Vonnites Of Von-Nation, Rejoice

by von (of course)

I WAS QUITE flattered to be asked to provide a profile for Norman Geras, who has profiled a good chunk of the blogosphere at Normblog.  Geras is one of the better bloggers around, and his site is well worth a visit.

In any event, the profile is here if you're interested. 

Comments

[Edward_]

delightful profile Von...but w/r/t "I am continually tempted to strangle folks who play Sudoku." is that because you can't win or because you find other people studiously minding their own business intolerable? ;-)(says the sometime* Sudoku addict [*I play in intense waves]).

[Eric Martin]

Von,

Youse a celebrity...

[hilzoy]

Von -- great answers. Except for the Sudoku part.

[Dantheman]

Mr. Underscore,

"[*I play in intense waves]"

Doesn't the paper get too wet to write on?

[von]

delightful profile Von...but w/r/t "I am continually tempted to strangle folks who play Sudoku." is that because you can't win or because you find other people studiously minding their own business intolerable?

I just don't get it, Ed. It's like an enigma wrapped in a conundrum wrapped in a mystery and then deep-fried in trans-fats. I don't understand the rules, don't understand the goals, and don't understand why people spend time trying to figure out either the rules or goals. And, unlike real hobbies -- e.g., eating, barhopping, smoking, and darts -- it doesn't seem to improve with alcohol.

Life's too short.

[Edward_]

Doesn't the paper get too wet to write on?

Dantheman, I'm so lamely addicted, my ever-suffering finance gave me a computerized waterproof version for Christmas.

Just kidding about the waterproof part.

[novakant]

don't think I'd agree with von on much of anything, but I wholeheartedly endorse his reaction to sudoku and would like to add Ipods to the list - can't people just read the paper, or a book or stare into the distance?

[Dantheman]

von,

Do you have the same reaction to people who do crossword puzzles? Cryptograms?

[Edward_]

it doesn't seem to improve with alcohol.

That's for sure...I've tried...booze is not at all conducive to winning. But like most things one does while drinking, it's still fun.

Oddly enough though, when I'm really frustrated or under stress, it does the trick (I can usually solve one per train commute). It helps me think more clearly, somehow. Having said that, when I'm not in the mood to play, I do find myself thinking "How geeky" when I see other people playing it. I'm kinda unaware like that.

But back to your interview:

'You always become what you hate.'

I've come to see as true a variation of that notion: "You always hate most [in others] what you fear deep down you are yourself."

[von]

Do you have the same reaction to people who do crossword puzzles? Cryptograms?

Right now, the urge to strangle is confined to Sudoku. Crossword puzzles make sense, and therefore are perfectly kosher. Occasionally, I have a passing urge to strange folks who enjoy cryptograms too much, but it hasn't been much of a problem since no one I know actually does cryptograms.

[Dantheman]

"since no one I know actually does cryptograms"

I'd bettter not introduce you to my wife, then...

[cleek]

unlike real hobbies -- e.g., eating, barhopping, smoking, and darts -- it doesn't seem to improve with alcohol.

tres awsum

[Josh]

can't people just read the paper, or a book or stare into the distance?

I listen to my iPod *while* I read a book. Plus, transit is noisy; if I'm going to be listening to something, I'd rather it be music than the screeching of wheels on track.

[Eric Martin]

And, unlike real hobbies -- e.g., eating, barhopping, smoking, and darts....

word.

[Dantheman]

Off topic, but can a get a consensus on whether starting an e-mail to opposing counsel in negotiating a contract with:

"You found me out -- I didn't read your language, I just randomly added
words and hoped they were acceptable concepts."

is asking for trouble?

[Dantheman]

Eep.

I meant "Can I get a consensus"

[von]

Yeah, it's asking for trouble.

[Dantheman]

von,

Is it excused when it is in response to:

"Did you even read our proposed language, or did you just have an allergic reaction because I said it was from [a competitor], so you stopped there?!?"

(yes, we had quite a pissing contest by e-mail)

[dutchmarbel]

I listen to my iPod *while* I read a book.

Number of people I know really like to *listen* to writers reading their own book.

[LizardBreath]

Dantheman: You really can't do better for yourself in a response to a comment like that than politely stupid -- answer it as if it were a question rather than rhetoric. "Yes, I read the language, and made the changes I did for [whatever general reason]. Are they acceptable?"

It's not that it's not excusable to meet rudeness with rudeness, but it generally doesn't get you anywhere -- a couple of rounds of "I am simply too thickskulled to register your attempts to antagonize me" usually gets the conversation back to where you can make progress, or the other party stalks off in an unjustified huff, which gives you some leverage later.

[Dantheman]

Liz,

I followed my crack with "More seriously," and set forth my reasoning (again). Since I had already explained my reasoning several times in our discussion, I had hoped he would take away that I really meant that even though he got this language from someone else, we could not give it. It didn't work, and he did walk away in a huff.

[hilzoy]

Dantheman: nope. Besides, it's a lot of fun drafting versions of the gracious response that have humorous undertones.

[von]

Is there a Court involved, DtM? If yes, don't do it not matter how tempting. Those things never work out. If no, I suppose there's less risk in firing away.

[hilzoy]

OT: Pam at Atlas Shrugs reveals herself to be the Party Guest From Hell, as she shoots a video log in the bathroom, with the line outside growing longer and longer.

Plus, apparently when she's talking about "this and that", she suddenly says: "But what about the global jihad?", which must be a real conversational winner.

Double plus: Apparently, Democrats can make Republicans perjure themselves under oath.

1m 1n ur wordz, makin them lies!

[liberal japonicus]

This just in

Judge rules against Vonage on patents

someonez in yr screename, makin u luze

[bernard Yomtov]

the other party stalks off in an unjustified huff,

They left in a huff? But what if they can't get a huff?

[von]

OT: Pam at Atlas Shrugs reveals herself to be the Party Guest From Hell, as she shoots a video log in the bathroom, with the line outside growing longer and longer.

I didn't watch much of it: My standards may be low, but I draw the line at listening to half-drunken musing from a toilet when I'm stone sober. (Maybe after a couple of beers.) But it's a little tacky to insult your host's shower curtains while assuming that a tired joke about Tar-jay will cruise over the heads of flyover country folks.

If her goal was to perpetuate the stereotype of the clueless-and-insensitive tristater, she succeeded. Thirty seconds in, and I'm trying to figure out if she's auditioning for the Fran Dresher role in The Nanny or a part in My Cousin Vinny.

[Dantheman]

von,

"Is there a Court involved, DtM?"

Not in this matter (and hopefully none others in my professional future).

Bernard,

"They left in a huff? But what if they can't get a huff?"

Then they'll leave in an hour and a huff (h/t Groucho).