# Ask the guy who's got a lot of time on his hands and enjoys talking about himself **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 1, 2005, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702 "2005-02-01T01:21:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/81 "2005-02-04T04:39:12Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > I’ve never heard of Mimi Bobeck, so I’ll take the brunette goddess one. My brunette goddess is Angelina. Although the sum total of films I’ve seen with her in is half (_Tomb Raider_ on cable interrupted by dinner), I’m smitten. And then darn it all if she doesn’t go and say that what Sharon Stone did was stupid and that celebrities should find out about issues before opening their mouths. Beautiful _and_ intelligent. > > Did I say mouth? Time to lie down. That’s hot. Will you marry me? ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/82 "2005-02-04T04:54:44Z")
> [@ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](#): > > That’s hot. Will you marry me? I will. ---
**Author:** ![ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/83 "2005-02-04T04:57:32Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > I will. Hurrah! I will make a nice little wifey. I can knit and cook and sew and I earn a decent living. Can we have a little house with a white picket fence? How about a dog? Oh boy, I’m really excited. Plus, inebriated. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/84 "2005-02-04T05:17:09Z")
> [@ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](#): > > Plus, inebriated. I never would have guessed! ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/85 "2005-02-04T06:27:56Z")
Hey, **Rog**. Angelina isn’t really all that great. I mean, yeah, sure, she’s a great kisser and all, but there’s more to life than sex and she can be _so_ clingy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hemlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Hemlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hemlock)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/86 "2005-02-04T06:29:02Z")
I’m a fellow pseudonymous resident of this village, Hong Kong. What do you think are the chances that we know each other? (I hate cricket and all sport, if that helps.) ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/87 "2005-02-04T06:32:18Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Hey, **Rog**. Angelina isn’t really all that great. I mean, yeah, sure, she’s a great kisser and all, but there’s more to life than sex and she can be _so_ clingy. Nope, **Starvers** , can’t scare me like that. She’s gone on record as saying she likes English men (even married one - but that was when she was young and less mature), and she does a spanking good English accent. Did I say spanking? And did you say clingy? Oh my God, I’m going all weak. TIme for another lie down. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/88 "2005-02-04T06:38:52Z")
> [@Hemlock](#): > > I’m a fellow pseudonymous resident of this village, Hong Kong. What do you think are the chances that we know each other? Touché! I’m still as paranoid as ever. Hemmers keeps an excellent journal of life in Hong Kong, which combines uncannilly accurate satire (largely aimed at the Government and big business) with a cast of comic characters, such as a fallen Mormon and a buxom civil servant. Well worth [bookmarking](http://www.geocities.com/hkhemlock/). ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/89 "2005-02-04T06:41:10Z")
Henry David Thoreau was an American. His essay _Civil Disobedience_ influenced Gandhi and the non-violent civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s. But it was his book _Walden_ that is so peaceful and somehow made me think of you. I have absolutely no idea why. It was about his experiences living in the woods as simply as he could in the mid-19th Century. I’ve been to the place where he lived. It was like a pilgrimage for me. No, I’m not a psychologist, although I have enough hours in school I think to be “official.” Most of my insight comes from being old and in counselling for so many years and in living with intention. But your own insight and intelligence run circles around mine. If you’ve read what I’ve said elsewhere about depression, there is not much more that I can offer in that direction except _I know_ a little bit. You are a man that someone would want to build a novel around. I am not that person. I don’t want to mess with your mind even though I am a little intuitive. I am _very_ married and very far from Hong Kong, and nothing intrigues like a Hitchcock mystery. You are a mystery no matter how many layers you allow to be peeled away. Do you write? God, I hope so. Even if you don’t publish yet. If you do write, do you ever allow paintings to influence your style of writing? Consider Cezanne. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/90 "2005-02-04T06:50:52Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > But your own insight and intelligence run circles around mine. Dear, **Zoe** –please. You sell yourself short. I’ve been enjoying very much watching your two minds at play here. But trust me, as bright, educated, wordly (and, granted, mysterious) as the delightful Mr. Thornhill may be, you are no slouch yourself. And **Rog** , don’t you just love it when Angelina looks up at you with those huge, beautiful eyes, and with those wonderful moist lips parted just so, and sighs in sweet surrender? Mmmm…Angelina. (Better just stay down, buddy. I can keep this up all night.) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/91 "2005-02-04T07:05:07Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Henry David Thoreau was an American. His essay _Civil Disobedience_ influenced Gandhi and the non-violent civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s. But it was his book _Walden_ that is so peaceful and somehow made me think of you. I have absolutely no idea why. It was about his experiences living in the woods as simply as he could in the mid-19th Century. I’ve been to the place where he lived. It was like a pilgrimage for me. I haven’t read a book for rather long, and will start again with this one. > [@](#): > > If you’ve read what I’ve said elsewhere about depression, there is not much more that I can offer in that direction except _I know_ a little bit. I know you have had to cope with tragedy. I was shaken and moved. > [@](#): > > Do you write? God, I hope so. Even if you don’t publish yet. Thank you. I’ve dabbled with a couple of things, and had a few academic articles published. > [@](#): > > If you do write, do you ever allow paintings to influence your style of writing? Consider Cezanne. He was an impressionist, wasn’t he? I like Van Gogh’s work, though I’m virtually clueless about art. The greatest influences on me as a “writer” are C.S. Lewis, George Orwell and Clive James (the Australian critic and television personality). AS Lewis wrote, “Any fool can write learned language. The vernacular is the real test. If you can’t turn your faith into it, then either you don’t understand it or you don’t believe it.” ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/92 "2005-02-04T07:21:39Z")
But not to worry, **Roger**. I could go on all night, but I really wouldn’t. I will leave you now to your more substantive conversation with **Zoe** , a woman for whom I have great respect and affection. But it’s been fun hearing from you again. It’s been a while. :: **SA** raises a glass of his finest port :: Cheers, my friend. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/93 "2005-02-04T09:25:41Z")
North or South Island, Kowloon or the New Territories? Or Lantau, say it isn’t so. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/94 "2005-02-04T09:29:55Z")
> [@Sevastopol](#): > > North or South Island, Kowloon or the New Territories? > > Or Lantau, say it isn’t so. Used to be, back at the time of Tiananmen. Now it’s the New Territories, the “capital” of the NT, in fact. Office in Kowloon. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/95 "2005-02-04T09:41:24Z")
You’re a modern man then! SoHo is my connection. Congratulations on Clive James, I hadn’t imagined he’d be widely read. You know he has a HK connection. I shan’t spoil it. Try his _reliable essays_. What are your thoughts and experiences of his writing? ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/96 "2005-02-04T10:37:00Z")
> [@Sevastopol](#): > > You’re a modern man then! SoHo is my connection. > > Congratulations on Clive James, I hadn’t imagined he’d be widely read. You know he has a HK connection. I shan’t spoil it. Try his _reliable essays_. > > What are your thoughts and experiences of his writing? Are you in the restaurant business (aside to readers - SoHo is the nicest and hippest “western-style” restaurant area in HK)? The only HK connection I can think of for Clive James is his “one-man show”, which he brought out here about a year ago. Rather disappointing, actually, but one isn’t allowed to be good in every branch of the media! Thanks for the recommendation. I haven’t read it, but am a lover of essays, especially Orwell and CS Lewis. I read his _Unreliable Memoirs_ some years ago, and the bit about his granddad and his pipe had me guffawing. I never managed to finish one of his novels - forget which one - but have read and re-read his books of television criticism from the 70s and early 80s. At the time of publication, I didn’t read any of them, since I didn’t read \*The Observer \* in those days. Probably didn’t read much at all, actually. Whether I remember watching the programmes he “reviews” or not, he has the gift of bringing them alive and of combining wit and studied, articulate, reasoned, serious reflection. His implacable hostility to Nazism (e.g. Albert Speer) and all forms of evil is striking. Reflecting on Speer, he wrote the following: ‘Those of us who live by our brains should remember…that intellect confers no automatic moral superiority’. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/97 "2005-02-04T10:44:27Z")
If you wish to listen to a recording of Elgar’s _Dream of Gerontius_, I suggest the 1976(?) recording with Sir Adrian Boult. The tenor, who sings the lead role, is Nicolai Gedda, who is sublime and has a voice absolutely suited for the role. And never pre-judge a work of Elgar by listening to those wiseacres who say that all his music is “very English”. Lewis had a nice riposte for those who looked down their nose at Verdi, criticising him for “the cheapness of his thematic material”. “What they really mean is that he could write tunes and they couldn’t.” ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/98 "2005-02-04T17:54:10Z")
No restauranter. I’ve family there and plan to move permanently by year’s end. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/99 "2005-02-07T04:33:58Z")
roger, if you haven’t read a book in a long time, maybe _Walden_ is not the right one. I don’t know what made me think of it in connection with you. It isn’t deep, just quieting. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702/100 "2005-02-07T04:51:51Z")
Thanks, Zoe. I just checked it on the web and it seems it has a loose, and, to some people, baffling structure. But I actually enjoy books like this, for example, _Tristram Shandy_, and, so long as it’s not in the James Joyce class, I think I’ll give it a go. Also, Paul Johnson gives it a good rap in his history of America. (I knew I’d heard of it from somewhere.) Actually, off on holiday tomorrow, and it will make a nice change from Stephen King, Thomas Harris, John Grisham et al. If I can find anyone that stocks it! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-got-a-lot-of-time-on-his-hands-and-enjoys-talking-about-himself/287702.md?page=6)