A MeFi shoutout, in print, in a real-life book! January 10, 2011 8:03 PM   Subscribe

David Wondrich (Splificator) gives MetaFilter a shoutout in his new book Punch

From page 47, "It wouldn't be entirely wrong to compare [coffeehouses] to modern online discussion groups such as MetaFilter or Free Republic, except with the possibility of actual fisticuffs should the snark get out of hand."

I nearly spilled my coffee when I saw it, deliciously unexpected while reading about history of punch making and drinking.
posted by jpeacock to MetaFilter-Related at 8:03 PM (30 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite

Wooo!

I have been trying hard to wedge a metafilter reference into my new story.

which is hard cause it takes places pre-computer

As opposed to the story I am current writing

which was inspired by a metafilter thread

i've said too much

posted by The Whelk at 8:10 PM on January 10, 2011


Cool! I was going let him know about this thread, but his MeFi mail is disabled.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 8:12 PM on January 10, 2011


Also now this thread is about Punch Recipes.
posted by The Whelk at 8:13 PM on January 10, 2011


Including MetaFilter in the same metaphor as Free Republic... are we sure this isn't an insult?
posted by Rhaomi at 8:15 PM on January 10, 2011 [8 favorites]


One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, and four of weak.
posted by crunchland at 8:37 PM on January 10, 2011 [2 favorites]


Also now this thread is about Punch Recipes.

If you drop your shoulder, they'll know its coming, so try to distract them by jangling some keys above their head with the other hand.
posted by griphus at 8:40 PM on January 10, 2011


Nonsense, Free Republic is just like fisticuffs as I remember it from being twelve. First you get really angry, then you fling a big right-arm that misses, then your mate pushes you with both palms to the ground, then you sit outside the principal's office while she calls your parents, feeling ashamed, while everybody gathers around and calls you a poofter.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 8:41 PM on January 10, 2011


fisticuffs is brawling with punch.
posted by clavdivs at 10:06 PM on January 10, 2011


So where's Judy?
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:24 PM on January 10, 2011


need to pull some strings for that one.
posted by clavdivs at 12:04 AM on January 11, 2011 [2 favorites]


What a croc.
posted by flabdablet at 12:09 AM on January 11, 2011


Holy hell I just "got" a clavdivs "joke""." Time for bed.
posted by zoinks at 1:18 AM on January 11, 2011


I will buy this book if there is a chapter on the oddly archaic, ridiculously overused metaphor of the Federal Reserve's control of the punch bowl, which dates from William McChesney's term as Fed Chairman. Someone please let me know.

(Memo: invent recipe for "Federal Reserve Punch")
posted by chavenet at 1:34 AM on January 11, 2011


Including MetaFilter in the same metaphor as Free Republic...

Yeah. Someone get him a large cock punch.
posted by pracowity at 3:54 AM on January 11, 2011


Why would you drink coffee while reading a book about punch? SEVERE SENSORY MISMATCH
posted by DU at 4:06 AM on January 11, 2011


Thanks for the shout-out, jpeacock. Yeah, I had to put Free Republic in there because, well, those people drink. And what is this "cock punch" of which you speak, pracowity? Somehow I don't think I'd like it.
posted by Splificator at 6:06 AM on January 11, 2011


chavenet: "(Memo: invent recipe for "Federal Reserve Punch""

Hmm... I'm thinking rum with orange juice to make it resemble gold. Something like this.
posted by Memo at 7:22 AM on January 11, 2011


It's a punch. In the cock. A cock punch.

And do freepers snark? Honest question.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:23 AM on January 11, 2011


The author is a MeFite? That's just peachy!

I've been very excited about this book since my sweetie and I went out for a cocktail at a wonderful Boston place called Drink. The extremely knowledgeable proprietor and his bartenders have been pretty high on punch lately -- they have a nightly punch bowl special, and they had a lot of information about it. When I asked them about some of the resources they were using for research, they reached under the bar and pulled out this book. We paged through it all evening, with the bartenders reading sections aloud, and I haven't forgotten about it since. I need to buy a copy. I'm also thinking that Punch might make a pretty damn fabulous theme for a program at my museum, so Spiflicator, if you're ever interested in a speaking engagement....
posted by Miko at 7:24 AM on January 11, 2011


I was unaware of this book prior to seeing this post, but I'll be picking it up pronto. Thanks!
posted by nickmark at 8:00 AM on January 11, 2011


Alas, filthy light thief, that's what I was afraid of. No, I wouldn't like one of those. As for the freepers snarking, I don't know, as I only included them as an example lest they feel left out, throw the book across the room in disgust, track me down and egg my house.

And Miko, isn't that a lovely bar? I like speaking and I like museums, so I will email you.
posted by Splificator at 8:13 AM on January 11, 2011


Don't listen to filthy light thief. Cock punches are great. Hold still for a minute...
posted by marxchivist at 8:22 AM on January 11, 2011


I think I will actually move behind this table instead.
posted by Splificator at 8:26 AM on January 11, 2011


Might want to put it up on Projects if there's a website for it. We love reading books.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:08 AM on January 11, 2011


"Fisticuffs" is such a delicious word.
posted by steambadger at 9:11 AM on January 11, 2011


I've always wanted to visit Boston...hearing Splificator talk at Miko's museum, with punch catered by Drink...yep, that would get me motivated to call my travel agent!

Why would you drink coffee while reading a book about punch? SEVERE SENSORY MISMATCH

Well, it was still early. I was drinking whiskey later in the day when finishing the book, is that better? ;)

It's a good read, chock full of great history and fun writing, I can't wait to start mixing.
posted by jpeacock at 11:03 AM on January 11, 2011


Splificator: Alas, filthy light thief, that's what I was afraid of. No, I wouldn't like one of those.

I think that potential threats of violence masked in juvenile language have their own sort of Occam's razor, something I will now call Nelson's bruiser. If you think someone is offering to harm you but hiding it behind an odd name that doesn't sound obviously painful (Hurtz Donut, Horse Bite*, Cock Punch), the most likely option is that they are going to hurt you.

* For some reason, the question "have you ever been bitten by a horse" results in the answer of "no," at which time the asker will grab above your knee with force. This is an amusing game for fathers and sons, and friends of sons.

As for the freepers snarking, I don't know, as I only included them as an example lest they feel left out, throw the book across the room in disgust, track me down and egg my house.

Good plan, because sometimes their eggs are just white rocks.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:50 PM on January 11, 2011


For the record, filthy light thief, I suspected full well that the cock punch was not a drinkable, yet I could not conceive of a reason why Pracowity, a total stranger to me, would for our first interaction request that somebody do me physical violence and resolved to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I do, however, consider your "Nelson's bruiser" to be a useful addition to my store of rhetorical tropes and will deploy it as needed.
posted by Splificator at 12:59 PM on January 11, 2011


Oh, and I'm glad you enjoyed the book, jpeacock. Happy mixing!

I would put it up on Projects but my publisher would not like that.
posted by Splificator at 1:02 PM on January 11, 2011


Many of my houseguests have been made ghoulishly intoxicated thanks to the Chatham Artillery Punch from Wondrich's Imbibe!, which I also credit with introducing me to the infinitely malleable wintertime recipe of sweetness + alcohol + boiling water (applejack and maple syrup!). I can highly recommend Punch on association.

And if you ever feel like doing something without venturing too far from home, we're always on the prowl for folk to talk at Brooklyn Brainery
posted by soma lkzx at 7:59 PM on January 11, 2011


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