I has no idea that Joe Stange, the Thirsty Pilgrim, had a crush on the Thinking Monkey, as illustrated, but today on Twitter we read this:

Would rule "don't be absurd" be violation of itself? [insert Alan's thinking monkey]

And also this:

He must be on sabbatical. Had to go 10 pages deep to find him...

I point this out for a couple of reasons. First, it's easy blog fodder on a slow night and, second, I hadn't ever really thought of the Thinking Monkey... or really the Thinking Chimp... as an independent character. I presumed it illustrated the impression I might think a reader might have of me based on the point I was making. I am, in that respect, the Thinking Chimp. But I like this idea. That there is an independent Thinking Chimp with a life of its own that judges me - and you perhaps - according to its own unspoken standards. One can only guess what his de Gaulle like chin rub might mean. Like my posts. I can live with that.

But it does raise the question of what other expectations you may have picked up from hanging around this place too much. Do you read secretly slipped in implications into my choice of bullet points, say, whether an arrow (⇒) or a diamond (♦)? Or have you a pet name for Mr. Drunk Junket over there to the left?