June 30, 2003
BLOGFEST!
Hey, Sydney bloggers, blog readers, and cyber stalkers! This Friday is the Fourth of July, so head for the Nelson Hotel in Bondi Junction to:
a) celebrate the USA's history of excellence, or
b) condemn the Great Demonic Hegemon.
I’m not sure if I’ve got everybody’s politics correct there, or even if everybody linked is actually in Sydney. Who cares? Bring your bitter prejudices, personal issues, and credit problems to the back bar of the Nelson (232 Oxford St., Bondi Junction) and everything will be made better. Let’s start at ... oh, 8pm or so?
Posted by Tim Blair at June 30, 2003 03:50 PMone blogger will present with text book examples of both symptoms.
Posted by: Jack Strocchi at June 30, 2003 at 04:15 PMsad to say, I am as much a split personality as Strocchi on this issue
Posted by: Jason Soon at June 30, 2003 at 04:20 PMYeah!! Lets celebrate the decadence of western society by imbibing forbidden beverages and ogling at inappropriately attired women :)
Posted by: Rob at June 30, 2003 at 04:41 PMBugger.. will be out of town Fri night, freezing my butt off in the bush near Lithgow on a fire brigade exercise :(
Posted by: EvilDan at June 30, 2003 at 04:42 PMBugger.. will be out of town Fri night, freezing my butt off in the bush near Lithgow on a fire brigade exercise :(
Posted by: EvilDan at June 30, 2003 at 04:46 PMDown a couple of strong beverages for me since I gave up strong beverages years ago, and can't make the 8000 mile trek down there.
But I'll be there in spirit.
Posted by: wallace at June 30, 2003 at 04:56 PMGuess I'd better spray flame-retardant on my ears before I go to sleep tonight.
Posted by: Gummo Trotsky at June 30, 2003 at 05:06 PMI like that we're lefties because of me. It drives Sam nuts.
Posted by: Caz at June 30, 2003 at 06:58 PMFor some reason I feel as if I already have something booked for the night of the fourth, but I'm buggered if I know what. Since I am probably hallucinating this prior commitment, I'll most likely come to the Bondi gathering instead. (Incidentally, Tim, I don't suppose you could swap me and Caz about in those links, could you? I'm much more "demonic" than I am a "hegemon"...)
Posted by: James Russell at June 30, 2003 at 09:04 PMPiss off James. Blair rightly called ME demonic and that is how it should stay! ;)
Posted by: Caz at June 30, 2003 at 09:16 PMLuxury! All I got was a lousy definite article.
Posted by: Gummo Trotsky at June 30, 2003 at 09:51 PMWhy the fuck would a bunch of Aussies want to celebrate a foreign independence holiday? You southerns are so screwed.
Posted by: Niall at June 30, 2003 at 11:29 PMWell Niall you could celebrate our eventual destruction When The People™ Rise Up Against Our Fascist Rule. Or you could stay home and sulk; more beer for the rest of the guys then.
Posted by: Andrea Harris at June 30, 2003 at 11:47 PMNiall, as I understand it, it's not really about the US as it is about drinking. If there is a pool table at this place, it will likely also be about me getting thrashed at pool...
Posted by: James Russell at July 1, 2003 at 12:26 AMDAMMIT Blair, couldn't you have waited a few days? I might actually be in Sydney on the 5th or 6th. The fourth of July is a fine excuse for a celebration but my arrival in Australia would be an even grander reason. And a better party, have no doubt.
Posted by: Sasha Castel-Dodge at July 1, 2003 at 01:03 AMScrew the pool table James, what are you like at Pinball?
Posted by: Tex at July 1, 2003 at 01:08 AMBut Sasha, those are Saturday and Sunday! In Australia, we never ever drink on those days!
(Send me a note, Sasha: trblair@ozemail.com.au)
And Tex? I think they retired that machine after your last game. It just couldn't take any more abuse.
Posted by: tim at July 1, 2003 at 01:33 AMWhat's the phone number of this place? I'll give you all a ring at midnight, if any of you are sober enough to talk by then....
Posted by: Scott Wickstein at July 1, 2003 at 01:35 AMAt first, I was rather touched by the sentiment of foreigners having a night of drinking on the occasion of my countries independence.
But then the charm wore off and dread started to sink in. If Australians celebrate the Fourth of July, they are probably going to have a far better time than actual Americans. That doesn't strike me as fair. I'm going to have to insist upon some sort of byzantine drunken redistrubution scheme that would ensure nobody had much fun at all, but equal amounts thereof.
Posted by: Jonas at July 1, 2003 at 04:40 PMYo, Tim!
Saw your blog for the 1st time this morning - very provocative stuff. How would you like a gen-u-wine Yankee to join your little Independence Day party this 4th of July? This may spark a few fireworks, don't you think? BTW, are you some kind of rightwinger in disguise - what a refreshing change from the usual leftie rant that so dominates the world media. A little balance is appreciated...
Posted by: Karen at July 2, 2003 at 07:17 AMI think I drew the short straw on getting "Condemn". Especially given that in a past life I used to *work* for Uncle Sam. But it's better than getting an article like Gummo.
Posted by: matt at July 2, 2003 at 05:30 PMBTW, are you some kind of rightwinger in disguise
Actually Tim's secret shame is that he subscribes to Green Left Weekly and is a member of Friends of the ABC.
Posted by: James Russell at July 3, 2003 at 12:36 AMNo, Gianna, it's a pub. No lefties have anything to fear. Now please excuse me while I get all these punji spikes properly sharpened ...
Karen: please do show up! The more the merrier.
Posted by: tim at July 3, 2003 at 04:26 PMAh, the 4th of July! As a long-time ex-patriated Yank down here, I'm still laughing at someone here asking me one 4th years ago, "Isn't that when Americans sit around and eat turkey?!" Reckon they know yet?
Posted by: Carl at July 3, 2003 at 04:42 PMGeez Tim, give us more warning next time. Maybe some of us from outside Sydney can schedule a 'work trip' to coincide with your blog party.
Posted by: Alex Hidell at July 3, 2003 at 05:10 PMDearest James,
Yes, I do agree with you - Tim's association with such fuzzy utopians is pathetically shameful. Poor deluded lad, we must help set him straight, you and I.
James, I do believe you are a gentleman and a scholar. Together we shall save the dear boy!
Affectionately yours,
Karen