Ass-Jittering Cattle Redux

posted December 27, 2011 9:46 AM | |

Mon February 6 at 7:00 PM, The Hat and Tun

I could make it if it were 6 February; I'll still be in the US for the earlier ones.
posted by Gordafarin at 12:21 PM on December 27, 2011

Sounds good! 30 Jan or 6th Feb would be better for me, 23rd Jan is a bit iffy.

Wonder if it's worth inviting the B3tans along, they have a pretty active London community, might be interesting to make it a three-way battle (plus locals).
posted by TheophileEscargot at 1:14 PM on December 27, 2011

Oh, it's on! (Again).

Any of those days should work for me. 6th Feb is New Zealand's national day, so I have an excuse for heavy drinking and celebration :)
posted by Infinite Jest at 2:24 PM on December 27, 2011

Good luck, guys! Punch 'em in the dicks!
posted by phunniemee at 2:39 PM on December 27, 2011

Great idea! The 30th would be best for me, although I might also be able to do the 23rd or the 6th.
posted by sueinnyc at 6:08 PM on December 27, 2011

Brilliant! Looks as though we're skewing towards 6 February (try and make it, sueinnyc!), but I'll leave it a few more days before confirming.

And thanks for the rousing support, phunniemee – we'll miss you :'-(
posted by HandfulOfDust at 4:10 AM on December 28, 2011

I should be able to make it. I doubt I'll be good at the quiz, but I'm good at cider.
posted by ersatz at 10:58 AM on December 29, 2011

I could probably come on down from York for this, if I could crash with one of you fine MeFites after we win the pub quiz. Any of those dates are good for me.
posted by iamkimiam at 11:35 AM on December 29, 2011

Ooh I would love another crack at this. All these dates are fine for me at the moment.
posted by PercussivePaul at 9:06 AM on December 30, 2011

I'm somewhat intimidated by our previous performance but am game nonetheless. Kim: I've got a spare bedroom here in Hackney if need be.
posted by freya_lamb at 11:48 AM on December 30, 2011

Marking it down on my calendar. 6th Feb is fine, but other dates should work too as long as there's enough lead time to arrange my schedule.
posted by ursus_comiter at 6:35 AM on January 1

OK! – let's go for Monday 6 February, then.

I'll call the pub tomorrow and book three tables, which'll give us three teams of up to six people. Slightly optimistic, perhaps, but I travel in hope.

I'll make sure that we can actually get three tables on the 6th before I move this into 'confirmed' meetups, though.
posted by HandfulOfDust at 1:32 PM on January 2

Super cheap train tickets booked (eastcoast train sale, huzzah) and so I'll be there! :D

freya_lamb, thanks for the kind offer! I'll send you a MeMail soon...I'd love to stay in your guest room if you think it could work out and it isn't too much of an inconvenience (because I'm teaching the next afternoon, so I'll have to boogie out of London early in the morning for the 10:30 train).
posted by iamkimiam at 10:25 AM on January 5

Hooray! I was gutted to miss the last one, but 6th February works well for me. Count me in!
posted by hot soup girl at 8:36 PM on January 5 [1 favorite]

Count me in.
posted by fight or flight at 2:09 PM on January 6

New Years resolution is to go to a meetup, count me in!
posted by ellieBOA at 12:12 AM on January 9

THE STREETS WILL RUN RED WITH THE BLOOD OF THE UNBELIEVERS

I'm in.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:31 PM on January 9

I'm in and Lewis (Espanolbot) will be attending as well.
posted by Gordafarin at 6:12 PM on January 9

Yeah, I'll be there too.
posted by permafrost at 2:36 AM on January 10

With or without the craven Redditors, this is not something one can afford to miss. See y'all on the 6th for some red hot trivia action!
posted by Chichibio at 9:04 AM on January 12

I'll be in London for work, and if I can break away, I'll try to be there! I'll bring useless biomedical knowledge with me.
posted by scblackman at 6:56 PM on January 15

Didn't notice this until now, but man, this is so tantalising! I'll be leaving London two days before after stayed here for three months now, ironically it appears, the time between the two trivia face-off's. Oh well, some other time.

_{On the other hand, if this place is so good for trivia, might visit it next Monday...}
posted by the cydonian at 8:54 AM on January 25

What a shame, Cydonian! I’m sure you’d have been a star player. I’m sorry to twist the knife just that little bit more, but we do have opponents – the Reddit lot are marshalling their troops as we speak – so gird your loins, people. Gird your loins.
posted by HandfulOfDust at 6:04 AM on January 26

Make us proud, Londoners!
posted by Phire at 6:10 AM on January 26

but we do have opponents – the Reddit lot are marshalling their troops as we speak

They appear to be a lot more prepared than we are. ('sfunny, I would have thought we'd be the serious ones....)
posted by Infinite Jest at 6:29 AM on January 26

Hmmm. I think ‘preparedness’ is over-rated. Let’s stick to ‘shambolic and slightly insouciant’ – it worked for us last time.
posted by HandfulOfDust at 6:43 AM on January 26 [2 favorites]

Ye gods, they're doing research? Maybe we should brush up on our skylines-of-European-capitals...
Damn Reykjavik!
posted by Gordafarin at 10:54 AM on January 26

Jeebus those categories are daunting! I'm English and don't follow sports so there goes three of them!
posted by ellieBOA at 12:25 PM on January 26

Ooh. Yes, I think I can make this one too... First meetup. Eep.
posted by Skaramoosh at 4:14 PM on January 26

The last trivia night was my first meetup, Skaramoosh, and I can say with confidence that you have nothing to eep about! Everyone is crazy friendly and only the Redditors seem overly excited about winning (I cannot believe they are actually swotting up for this).

See you there!
posted by Chichibio at 2:17 AM on January 27

At just to further highlight how inoppurtune my return trip is, and at the risk of sounding immodest, I'm bloddy good at four-and-a-quarter of the categories there, capitals, both literature topics, US presidents and cricket (which is the quarter topic :|) Ahhh well.

Might be back in London in summer, so perhaps then?

(Seriously though, as an, ahem, professional quizzer, preparation is overrated. Although, it does help to recce in advance and see what kind of questions they ask at a venue. Usually, it all boils down to the quizmaster's personal interests, which she would find it hard to disguise. Also, watch a lot of Eggheads, not to 'learn' trivia, but to see how they guess when they don't know the answer.

And yeah, drink your ovaltine.)
posted by the cydonian at 5:53 AM on January 30

Oh! I think I'm in London that day... hmm. Will check. Does 6 tables mean we have a limit of 18 people?
posted by running order squabble fest at 10:43 AM on January 30

Does 6 tables mean we have a limit of 18 people?
posted by running order squabble fest at 6:43 PM on January 30 [+] [!]

... well, I'm afraid it sort of does. I was just coming back in to let you all know that I've tried to reserve another table, but the pub's fully booked (damn those Redditors monopolizing the place), so we are now technically full. We could always field two teams of six and another team of however many, but you lose a point for every extra person on the team....

How does everyone else want to play it? I'm thinking of doing what the Redditors are doing, which is saying that anyone who's confirmed as of NOW – that is, me, TheophileEscargot (+1), Infinite Jest, permafrost, freya_lamb, iamkimiam, fight or flight, hot soup girl. ellieBOA, Mr. Bad Example (+1), Gordafarin (+1), PercussivePaul, Chichibio, ersatz and ursus_comiter – is guaranteed a place on a team; anyone who's a 'maybe' or who subsequently confirms is welcome to come along as a reserve and take the place of the inevitable no-shows, or of course just pitch up and cheer us along. The quiz takes about an hour and a quarter, so there's plenty of time for post-quiz revelry (or garment-rending, depending on how things go).

I'm sorry I didn't book four tables! Wish I had now. For what it's worth, there's talk about making this a regular 'thing', so there'll be a chance to take part in subsequent matches (listen up, Cydonian!).

What do you all think?
posted by HandfulOfDust at 11:35 AM on January 30 [1 favorite]

cortex throws down the gauntlet.
posted by fight or flight at 3:36 AM on February 1 [2 favorites]

HandfulOfDust, I reckon that's the fairest way to play it, but I'd hate to think that people will be left out. Should we perhaps designate one team be the "Fun Team", and they accept any extra players (along with the points handicap) that show up? Then when they win it'll be a story for the ages, a triumph against all odds, a wonderful, heartwarming television movie moment.

Anyway, we'll see how things lie on Monday. Go us!
posted by Chichibio at 4:25 AM on February 2

If it's an hour or so, and I am around, I'm happy to just turn up and hand out, or join a fun team, or whatever, really. It's a work-heavy week, so I may not make it, so don't want to affect the plans at all. Maybe there'll enough extra people for an extra, ad hoc table?

Maybe a Reddit/MeFi hybrid table!
posted by running order squabble fest at 4:55 AM on February 2

Maybe a Reddit/MeFi hybrid table!

BLASPHEMER!
posted by Chichibio at 6:05 AM on February 2

I think the FUN team should have as many players as the total possible points minus one. And their goal is to score a point.
posted by iamkimiam at 6:05 AM on February 2 [5 favorites]

I should have confirmed this sooner. qefoijwfo2343iwjefoiwjfeio3

Should we show up anyway? We should show up anyway, right? We had so much fun last time.
posted by timshel at 2:07 PM on February 2

Oh yes DEFINITELY show up anyway. DEFINITELY. You can't not come. Everyone who feels like rocking up should rock up – we'll work it all out somehow. Come one, come all!

I think having a couple of balls-out-let's-go-for-the-WIN teams and one raucous FUN team is the way to go, and much more in the spirit of things than making people sit glumly on the sidelines. Let's do that. I'll update the blurb at the top.
posted by HandfulOfDust at 2:56 PM on February 2

I have to take the train back in the early morning to teach afternoon seminars and that's going to suck so hard.

(But I will be singing the victory song the whole way through, so it will be ok.)
posted by iamkimiam at 3:41 PM on February 2

qefoijwfo2343iwjefoiwjfeio3

Dude, please confirm that you smashed that out in actual rage, rage that you didn't confirm your trivia night attendance sooner.

Please, yes, come! I failed to confirm her earlier but my +1 will be there and she wants to see y'all again, plus I do believe I owe you one peaty glass of whisky.
posted by Chichibio at 3:44 PM on February 2

please confirm

Confirmed. And Monday's confirmed, too. See everyone soon.
posted by timshel at 5:25 AM on February 3

Well my +1 has bailed, but I'll still be coming.
posted by Gordafarin at 9:21 AM on February 4

Still coming and terribly excited!
posted by PercussivePaul at 9:35 AM on February 4

Snow better not foil my plans!

wtf snow? I thought we were done with winter!
posted by iamkimiam at 2:41 PM on February 4 [2 favorites]

Oh no! Were the trains running today? It hasn't snowed down here today but is still on the ground from yesterday.
posted by ellieBOA at 12:54 PM on February 5

*Eyes sky balefully*

This bleedin' weather is just fate, isn't it? I hope it doesn't put the kibosh on those of you coming from outside London! I gather the trains were running today (they were from Waterloo to the south, anyway), and the tubes and buses were surprisingly fine in London. We're supposed to be bracing ourselves for ice and fog now – gah gah gah – which might bugger up the trains, but we can only wait and see. I think the main peril lies in the icy pavements, myself.

Abrupt change of subject: has anyone had any bright ideas for team names? I think 'Beat Me Hardly' would be a good one for the FUN team.
posted by HandfulOfDust at 3:12 PM on February 5

Gah! I really, really loathe to say this, but i fear I must cancel for tonight. It's getting colder/foggier/darker here and I'm a bit worried about making it home in time to teach my classes tomorrow.

CRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

FUCK.
posted by iamkimiam at 1:47 AM on February 6

Fun team name ideas:
FUN [+1]
(or [+23] or however many teammates there are)
Shambolic and Slightly Insouciant
Ass-Jittering Cattle Call

That's all I can come up with through my tears and misery.
posted by iamkimiam at 1:52 AM on February 6

I'm polishing my snow shoes: bring it on!

Sorry you can't make it Kim. Next time!
posted by freya_lamb at 2:15 AM on February 6

Although I've not mentioned it before, I was hoping to come along, but I fear my foot will keep me from attending. Anyone who thinks I might be giving too much decision-making power to my extremities is entitled to a fuller description, but I suspect you don't want to know. I certainly don't.

Go for it, Ass-Jittering Cattle, though.

(Can you have [+] as a team name? Pronounced "favourite", of course.)
posted by Grangousier at 2:21 AM on February 6

Sadly I've come back to work after a week off to a horrifying amount to do and won't finish in Reading till about 7, combine this with delayed trains and I'm gonna totally miss the quiz :( kick some reddit ass mefites, see you all at the next one.
posted by ellieBOA at 4:28 AM on February 6

Have to drop out also, unfortunately - a combination of too much work and not really being in the mood for debut MetaFilter funtimes. Hopefully travel plans will coincide next time.
posted by running order squabble fest at 5:52 AM on February 6

Well my +1 has bailed, but I'll still be coming.

So has mine. But my sword arm is still ready to SMITE THE UNBELIEVERS!

"Let blood, blood blood be your motto!"

(Also, apologies in advance to anyone I've met before and fail to recognise. I am terrible with the whole 'facial-recognition-of-other-humans,-even-including-those-I-know-very-well' thing).
posted by Infinite Jest at 7:00 AM on February 6

Does everyone still have their badges?
posted by Grangousier at 7:50 AM on February 6

I will be with you all in spirit.
posted by rtha at 9:00 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Really sorry to miss those of you banjaxed by weather, work or ailments – a pox on snow, poorly feet and wishy-washy plus ones! – but I’m sure we’ll be doing this again. Maybe in the spring? 

Hey Infinite Jest, we should kick off proceedings with a Waitangi Day-honouring Haka – that’d put the fear of god into the Redditors. It's over thirty years since I've done one, but I think I can still remember the moves.
posted by HandfulOfDust at 9:03 AM on February 6

Does everyone still have their badges?

We don't need no stinking badges!

(I think mine is in a drawer somewhere).

It's over thirty years since I've done one, but I think I can still remember the moves.

I know most of the moves, but to be honest I'm not sure I'd be that scary.....
posted by Infinite Jest at 9:05 AM on February 6

I'm going to have to throw my hat in with the banjaxed, unfotunately. A Work Crisis is rapidly becoming a Work Crisis With Knobs On, so I won't be able to make it to the quiz. :c I'll be cheering you all on in spirit. Kick their butts, comrades!
posted by fight or flight at 9:13 AM on February 6

Grangousier: "Does everyone still have their badges?"

Mine's... somewhere. I tried to find it but I'm living out of boxes at the moment so it's lost in the shuffle. I'll be keeping an eye out for others' badges though, because I'm not so good with the facial recognition thing either.
posted by Gordafarin at 9:17 AM on February 6

My beautiful badge is in my very special box of important things, which is in my cupboard, at home. Damn! How could I have forgotten it.

I'll be there at about 6.30, by the way – I'm going to grab something to eat at the pub. (IJ, Gordafarin, just to remind you: I'm the short, curvy young blonde with a penchant for colourful outfits.)
posted by HandfulOfDust at 9:31 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Just packing up at work and should arrive shortly before 7.

I kept finding my [+] badge in weird places around my apartment over the last few months, but now that I need it, gone. Oh well. I'm sure I'll spot folk. If you can, sit in the same general area as before (toward the right near the front as you walk in).
posted by PercussivePaul at 10:05 AM on February 6

A few here so far, sitting at tables near the door.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 10:45 AM on February 6

We got trampolining. The journey continues. Coverage here.
posted by parmanparman at 12:33 PM on February 6

Count me out on any future haka. I did one this autumn and missed 10 days of work with a sprained back.
posted by ursus_comiter at 3:52 PM on February 6

Good luck, we're counting on you.
posted by arcticseal at 7:02 PM on February 6

MeTa
posted by ersatz at 4:42 AM on February 7

I carry mine in my wallet at all times. I'm just waiting for the day when I'm at the store and I flip it open to get out my cash or cc or something and an overlooker's eyes get all big and they say, "A card carrying member of the Internet!"
posted by iamkimiam at 5:07 AM on February 7