A Little Curiousity Never Killed A Blog

A long time ago, I briefly worked on the Massachusetts Lottery account. The Lottery clients would every so often require us to brainstorm ideas for new scratch ticket games. Then, we had to design them for focus groups. For about 3 days we would truck over to the Hyatt at Copley Square to sit in a conference room on one side of hidden mirror while a focus group person stood on the other side of the hidden mirror and interviewed real lottery players to get their thoughts on the new games up for proposal.

Now, I was new to the account, full of energy and very silly when the brainstorming for new game ideas came up. My copywriter and I went to town. Why my creative director assigned this project to me or even allowed some of my ideas to go to the focus groups will remain a mystery for life. Two of the my game ideas that I can still recall today were Marcos Money and Nouveau Riches. For Marcos Money, the players had to scratch off drawings of really delightful high heels to see if they had a made a match. Nouveau Riches was a tad more serious as it was a really terrific mini-architectural history of the Amercian mansion on one little lottery ticket. I designed it to be a street of different mansions all connected by a road with a line drawing of a chauffeured ancient Rolls tooling up the street. You had to scratch off the mansions to see if you had won. I approached the focus groups with visions in my head of how well Marcos Money and Nouveau Riches were going to do.

I remember being ushered into the darkened conference room and meeting very non-plussed and rather hard-bitten lottery clients. They expressed absolutely no excitement about about Marcos Money or Nouveau Riches but I remained hopeful thinking I had truly connected with your average Massachusetts Lottery player. Then the focus group person on the other side of the mirror ushered in the first group of players. Who I recall most was a big fella in his early 20's with a very protruding spare tire around his middle. He had on a clean and brightly colored t-shirt with a hole about 3 inches in diameter near his belly button area and a haircut that loked like someone had placed a bowl over his head and clipped away. More than that it was a big bowl because his bangs came mid-way down the bridge of his nose and I was wondering if he could even see. The focus person put up all the games under propsal on easels and then started asking questions designed to warm up the group and get them to tell us what they thought. As everyone was being paid about $50 dollars for their ideas some took this very seriously. The big fella especially. He took a giant cookie from the platter on the conference table and in between bites began deconstructed every game. He pointed out what he thought what the inherent weakness was in each one, including the colors and how he himself would have designed it better. This criticism brought out the fellow malcontents in the crowd. All I can say is that my game ideas suffered a crashing and burning only similiar to the Hindenburg. I was mad. Really mad. After all, I was the one who had gone to art school plus I knew enough not to go to the Hyatt Copley Square Hotel wearing a t-shirt with a 3- inch hole in it. This is where I learned to appreciate the hard-bitten quality of the Lottery clients. They just roared with laughter at the whole thing.

So keeping that little story in mind (you should hear what happened to Mr. P one time in a Franco-American gravy focus group), Mr. P and I have decided to focus group our readers. The reason is after 2 years of entertaining the troops so to speak, we'd like to better understand what it is that actually entertains the troops. We are not going to pay you or feed like an advertising agency would, but we would like you feedback to the following:

1. Why on earth did you start reading Patum Peperium?

2. Why do you keep coming back?

3. What do you actually like about Patum Peperium?

4. Should we do more art and flyboy posts?

5. Does Patum Peperium cause you to drink more, remain steady, or stop drinking all together?

6. Do you want more recipes?

7. What is your household income? (1.) Enough (2.) Not enough (3.) There is no such thing as enough

8. Number of pets?

9. Sexual preference?: (1.) Never (2.) Occasionally (3.) As much as humanly possible - special option:my preferences are in keeping with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Mrs. P

Comments

[mandingo]

1. Why on earth did you start reading Patum Peperium?
Because I saw it in the New Criterion website and I liked the name. A gentleman's relish (alternative title?). Plus it sounded Catholic like with its Latin sounding name. And it was - is conservative in the way I like conservatism to be.
http://www.britsuperstore.com/acatalog/Patum_Peperium_Gentlemans_relish.jpg

2. Why do you keep coming back?
It's nice to read and it makes me feel cultural and stuff.

3. What do you actually like about Patum Peperium?
Mrs. P's stories and how she takes on leftists and her take on life.

4. Should we do more art and flyboy posts?
Yes, please.

5. Does Patum Peperium cause you to drink more, remain steady, or stop drinking all together?
I want to drink more and read classics.

6. Do you want more recipes?
YES of course!!!Plus more stories about food.

7. What is your household income? Number of pets? Sexual preference: (1.) Never (2.) Occasionally (3.) As much as humanly possible?
1.My wife makes more than I.
2. One girl cat
3. I like gurls - str8

[Mrs. Peperium]

Mandingo, great answers. I used to make more money than Mr. P. He loved that. Then I got into a power struggle with my boss and lost big time. Then I found life at home so nice and Mr. P liked having me at home taking care of all of his needs that we decided to make do with less. Much less. But life is now much more enjoyable.

[Old Dominion Tory]

1. Why on earth did you start reading Patum Peperium?
I credit Messrs. Cusack and Sullivan (Irish Elk) for my recent acquaintance with this site. They linked. I clicked. I read. I stayed.
2. Why do you keep coming back?
I return because Mr. and Mrs. Peperium are such a gracious host and hostess. Moreover, they--and most of those who post here--seem to share (by and large) my interests, my politics, and my religion. As a father and husband who wants to preside over a truly Catholic home and live a truly Catholic life, I find Mr. and Mrs. Peperium to be at once instructive and encouraging.
3. What actually do you like about Patum Peperium?
To start, please read my answers to Question 3. I also like the range of discussions and the immense store of good humor, genuine interest, and wide knowledge displayed by the host and hostess and their assembled guests.
4. Should we do more art and flyboy posts?
I'll leave it to the RCBfA to opine about "art," but I am a fan of aviation, especially L'Escadrille Lafayette, the Eagle Squadrons, and the Flying Tigers. So, keep 'em flying!
5. Does Patum Peperium cause you to drink more, remain steady, or give up drinking altogether?
Remain steady (and that's a good bit), but drink better.
6. Do you want more recipes? Yes, please! And please start with the apple chicken you mentioned yesterday, Mrs. Perperium.
7. What is your household income?
Answer #3. Even what some on the Left would consider too much money--"obscene profits"--truly is never quite enough money.
8. Number of pets? None, unless you count the neighbor's cat that seems to spend more time at our house than the neighbors.
9. Sexual preference? Ah . . . well . . . yes, I see . . .

[Mrs. Peperium]

Ahh...the Apple Chicken is Mr. P's very favorite. I can certainly give you the recipe but I'll have to check with him if I can say why... You have children? Terrific. What are your feelings on arranged marriages? Remember our children will bring to their marriages their father's intellignce, their mother's recipes and all of their grandmother's and mother's art. All of that will certainly enhance the family gatherings....

[Old Dominion Tory]

Arranged marriages? Seeing how well it worked out for various Catholic monarchies and aristocratic families, I'm all for it (House of Tudor, House of Hanover and its successors seemed to have problems with it, however), especially if recipes and art are part of the bargain. Our children would bring their mother's looks, charm, and brains and their father's . . . ah . . . ahem . . . well . . . let's see . . . access to their father's extensive library, although it's rather heavy on military history.
If you can get Mr. Peperium's permission to share the recipe for apple chicken, I would appreciate it immensely. If it's not too much of a bother, would you also tell how you cook acorn squash? Thanks.
Cheers!

[Misspent]

1. Reciprocity and attention (remember when I was the #1 stud?)

2. Glutton for punishment. Having been excommunicated for a spell and being the only outspoken non-Catholic around, that can be the only reason

3. Stories, but saying so backhandedly is what got me in trouble in the first place ;)

4. I guess so, but I don't really know what that is since that arrived during my absence

5. Much more, if I had the money to do so. Regardless of my penury, I should say that it has made public displays of overindulgence (or at least the recounting of such) much more acceptable

6. Yes, preferably ones that can be made by a skilled-culinary bachelor with a limited budget or that lend themselves to leftovers

7. Not enough, but generally there is no such thing as enough as long as the over enough is used properly to further the advancement of property and society (ie, not just sitting around gathering dust which does violence to the Lockian social contract nor is it given away in a fit of self-indulgent media grabbing to a cause that is useless in a manner that is counterproductive (ie, most modern big name philanthropy))

8. 0, although I would like a dog as long as it is not smelly or drooly

9. Never, my preferences are in keeping with the teachings of the Lutheran Church (MS) which align with your church's except in the matter of allowing pastoral wives. Since I am not a pastor, this does not matter

Generally, I would have guessed you had been around for longer than two years. That means you started when I was beginning to apply to graduate schools (oh, what a mess I made of that process!) but I could have sworn it was longer than that.

[Card's wife]

Misspent, you still are the #l blog stud and so sorry about those Mark Foley type messages Mrs. P and I left on your voicemail the other night.

[Monty]

1. Why did you start reading Patum Peperium?

I was drunk.

2. Why do you keep coming back?

I keep drinking.

3. What do you actually like about Patum Peperium?

Mrs. P's humility.

4. Should we do more art and flyboy posts?

Why? Is there something I'm missing here?

5. Does Patum Peperium cause you to drink more, etc.

I couldn't possibly drink anymore than I already do.

6. Do you want more recipes.

No. I don't cook.

7. What is your household income?

Oh, I almost forgot. Another reason I like Patum Peperium is that Mrs. P isn't in the least bit nosey.

8. Number of pets.

Five. All dead.

9. Sexual preference?

1) Never -- Congressional Pages.
2) Occasionally -- Small animals.
3) As much as humanly possible -- Women 18-25.

[Elizabeth]

1. Andrew Cusack
2. Andrew Cusack
3. Andrew Cusack
4. If they feature Squadron Leader Cusack.
5. Remain steady.
6. Yes.
7. Enough for now.
8. 1 corgi/beagle mix - Olivia
9. Special Option.

[Mrs. Peperium]

Old Dominion Tory, I can share the recipe, it's the story concerning the recipe that is under question - tomorrow as well as how to do squash. We like military books in this house...

Misspent, *sigh* you were the first weren't you?
That said, it is very difficult to find a dog that does not drool or smell. Pound puppies are the best way to avoid such bad traits. Purebreds are natural droolers...

Monty, welcome back. How's Gordon and Glenna? I didn't realise the Scottish catagorized sheep as small animals. My, these polls are instructive. I hope you and Gordon are watching the game tonight or is it on too late for you?

Elizabeth, welcome. Yes, Andrew Cusack is worth following. Unfortunately his appearances here are not as regular as they used to be, but we live in hope that they will be once again. He might be at the No Idea Bar tomorrow night, if you live near NYC. See Armavirumque for information. If you do go, please introduce yourself to Fiendish Lout. He's usually among those guys and he's a very nice fellow to chat with. Avoid the Bad Boy....

[Wg Cdr Sir Basil Seal, KG GCB GBE MC JP]

1. You were recommended by Mr. Soames.

2. Because Mr. and Mrs. C pay me to do so.

3. Posts about Basil Seal.

4. See number 3...

5. waht's thjt abouuut drrinding?.;

6. Only if you have some for old girlfriends...Involving a feast maybe?

7. My wife has all the money, I have none...Like Uncle Fred, she gives me enough each week for tobacco, golf balls and a little self-respect...

8. One cat

9. Traditional Catholic...

By the way, who the heck is this "Misspent"?

[Andrew Cusack]

1. You know, I really have no idea.

2. The jovial denizens are the chief attraction, even if some are given to jacobinism and whiggery.

3. The comments section is fun and irreverant.

4. I never quite understood the RCBfA but the flying corps has a certain caché.

5. I think my drinking has remained consistent.

6. I don't cook, but I don't mind the presence of recipes.

7. (4.) Non-existent

8. Zero. Except for 'Red Dog', an artwork.

9. Sexual preference?: (4.) What a vulgar question! I trust Mitsy Vanderholt will object!

[Mrs. Peperium]

Card's wife, are you there?

[Mrs. Peperium]

Vulgar? I allowed the special option....

[Card's wife]

Yes.

[Mrs. Peperium]

Card's wife, as you've been Catholic longer than I, perhaps you can answer this. My understanding of traditional Catholic would be commando and as much as humanely possible, right?

[Card's wife]

What are you drinking? Let's ask Basil.

[Mrs. Peperium]

Let's ask Basil what I'm drinking? Who do you think he is? Johnny Carson?

[Mrs. Peperium]

By the way Mr. Cusack, you've taken to calling me names which is far worse than jacobinism and whiggery.

[Card's wife]

Basil, I thought you had two horses?

[Mrs. Peperium]

He must have sent them to the glue factory to pay for his fall wardrobe.

[Wg Cdr Sir Basil Seal, KG GCB GBE MC JP]

I do not classify horses as "pets", I took her to mean house pets...

[Mrs. Peperium]

Pleasure horses are pets. I used to know a minature horse, Peanut, who did reside in the house and rode around in the family wagon. It was like a funny-looking German Shepherd.

[Mrs. Peperium]

Peanut reminded me of Basil. Basil the black sheep who was the pet of my cousins. He was named after you-know-who and he was kept for his wool as my cousin is the most amazing knitter. Basil and his brother lived in a little tiny barn-like structure in the backyard. They used to ride in the back of the family minivan from Concord to the Cape for their summer vacations. Nice work for a sheep.

[Fiendish]

Two procedural points, in preface to my focued group replies. First, if I had this CD, I would be listening to it now, since I do not need to have a TV or radio on to watch the great American pastime: http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Club-Detroit/dp/B000GEU6K4/sr=8-1/qid=1160528457/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-5314054-4764025?ie=UTF8
Second, I reply to Wg Cdr Basil etc.'s query re Misspent. Major Misspent is the gentelman who, when Mr. Cusack first dubbed me Fiendish Lout, advised me that I would be better served by "Fiendish" as my regular moniker, rather that "Lout" or "Fiendish Lout." Brilliant fellow, Misspent.