Dinner at my place.

[Malibu Sally]

Here's how it works: You are hosting a dinner and you have to invite certain types of individuals. Your guestlist must include...

A Political figure
An Entertainer
A Writer(fiction or non.... includes journalists)
A Scientist(or inventor)
A Fictional character
Two "Wildcards"(can be another from the stated categories or something else entirely)


The guests can be living or from the past. Please try to include a reason why. Also, if possible, try to keep the "big names" and obvious choices to a minimum; sometimes lesser known people are more interesting than first name that pops to mind.

My guestlist:

Political Figure- Wilhelm II, Kaiser of Germany. One of the great tragic figures of the 20th century. Successfully overcame a disablility(completey crippled arm from birth) Foolishly antagonized Britain by building a powerful navy. Lost his empire, his crown, and his nation in WWI. Died in exile in the Netherlands. It is interesting to note that he was offered by Hitler to be buried with full honors in the Hohenzollern royal crypt upon his death. Wilhelm refused by stating his remains would stay in exile until and unless the German monarchy was restored. He was a much more interesting person than the goose-stepping teutonic maniac he has been potrayed as in most biographies.

Entertainer- Mae West. Average looks at best; debatable acting talent. Yet she oozed more sex appeal than any 5 other actresses combined. The original brassy, blonde bombshell.

Writer- H.P. Lovecraft Anyone who can come up with stuff like his is worth having over for dinner at least once. I would love to hear him read aloud some of his works.

Scientist/Inventor- Robert Goddard. Perfected the liquid fuel rocket and predicted that one day, men may use rockets to go to the moon, but that "It may cost as much as a million dollars"!

Fictional character- Quint. The salty fisherman in 'Jaws.' "Here's to swimmin with bow-legged wimmin."

Wildcard one- Buffalo Bill Cody. Single handedly invented the modern myth of the American West and a masterful storyteller.

Wildcard two- Benjamin Franklin. (yeah I know... big name... break my own rule) The one founding father of the US that I find most interesting. By all accounts would be a terrific dinner guest.


That's my list. Your turn.

[Magna Harrier]

Hmmmm.... Mine would have to be:

Political Figure: Benjamin Franklin - There's very few people in history whom I have more respect for than the homely genius. The man's responsible for a great many of our public services, a lot of the general concept behind local government, scads of agricultural and vernacular knowledge, and a host of various inventions. Ripley's lists him as "The First Educated American", and I won't counter them.

Entertainer: Vincent Price - With nigh a hundred and more movies to his credit, you'd think I could get my fill of Vince's voice. No such luck... I miss him every time I hear dramatic dialouge with the slightest hint of gloom.

Writer: Arthur Miller - Well, I would have liked to have at least one living person by now, but we lost Arthur earlier this year. Still, the man will live on in my heart as one of the few writers of his time who was willing to put simple human idealogy ahead of political rhetoric during the Red Scare. And a damned good writer, too.

Scientist/Inventor: James Audobon - Well, I used to Franklin already, so I'm moving on to my favorite ornithologist... from his meseums, to his many paintings, to the Society founded in his name, the man's work filled my childhood with a love of the natural world. I had this little book, "The Birds of North America" or the like, which listed scads of info on the birds you see around this country... I swear, I had that thing MEMORIZED by age 9. Part of it was the subject matter, and part of it was those paintings... the detail really showed he knew what he was looking at.

Fictional Character:Atticus Finch - The protagonist of "To Kill a Mockingbird", Atticus is my personal hero... a man who takes a stand for what he beleives in, not with his fists, or a gun, but with the power of his conviction, and his love of the goodness inherent in mankind.

Wildcard One: Mark Twain - I had to pass him over for Miller earlier, but I'll not do so again. Samuel Clemens was one of the great distinctly American authors of his time.

Wildcard Two: Arthur Ashe - He's kind of a local hero back in Virginia.... I'd just like to meet him face to face.

[Alumette]

A Political figure
An Entertainer
A Writer(fiction or non.... includes journalists)
A Scientist(or inventor)
A Fictional character
Two "Wildcards"(can be another from the stated categories or something else entirely)


Hmmm... interesting.

Political Figure: William Maitland of Lethington. Secretary of State to Mary of Lorraine (1515 - 1560) and Mary, Queen of Scots (1542 - 1587). For some bizarre reason, I am obsessed with this guy. His politics are hard to pin down and he seems by some interpretations to be a self-serving opportunist; by others a visionary with ideas before his time. Regardless of the interpretation, he had a brilliant political mind and also had a bit of a poetic streak (his father was a renowned poet), and had a truly romantic May-December romance with one of Mary Queen of Scots's ladies in waiting (Mary Fleming). I would love to discuss past and current political theory with him, and get his take on major historical events.

Entertainer: Bill T. Jones (http://www.billtjones.org/bill/index.html) I attended a lecture that he gave at a university dance department once, and spoke with him for a bit afterwards. What he had to say during the lecture completely rearranged my molecular structure, and my approach to dance. And afterwards he was so gracious and kind and supportive. His work is/was revolutionary (and I'm not much of a modern dance person), and he's just an all around amazing individual. Plus, his children's book Dance! (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0786803622/qid=1125170024/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-6903597-9583064?v=glance&s=books) is one of my favorites.

Writer: Victor Hugo. Pure, absolute genius. In my view nobody can even touch him. He had such a command of language and put it to use so elegantly and powerfully. When I read his work I am moved on every level: intellectually, spiritually, emotionally. It's positively sublime. And translation doesn't even begin to do it justice.

Scientist/Inventor: Galileo Galilei (http://www.sangha.net/messengers/Galileo.htm). Just an incredible individual who lived a full and varied life. He was never afraid to question and to continually seek out new knowledge, even when it got him into trouble.

Fictional Character: Han Solo. I can't explain it, but I find him powerfully attractive. He has a certain je ne sais quoi, a powerful charisma. Yowza!

Wildcard #1 Anna Leonowens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Leonowens) An "accidental teacher" whose true life story is very much obscured. I would want to find out the truth, for one. Furthermore, although her degree of influence over the Siamese court and the resulting "modernization" of Siam/Thailand has been greatly exaggerated, I don't doubt that as governess to King Mongkut's children (in particular the heir to the throne) she did have some influence over their ideas, even if just a little, that could have yielded larger changes down the road as they encountered other experiences. As a teacher I'd be interested to talk to her about those experiences.

Wildcard #2: Auguste Escoffier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_Escoffier) Basically the man who made haute cuisine into what it is today; and the man who professionalized cheffing. I'd probably be pretty intimidated to have him taste my cooking, but boy would I learn a lot!

Other people I'd like to have: Joan of Arc (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_arc), James Madison (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Madison), George Balanchine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Balanchine) , Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel, Gandhi, Maria Montessori, Howard Gardner, Gregory Hines... (I'm getting too lazy to post the links)

There are many others as well. I guess I didn't follow the rules too carefully. :)

[coldcut]

A Political figure:

An Entertainer: Jeremy Piven (PCU, Entourage, every other thing John Cusack's been in). I'm not much for actors in general. Fred Thompson, the senator from Tennessee who was so disgusted by politics he quit to become an actor would make a good alternate here. (He was the original ADA in Law&Order)

A Writer(fiction or non.... includes journalists): Chuck Pahulniak. Best known as author of Fight Club. It's not so much that I like his writing, which I do, but it's more because the guy himself is a real card. Gets himself into all sorts of bizarre situations, seemingly without trying. Douglas Coupland could sub real easily here.

A Scientist(or inventor): Stephen Jay Gould. Advanced the theories behind evolution by light years. His brain was the Eight Wonder of the World. Carl Sagan could fit here as well.

A Fictional character: Ulysses. Is this a big name? Something I've always wondered: why did you go to Troy? Why was defending some other guy's rep such an important thing? Holden Caufield would be a good alternate.

Two "Wildcards

Allen Ginsberg. America's greatest poet.
Frank Luke. Ace Fighter Pilot from WWI. He may have been the best fighter pilot in the war. Unfortunately, he was a tad unstable, and upon getting a letter from home one day, he took a plane up over a German Aerodrome, shot down four enemy fighters before crashing himself. Then, when the Germans came for his surrender, he shot nine of them before being killed himself.

[Malibu Sally]

One additional rule... if you neglect to invite anyone in any particular category, I will "assign" one who will crash your party.

Since coldcut failed to include a political figure, his party crasher is...

Hermann Goering
http://worldroots.com/brigitte/gifs/goering.jpg

He aught to make a great mix with that allied ace of yours. :P

[coldcut]

One additional rule... if you neglect to invite anyone in any particular category, I will "assign" one who will crash your party.

Since coldcut failed to include a political figure, his party crasher is...

Hermann Goering
http://worldroots.com/brigitte/gifs/goering.jpg

He aught to make a great mix with that allied ace of yours. :P

Luke would hit him before he stepped in the door. And that would have been a heck of a battle in the air. Goering was an Ace in WWI as well.

And "ought" is spelled with an 'o', if it's actually spelled.

[Malibu Sally]

From your description, Luke would beat the crap out of ALL your guest before any of them entered and then he would pound you to within an inch of your life using nothing but spelling corrections.:P

[coldcut]

From your description, Luke would beat the crap out of ALL your guest before any of them entered and then he would pound you to within an inch of your life using nothing but spelling corrections.:P

I suspect Ulysses could take him.

[Alumette]

Heh. Incidentally, Sally, I hope you don't mind but I'm stealing this idea. It would make a *great* prompt for a speaking mixer and/or writing assignment for my upper-level students to practice the conditional tense, while reviewing the past tenses.

*happy dances*

Yeah... I'm in full-on teacher mode.

Thanks for this great idea.

[Druid]

* A Political figure
* An Entertainer
* A Writer(fiction or non.... includes journalists)
* A Scientist(or inventor)
* A Fictional character
* Two "Wildcards"(can be another from the stated categories or something else entirely)

Political Figure: Dwight D. Eisenhower. Now I'm not a big politics man here, but I would absolutely love to talk with this man. To go from being the supreme commander of the largest military strike in history, to running the (Argueably) greatist nation in the world is one huge feat in my eyes. I would love to talk with him about how he handled the stress of those jobs, as well as see his opinion of modern politics.

An Entertainer: I'm going to go with Louie Armstrong here. The man was one of the greatest musicians of all time. On top of that he developed some of the most complex jazz pieces that there are. Even today looking at some of the things that he did with his music it is amazing to think on how he accomplished it. (Runner up, Sean Connery((Thought he was to big of a name))

Writer: Neil Gaiman, period. I love all of his works and cannot wait for Anansi Boys and the movie he just wrote the screenplay to(name fails me) Not to mention Sandman. Only person I think I've ever developed fan boy syndrome for.

Scientist: Charles Babbage, the inventor of the difference engine(think primitive computer0. His designs are the basis for the very machines we are using right now. In fact one could assume that without him, Sally's thread would not have been posted for there would not be computers today.(runner up, Johannes Gutenburg)

Fictional Character: Ooh, tough category. This one took some real thought on my part, but I think I came up with a winner. Puck: From A Midsummer's NIght Dream. The sheer mischief he would cause would make it a wonderful dinner. Not to mention he's probably an amazing conversationalist. (Runners up: Sandman, Crowlya fallen angel that did not so much fall as saunter vaguely downwards and many more)

Wildcard A: Kim Jong-il: come on, he may be the single oddest character in the history of mankind. He's a ruthless dictator, yet he has soo many personality quirks that I simply have to talk to him. (not to mention the movies he could bring as he has the largest movie collection in the world)

Wildcard B: The Unknown Rebel: Everyone else here probably knows him better as that Chinese man who stood in front of the Chinese tanks for a protest and got run over. I simply want to here his views on his protest and ask what was running through his head when he stood in front of those tanks.

Edit: Oh btw Alumette, we did this in a history class once. There were more restrictions on who we could choose, but it was great fun. Baisically we picked some major historical figures and then our group had to research them and act out how the dinner would probably have gone based on personality quirks and differences of opinion. My favorite part was when a friend of mine and I acted out Oliver Cromwell and George Washington discussing battle tactics throught the use of food off the table.

[Randomus]

A Political figure: Abbie Hoffman. The Yippie movement was the single most successful counter-culture of the 60s. I say this because it is the only one that did not immediately become a fashion statement amongst white middle-class families and fashionistas, like Punk, Hippies, Mods, Rockers, etc, etc. If you haven't heart of the Yippies, that's another sign of just how good they were at being subversive little bastards. Abbie spearheaded this movement, and I think it would be awesome to hang out with someone as clever and prank-happy as him.

An Entertainer: Jean Reno. My favourite actor, and a sex symbol in France-- he has trustworthy eyes, you see. I think he's basically amazing on-screen and off. Also, he played the lead in Léon, my favourite movie ever.

A Writer: Kurt Vonnegut. That man has stories out the wazoo, and I love every one of them. Breakfast of Champions was hilarious and thought-provoking, and Slaughterhouse Five was deep and disturbing. I would imagine he'd have some great dialog going on with Hoffman as well.

A Scientist(or inventor): Henry Cavendish. I have a soft spot for crazy scientists. He discovered Hydrogen, figured out that water was made of two gasses and determined the density of the earth. He was a hermetic recluse after whom the Cavendish Library was named.

A Fictional character: Sanjuro. One of my favourite movies, one of my favourite characters, played by one of my favourite actors. Sanjuro is a masterless samurai who wanders the land seeking wrongs to right and rights to meddle in. In Sanjuro, he helps a group of bumbling swordsmen avenge a wrong done to their families. In the world of Sanjuro, there is no black or white-- everyone is guilty of something.

Two "Wildcards":
1. Brian Michael Bendis: 'Nuff said. This guys is just a class act in every respect. Great love for his fans, writes amazing dialog and isn't afraid to stir the pot. I've met him once already and I'd like to again.

2. Baz Luhrmann: This guy has a fantastic artistic vision, which we've seen in such movies as "Romeo + Juliette" and "Moulin Rouge", another of my favourite movies. From interviews I've seen, he seems like an intelligent, slightly eccentric man, and that will stand him in good stead with the rest of this group.

[Magna Harrier]

Two "Wildcards":
1. Brian Michael Bendis: 'Nuff said. This guys is just a class act in every respect. Great love for his fans, writes amazing dialog and isn't afraid to stir the pot. I've met him once already and I'd like to again.

Randomus, with the Wildcard choice THAT WILL SPLIT THE INTERNET!

[Randomus]

It will split the internet right in half! And wait until you see the third course!

[Alumette]

Edit: Oh btw Alumette, we did this in a history class once. There were more restrictions on who we could choose, but it was great fun. Baisically we picked some major historical figures and then our group had to research them and act out how the dinner would probably have gone based on personality quirks and differences of opinion. My favorite part was when a friend of mine and I acted out Oliver Cromwell and George Washington discussing battle tactics throught the use of food off the table.

oooh! An even *better* idea! I have my students do skits and stuff allllll the time! Thanks, Dru! *jots it down.*

As to your choice of "The unknown rebel," I would have to agree. I remember watching the protests on TV as they were happening and that image of that guy standing in front of that tank is burned into my memory forever. It was one of the most powerful moments of my life. Honestly how could it not have impacted everyone in some way or another? *has chills*

[Magna Harrier]

One of my teachers from the basic Chinese course has that photo on his wall, all blown up... it's proved a great conversation peice over the years. Especially since I think nearly every teaching team I've been with has had the one guy who's former Red Guard, and the other guy who can't return to China for political reasons.

[OneHitWonder]

Political Figure: Abraham Lincoln. He has always fascinated me. I did a report on him in fourth grade and received an A+ :)

Entertainer: Stephen Lynch (http://www.stephenlynch.com/). I think he's absolutely hilarious, and that reminds me, I need to go buy his newest album. I'm sure he would keep the conversation lively. ;)

Writer: Laurell K. Hamilton (http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/). I've recently finished all the books in her Anita Blake series, and I need to get the latest in her Meredith Gentry series. Asking her about where she gets her ideas would also make for lively dinner conversation. ;)

Scientist/Inventor: Dr. Martin Cooper, inventor of the cell phone. I couldn't live with out it, both IC and OOC :P So he deserves a BIG thank you.

Fictional Character: Princess Leia. I have been a huge fan all my life. I think she was a strong, positive role model for my generation.

Wildcard 1: Kevin Smith. I love all his movies, but watching "An Evening With Kevin Smith" is what made me a huge fan. He's someone I would love to just hang out with.

Wildcard 2: Suburban Hell. He is one of the few people who has always stuck by me and been there for me, no matter what. He has more reason than most to judge me and hate me, yet he doesn't, he's one of my closest friends and someone I can count on. There are a few others like that, but Burby's the one I haven't met in person yet, and I'd love to, so come to dinner Burby! :D


I would also like to hire Alumette to do the cooking for this dinner party! :chuckle:

[Magna Harrier]

Wildcard 1: Kevin Smith. I love all his movies, but watching "An Evening With Kevin Smith" is what made me a huge fan. He's someone I would love to just hang out with.


I met the guy at Gencon a few years back... for about ten seconds. Enough to begin my gush, and then have to move on to the next guy. Sadly, I knew him more for his comics than his movies... Quiver remains one of the best Green Arrow arcs EVER, only outdone by Longbow Hunters.

[Vendel]

Political figure: Ceaser. I mean its freakin Ceaser... why wouldnt you want him coming over for dinner!

An Entertainer: Easy one! Bruce Campbell. nuff said

A Writer: Robert Jorden. If for no other reason then to ask him "who killed Asmodean for craps sake!!"

A Scientist: Whoever invented cheesecake....mmmmmm

A Fictional character: That chick from the Final Fantasy movie... rawr

Two "Wildcards": The Three Stooges.

[Xielos]

Hmmmm, interesing thread.

* A Political figure
* An Entertainer
* A Writer(fiction or non.... includes journalists)
* A Scientist(or inventor)
* A Fictional character
* Two "Wildcards"(can be another from the stated categories or something else entirely)


Political Figure: Nebuchadrezzar - King of ancient Bablylon, pretty much invented what we call civilization. Also was the first guy to use hydroponics, growing plants without soil, though the Hanging Gardens are still being debated whether or not they existed

Entertainer: George Lopez - Man is this guy funny. I don't think anyone has ever made me laugh as hard as him. I can truly relate with most everything he jokes about. And he has a huge head.

Writer: Lois Lowry - I can't honestly say I know anything about this writer except for the fact that she wrote The Giver, one of my favorite books of all time. The book takes place in a possible future utopian society in which every sense of uniqueness is totaly filtered out. People have been mutated to be colorblind, they take pills to subdue sexual sensations, and the only books that exist in the world is the Rulebook and the Dictionary. All of mankinds history is forgotten by the people. There is one and only one person who knows everything, and that person is the Giver. The Giver is keeper of all mankinds memories, books, music, color, taste, and pain. The story centers around a boy who is to inherit the role of the Giver, and about his escape from the "perfect" world. Very good read, I'd love to chat wuth her about various philosphies and stuff.

Scientist/Inventor: George Washington Carver - Not many people know that before Carver became the inventor he is so famous for being, he was a painter, and he practiced impressionism (I think, been a while). After getting a commision for a mural on a wall, the white owners of the building fired him once he showed up for the color of his skin. After that, he decided to go into science, where it didn't matter what color your skin was, only what you could prove.(Tied with Steven Hawking)

Fictional Character: Either Brian from the Hatchet series of books (the first set of books I ever really got into, they hold a special place in my heart), or the kid from the book (his name escapes me at the moment) Tangerine by Edward Bloor. I can sooo relate to him and his situation, living in Florida and all.

Wildcard: Alber Einstien - Isn't a party without him :P

Wildcard: The girl from the "33% larger Tic-Tacs" commercial :cool:

And were having pizza. Peanuts optional.

[Alumette]

This is a really cool thread. :) Thanks, Sally!

OHW, I would totally cook for your party, gladly!

And, re: Kevin Smith. Oh man I would *so* ... well, :blush: Let's just say I have a raging crush on the guy. Soooooo sexy!


Vendel: Would you serve Caesar salad? ;)

Xie, I have to agree that The Giver is a fantastic book. One of my faves as well. And I also agree that it isn't a party without Einstein. He's one of my to 10 all time favorite people. He didn't get invited to my dinner party because, well, in this fantasy plane of existence in which I'm having this dinner party, Albert comes over to my house all the time for coffee and pastry, and to discuss pacifism and theoretical physics.

[Meltman]

And, re: Kevin Smith. Oh man I would *so* ... well, :blush: Let's just say I have a raging crush on the guy. Soooooo sexy!


Down, Alumette, he's a married man.

[Stan Walker]

Political figure: George W.- someone needs to smack him around for the current prices in gas!

An Entertainer: Burnadette Peters in her prime..lord that woman was a fox!

A Writer: I'm with One Hit Wonder on this one Laurell K. Hamilton all the way, i love her writing and she gets bonus points for her vamp stories happening in Saint Louis.

A Scientist: The Summarians who invented beer- god love them!

A Fictional character: Roland Deschain-The Gunslinger from the Dark Tower Series by Stephen King, quite possibly the toughest man who has ever been.

Two "Wildcards": My Father- what can i say i miss him, i would like to know if i grew up favorably in his eyes.

Hugh Heffner- he's the man and he always seems to bring just the right kind of people to liven up a party.

[sheld0n]

Sally, i have to say, this is an awesome thread. It both helps in getting to know your friends better, as well as offers some food for thought, which is very nice. :)

Druid, you must have had a really good teacher. Every History class i ever had usually amounted to listening to the teacher and taking notes. Heh...


-A Political figure: Jerzy Popieluszko
A Polish priest, and one of the most important activists against Communism in Poland. His anti-communist sermons were an important contribution when it came to boosting people's morale and encouraging resistance. A very brave man, he escaped death twice and kept on going, until he was finally captured, tortured and murdered by the "Police".
His death caused such an uproar in he country, that the murderers were convicted of the crime, even though they normally wouldnt be.

-An Entertainer: John Cleese
What a guy. I'm actually not sure if he isnt too popular to be on this list, but i suppose his works are more famous than he is (namely, being a part of the Monty Python group), so i guess he can stay. In his own words, "John Cleese is not just the most spiritually advanced, intellectually gifted and professionally distinguished of the Monty Python group. He is also the one who got landed with writing these f*cking biographies. Twenty five minutes to midnight, and he's still sitting there, poor sod, staring into space, trying to think what he can write about himself, dog tired and he hasn't even had time for dinner. So give me a break."
You've got to respect that.


-A Writer: Paulo Coelho
He wrote "the Alchemist", that just happens to be my favorite book, ever.
An adventurer, writer, and most importantly, a wise philosopher who has a lot to say about life, in a way that really speaks to you. Many people claim that his works are too "commercial", and in his home country of Brazil, hes not seen as a very good writer, but i dont know. For me, he hit the nail on the head with the Alchemist. And its my dinner. So there. :p

-A Scientist: Ibn al-Shatir
An astronomer from Damascus, he had very similar theories to those of Copernicus, over 100 years earlier. Some people even think that Copernicus may have been "inspired" by his works, but al-Shatir is rarely credited for any of this. I would like to meet him, so that he could see how the modern astronomy progressed since his time, and ask about his opinion on his place in history.

-A Fictional character: Ford Prefect
A character from the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", uh, pentalogy.
He's a researcher for the said guide. A party animal with commando-like survival skills, he has something to say about most places in space and time across the universe. He's a pretty smart guy, but it's not very noticeable because of his Kramer-like personality (btw, Kramer from Seinfeld was my second choice here).

-Wildcard 1: Jack Emmert :D
You might think its weird to stick him into this crowd, but he's not your avarege comic book fan. He speaks five languages, has two Master's Degrees (one in ancient history and second in ancient languages), and his fascination about comic books is based on a "modern mythology" point of view. I think hes a very interesting person all around, and i would like to get to know him.

-Wildcard 2: Quentin Tarantino
A very nice guy, who understands the concept of "cool" like few others. I think he has great storytelling skills, and its hard to imagine that he started out as a clerk at Blockbuster. The witty dialogue and spectacular, often jaw-dropping scenes in his movies are hard to compete with. He also strikes me as a genuinely friendly person, which is rare in his trade.

edit: noticed a typo here and there :shinner:

[Druid]

Druid, you must have had a really good teacher. Every History class i ever had usually ammounted to listening to the teacher and taking notes. Heh...




Favorite teacher ever. She was the craziest, wittiest, and most enjoyable teacher I ever had. We used to joke around all the time. Honestly I'd say miss her the most about Highschool. She made History much more entertaining then any other teacher.

She also thinks that I am going to grow up to be the master of the universe, so that adds to her coolness.

[sheld0n]

Sounds amazing. Does she have a profile on http://www.ratemyteachers.com/ ?

[Randomus]

Trilogy in Five Parts. Not some sissy Pentalogy. ;)

[sheld0n]

How about if we settle for series. :p

[ThunderMace]

My guestlist:

Political Figure- Abraham Lincoln: Having a general disdain for most political figures makes this one an easy choice. Also He was chosen because I admire anyone that has to make a hard choice, but cowboys up and does it anyway.

Entertainer- Bruce Campbell: B-Movie actor extraordinaire, he seems like a fella that could keep the conversation rolling

Writer- Elmore Leonard: Writes fiction like he’s lived it, which at 80+ he probably has. Also writes the best conversational dialogue in any book, ever.

Scientist/Inventor- Nickola Tesla: As much or even more, perhaps than Edison, Tesla’s contributions to invention and science shaped our modern times, and how we use electricity. He was so far ahead of everyone else that we still haven’t really caught up with him.

Fictional character- Captain America: Maybe just because I’d want to meet him and listen to his views.

Wildcard one- Sir Richard Burton: Quite possibly the greatest adventurer that has ever lived. He had adventures that rival Indiana Jones. He travelled alone and in disguise to Mecca, translated The Arabian Nights and the Kama Sutra, journeyed to discover the sources of the Nile, travelled far and wide, and wrote much. He was probably the third best European swordman of the period.

Wildcard two- Buddha: Just because I would like to talk to a truly enlightened soul.

And Sally, Do you mind if I toss this idea out on my LiveJournal?

[suburbanhell]

A Political figure
An Entertainer
A Writer(fiction or non.... includes journalists)
A Scientist(or inventor)
A Fictional character
Two "Wildcards"(can be another from the stated categories or something else entirely)
Ok, here goes...

Political Figure...not really into politics but definitely into history, so I'd need a flying delorean for this one, Benjamin Franklin -- not a president, but a very intelligent person and a key figure during my favorite period in history, The Revolutionary War.

An Entertainer: Milo Aukerman, lead singer, The Descendents.

A Writer: Haven't found a book I couldn't put down, except for books written by Henry Rollins, somehow captivate me, so ol' Hank's on the list.

Scientist/Inventor: Nikola Tesla, the inventor of modern radio. Though most give credit to Guglielmo Marconi. However, the Supreme Court overturned Marconi's patent in 1943 in favor of Tesla, and without radio I'd really have no reason to exist.

Fictional Character: Hmm...Lara Croft. Rich, British, and always up for an adventure, probably has some interesting stories to tell, and how bout them polygons! LOL...

Wildcard 1: Kevin Smith, one of the all time funniest and most talented people in the movie industry.

Wildcard 2: Edward "Oedipus" Hyson - a recently retired living legend in Boston Radio, the first Punk Rock DJ in the history of radio, and one of the coolest people I have ever had the pleasure to work for.

[Gaia]

* A Political figure: President Harry S. Trueman. Here was a man who was not afraid of the status quote. His opponants had great respect for him as well as the public at large. He was able to bring us out of WWII and also stand up to his generals on other conflicts. Not to mention his diaries that he wrote are absolutely facinating and reflect an honest human being and not a political facade.

* An Entertainer: Gene Kelly. A gentleman through and through. One of the greatest dancers of all time who's films never failed to entertain.

* A Writer: Joseph Campbell. One of the biggest authorities on the origin of modern myths. Lucas used a lot of his background material to make Star Wars. Plus I watched all of Campbell's tv tapes back in college when I took my theater history classes.

* A Scientist(or inventor): I would have said Tesla but Mina already invited him to her party. So I guess I'll have to say Thomas Edison. Without him we would not have movies, record players (they play those round vinyel things you see on your parents shelves gathering dust) and most importantly the light bulb!

* A Fictional character: Superman. The original tights wearing comics character with superpowers. I would want his opinion on how times have changed from when he was first written and drawn. Plus all the reticons and revisions done to him.

* Two "Wildcards": #1: Robert Rodriguez. He's interesting in that he directs at the two clashing extremes of the movie industry. Ultra-violent hard core rated R films and gentle family oriented fare without any hint of swearing.

#2: General Erwin Rommel. Why? Because he was a genius in warfare on the field. Wether in Africa or on the Normandy Beaches (he was the driving force behind all the traps the allied forces found in the area after seeing there was a definate possiblity for mass invasion). Plus he was a gentleman to his enemies and insisted to his troops all prisoners taken were to be treated with respect. He also hated Hitler and wanted to see the Nazi regeme ended.

[Half Life]

Wow, you all have some deep replies, this dinner would be all about fun for me.


-A Political figure: Arnold-Im not big into politics, but since the termenatior is actually a politician, he gets my vote.

-An Entertainer: Bruce Lee- I just want to see him in action up close and for real. You never know how much is just him trying to look good for a movie. Id love to see how well he really fights UFC style


-A Writer: R.A.Salvatore- Hes my favorite author and i'd love to just plan DnD with him. Id also settle for Ed Greenwood.

-A Scientist: Dont know many scientists names, so id just go with the one that has the best ideas on interstellar travel. Would be great to hear his or her side of things.

-A Fictional character: Half Life- How cool would it be to have dinner with a character you created. I can only imagine, kinda how in the new avengers, the person who wrote the Sentry comic got to meet the Sentry in person, that would just be too awesome.

-Wildcard 1: Galactus- I just want the power cosmic and i dont see any other way to get it.

-Wildcard 2: My mom -this is my one truely serious one. I dont know her, she left when i was 4, so id love to just sit down with her and have lunch and talk about things. I dont hate her, I dont lover her, but id like to get to know her.

[Druid]

Sounds amazing. Does she have a profile on http://www.ratemyteachers.com/ ?


Yes she does, but I don't think it does her justice. People say they didn'tlearn anything in that class, but I just think that they took advantage of the fact that she was not huge on discipline, and slid by with minimum effort. If you applied yourself, then you learned and had fun. Some people just don't know how to do that.

I mean my Anatomy/Marine Bio teacher had one of the toughest courses in the school, yet I still enjoyed myself immensly in that class as well. It's all a matter of how you look at it and what you enjoy. Hence why i don't like facebook too much.

[sheld0n]

-Wildcard 1: Galactus- I just want the power cosmic and i dont see any other way to get it.

But then, Earth would be the dinner. :P

On another note, i almost picked Tesla for the scientist spot as well. :)

Yes she does, but I don't think it does her justice. People say they didn'tlearn anything in that class, but I just think that they took advantage of the fact that she was not huge on discipline, and slid by with minimum effort. If you applied yourself, then you learned and had fun. Some people just don't know how to do that.

Ive seen that happen way too many times. No wonder these people later think that school sucked.

[Druid]

Telsa was one cooky dude. Ever seen the footage of him sitting beneath his telsa machine? with all the electricity flowing around him? That was crazy sci-fi stuff there.

[sheld0n]

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/4056/teslainlab1899x4002gi.jpg

:D

I was always curious if he didnt get some help from the future, or something. :p

[MikeKAY]

A Political figure - Gaius Julius Caesar
Some people play politics like a game for their little sliver of power. Not this guy, nope this guy bitchslapped the referee and rewrote the rule book. The shear audacity of this guy is really hard to grasp when compared to today’s modern politicians, he epitomized high-stakes politics and single handedly reshaped the worlds most powerful empire. More over, the people loved him.

He went out with a bang too.

An Entertainer - Ozzy Osbourne
:D

A Writer - Mark Twain
This guy was brilliant as a fictional author, essayist, humorist, and critic. The shear wit this man could bring to bear leaves anyone that has lived since seem pale in comparison. I could hardly imagine how awesome it would be to just sit down and talk with this guy.

((This was a toss up with Douglas Adams, another man whose infinite wit I would love to experience in person.))

A Scientist - Nickola Tesla
To say this guy was ahead of his time would be a profound understatement, as would describing him as any less then amazingly brilliant. He was a true genius and this was reflected in each and every one of his creations, many of them still in use today... He also hung out with Mark Twain.

A Fictional character - Agent Smith
…For the shear unadulterated hell of it.

Wildcard #1 - Alumette :D
I don't think I have ever 'met' anyone as awe inspiringly compassionate and uplifting and I honestly mean that. She never fails to strike me as a fundamentally good person in the purest sense that I once couldn't even have thought possible. In addition to that she never fails to provide a clear and profound voice of reason to just about any discussion, even if she doesn't think so at the time. ;)

Plus I would get to cook for her.

Wildcard #2 - George Patton
Yep, Mr. "We're going to murder those lousy Hun cocksuckers by the bushel-****ing-basket" George "Old Blood and Guts" Patton. A brilliant tactician in his own right and a soldier the likes of which isn't to be found today. I always wanted to meet this son of a bitch in person. :chuckle:

Of course, the conflicting group dynamic of this group would probably make the whole thing dissolve into total and complete chaos merely upon introductions, it would still be fun as hell to see. :D

[sheld0n]

Wildcard #1 - Alumette :D



She was a close choice of mine as well, but she didn't get invited to my dinner party because, well, in this fantasy plane of existence in which I'm having this dinner party, she comes over to my house all the time for coffee and pastry, and to discuss pacifism and theoretical physics (as well as pass on what Einstein told her).

[Malibu Sally]

....in this fantasy plane of existence in which I'm having this dinner party, she comes over to my house all the time for coffee and pastry, and to discuss pacifism and theoretical physics (as well as pass on what Einstein told her).

...to discuss pacifism and theoretical physics. :eyebrow:

yeah. right. :naughty: :naughty: :naughty:



:D

[Esbat]

Political figure: Bill Clinton
- Reason: "Ah... did not... have sexual relations... with that woman."

Entertainer: Jon Stewart
- Reason: <see above>

Writer: Ben Affleck
- Reason: He won an Oscar, played Daredevil, and he is a former mancrush I once had.

Scientist: Stephen Hawkin
- Reason: Quite simply the smartest, therefore sexiest man alive.

Fictional character: Twilight
- Reason: He's my fictional attorney as his full fictional name is Twilight Eugene Rubenowitz, III.

Wildcard #1: Parker Posey
- Reason: rrrrrrrrrrrrrowl

Wildcard #2: Jessica Simpson
- Reason: <see Bill Clinton, Jon Stewart>

[Tarkenchi]

EBBY! *pounces*

[Malibu Sally]

Political figure: Bill Clinton
- Reason: "Ah... did not... have sexual relations... with that woman."

Entertainer: Jon Stewart
- Reason: <see above>

Writer: Ben Affleck
- Reason: He won an Oscar, played Daredevil, and he is a former mancrush I once had.

Scientist: Stephen Hawkin
- Reason: Quite simply the smartest, therefore sexiest man alive.

Fictional character: Twilight
- Reason: He's my fictional attorney as his full fictional name is Twilight Eugene Rubenowitz, III.

Wildcard #1: Parker Posey
- Reason: rrrrrrrrrrrrrowl

Wildcard #2: Jessica Simpson
- Reason: <see Bill Clinton, Jon Stewart>

Wha? huh?... I see not the words "cat" and "girl" anywhere in that post! :D

[Esbat]

Who says this isn't a costume dinner party? :naughty:

[sheld0n]

Ow. Stephen Hawking dressed as a catgirl. :yoy:

[Meltman]

...to discuss pacifism and theoretical physics. :eyebrow:

yeah. right. :naughty: :naughty: :naughty:



:D

Well, see, the physics of that would HAVE to be purely theoretical...

[Elemento]

* A Political figure
* An Entertainer
* A Writer(fiction or non.... includes journalists)
* A Scientist(or inventor)
* A Fictional character
* Two "Wildcards"(can be another from the stated categories or something else entirely)

Political figure: Rasputin: From peasant to the power behind the aristocracy of Russia. The guy was also a tough SOB to even get killed. Been told, I have his eyes.

Entertainer: Bob Hope: Too much to say about this great man of both G.B. & the U.S.

Writer: Isaac Asimov: The father of Modern American Science Fiction, he was also a great biochemist in his own right.

Scientist: Leonardo Da Vinci: He was just genius incarnate. He was a scientist, futurist, artist, sculptor, engineer, inventor, and political advisor to Pope Leo in his time.

Fictional Character: Doc Strange (my Marvel favorite) or Metamorpho (my DC favorite) A toss-up here.

Wildcard 1: Myrrlyn (Merlin) and yes, sometimes his name is spelled this way. Some accounts even list him as being a real person during the 7th century of Britain.

Wildcard 2: Edgar Allan Poe: The American grandfather of all genres. He started American science fiction, mystery, gothic, romance, detective, psychoanalytical, horror, and anything else I may have forgot here. ;) :)

[Sebastian Kain]

I just wanna say I really like this thread, and a lot of the answers. I hope to get mine posted soon. :)

[Malibu Sally]

Well, see, the physics of that would HAVE to be purely theoretical...

Youch! Even I felt that sting! :D

[Remianen]

Political Figure: Bill Clinton – The realest President the US has had since Kennedy. I see him at least once a week (my agency is in Harlem and he’s up in Sylvia’s and Copeland’s like every opportunity he gets, even after the bypass) and have spoken to him a few times. What amazes me about him is his quiet charisma, articulate manner, and how he manages to call himself a Democrat with most of his views bearing an overt Republican tint. Also, to ask him how many affairs he REALLY had (since I know it’s far more than the 4 or 5 that have been reported).


An Entertainer: Tupac Shakur – An amazingly creative person with a background very similar to my own. Pac would be there to keep the whole gathering “real” and true to today’s society. Plus, as a writer, the man was unmatched in conveying messages that his audience could identify with but people outside his audience couldn’t even imagine. Besides, success is its own revenge (how many people know who Tupac was compared to how many people know who C. Delores Tucker is? Who is more culturally relevant?).


A Writer: Edgar Allan Poe – Easily one of my favorite writers and a role model I used growing up. The pacing and foreshadowing he used, as well as the emotional undercurrents present in all of his works, has always amazed me. How a person who was so tormented could write things like “The Tell-Tale Heart” baffles me. “Masque of the Red Death” remains a top 5 favorite of mine, 24 years after the first time I read it.


A Scientist or Inventor: Leonardo da Vinci – The single most prolific inventor in the history of mankind. The man threw away better ideas 400+ years ago than we see in the current day. I have no doubt I could moderate a manic exchange of ideas with him present.

A Fictional Character: Raistlin Majere – Never conflicted, never flinching, always making the best decision (even if the staid do-gooders around him don’t realize it at the time). I have great respect for people who make the ultimate sacrifice with no second thoughts, and Raist personified that trait.

Wild Card 1: F. Scott Fitzgerald – I would love to talk to him about what motivated him to create probably my favorite character of all time, Jay Gatsby. No matter how old I was, he was always an inspiration to me. Growing up on “the wrong side of the tracks” and going from humble beginnings to a level of success (and mystery) that captivates onlookers (no matter HOW that success was achieved), has always been a prevailing goal of mine. Plus, it would be interesting to learn why this man, who was easily one of the most beloved writers of his time, would shackle himself to a basket case of a woman and remain (largely) faithful to her, despite all the things she did to him. I’d really love to know the techniques he used to turn personal turmoil and tragedy into some of history’s best prose.

Wild Card 2: Queen Noor of Jordan – The one woman I believe could change the world if she was actually presiding over a country with common sense. I’ve met her once and for an hour, she kept a room of people with mixed backgrounds and motivations absolutely transfixed with her ideas and suggestions on how to improve the condition of the world community. IMO, it’s the one major issue that will bring about the downfall of Islam as a whole: disallowing the most creative, charismatic, and intelligent minds from contributing to society because they can bear children.

[Remianen]

#2: General Erwin Rommel. Why? Because he was a genius in warfare on the field. Wether in Africa or on the Normandy Beaches (he was the driving force behind all the traps the allied forces found in the area after seeing there was a definate possiblity for mass invasion). Plus he was a gentleman to his enemies and insisted to his troops all prisoners taken were to be treated with respect. He also hated Hitler and wanted to see the Nazi regeme ended.

Very good choice, Gaia. I would've put Hitler on my list but thought that would create an uproar. Love him or hate him, I have to admire him for his charisma and his ability to bring HOPE to a country devoid of it at the time of his rise to power. This ex-con who was by no means handsome, took a floundering country and turned it into a world powerhouse. I don't agree with his policies or methods, but I give props (credit) where it's due. Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Rommel was a very interesting personality. But as with most things, people judge you by the company you keep.