Mefi New Year Gala 2021!

December 31, 2020 3:10 PM

Welcome to the Mefi New Year Gala! Streaming LIVE NOW on Youtube (starting Sat Jan 2 at 10am pacific time, live chatting and featuring Mefi pet pics, Mefi trivia, and more - going for a couple hours or more depending). Join us here in this thread, or in the Youtube Chat! Let us know about you/your pets' fancy gala outfit, real or imaginary.

The stream will be recorded and available later if our technology cooperates.

- - - - Previous text of this post from before the gala - - - -
Gala Placeholder And General Goodbye 2020 Thread
Hey there -- we're getting final prep in place for Saturday's Gala Stuff. Basically a live podcast with me and cortex, some guests, some slide shows, some recorded performances, some trivia, not sure what else. This thread will have THE LINK when we get that all sorted. 10 am PST on January 2nd. (convert to your local time) For now, feel free to kibitz on general NY Eve things here.

Still time to tell us a joke! Record an mp3 and send it to us (to [e-mail] with subject line GALA), or call in to 503-765-6842 and leave a message. Tell a joke or a New Years resolution or a wish for 2021.

EM is setting up some improv games down with a cold of some kind. Improv cancelled. ☹️ Get well soon EM.

I'll be doing some informal MeFi trivia, feel free to email me questions you think might be good.

If you have questions, comments, or ideas, let us hear them. We look forward to hanging out on Saturday.

posted by jessamyn (retired) to MetaFilter-Related at 3:10 PM (72 comments total)

EM, sorry to hear you're not feeling well. I wish you a speedy recovery!
posted by heyho at 5:06 PM on December 31, 2020

Thanks! Just a bad cold/sinus thing, I think (hope). I can still taste things, so that's a good sign, right? If I can get adequately hopped up on cold medicine on the 2nd, I'll try to at least put in an appearance (depending how much I look like an actual zombie). But I'm exhausted and dopey and took three naps today, so I'll just see how it goes.

(The frantic rush to get ready for a weird Covid Christmas and make it special for my kids when we couldn't do a lot of normal Christmas stuff wore me out, which probably made me susceptible to a cold turning rotten, I've been a mess since the 26th.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 5:21 PM on December 31, 2020 [4 favorites]

Woohoo! Good riddance to this reeking hell year! I don’t know what 2021 has in store for us, but at least it won’t be 2020.

I plan to read a book for an hour and then be sound asleep by the time we ring in the nw year.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:41 PM on December 31, 2020

My final fortune cookie (jpg) of 2020 appears to be telling me I am about to die?
posted by bixfrankonis at 7:24 PM on December 31, 2020 [3 favorites]

DRINKS CART!
posted by clavdivs at 9:26 PM on December 31, 2020

I'm working that night. How late will the gala run? I might be able to show up late. I'll bring ice.
posted by vrakatar at 10:00 PM on December 31, 2020

Saturday Night's alright for fooping... unfortunately my internet connectivity is minimal, but I'll do as much as I can ... which ain't much.
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:56 PM on December 31, 2020 [1 favorite]

You only live once.
posted by aniola at 11:39 PM on December 31, 2020 [6 favorites]

I probably won't be able to tune into the livestream unless it lasts way beyond two hours; I hope it goes well.

Happy new year, MeFi! Wishing you good health all around.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 12:03 AM on January 1, 2021

Happy New Year from Seattle! The usual Space Needle fireworks display was replaced by a virtual light show this year, which was creative and very pretty.
posted by mbrubeck at 10:37 AM on January 1, 2021

Are we going to be zooming or something or is this less participatory and more watching/listening? I ask because I just got asked to facetime with a family member at the same time but I can move that if the gala is a one time interactive kinda experience thing.
posted by mygothlaundry at 3:36 PM on January 1, 2021 [1 favorite]

I think the plan (and I say this as the "talent" and not the person actually running the Zoom) is to have a live zoom that streams to YouTube and have interacting happening there or possibly partly in this thread with some opportunities for live-ish interaction if people want.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:43 PM on January 1, 2021

Hi! I won two tickets from 'BCN, I was the 104th caller. My name should be on the list und—HEY GETCHA STINKIN PAWS OFFA ME
posted by not_on_display at 9:45 PM on January 1, 2021 [1 favorite]

GALA LINK, will start soonish.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:26 AM on January 2, 2021

Zoom is now live!
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:00 AM on January 2, 2021

(Folks can comment in here or in the youtube chat and we're monitoring both.)
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:02 AM on January 2, 2021

Ah I am away from computer at moment, will drop by when I get back home if you're still going!
posted by JHarris at 10:09 AM on January 2, 2021 [1 favorite]

hope the recording works as can't watch it all and joined an hour late by accident!
posted by ellieBOA at 10:19 AM on January 2, 2021

Only 20 minutes late!
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 10:19 AM on January 2, 2021

ah ok! the livestream said started 63 minutes ago so I panicked!
posted by ellieBOA at 10:22 AM on January 2, 2021

Jessamyn has confirmed, Josh did hit record.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 10:22 AM on January 2, 2021

To be fair, the test screen was great.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 10:23 AM on January 2, 2021 [1 favorite]

To be faaaaaaaiiiihhhhh
posted by bondcliff at 10:25 AM on January 2, 2021 [2 favorites]

I'm going to need Eyebrows McGee to record her whole stand-up routine to share. She needs to go viral. She's funny!
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 10:43 AM on January 2, 2021 [2 favorites]

Jessamyn was it tinker toys?
posted by probably not that Karen Blair at 11:05 AM on January 2, 2021

Bowl turning is so cool. A friend of mine got into it and has found the weirdest pieces of wood to start with.
posted by rmd1023 at 11:05 AM on January 2, 2021

She figured out it was Constructo-straws!
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:13 AM on January 2, 2021

Here is the INTO THE PIT video.
posted by bondcliff at 11:15 AM on January 2, 2021 [3 favorites]

Discovery: I think I would listen to the podcast more if I could watch it on Zoom/YouTube.
posted by limeonaire at 11:25 AM on January 2, 2021 [1 favorite]

Is there a way to change your name for the youtube chat?
posted by signal at 11:32 AM on January 2, 2021

i think there is but i'm not sure what it is, i think you can change it temporarily in your youtube settings?
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:33 AM on January 2, 2021

You gotta change your name on your google account.
posted by phunniemee at 11:36 AM on January 2, 2021

I changed it in my youtube settings.
posted by signal at 11:38 AM on January 2, 2021

<wayne>OK DARRY; DARRY OK. THIS SEASON OF LETTERKENNY.... IS HERE RIGHT NOW.... AND IT WILL GET.... UP TO HERE... SO THERE'S NO USE WHINING COS YER WATCHIN IT ANYWAY. BE PATIENT. it's all characters and wordplay anyway mumble mumble gilmore girls for beer drinkers and fighters anyway mumblemumble </wayne>
posted by not_on_display at 11:52 AM on January 2, 2021

JHarris, here's a screen shot of my escaping tortoises.
posted by phunniemee at 12:01 PM on January 2, 2021

I loooooooove seeing everyone's art, these are amazing!
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 12:09 PM on January 2, 2021

Neglected to get cat pics in on time, but here are mine!
posted by limeonaire at 12:10 PM on January 2, 2021 [5 favorites]

Someone was asking for a MeFi Discord, so one's up here: https://discord.gg/X3STqZ3tsh

It's basically public, and as such I can't promise it will stay up forever, in case we somehow catch a case of asshats, but I'll try to make sure it's cool.
posted by mrgoat at 12:35 PM on January 2, 2021

This is a great 2021 direction for Mefi, imho. Attach a Slack to this and do the podcasts live from now on! (Slack is better for the peanut gallery because it allows reactions/threading.)
posted by heyho at 12:47 PM on January 2, 2021 [3 favorites]

My restaurant photo is in Seattle, in the International District. (Szechuanese Cuisine, if you have the chance to eat there/take out sometime.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 1:17 PM on January 2, 2021

I'm a bit late now, but for future reference you can change your display name on YouTube in "Channel Settings." On mobile I had to restart the chat for it to take, but it worked a treat.
posted by wierdo at 1:34 PM on January 2, 2021

Okay, and more (as I catch up with the gala), the cake photo is because mbrubeck asked for raspberry frosting help for our daughter's cake. So that's the result from that ask.
posted by Margalo Epps at 1:35 PM on January 2, 2021

End Meeting For All.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:41 PM on January 2, 2021 [7 favorites]

I watched pretty much the whole thing but couldn't chat because I don't have a Google account, but great job everybody! So many adorable pets and so much awesome art! Thanks mods for putting it all together.
posted by Daily Alice at 2:22 PM on January 2, 2021 [1 favorite]

That was fun! Thanks so much for having me on.

And Eyebrows, I loved your stand up set!
posted by bondcliff at 2:35 PM on January 2, 2021 [2 favorites]

I MISSED IT????
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:02 PM on January 2, 2021 [3 favorites]

This was fun. Tried typing something into the chat at some point (maybe to surmise that EM's Ambien-brain wanted that bugle so she could wake everyone else up?) but youtube then prompts you to set up a channel before being able to chat, and that was a step too far for this shy mefite.
posted by nobody at 3:42 PM on January 2, 2021

So fun.
Someone asked me to upload the video of "Olivia" I sent in, so I stuck a link onto the end of the original post for the song, (which was made way back on July 11, 2006!) If you're so inclined, watch it before I come to my senses and nuke it.
Thanks for this today and for everything over the years.
posted by chococat at 4:01 PM on January 2, 2021 [9 favorites]

Couldn't attend. Did anyone make my gravy?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:10 PM on January 2, 2021 [1 favorite]

Thanks chococat!
posted by adrianhon at 4:46 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]

Trivia answers and winners!

First off, here are the twenty questions in all of their PDF glory, with answers. If you want to try them yourself, here is a PDF with no answers attached.

Here are the winners. You can save us some time if you RSVP to cortex with your mailing address. Also, Viral Confection on YouTube, we'll need your MeFi username.

JanetLand - Gold Medal Grand Champion of Trivial Affairs
Alterscape & chococat - Silver Medal for Trivial Excellence
lazaruslong, ActionPopulated, bondcliff - Bronze Medal for Extremely Fine Trivial Work
heyho, Viral Confection, Going to Maine, phunniemee, obloquy67 - Recognition of Outstanding Trivial Performance

Here are answers hidden behind a details tag:

1. CAT-SCAN.COM
2. MIDNIGHT MOD
3. SLYT
4. 309388
5. PUNCH 'EM IN THE DICK
6. ageispolis, askmeaboutLOOM, Astro Zombie, Brodyaga, CarrotAdventure, chococat, flapjax at midnite, pyramid termite
7. PEPSI BLUE
8. THIS IS JUST TO SAY
9. WHITE
10. 2012 - US ELECTION
11. MUSIC (2003 & 2006), PROJECTS (2005), JOBS (2006), IRL (2010), FANFARE (2014)
12. ENSPOUSENING
13. CROUTON
14. GOPHER
15. PET TAX
16. THEREISHELP
17. FAVES & FLAGS
18. CAPSLOCK DAY
19. EPONYSTERICAL
20. ANSWERS VARY

posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:06 AM on January 3, 2021 [3 favorites]

I didn't play along with trivia because I knew I'd suck at it, but I sure as shit knew Punch Em In The Dick and that's good enough for me.

Please engrave this on my tombstone.
posted by phunniemee at 12:06 PM on January 3, 2021 [3 favorites]

Also, Viral Confection on YouTube, we'll need your MeFi username.

It me!

I like it that the only question I got right first was the most classic cat-scan.com
posted by Pyrogenesis at 10:15 PM on January 3, 2021 [2 favorites]

5. PUNCH 'EM IN THE DICK

Metafilter: "social media for people with college degrees"

Also Metafilter: PUNCH 'EM IN THE DIIIIICK!!!!
posted by Pyrogenesis at 12:05 AM on January 4, 2021 [1 favorite]

Wait, whaaaaaaat??????????
posted by JanetLand at 5:54 AM on January 4, 2021 [3 favorites]

Woo hooo, JanetLand!
posted by heyho at 9:06 AM on January 4, 2021

The gala was very good! Thanks for doing it!
posted by Going To Maine at 10:14 AM on January 4, 2021 [1 favorite]

Thank you for doing the gala! That was a lot of fun!
posted by Alterscape at 1:27 PM on January 4, 2021 [1 favorite]

"What's Red and Invisible?" was the punch line really no tomatoes?
posted by one4themoment at 5:33 PM on January 4, 2021

I am petitioning the International Joke Standardization Committee to have the answer changed to "an invisible red dot". Or "any photonic wave ~700mn that misses your retina."
posted by not_on_display at 5:56 PM on January 4, 2021 [1 favorite]

What was the question?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:59 PM on January 4, 2021

Sorry - thought that said, "What's read and invisible?" so I couldn't see it.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 6:02 PM on January 4, 2021 [2 favorites]

I enjoyed the Gala and I appreciate all the hard work behind the scenes to make it a success.
posted by mundo at 6:05 PM on January 4, 2021 [1 favorite]

*emerges sleepily from cave*

Did I hear something about merch?
posted by Kreiger at 8:53 AM on January 5, 2021

That was fun! I'm sorry I missed it in the moment but enjoyed watching it in bits and pieces over the past few days.
posted by ChuraChura at 7:32 AM on January 6, 2021

Did I hear something about merch?

We had some ideas and... they were slow in turning into reality. There should be some sort of merch but there isn't yet.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:00 AM on January 6, 2021 [1 favorite]

I'm still playing End Meeting For All.
posted by JHarris at 10:56 AM on January 6, 2021

So where can I see and replay that gopher? ending video?
posted by Pyrogenesis at 11:36 AM on January 6, 2021

It's on YouTube, and is a hyrax!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:03 PM on January 6, 2021 [2 favorites]

Thank, it is the most awesomest of videos.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 8:05 PM on January 6, 2021

Oh man, I can't believe I missed this.
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 3:52 AM on January 7, 2021

Apparently the merch wheels turn more quickly if you say their name.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:27 PM on January 8, 2021 [1 favorite]