The Off Topic Topic

[Admiral Yi]

I just learned Elvis Costello's real name.  Anyone else know it?

[katmai]

I just learned Elvis Costello's real name.  Anyone else know it?

Declan McManus

[Admiral Yi]

Declan McManus

Hooray

[Sophie Scholl]

Not Elvis Grbac?

[Neil]

Dear AT&T Internet Service Member:

Our records indicate that you have accessed our Usenet newsgroup feature in the past 90 days. We are writing to inform you that this feature will be available through July 15. On or around July 15, 2009 we will no longer provide access to the Usenet service. If you wish to continue accessing Usenet newsgroups, please be aware that many Usenet services are available for a subscription fee.


Sincerely,

Your AT&T Internet Service Customer Care Team

Dogfuckers. 

I like having access to Usenet, just for old times sake.  Early and mid-90s, Usenet was the whole point of the Internet.  Well, early 90s at least.

[Ed Anger]

Dear AT&T Internet Service Member:

Our records indicate that you have accessed our Usenet newsgroup feature in the past 90 days. We are writing to inform you that this feature will be available through July 15. On or around July 15, 2009 we will no longer provide access to the Usenet service. If you wish to continue accessing Usenet newsgroups, please be aware that many Usenet services are available for a subscription fee.


Sincerely,

Your AT&T Internet Service Customer Care Team

Dogfuckers. 

I like having access to Usenet, just for old times sake.  Early and mid-90s, Usenet was the whole point of the Internet.  Well, early 90s at least.

The war with Serbia was a golden time for me. I could sit down and read the soc.culture.Yugoslavia group and just laugh my head off.  Serbs was passing around  plans to build stealth fighter defeating equipment (which usually involved foil) and railing against America.

Good stuff.

[Syt]

Mew!

[Josquius]

I didn't even know it was still around.

[Malthus]

I just learned Elvis Costello's real name.  Anyone else know it?

Declan McManus

No wonder he used a stage name. 

[Cerr]

I just learned Elvis Costello's real name.  Anyone else know it?

Declan McManus

No wonder he used a stage name. 

What's wrong with the name? It's a fairly normal name in Ireland and Scotland.

[Grey Fox]

I just learned Elvis Costello's real name.  Anyone else know it?

Declan McManus

No wonder he used a stage name. 

What's wrong with the name? It's a fairly normal name in Ireland and Scotland.

Mc-anything makes you sound like manufactured fast food

Also, "anus".

[Malthus]

What's wrong with the name? It's a fairly normal name in Ireland and Scotland.

It just sounds funny to this non-Irish, non-Scot. 

"Declan" sounds sort of like a make of car, rather than a first name. Here it is reasonably unusual.

"McManus" has the unfortunate 'McDonalds' ring to it, combined with "anus".

Taken together, it sounds funny to North Americans - probably why he changed it.

[Cerr]

Ah ok, must be a familarity issue. Have either of you heard the names Declan or McManus pronounced outloud correctly? It might just look funny written down without knowing how to pronounce the names.

People do run into trouble with Irish names quite often. It's amusing hearing foreigners pronounciation of certain names, like the towns Drogheda, Youghal and Dun Laoghaire. 

[Malthus]

Ah ok, must be a familarity issue. Have either of you heard the name Declan or McManus pronounced outloud correctly? It might just look funny written down without knowing how to pronounce the names.

People do run into trouble with Irish names quite often. It's amusing hearing foreigners pronounciation of certain names, like the towns Drogheda, Youghal and Dun Laoghaire. 

Certainly. After all, there is nothing funny in India about the name "Ramee Updias", but it sounds unfortunate when pronounced aloud by a Westerner ... 

[Josquius]

It just sounds funny to this non-Irish, non-Scot. 

"Declan" sounds sort of like a make of car, rather than a first name. Here it is reasonably unusual.

"McManus" has the unfortunate 'McDonalds' ring to it, combined with "anus".

Taken together, it sounds funny to North Americans - probably why he changed it.

Surely though in a Anglo country, even if not Scotland, Mc/Mac names are rather common?
They certainly are in Britain even beyond Scotland.