Please people. How about the engineer who wishes to socialize with his/her peers at NANOG but is perhaps a recovering alcoholic. Don't you suppose that perhaps the "Beer" part of the Beer and Gear might be offensive to him/her? How about those who just don't like the "taste" of beer? If you don't like the trinkets, don't take them. Do the rest of us a favor though and don't whine about it ON AND ON AND ON! You're entitled to your opinions and we (for now) respect those opinions. Continue to complain about something that is 100% "participation optional" and considered a benefit by some and you can replace the "for now" above with "used to". 'nuff said. --- John Fraizer EnterZone, Inc On Wed, 21 Feb 2001, Lucy E. Lynch wrote:
On Wed, 21 Feb 2001, Randy Bush wrote:
let them eat cake
the OED on matters of taste -
(the subject being boxer shorts and those damned "IP everywhere" t-shirts)
"taste, n.1 8. a. The sense of what is appropriate, harmonious, or beautiful; esp. discernment and appreciation of the beautiful in nature or art; spec. the faculty of perceiving and enjoying what is excellent in art, literature, and the like.
1694 CONGREVE Double Dealer I. ii, No, no, hang him, he has no Taste.
b. Style or manner exhibiting �sthetic discernment; good or bad �sthetic quality; the style or manner favoured in any age or country.
tasteless, a. 4. Devoid of good taste; of persons, lacking in discrimination, or in critical discernment and appreciation; of things, showing want of good taste.
1676 G. ETHEREGE Man of Mode III. ii, Nature..puts sophisticate dulness often on the tasteless multitude for true wit and good-humour.
tastelessness 3. Absence or want of �sthetic discernment.
1825 Blackw. Mag. XVIII. 240 Others assign it to the nonchalance and tastelessness of managers"
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Need I mention that I wear neither boxer shorts nor t-shirts and the number of tasteful give aways is always pretty small (although I have to say Aviva's Juniper shirt was nice).
Seems like the lure at beer & gear should be the chance to talk to an engineer instead of some marketing droid and I thought the beer was the bally -
Lucy E. Lynch Academic User Services Computing Center University of Oregon llynch@darkwing.uoregon.edu (541) 346-1774 Cell: (541) 912-7998 5419127998@mobile.att.net