25-11-14 I can tell

[Fluffy]

hope the writers let us "read" their thoughts just before they get interrupted by Ruby

we know what Dillon and Ruby will think

"oh no, I will not be able to kiss him as planned"

and

"oh no, they will not kiss as I wanted"

the only question is if Ray will think

"oh no, now I have to kiss a beautiful girl, I will be very nervous"

or

"oh no, now I will not kiss Dillon as I wanted"

or somewhere between

Given that he said 'Well, if I had one,she'd be here to help me, right?' and the look on his face (I'm guessing nervous), I'm more inclined to believe his reaction will be 'Oh, thank God! A woman to practice on. That's a load off my mind!'

Seriously, I'm not getting this bi/gay vibe that so many others seem to be picking up.

[themacnut]

I have a feeling the explanation will be that, like the other fairly good-looking guys in the Ma3verse with issues attracting women (Gary and Andy), Ray's issue will be lack of social skills with women.

That is possible, I guess, but - aside from the fact that it makes him a bit of a repeat of Andy - it doesn't quite seem to fit the way that Ray has been depicted so far. He actually comes across as pretty confident and outgoing; for a big example, his stunt in saving Dillon from a girl who was trying to chat him up involved some social sensitivity and a chutzpah. I could hardly imagine Gary or Andy realising that was needed, let alone pulling it off, but Ray worked it just fine.

Ray's problem may not that he's socially imcompetent, but simply that he can't put himself out there as an sexually attractive man. It doesn't matter so much with women if the man is physically attractive, that may draw her to him, but if he can't say a word to her, or says something stupid or inappropriate, or doesn't put a move on her, then he generally either gets discarded quickly or put in the "friend zone".

Ray may be socially competent enough to set women at ease around him, but not enough to get any of them into bed, because he is too much the gentleman. This results in him being the sterotypical Nice Guy (TM) who has lots of female friends but no girlfriends, at least not for a long while.

The only other alternatives I can see here is that he's got strong religious or moral convictions against playing the field, or he really is gay but deep in the closet. Like many fathoms deep.

[Bambikles]

Which just shows how much French people know about Belgian beer. Even Leffe do a range including red and dark ales, there's a whole catalogue of Belgian fruit beers (can't stand 'em myself, but they have their fans), you get outfits like Hoegaarden doing rather good wheat beers, and as for the darker Belgian brews ... Oh God ... Gulden Draak alone is too die for...

I know all of this but didn't want to sound pedantic.
Most people know there are various Leffe, are aware of Hoegaarden (it's pretty much impossible to miss the advertising for this one). Many students are familiar with the different Chouffes and have heard of Abbaye beers. But I have to admit it, the beers that are seen as "cool" by most people are the tequila flavoured various Desperados (can't drink this personaly). Being interested in beer remains a hipster or geeky thing here.
Few people are aware that there is a very dynamic new scene of French craft breweries deeply inspired by the American craft beer revolution, though there are beer strongholds in France too (Alsace, Britanny, Nord).

[Spidrift]

But I have to admit it, the beers that are seen as "cool" by most people are the tequila flavoured various Desperados (can't drink this personaly).

Bleeurgh. There goes the French reputation for being cool.

(Mind you, I did run into surprisingly drinkable British blonde with a dose of Scotch whisk added the other day...)

Few people are aware that there is a very dynamic new scene of French craft breweries deeply inspired by the American craft beer revolution, though there are beer strongholds in France too (Alsace, Britanny, Nord).

Well yes, a couple of times per century, the Germans try to launch civilising missions into France - but so far, they've only managed to spread semi-competent brewing lore to the northern part of the country.

And I thought that Britanny specialised in cider, not beer.

[Bambikles]

Well yes, a couple of times per century, the Germans try to launch civilising missions into France - but so far, they've only managed to spread semi-competent brewing lore to the northern part of the country.

It's half a joke, but this may be the reason why beer is seen as a barbaric and unrefined beverage here in France. The northern Bières de garde are much closer to Belgian beers than German ones, though. More seriously, it's drunk like a casual beverage not really worthy to pay attention to and generally hasn't a very good image. Being interested in beer is a geek thing slowly turning into a hipster thing (sob, sob).
Wine, only wine is worthy for mainstream educated people ! And whisky, since France is biggest world consumer (we're biggest consumers of Porto too, how funny when you know a bit its history). Most recognize they don't know much about beer and are not very interested to know more, even chef or gastronomic journalists.

And I thought that Britanny specialised in cider, not beer.

She does the two (and chouchenn, and whisky). And there is the competition of Normandy to boot. She was the leading region in the rebirth of French beer in the 80s. Grapefruit was never grown in Britanny because of the climate, so there was a tradition of beer-making here. You should the Lancelot brand beers, especially XI.I (barley wine). Or Sainte-Colombe or Philomenn, or...

[Spidrift]

Wandering way off topic, but we have a German moderator, so we can talk about beer with impunity.

And whisky, since France is biggest world consumer...

I was surprised by this, as I don't usually think of the French as whisky drinkers, but the infallible Internet confirms the claim. Per capita, of course - the USA and India probably run way ahead by total volume.

chouchenn

(That's "mead" in English.)

Grapefruit...

A tragic linguistic false friend there. The English word "grapefruit" translates into pamplemousse in French. No, I don't know how a large acidic citrus fruit got that English name.

...was never grown in Britanny...

And yet, grapes grow in Germany (and in southern England, for that matter). Oh well.

[Don Alexander]

Wandering way off topic, but we have a German moderator, so we can talk about beer with impunity.

The problem is, though, your German moderator hates beer!

It's funny, when Bambikles listed all those Belgian beers... I've never heard of a one, and I grew up not THAT far from the Belgian border, actually. I guess there's the first law of beerodynamics. Beer always flow from the high pressure area to the low pressure area. So even close to Belgium, no Belgian beers show up in Germany, whereas close to the Czech Republic, you see Staropramen in Germany! In northern Italy, on the other hand, you just get Münchener Hofbräu after it has quantum tunneled through the alps.

[Bambikles]

...was never grown in Britanny...

And yet, grapes grow in Germany (and in southern England, for that matter). Oh well.X

Well, I exaggerated a bit, there is some vine grown near Nantes, but otherwise, there are no vine in Britanny. I guess it's a matter of soil and of a too wet climate. But as this map shows, there are several vignobles more nordic than Britanny (most famously, Champagne). There it is a matter of correct exposition to the sun (vine is grown on hills then).

Wandering way off topic, but we have a German moderator, so we can talk about beer with impunity.

The problem is, though, your German moderator hates beer!

Is that even possiblee ? I'm shocked, shocked, I'm telling you !

It's funny, when Bambikles listed all those Belgian beers...

I didn't listed that much, however. Abbaye beer is a style. Hoegaarden is a Belgian wheat beer (different from Germans wheat beer). Leffe is the standard Abbaye beer, available in every supermarket in France, along with Grimbergen. Spidrift mentioned fruit beers, I think he talked about the lambic family. These are sour beers, often with mixed with cherry (that is kriek). But there are lambics without fruit: gueuze and faro (this one with sugar candy). It's quite easy to find an industrial kriek in France, under the brand La Bécasse ("the woodcock"). La Bécasse, Hoegaarden and Leffe are all brands of AB Inbev, the biggest beer company in the world. Chouffe and Gulden Draak are much more obscure, though.

I've never heard of a one, and I grew up not THAT far from the Belgian border, actually. I guess there's the first law of beerodynamics. Beer always flow from the high pressure area to the low pressure area.

Didn't know that law.

So even close to Belgium, no Belgian beers show up in Germany, whereas close to the Czech Republic, you see Staropramen in Germany! In northern Italy, on the other hand, you just get Münchener Hofbräu after it has quantum tunneled through the alps.

To be fair, Germany is a word in itself when it comes to beer. It's lager-land after all. Other countries, outside of massively produced pseudo-pils, tend to prefer ales. I tasted only 3 brands of Czech beer, but I was never disappointed.
I tasted several English beers too (more than Czech beers, for sure).

[Don Alexander]

The problem is, though, your German moderator hates beer!

Is that even possiblee ? I'm shocked, shocked, I'm telling you !

I have at least two other people in my circle of friends who do not drink beer. But then, they are teetotalers, so it's a bit different. I also know an Italian who hates coffee!!!

['J']

Yeah right, next thing you'll be telling us that you don't wear lederhosen or enjoy the musical stylings of David Hasselhoff.

[TheDude]

I can attest to the validity of both of those statements. (I quite like beer, though.)