Really?

I read, from a verifiable source, (by "verifiable" I mean an ad for Dunhill Watches in the November issue of British G.Q.) that James Joyce would always carry a pair of lady's bloomers with him, which he "waved in the air to demonstrate approval."

Approval of what exactly remains unclear. A hasty Internet search has turned up nothing. In my head I imagine Joyce in a number of situations, being served a delectable dinner of potatoes or perhaps enjoying a gorgeous sunset or a quality work of cinema, waving his lady's bloomers in approval.

The ad uses it as a measure of eccentricity, as in "You know you're eccentric when..." (this is another one) "... You change your name to Captain Beany, claim to come from the Planet Beanus, and run for Parliament in 2001 wearing a Lycra superhero outfit" This attributed to "Aspiring parliamentarian, Barry Bean."

How about: You know you're eccentric when you spend an entire workday afternoon perusing British GQ and giggling at the titty photos of women playing with stuffed animals.