What do you assign to Mordor?

[Inziladun]

I will assign a very much uninvited guest I am presently hosting: influenza.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I will assign a very much uninvited guest I am presently hosting: influenza.

Hmph. Same here. I'd not be surprised if someone had painted a red cross on our front door, not that I've been out of it since Friday night...

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

I'd assign having to come home from vacation. Even with a sprained foot. (And boy, am I grateful I didn't react to the flu shot I had three days before we left. )

On a corollary, I would also assign having to go in for a cholesterol blood draw three days after said vacation. The draw itself is bad enough (one of those things they always want to do at the crack of dawn), but with it coming three days after a lot of meals that were not the usual diet, I just know things will be out of whack.

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

What about Africa? Or Asia? Or Oceania? Or Antarctica with the penguins?

*cough*or Australia*cough*

...And I will second Ibrin in assigning blood tests to Mordor. My arm's still bruised....

[Morthoron]

I assign the 'Guitar Hero' X-Box game. I was over a friends house and watched his teenage son play the game for a few hours. As a lifelong guitarist, what got me is that, rather than wasting time on the game, Junior could have spent the time actually learning to play a real guitar, and perhaps...oh, I don't know...get a girlfriend?

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

*cough*or Australia*cough*

I doubt this will make it any better for you, but I count Australia as a part of Oceania...

I assign wet socks. It's ridiculous how uncomfortable such a little thing is.

[Gwathagor]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

I assign the 'Guitar Hero' X-Box game. I was over a friends house and watched his teenage son play the game for a few hours. As a lifelong guitarist, what got me is that, rather than wasting time on the game, Junior could have spent the time actually learning to play a real guitar, and perhaps...oh, I don't know...get a girlfriend?

Some of play Guitar Hero AND have girlfriends.

[Lindale]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I will assign a very much uninvited guest I am presently hosting: influenza.

Same here. And on the first day of second semester, I had to come to class with a very red nose and a bag of tissue.

Originally Posted by Morthoron

I assign the 'Guitar Hero' X-Box game. I was over a friends house and watched his teenage son play the game for a few hours. As a lifelong guitarist, what got me is that, rather than wasting time on the game, Junior could have spent the time actually learning to play a real guitar, and perhaps...oh, I don't know...get a girlfriend?

Now that reminds me of a line from Love Actually, even ugly musicians manage to find girlfriends. But seriously, I don't think thinking too much about that game and its likes is a pleasant one... personally, it makes me kinda depressed, seeing kids playing quasi-drums and guitars and their ears and fingers don't get to appreciate making their own music.

[Kath]

I assign the 'Guitar Hero' X-Box game. I was over a friends house and watched his teenage son play the game for a few hours. As a lifelong guitarist, what got me is that, rather than wasting time on the game, Junior could have spent the time actually learning to play a real guitar, and perhaps...oh, I don't know...get a girlfriend?

Pfft - real guitar hurts! My brother is learning to play it and I had a go and my fingers went numb! I'd choose Guitar Hero any day.

I assign regrets, nasty things they are, creeping up on you when you don't expect it!

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Kath

Pfft - real guitar hurts!

Ah, but there is a an unforseen benefit to playing guitar (other than as a magnet for the opposite sex): you get calluses on your fingertips, which is really important for the macho putting-out-lit-candles-with-your-fingers ploy. I have never been hurt once.

[Gwathagor]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Ah, but there is a an unforseen benefit to playing guitar (other than as a magnet for the opposite sex): you get calluses on your fingertips, which is really important for the macho putting-out-lit-candles-with-your-fingers ploy. I have never been hurt once.

I have to agree, that sounds incredibly manly. Maybe I'll take up the guitar after all.

[Mithalwen]

but that isn't actually impressive.

Even my superfine, celtic, non callused bare fingertips can put out a candle without pain (you just have to lick them first). Though it is very much in the category of things that I can do but don't since you can either blow them out or use the snuffer.

And personally the guitar is a huge turn off*.... main problem is that just about every man thinks he can play it and very few of them can... the piano now

*I am prepared to make an exception for Alex Kapranos

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

And personally the guitar is a huge turn off*

Ditto. I still have tragic memories of a guy trying to seduce me with promises to play me Red Hot Chile Peppers songs with an acoustic.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

And personally the guitar is a huge turn off*.... main problem is that just about every man thinks he can play it and very few of them can...

That may be so, but from personal experience I have yet to meet a member of a band who did not have a date after the show.

Crass and boorish, I know, but when one is not blessed with James Bondish savoir-faire and good looks, one exploits one's abilities as best they can.

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Guitars are just the modern day equivalent of wielding a ruddy big sword.

Touche. And I am just as fascinated by a well-crafted sword as I am a beautifully-wrought guitar; in fact, I begin to drool when seeing a patinaed Martin acoustic or a well-worn Fender Telecaster (my weapons of choice). Maybe I just drool because I am a brutish man. Ugggh.

[Lindale]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Ah, but there is a an unforseen benefit to playing guitar (other than as a magnet for the opposite sex): you get calluses on your fingertips, which is really important for the macho putting-out-lit-candles-with-your-fingers ploy. I have never been hurt once.

Well if you play stringed instruments you are bound to get those... but all my years of playing my violin, I've never calloused any of my fingers. Nor have my mom, who taught me the violin basics, nor any other violinist I know.

Oh and that candlething ploy, even if your hand is nice and soft and aristocratic, if you do it really fast, it won't hurt.