You find the pub ...

[Robert]

It's late in the evening and you are walking aimlessly as you ponder the meaning of life and what role you play. Suddenly, you snap back to awareness when you hear some music. You peer through the mist up ahead and you're able to make out a Pub on the corner that you had never seen before. You must have been walking a little bit farther than you realized. It looks friendly enough so you approach the pub looking for a good beer and maybe some friendly conversation.

As you enter the pub you notice that the lights are low and there are several groups of people laughing and having a great time. As you approach the bar you overhear some conversations. One group is discussing the paradoxes of quantum mechanics. Another talks about whether man has a mind that survives death. One young man is even writing equations on the wall! The conversations are not so serious as everyone has been drinking and some are quite drunk. Your heart races as you realize, these people are talking about the very things you are most passionate about! You order a pint of Guinness while gathering your nerve to join in on the fun. You quickly down your beer and order another. Now you're relaxed and feeling good with a nice buzz. With gathering courage you ...

1. Start talking loudly hoping some others will come listen and join in (start a new thread).
2. Make a comment to a friendly looking group next to the bar (post to an existing thread).
3. Order your third beer. (go to your refridgerator).
   

[DHiMac]

Sometimes its hard to break into conversation with strangers. Particularly if it is on subjects that require years of study to even begin to get well versed in. A bit of alcohol helps, bit it can cloud the mind. It does reduce inhibition though.

Modern science has brought us the Internet where we can wander the streets and drop in to chat (wanted or unwanted) at nearly light speed. The world has gotten much smaller. And you don't have to worry about the guy who had too much to drink taking a swing at you for saying something he didn't agree with!

[Zo the Toe]

Sounds like the human race. Wine, whiskey and wild, wild theories

[d p fitzpatrick]

It's late in the evening and you are walking aimlessly as you ponder the meaning of life and what role you play. Suddenly, you snap back to awareness when you hear some music. You peer through the mist up ahead and you're able to make out a Pub on the corner that you had never seen before. You must have been walking a little bit farther than you realized. It looks friendly enough so you approach the pub looking for a good beer and maybe some friendly conversation.

As you enter the pub you notice that the lights are low and there are several groups of people laughing and having a great time. As you approach the bar you overhear some conversations. One group is discussing the paradoxes of quantum mechanics. Another talks about whether man has an mind that survives death. One young man is even writing equations on the wall! The conversations are not so serious as everyone has been drinking and some are quite drunk. Your heart races as you realize, these people are talking about the very things you are most passionate about! You order a pint of Guinness while gathering your nerve to join in on the fun. You quickly down your beer and order another. Now you're relaxed and feeling good with a nice buzz. With gathering courage you ...

1. Start talking loudly hoping some others will come listen and join in (start a new thread).
2. Make a comment to a friendly looking group next to the bar (post to an existing thread).
3. Order your third beer. (go to your refridgerator).
   
   
   
   

You mentioned a pint of guinness.

I drank several FREE pints of Guinness at the Guinness brewery in Dublin.

The water, of the muddy river Lifey, flowing next to the plant has almost the same color as the Guinness BUT the tour conductors mention many times that the water for Guinness comes only from Saini John's spring in the mountains.

btw

Lord Guinness served, for many years, in the House of Lords.

He was one of the more silent members, not saying even one word for many years.

But then one day another Lord protested all the billboards obstructing the view of the country-side saying "Guinness is good for you".

Lord Guinness then got up and stated the only words he ever said in the House of Lords.

Lord Guinness said. "Guinness IS good for you."

He then sat down and was quiet for a good many more years.

Cheers

Fitz

[hanzoganz]

That´s an idea not that out of the mind. Actually, in this days, i host a series of talks at a bar called Coronillas 33, in a walking street (supposed to translate "Andador") where a bunch of people, around 20, gather to discuss subjects that deal with science -mathematics in particular- and art -literature. There we are, the two organizers: a writer that likes science -my friend- and a mathematician that likes to write literature -myself.
We gather at this bar aroun nine o´clock at night, once a week. The firs reunion was held a few weeks ago. With music of Coltrane and Davies -which remembers the craziness needed to talk about new science-, we have a bit of our own.
We discuss the need for rigor, besides creativity, when writing and doing math. We take as an example a group called Oulipo (Workshop of Potential Literature, by its french initials) who is a sort of mathematicians and literature people. More about this can be found at http://www.oulipocompendium.com/html/intro_frame.html

Cheers, with a Corona in my hand! (Actually Pacifico or Victoria are better)

Omar Rojas
orojas@gmail.com

[jimscarver]

"He who seeks, will find"

We sit here drowning our sorrows because though we have been blessed by Spirit with knowledge of All, we are cursed with the inability to communicate it.

Sort of reminds me of the writing on the bathroom wall,

"Here I sit disenhearted,
Came to sh.t and only farted."

Cheers!

Jim

[barkster]

OK... so I figure since most of us are pretty well travelled in this world... having gone to so many conferences and what-not... and that since this IS a pub....

We can all talk about BEER with some experience and authority, if not at least some reverence.

I too have tasted from the taps of the Guiness Hop Store in Dublin (blessed art they, each and every pint)... I've had Budvar in Prague, Bass in Edinburgh, Red Stripe in the Bahamas, Stella in Cairo, Wiesbrau from the Hofbrau House in Munich, Tecate IN Tecate Mexico, Kirin in Palma Majorca, Tsing-Tao in Izmir Turkey, Grolsch in Curacau (gotta be quick to catch that one), and the list goes on... (it pays in some respects to be in the Navy.)

But micro-brews are my favorite.... because you have to GO places to get them, even if it's just to your next door neighbor for some of his home brewed hooch. And EVERYBODY has a favorite. My current favorite is a Baltimore ale from Brewer's Art called "Resurrection". Deep amber, and mildly hoppy with sweet finish.

Come on... What's your favorite? From where, and why? And will nanotechnology ever help make a better beer?

[hdeasy]

As a Dubliner I agree that the Guinness near the hop Store is the best in the universe - that's all ye know on Earth, and all ye need to know, as Keats said.
Oh and funny about TOEs - unlike human ones, you cann't have 10 - it's more like Highlander - there can be only one. Will Heim theory chop off the head of String Theory and be rewarded with lightning?

[undef00]

certainly a great idea this kind of virtual pub ....

when i first entered i didn't read rules - so i'm sorry for asking how to pay at the end .... sometimes human just can't follow rules even if they at the end follow rules again ....

again: a great idea!!!

[Unreal Zelta]

Robert,
Although this thread might be more than a year old, may I say that your original post was very articulate (very nicely crafted). An excellent piece of creative writing indeed.

Best regards

Zelta