In the same meme;

Joe Cocker
Andrei Bocelli
Haley Westenra
Freddy Mercury
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Michael Hutchence
Eric Clapton
Bette Midler

And of course, Jimmi Hendix's "Foxy" lady

Cool topic,

I'd have:

1-Sir Winston Churchill (the only person to save the world, sorry lads it was Winnie not Jesus)

2-Rembrandt van Rijin (the greatest painter of all time)

3-Mark Rothko (the other greatest painter of all time)

4-Neil Young (He has swapped political POVs a few times and I think that is a sign of utter sincerity and I doubt Rokey Erickson from The 13th Floor Elevators would like my guests. )

5-Peter Costello ( To try and get him to lead the Libs )

6-George Bush
6a-Toney Blair
7-John Howard

8-Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Somalian feminist and freedom fighter)

9-A passenger from the second plane into the World Trade center. (I would like to hear what they have to say about it)

10-Frederick Nietzsche ( to warn him about the Existentialists and quiz him about eternal recurrence)

Sheesh, on a night like this, I would say hang the expense and
book the entire restaurant for the night :)

I would then set up various tables.

At the "Understanding Life" table, we'd probably have
Darwin, Dawkins and Attenborough. We'd also include
Goodall, Louis Leakey and Frans de Waal, for their knowledge
about our cousins, the rest of the primate family. They
are more like us then you guys would ever think, but
then an interest in primatology is not so common.

The economics table would include Buffett, Robert Holmes a Court
Richard Branson and perhaps Gail Kelly. All unconventional
thinkers, with a proven track record of results.

There would be a small political table, to add to the colour
of the night. Keating, McKew and Obama should add a bit
of atmosphere :)

Then of course a comedy table. Billy Connely, Rowan Atkinson,
Paul Hogan would blend in on that table. Dave Allen would
tell the jokes.

Paris Hilton would be the stripper for the night, which would
amuse the comedy table for hours.

In the corner would also be the OLO table, with all welcome
who want to join in, except for the religious farts, as the
atmosphere would be all wrong and they would feel out of place.

Dickie would also be excluded, as with her admission to wanting
to kick people in the groin, her best place, along with George
Pell, would be washing all the dishes :)

Not vindictiveness just my liking for a laugh another table
John Howard
next to him Costello
next Turnbull
next to Bush
Dr Nelson
Me wearing my your rights at work shirt and a silly big grin all night.

Bugsy “Actually Col, I referring to Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton, the Englishman.”

My error, apologies : - )

Usual suspect… hey you honour me… and I would graciously accept

thankyou so much…

We see far too little of you here… good to see you posting again : - )

Likewise. Foxy, expect me …. And for you… I will be in dinner suit and black tie … I trust you can persuade the gals to dress up too… (ah I do so enjoy ‘formals’)


Banjo's crew would be a riot…. Although they might try to out-shine one another…

Max Miller would be great…Banjo do you recall the joke he was apparently kicked off the BBC for… concerned a spiral stair case… a great after–dinner yarn.

Yabby “book the entire restaurant for the night”

I usually agree with Yabby but on this occasion I will defer.

Having seen a few of the names you folk have suggested, from sweet Paris Hilton to Joe Cocker and John Winston add Michael Palin too….…but the idea of a restaurant bash would miss out on one thing.

I want to engage with my guests, get to listen to them, be enriched and savor their individuality, I am afraid with too many in a room at once, I would miss out on that.

So for me, not a bigger bash but a lot of smaller groups, over a longer period of time….

Col,
I googled Max Miller recently and there a club, or similar, in UK to recognize him and there are some CDs available. What i like about the old vaudville comics is that you can listen to them many time and still pick up jokes you missed earlier. Max left a lot to your own imagination then went crook on the audience for their dirty minds.

Apparently he was banned from the BBC 5 or 6 times. I have not heard the spiral staircase. But heres a little sample of his 'poetry'

I seek the perfect woman
A man could ask no more
Than she be young and fresh and over sexed
And own a liquor store