The delightful billytea in Delurking:

As a matter of interest, are there any Americans here opposed to the serial comma? I don't use it; it's simply not the standard in Australia. From my perspective it's just part of the list of American freakiness, like the attachment to Imperial measurements (despite the national mythology being tied up in an act of revolt against the British Empire), a random loss of vowels, a willingness to use peanut butter for anything short of a personal lubricant, an apparent loss of fine motor skills in your left hand whenever you pick up a fork, and the governership of Illinois. (As you will note, this list of American freakiness does indeed include the serial comma.)

Cashmere in Delurking:

I saw erika's dog violate a plush toy so I want extra credit for that.

billytea gives instructions as gamemaster in Gaming:

Ohh, Officer Agathon. I must ask you to report immediately to the Brig to discuss your taste in women, and possibly record a cover version of the Supremes' "Love Child".

In Bitches:

tommyrot:

Now I feel bad for my parents. They would never ask me if I was dating anybody, and I never told them I was, because I never was. So it turns out they were often assuming my female flatmates were my girlfriends. Then when my best friend died of AIDS, they assumed we must have been lovers so they started to worry I might have AIDS too.

Shir:

God, tommy.

Never bring up robotics, OK?

Steph's doctor is killer...

My doctor's observation on first peering in my ear: "There's a moderate level of nastiness in there."

Me: "Is that a medical term?"

Dr.: "Well, no. The term is 'ew, gross!', but I didn't want to confuse you with medical terminology."

****

I should probably confess that it was caused (or at least compounded) by Q-tip use, for which the doctor chastised me. Well, rolled his eyes.

Dr.: [looks in ear, moment of silence passes] "Do you use Q-tips?"

Me: "...no?"

Dr.: "Yeah, THAT was convincing."

Frankenbuddha: ...I've also had an ENT use a hook to get particularly stubborn wax out. Not as uncomfortable as the nosecam he also employed, but still not pleasent, and boy do you keep your head still when that's going on.

Polter-Cow: Earhooks.

Calli: Yep. You bait them with earworms.

smonster: To catch earfish?

(reminded of Babel Fish)

Made even funnier if you're the sort of nerd who would reflexibely picture a giant Tree Doctor weilding said earhook. And if HE can't help you you'll have to see the tree surgeon.

Made me giggle, in Bitches:

erika: Also "hey, girlfriend!" seems to have met the same fate as "posse"

Steph L: Passe?

smonster, in Bitches:

I may be an ecofreak, but don't get me started on freegans.

Ginger in Bitches:

I'm wondering whether there's anyone who has kept track of when the Christmas decorations have gone on sale each year. I think the first week in October is the earliest I've seen them. The stores are all Halloween decorations next to Christmas decorations, making me consider a Nightmare Before Christmas approach to outdoor decorating. I was rather taken with the animated lighted vulture at Michael's. I think arranging bits of one of the plastic human skeletons around it would be a nice touch. For Christmas, I could stick a Santa hat in its mouth.

Because I not only think the statement of intent is hilarious, but also I would love to see photos when it becomes reality.

In Natter.

PMM:

is there a single word for when something is right on that balance point between awesome and atrocious?

Steph L.:

SWINTON.