened. Or so I
like to think.

PB

Ross Howard

unread,
Jul 6, 2003, 11:43:51 AM7/6/03
to

I, too, am rather puzzled by Mike's assertion that combover coiffees
look younger than own-up baldies. Did Bobby Charlton[1] in his heyday
look younger than Roberto Carlos does now?

[1. Manchester United and England soccer player, 1950s-70s. Now "Sir
Bobby". Famous for being the first British sportsman to sport the
triple crown: ear-parting, combover and coil. So extravagantly long
were his strands when they inadvertently -- and, much to his chagrin,
frequently -- came unravelled that he seldom used to jump for headers
in case he got them caught in the floodlights.
Still, at least Charlton had the fortune to be fair-haired. A
triple crown sported by a black-haired man with a pasty pink pate is a
terrible, terrible thing -- cf. Desmond "Mr Naked Ape" Morris (the
moral: if you hope to be taken seriously as an authority on body
language, do something about the hair, Des).]

Ross Howard
--------------------
(Kick ass for e-mail)

Tony Cooper

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Jul 6, 2003, 1:04:34 PM7/6/03
to
On Sun, 06 Jul 2003 12:48:00 +0100, Wood Avens
<woodav...@gmx.co.uk> wrote:

>On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 10:14:26 +0100, Mike Barnes
><ReplyT...@senrab.com> wrote:
>
>>People with comb-overs or obvious wigs often look ridiculous but they
>>*do* look younger.
>
>You think so?? You astonish me. Especially given the fashion in
>various twenty-something circles for shaved heads and/or no-1
>haircuts. I've never seen a comb-over on anyone born after, oh, 1950
>or so.

It seems to be a requirement if the person goes into the field of
televangelism regardless of age. See:
http://www.easymidget.com/new/stories/0601_hinn.shtml for an analysis
of this.


--
Tony Cooper aka: tony_co...@yahoo.com
Provider of Jots, Tittles, and Oy!s

Wood Avens

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Jul 6, 2003, 3:53:53 PM7/6/03
to
On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 15:25:35 +0100, Mike Barnes
<ReplyT...@senrab.com> wrote:

>In alt.usage.english, Wood Avens wrote:
>>On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 10:14:26 +0100, Mike Barnes
>><ReplyT...@senrab.com> wrote:
>>
>>>People with comb-overs or obvious wigs often look ridiculous but they
>>>*do* look younger.
>>
>>You think so?? You astonish me. Especially given the fashion in
>>various twenty-something circles for shaved heads and/or no-1
>>haircuts. I've never seen a comb-over on anyone born after, oh, 1950
>>or so.
>
>Try imagining what they would look like without the comb-over. Younger
>or older?

Depends somewhat on the haircut, clothes, shoes, other gear, demeanor,
etc.

Actually, if I really analyse my reactions, it's not so much that the
comb-overers look older or younger, rather that they look sad,
unsuccessful, self-deluding. They're trying (and failing) to look
like something they're not (someone with hair). If they hope to look
younger, it's presumably because they equate looking young with
looking good. And because (to my eye) they'd look better without the
combover, they're failing. So if they don't look good, they don't
look young.

Er ...

Wood Avens

unread,
Jul 6, 2003, 3:55:48 PM7/6/03
to
On Sun, 06 Jul 2003 13:04:34 -0400, Tony Cooper
<tony_co...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On Sun, 06 Jul 2003 12:48:00 +0100, Wood Avens
><woodav...@gmx.co.uk> wrote:

>>I've never seen a comb-over on anyone born after, oh, 1950
>>or so.
>
>It seems to be a requirement if the person goes into the field of
>televangelism regardless of age.

Yet another reason for being grateful that we don't have such
creatures in the UK.

Maria Conlon

unread,
Jul 6, 2003, 5:40:51 PM7/6/03
to
Laura F Spira quoted:

> "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
> With a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me...."

Do you have a Red Hat Club in England? I have a friend who is a member
here, and I plan to join when I retire. (The meetings are usually during
the day. The ladies wear red hats and, I think, purple clothes.)

I'm going to check the net for a full quote of the piece that Laura
began above. I've seen it in print, but a permanent copy would be nice
to have.

Yep, it's the Red Hat Club for me. And if I ever get my home page ready
for viewing, I think I'll include a picture of my family that includes
me in a certain red hat. The photo was taken around 1986, and by
coincidence, I found it yesterday after reading Laura's post. (I was
looking for something else at the time.)

Maria Conlon

Laura F Spira

unread,
Jul 6, 2003, 5:56:48 PM7/6/03
to
Maria Conlon wrote:
> Laura F Spira quoted:
>
>
>>"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
>>With a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me...."
>
>
> Do you have a Red Hat Club in England? I have a friend who is a member
> here, and I plan to join when I retire. (The meetings are usually during
> the day. The ladies wear red hats and, I think, purple clothes.)

I've never heard of it - what do they do at the meetings?

>
> I'm going to check the net for a full quote of the piece that Laura
> began above. I've seen it in print, but a permanent copy would be nice
> to have.

There's a copy at http://www.infosources.co.uk/writenu/goodies/warning.htm

And, if you enjoy the work of Jenny Joseph, you may enjoy that of Wendy
Cope too. Some can be found at http://www.arlindo-correia.com/050900.html

Jacqui

unread,
Jul 6, 2003, 6:51:12 PM7/6/03
to
Maria Conlon wibbled

> Laura F Spira quoted:
>
>> "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
>> With a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me...."

> I'm going to check the net for a full quote of the piece that


> Laura began above. I've seen it in print, but a permanent copy
> would be nice to have.

Last year or the year before, I bought my mother a nice edition of the
poem for her birthday, as she's forever quoting it at my bemused
father. I don't know if Amazon.co.uk would still stock it... (goes off
to look) yes, here we are: http://tinyurl.com/g61i

Jac (prone to wearing purple already)

Tony Cooper

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Jul 6, 2003, 7:04:15 PM7/6/03
to
On Sun, 06 Jul 2003 22:56:48 +0100, Laura F Spira
<la...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote:

>Maria Conlon wrote:
>> Laura F Spira quoted:
>>
>>
>>>"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
>>>With a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me...."
>>
>>
>> Do you have a Red Hat Club in England? I have a friend who is a member
>> here, and I plan to join when I retire. (The meetings are usually during
>> the day. The ladies wear red hats and, I think, purple clothes.)
>
>I've never heard of it - what do they do at the meetings?

It's the Red Hat Society. I mentioned it in a thread here in April.

http://www.redhatsociety.com/newcomers.html will answer all your
questions. Basically, the only requirements are to be a woman over
50, wear a red hat and a clashing purple dress to "meetings", and to
have fun. Even those rules are not enforced.

John Dean

unread,
Jul 6, 2003, 7:55:10 PM7/6/03
to

Interesting. I feel the same. I also feel the same about people who wear
hats all the time for the same reason - the late Gibb Brother was an
example. I'm also suspicious of people who shave their heads - like
Agassi - because as soon as the five-o'clock shadow appears, you can see
where the tide comes in and where it doesn't. Same delusion, same
transparency to the observer.
I rather like Don Williams, the country singer. He is a baldy who *almost*
always wears a Stetson, but towards the end of each of his concerts, it is a
point of honour to remove the hat to salute the audience. Apparently, they
go crazy, cheering and stamping their feet.
--
John Dean
Oxford
De-frag to reply


Laura F Spira

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Jul 7, 2003, 2:17:12 AM7/7/03
to

Hm. Those ladies look a bit too smart for me. The bag lady look would be
more appropriate, in the spirit of the poem as I read it.

Mike Barnes

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 4:16:25 AM7/7/03
to
In alt.usage.english, Wood Avens wrote:
>On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 15:25:35 +0100, Mike Barnes
><ReplyT...@senrab.com> wrote:
>
>>In alt.usage.english, Wood Avens wrote:
>>>On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 10:14:26 +0100, Mike Barnes
>>><ReplyT...@senrab.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>People with comb-overs or obvious wigs often look ridiculous but they
>>>>*do* look younger.
>>>
>>>You think so?? You astonish me. Especially given the fashion in
>>>various twenty-something circles for shaved heads and/or no-1
>>>haircuts. I've never seen a comb-over on anyone born after, oh, 1950
>>>or so.
>>
>>Try imagining what they would look like without the comb-over. Younger
>>or older?
>
>Depends somewhat on the haircut, clothes, shoes, other gear, demeanor,
>etc.
>
>Actually, if I really analyse my reactions, it's not so much that the
>comb-overers look older or younger, rather that they look sad,
>unsuccessful, self-deluding. They're trying (and failing) to look
>like something they're not (someone with hair). If they hope to look
>younger, it's presumably because they equate looking young with
>looking good.

I mostly agree with you so far and don't see why you were "astonished"
at my view that they look younger. They're trying to look younger, and I
think they often succeed, at the cost of looking sad, unsuccessful,
self-deluding, etc, as you say, or something like that.

>And because (to my eye) they'd look better without the
>combover, they're failing. So if they don't look good, they don't
>look young.
>
>Er ...

"Er" indeed. That's where we differ. I see looking young and looking
good as two quite separate things. If I wore a wig I'm sure I'd look
younger, but I don't think I'd look better.

K. Edgcombe

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 6:18:33 AM7/7/03
to
In article <Pine.GSO.4.44.030704...@sparky.cs.nyu.edu>,
R F <rf...@sparky.cs.nyu.edu> wrote:
>On Fri, 4 Jul 2003, Graeme Thomas wrote:
>
>> It is a commonplace event for AUE posters not to match their real-life
>> images; indeed, I'm not sure that I have *ever* met an AUE poster who
>> resembled his or her prior impression. It *is* rare, though, for
>> someone to continue this process after we've met.
>
>I find that the putatively male Brito-Australic AUE posters all seem
>like middle-aged guys with beards. Based on posted remarks or
>website photos, the only ones I've been wrong about thus far have been
>"Doc" Robin Bignall (shown by photos to be beardless) and David56 (who
>claims to be beardless).
>

Long, long ago, before the first London aue meet, Markus Laker and I exchanged
descriptions of what we each thought the other would look like. I had
overestimated his age considerably, but the rest wasn't too far off; he was
fairly accurate about me.

Memorably, however, he shaved off his beard immediately after that meet (I
failed to recognise him when i saw him in Southampton the following week). I
still haven't worked out the deeper significance of this.

Katy

K. Edgcombe

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Jul 7, 2003, 6:22:02 AM7/7/03
to
In article <3F089B20...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk>,

Laura F Spira <la...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote:
>Maria Conlon wrote:
>> Laura F Spira quoted:
>>
>>
>>>"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
>>>With a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me...."
>>
>>
>> Do you have a Red Hat Club in England? I have a friend who is a member
>> here, and I plan to join when I retire. (The meetings are usually during
>> the day. The ladies wear red hats and, I think, purple clothes.)
>
>I've never heard of it - what do they do at the meetings?
>


Laura, shall we start one? Then we get to say what they should do at the
meetings (mind you, it would be part of the rules, that nobody should do what
they are told, anyway).

Katy

M. J. Powell

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Jul 7, 2003, 6:35:21 AM7/7/03
to
In message <Xns93B0F2BB4E438si...@163.1.2.7>, Jacqui
<sirlawren...@hotmail.com> writes

A purple night dress?

Mike
--
M.J.Powell

M. J. Powell

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 6:36:53 AM7/7/03
to
In message <beacp5$h2p$1...@news6.svr.pol.co.uk>, John Dean
<john...@frag.lineone.net> writes

>Wood Avens wrote:
>> On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 15:25:35 +0100, Mike Barnes
>> <ReplyT...@senrab.com> wrote:
>>
>>> In alt.usage.english, Wood Avens wrote:
>>>> On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 10:14:26 +0100, Mike Barnes
>>>> <ReplyT...@senrab.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> People with comb-overs or obvious wigs often look ridiculous but
>>>>> they
>>>>> *do* look younger.
>>>>
>>>> You think so?? You astonish me. Especially given the fashion in
>>>> various twenty-something circles for shaved heads and/or no-1
>>>> haircuts. I've never seen a comb-over on anyone born after, oh,
>>>> 1950 or so.

Why the fashion for slaphead haircuts these days? Why do some men want
to look like an unemployed paratrooper?

Economy?

Mike
--
M.J.Powell

Jacqui

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 6:47:55 AM7/7/03
to
M. J. Powell wibbled

>>Jac (prone to wearing purple already)
>
> A purple night dress?

Yup. Three of them (although not generally worn simultaneously). And I
was both prone and wearing purple when I wrote that, too. Huge squashy
cushions are great.

Jac

Laura F Spira

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 6:48:25 AM7/7/03
to

Aerodynamics? Time saving (no need to comb)?

Laura F Spira

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 6:48:31 AM7/7/03
to

Yes! And I think we shall have to have a loose affiliation to the Axis
of Misbehaviour.

Laura F Spira

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 6:48:44 AM7/7/03
to

And why not?

Wood Avens

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 6:52:32 AM7/7/03
to

I see them as quite separate, too. But to my eye the comb-overers
failed attempt to look younger simply draws attention to their age;
whereas when someone looks good, it's the good-looking-ness that's
noticeable rather than the age, whatever that happens to be.

Mike Oliver

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 6:54:37 AM7/7/03
to
Laura F Spira wrote:

> Yes! And I think we shall have to have a loose affiliation to the Axis
> of Misbehaviour.

Careful! you might be condemned to Heck, and have to
face the pitchspoon of Phil.

Laura F Spira

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 7:01:17 AM7/7/03
to

I might be anxious if I had a clue what this is about...

John Dean

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 8:41:15 AM7/7/03
to

Partly. There are few 'pudding basin' barbers around. You have to go to a
'hairdresser'. You are encouraged to read soft porn magazines while you are
waiting. You are invited to discuss where you have been / are going for your
holidays. You have to listen to popular music combos on the radio. You are
then required to produce a large denomination note and a bit of silver or
gold for the tip.
I bought one of those hair / beard trimmers. My wife lawnmowers my hair
every few weeks in the congenial atmosphere of our own home. We listen to
music we like and we never talk about holidays. Though we could afford a
classy one with all the money we have saved.
--
John 'And I'd be wary about pissing off unemployed paratroopers' Dean
Oxford
De-frag to reply


John Dean

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 8:54:09 AM7/7/03
to

I worked with a guy who messed around with his facial hair every few months.
Clean shaven to beard + moustache to moustache only to clean shaven, back to
moustache only ....

It usually took people a while (in some cases several days but usually a few
hours) to twig what had happened. I think he enjoyed the 'There's something
different about you' comments. And later the 'Oh! You've grown / shaved your
moustache!'

Not so long ago in a froup not so far away, one of the regulars tickled me
by describing his party (literally) trick. Having been known to his circle
of friends and acquaintances as a man with a full facial set, he goes to a
party, taking with him a razor. After mingling and circulating for a couple
of hours he slips into the bathroom and shaves his face nekkid. Then people
have to guess a) who he is or b) what he's done. A few months later he does
it all again.
--
John Dean
Oxford
De-frag to reply


Linz

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 9:02:23 AM7/7/03
to

"John Dean" <john...@frag.lineone.net> wrote in message
news:beacp5$h2p$1...@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...

[snip]

> Interesting. I feel the same. I also feel the same about people who wear
> hats all the time for the same reason - the late Gibb Brother was an
> example. I'm also suspicious of people who shave their heads - like
> Agassi - because as soon as the five-o'clock shadow appears, you can see
> where the tide comes in and where it doesn't. Same delusion, same
> transparency to the observer.

Oh, I quite like it. And it means that the shaven-headed one doesn't have to
bother with things like shampoo or combs. Wonderful!


Padraig Breathnach

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 9:25:56 AM7/7/03
to
Jacqui <sirlawren...@hotmail.com> wrote:

I need to control my thoughts.

PB

Jacqui

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 9:42:39 AM7/7/03
to
Padraig Breathnach wibbled

> Jacqui wrote:
>>M. J. Powell wibbled
>>
>>>>Jac (prone to wearing purple already)
>>>
>>> A purple night dress?
>>
>>Yup. Three of them (although not generally worn simultaneously).
>>And I was both prone and wearing purple when I wrote that, too.
>>Huge squashy cushions are great.
>>
> I need to control my thoughts.

Heh. I don't mind, I feel rather like The Great White Whale most of the
time so any other thoughts you wish to have might be regarded as
complimentary and welcome right now. :-)

Jac

M. J. Powell

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 7:34:52 AM7/7/03
to
In message <3F09500C...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk>, Laura F
Spira <la...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> writes

Er..right. I'm not arguing...

Mike
--
M.J.Powell

John Hall

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 10:02:53 AM7/7/03
to
On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 11:48:31 +0100, Laura F Spira
<la...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote:

>>>>Do you have a Red Hat Club in England? ...
>> Laura, shall we start one?...

>Yes! And I think we shall have to have a loose affiliation to the Axis
>of Misbehaviour.

Perhaps you should contact the Red Hat
(Linux (an alternative to Microsoft Windows) distribution company)
requesting some marketing dollars.

--
John W Hall <wweexxss...@telusplanet.net>
Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
"Helping People Prosper in the Information Age"

Laura F Spira

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 10:28:13 AM7/7/03
to
John Dean wrote:

>
>
> I worked with a guy who messed around with his facial hair every few months.
> Clean shaven to beard + moustache to moustache only to clean shaven, back to
> moustache only ....
>
> It usually took people a while (in some cases several days but usually a few
> hours) to twig what had happened. I think he enjoyed the 'There's something
> different about you' comments. And later the 'Oh! You've grown / shaved your
> moustache!'

I have a colleague who does this. Pure attention-seeking. He gets pissed
off when I don't comment but I am not very observant about such things.
I am often unable to remember whether male acquaintances are bearded or
not and don't usually notice when husband, son or close friends with
beards etc make changes. I do know that my husband has a beard because
I've been urging him to remove it for a very long time, especially now
that he is a dead ringer for Harold Shipman.

>
> Not so long ago in a froup not so far away, one of the regulars tickled me
> by describing his party (literally) trick. Having been known to his circle
> of friends and acquaintances as a man with a full facial set, he goes to a
> party, taking with him a razor. After mingling and circulating for a couple
> of hours he slips into the bathroom and shaves his face nekkid. Then people
> have to guess a) who he is or b) what he's done. A few months later he does
> it all again.
>

Having seen the mess made by a man removing a full beard, I certainly
wouldn't want to be the hostess on such an occasion.

M. J. Powell

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 10:29:27 AM7/7/03
to
In message <bebpm7$udh$1...@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk>, John Dean
<john...@frag.lineone.net> writes
>M. J. Powell wrote:

Snip

>>>>>> You think so?? You astonish me. Especially given the fashion in
>>>>>> various twenty-something circles for shaved heads and/or no-1
>>>>>> haircuts. I've never seen a comb-over on anyone born after, oh,
>>>>>> 1950 or so.
>>
>> Why the fashion for slaphead haircuts these days? Why do some men want
>> to look like an unemployed paratrooper?
>>
>> Economy?
>
>Partly. There are few 'pudding basin' barbers around.

Speaking of 'pudding basin haircuts'. When I was a lad in s. Wales, that
haircut was a sign of poverty. It meant that the lad's mum didn't have
6d to send him to the barbers. Now it probably costs £5 a go.

>You have to go to a
>'hairdresser'. You are encouraged to read soft porn magazines while you are
>waiting. You are invited to discuss where you have been / are going for your
>holidays. You have to listen to popular music combos on the radio. You are
>then required to produce a large denomination note and a bit of silver or
>gold for the tip.
>I bought one of those hair / beard trimmers. My wife lawnmowers my hair
>every few weeks in the congenial atmosphere of our own home. We listen to
>music we like and we never talk about holidays. Though we could afford a
>classy one with all the money we have saved.

I go to a unisex one. I'm surrounded by ladies under hair dryer things.

Mike

Ps Warning noted. Substitute 'newly released convicts'?
--
M.J.Powell

Wood Avens

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 10:51:44 AM7/7/03
to
On 7 Jul 2003 10:22:02 GMT, ke...@cus.cam.ac.uk (K. Edgcombe) wrote:

>>Maria Conlon wrote:

>>> Do you have a Red Hat Club in England? I have a friend who is a member
>>> here, and I plan to join when I retire. (The meetings are usually during
>>> the day. The ladies wear red hats and, I think, purple clothes.)

>Laura, shall we start one? Then we get to say what they should do at the


>meetings (mind you, it would be part of the rules, that nobody should do what
>they are told, anyway).

So we (please may I join?) could insist that the bag-lady look was de
rigueur, and then people could disobey it?

I wonder if I have a red hat. Yes! I do have a rather battered and
faded red suede one, unless I've chucked it out. I did have a scarlet
sou'wester once, but I haven't seen it for years. Either of these
would strike the right sartorial note.

Philip Eden

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 11:02:33 AM7/7/03
to

"Laura F Spira" <la...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3F09837D...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk...

> John Dean wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > I worked with a guy who messed around with his facial hair every few
months.
> > Clean shaven to beard + moustache to moustache only to clean shaven,
back to
> > moustache only ....
> >
> > It usually took people a while (in some cases several days but usually a
few
> > hours) to twig what had happened. I think he enjoyed the 'There's
something
> > different about you' comments. And later the 'Oh! You've grown / shaved
your
> > moustache!'
>
> I have a colleague who does this. Pure attention-seeking.

I do this. I also have a number four crop when I go to the barber's. I did
once
get a number three, but I've never dared go shorter. The reason for both is
about as far away from attention seeking as you can get. It's sheer
laziness.
I hate shaving, I hate combing or brushing my hair, and I hate going to the
barber's. I also dislike beards and long hair. Shaving once a fortnight and
getting my hair cut twice a year provide a reasonable compromise.

Philip Eden


R H Draney

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 10:46:43 AM7/7/03
to
In article <3F0952FD...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk>, Laura says...

>
>Mike Oliver wrote:
>> Laura F Spira wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Yes! And I think we shall have to have a loose affiliation to the Axis
>>>of Misbehaviour.
>>
>>
>> Careful! you might be condemned to Heck, and have to
>> face the pitchspoon of Phil.
>
>I might be anxious if I had a clue what this is about...

I recognize it as a fairly obscure Dilbert reference....r

Laura F Spira

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 11:19:09 AM7/7/03
to
Wood Avens wrote:
> On 7 Jul 2003 10:22:02 GMT, ke...@cus.cam.ac.uk (K. Edgcombe) wrote:
>
>
>>>Maria Conlon wrote:
>>
>
>>>>Do you have a Red Hat Club in England? I have a friend who is a member
>>>>here, and I plan to join when I retire. (The meetings are usually during
>>>>the day. The ladies wear red hats and, I think, purple clothes.)
>>>
>
>>Laura, shall we start one? Then we get to say what they should do at the
>>meetings (mind you, it would be part of the rules, that nobody should do what
>>they are told, anyway).
>
>
> So we (please may I join?) could insist that the bag-lady look was de
> rigueur, and then people could disobey it?

I'm trying to work here but my mind keeps returning to the difficulty of
constructing a workable constitution under these circumstances...

>
> I wonder if I have a red hat. Yes! I do have a rather battered and
> faded red suede one, unless I've chucked it out. I did have a scarlet
> sou'wester once, but I haven't seen it for years. Either of these
> would strike the right sartorial note.

Excellent! The only red one I have is a far too tasteful maroon felt,
although I'm sure I once owned a scarlet straw. If necessary, I shall
commission a garish design from a friendly knitter.

Wood Avens

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 11:26:49 AM7/7/03
to
On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 16:19:09 +0100, Laura F Spira
<la...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote:

>The only red one I have is a far too tasteful maroon felt,
>although I'm sure I once owned a scarlet straw.

I predict considerable constitutional discussion on whether the
definition of "red" includes maroon.

> If necessary, I shall
>commission a garish design from a friendly knitter.

I don't suppose you have a rose-coloured tea-cosy (possibly crocheted)
... ?

John Dean

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Jul 7, 2003, 11:40:50 AM7/7/03
to

Many of those are ex-paratroopers and most are looking for work
--
John Dean
Oxford
De-frag to reply


John Dean

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 11:41:58 AM7/7/03
to

If I could believe that your gaze remained focussed on his bonce I would be
more convinced.

Matti Lamprhey

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 11:47:54 AM7/7/03
to
"Wood Avens" <woodav...@gmx.co.uk> wrote...

>
> I don't suppose you have a rose-coloured tea-cosy (possibly crocheted)

I've got one to match my rose-coloured settee; half as old as time.

Matti


K. Edgcombe

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Jul 7, 2003, 12:06:53 PM7/7/03
to
In article <6t1jgvot5elu3g9kp...@4ax.com>,
Wood Avens <woodav...@gmx.co.uk> wrote:

>
>I wonder if I have a red hat. Yes! I do have a rather battered and
>faded red suede one, unless I've chucked it out. I did have a scarlet
>sou'wester once, but I haven't seen it for years. Either of these
>would strike the right sartorial note.

I don't think I've got a red hat but I have got a purple jumpsuit, c.1980 at a
guess.

Katy

mickwick

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 12:04:24 PM7/7/03
to
In alt.usage.english, M. J. Powell wrote:

>Why the fashion for slaphead haircuts these days? Why do some men want
>to look like an unemployed paratrooper?
>
>Economy?

Bald is the new black.

--
Mickwick

K. Edgcombe

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Jul 7, 2003, 12:10:34 PM7/7/03
to
In article <3F09837D...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk>,

Laura F Spira <la...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote:

>beards etc make changes. I do know that my husband has a beard because
>I've been urging him to remove it for a very long time, especially now

I only consciously notice whether a man has a beard when I get close enough to
notice that it tickles. But I do get as far as "something's different about
you" when it changes...

Katy

Laura F Spira

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 12:10:48 PM7/7/03
to

We had lots of fun with that in January 2000. Brian Goggin's excellent
version "Picasso" can be found at http://tinyurl.com/g81n

Elsewhere is a longer thread, Gwen Lenker was especially inventive and I
was rather proud of my own contribution. Mike Page provided some
detailed criticism.

See http://tinyurl.com/g81c

sage

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 11:26:20 AM7/7/03
to

(Snip)

>
> "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
> With a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me...."
>
> --
> Laura

"With a red hat that doesn't go ..."

The usage "doesn't go" (as in doesn't match) is, to me, very British. Is it
so?

Cheers, Sage


sage

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Jul 7, 2003, 11:23:28 AM7/7/03
to

R H Draney <dado...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:bec14...@drn.newsguy.com...

Not that obscure. Heck etc. is running today, as we speak, now ....

Cheers, Sage
>


Laura F Spira

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Jul 7, 2003, 12:38:11 PM7/7/03
to

I gave up reading Dilbert when it got too close to my life for comfort.

R F

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Jul 7, 2003, 12:40:37 PM7/7/03
to

"Doesn't go" by itself doesn't sound familiar, but "doesn't go with"
(something else, such as another article of clothing, or a color) is
standard AmE.

M. J. Powell

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 2:44:03 PM7/7/03
to
In message <bec46s$f3n$1...@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk>, John Dean

I've run out of similes.

Mike
--
M.J.Powell

M. J. Powell

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 2:44:42 PM7/7/03
to
In message <Fn60ihBIoZC$Ew...@shropshire.plus.com>, mickwick
<mick...@use.reply.to> writes

Ingenious!

Mike
M.J.Powell

Laura F Spira

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 2:57:39 PM7/7/03
to

For one bizarre moment I thought this referred to the ladies...

R H Draney

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 2:58:18 PM7/7/03
to
In article <bec61q$nia$1...@pegasus.csx.cam.ac.uk>, ke...@cus.cam.ac.uk says...

>
>I only consciously notice whether a man has a beard when I get close enough to
>notice that it tickles. But I do get as far as "something's different about
>you" when it changes...

Now you have some idea why men never seem to notice shoes....r

Simon R. Hughes

unread,
Jul 7, 2003, 3:21:52 PM7/7/03
to
Thus spake M. J. Powell:
> In message <beacp5$h2p$1...@news6.svr.pol.co.uk>, John Dean
> <john...@frag.lineone.net> writes
> >Wood Avens wrote:
> >> On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 15:25:35 +0100, Mike Barnes
> >> <ReplyT...@senrab.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>> In alt.usage.english, Wood Avens wrote:
> >>>> On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 10:14:26 +0100, Mike Barnes
> >>>> <ReplyT...@senrab.com> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> People with comb-overs or obvious wigs often look ridiculous but
> >>>>> they
> >>>>> *do* look younger.

> >>>>
> >>>> You think so?? You astonish me. Especially given the fashion in
> >>>> various twenty-something circles for shaved heads and/or no-1
> >>>> haircuts. I've never seen a comb-over on anyone born after, oh,
> >>>> 1950 or so.
>
> Why the fashion for slaphead haircuts these days? Why do some men want
> to look like an unemployed paratrooper?
>
> Economy?

Time is money.

I have a sheep-shearer, which I run over my head when I shave (once
every 6 weeks, or so). I have not paid for a haircut for nearly
three years, not had to buy shampoo, and not had to take the time to
right a bad hair day.

Living now in Bodř, renowned for its head-wind, my very short hair
means I will never have to raise a hand to make sure my hair is in
place.
--
Simon R. Hughes <!-- Kill "Kenny" for email. -->
<!-- Moved -->

sage

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Jul 7, 2003, 4:14:00 PM7/7/03
to

R F <rf...@sparky.cs.nyu.edu> wrote in message
news:Pine.GSO.4.44.030707...@sparky.cs.nyu.edu...

That's really my point, I suppose. Seeing/hearing it with "with" is indeed
fairly familiar and to be expected but without "with" it seems to me to be a
regional British use, possibly north/Midlands?

Cheers, Sage


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