Ted Max

And that's all she wrote folks, all wrapped up in time for tea. What can we thrash out tomorrow? I say either an equitable restructuring of the world's financial system, or else something about why people put sugar on popcorn.

Everyone loves The Duke, you're spot on. But with the myriad name changes and confusing public image, The Duke struggles to gain much of a place in East Dulwich's affections.

Down in the old El Paso, they celebrated his crude likeness in all its rugged certainty, with an affecting faux-naif mural. But no more. Suggesting that even there, The Duke has lost a certain amount of credibility.

I mean, he wasn't a bad actor. But the obsession with the macho self-image, and the pro-McCarthy stuff, leads me to think The Duke would be massively unpopular in East Dulwich.

Gather ye wry asides while ye may, courtesy of AFN:

I find it amazing* that DanMaitland has not been back to comment since he applied the jump leads to this thread yesterday. * Not really

Do you mean Kipling, or Baden-Powell?

I found the remains of a rabbit in my back garden last week. That is all.

We definitely want Brooklyn to be Christened, we just don't know into what religion yet.

How's the international finance arse looking?

I know one person who works for the FSA. He is a total fud. Whether he is a lazy fud, I don't know, but I do know he is a childish, selfish, preening, obnoxious, bigoted, prep-school-hero-kind of a fud. So I don't think merely lazy cuts it at the FSA. Sorry to disappoint you, Brendan.

> Yesterday, summer gave us a revelatory farewell, an unexpected parting gift from a previously taciturn and gruff relative. I was in Peckham Rye Park, but I imagine the harmonious and grateful mood there was replicated across London, wherever people turned to the sun and uncoiled in its gentle warmth. I will remember it.

Am I going mad, or did the route used to have no actual bus stops, you just hailed it from random points, and rang the bell likewise when you wanted to get off?

What I internally label Threads of doom, where all therein seem destined to repeat themselves to an uncomprehending world until the power runs out. There's a particularly apposite example rumbling on at the moment.

DPF: Nobody was suggesting that the fetish clad, attention-seeking minority at Pride were typical James: Again, we get the "You people" treatment Are you deliberately misunderstanding?

I think those announcements are only there to remind the driver to crash the brakes on in 50 yards' time.

Being handed my change on a small silver tray (complete with receipt) in a bar or pub in this country. Causes a cultural disconnect as I think, "Now, should I leave the 25p lying there as a tip, or is 25p so insulting as a tip I'd be better off taking it. Perhaps I can leave a proper tip the next time I buy a round. Hang on, this is the UK and we've never tipped bar staff in that manner. Perhaps she doesn't even expect me to tip her. But why not tip her, she's probably earning buttons and here I am quaffing away twice her salary every hour as she looks on?...I can't even offer her 'one for yourself' because 'yourself' is a 19 year old Estonian who will think I am trying to chat her up and not understand the offer is only our traditional British method of pretending what is taking place is not merely a monetary transaction but has some deeper social value." Result... me sheepishly pocketing the money whilst trying to adopt the air of a man who really needs the 20p to make a phone call later. 19 year old Estonian wondering who the mean bastard is who won't even spare 25p for her add to the tips jar.

It's just a bar.

Yes, I was implying he was a bit, as you say, tapped. But I don't know, I think I'd plump for Hughes' mighty femurs over Hackman's busted schnozzle any day. And, of course, he's got this fellow Portuguese speaker to look forward to playing with next year.

Probably not, then.

Is Robinho, and I shall attempt to put this delicately, thought to be a bit of a flake?

I think a visit to the EDF drinks is in order. Ask the organisers for two name badges: "Maryana" and "Maryana's ex". Keep a print out of this thread handy if you think further explanation might be required.

You knew Mike too? He was incorrigible, wasn't he?

Darling, amongst my set (many alas prematurely departed) I was quite the pioneer in moving to South London. A shortage of voice-over work in the petfood market meant I was forced to over-winter in Peckham in 1996, and I have not yet been able to work my passage northwards. But I'm sure there are others with cause to be grateful for your largesse vis a vis the historical context.

What are you on about, you dear old thing?