Things I learned about red hats this week:

• If you can stand the humiliation, wearing a red hat is a decent way of starting conversations with strangers. At least in bars on New Year’s Eve.
• Your average San Francisco bar denizen will know exactly what Red-Hat-the-Linux-company is. No, really. I know, I was shocked too.
• You may drunkenly promise to help a complete stranger acquire a red hat just like yours. This complete stranger may live in the UK.
• The Red Hat fedora costs $37.50 new ($33.95 with employee discount). Shipping to the UK costs $60. The Red Hat UK store does not carry fedoras.

I would like to learn that someone in the UK is reading this and has a Red Hat fedora that needs a home. Preferably a size medium.