![Conversation between two people. Frame 1: A: I've bought a new toaster. B: [thinks] Christmas is here. Frame 2: A: It's got a chip and runs Java. B: [thinks] Jaffa? I'd kill for a Jaffa cake. Frame 3: A: It makes great toast. B: [thinks] I love Marmite on toast. Frame 4: A: But it's odd with crumpets. B: [thinks] I _adore_ Marmite on crumpets. Frame 5: A: It crashes... Frame 6: A: ... if you don't stick a label on each crumpet saying (Bread).](http://www.j-paine.org/dobbs/crumpets_480.gif)
This is a technical joke about the Java programming language. In Java, if a piece of data isn't of the type that some bit of program would normally accept, you have to "cast" it to the expected type. You do this by writing the name of the expected type, in brackets, in front of the piece of data.
I met this character on the train back from Paddington. When he saw me making a fair copy of the sketch by holding it up against the window to trace, he stalked over and hissed "Lose the name! Lose the name!" But really, he had already had a very easy way to not let me know his name. Cut out this drawing, glue onto card, and present to your next mobile-phone boor.
