Michele posted this one and, as I have a dearth of inspiration, I snagged it:

The Meme of Four

Four jobs youÂ’ve had in your life: Assistant Tennis Pro; Slide Projectionist for Art History 101; Bartender; and, oh yeah, Lawyer (current)

Four movies you could watch over and over: They may not really be movies, all of these, but: Danger UXB; The Jeeves/Wooster Series; Auntie Mame; Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House.

Four places youÂ’ve lived: New York City; New Orleans; Paris; London.

Four TV shows you love to watch: I watch TV very rarely and while there isnÂ’t anything that I loooove to watch, I do regularly watch Antiques Roadshow; Monday Night Football (camera work is excellent); All Yankees Games; What Not to Wear (the Viking Bride loves it and so I watch with her).

Four websites you visit daily: Bloglines (to catch up on all of my friends); Little Green Footballs; Gmail; Westlaw.

Four of your favorite foods: Chili; Black Beans (love them mashed up with more chili peppers than a human can usually stand); Burmese food; and, Lobster Bisque (current craze, will order if see on menu without fail).

Four places youÂ’d rather be: Home with my kids; BEEEAAACH; Antigua Guatelama with the Viking Bride; the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Four albums you canÂ’t live without: Ok, there isnÂ’t any such thing. It changes all the time. ThatÂ’s just the way it is. That said, at the moment: Noce de Figaro (Mozart); Zydeco; Jimmy Buffet (or as the Boy Child says, Johnny Buffin!); the Talking Heads, the early stuff.

I'm going to add the following category since I'm such a heavy drinker:
Four of your favorite drinks: This was MicheleÂ’s and she was all about the tea. Not me, even if IÂ’m going to leave this up: Espresso; White Burgundies (tastes like liquid sunshine); diet grape soda from Polar Bear (so, sue me).

If you're reading this you may consider yourself tagged (if you like).

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Found this one at Even Me:

King Edward I You scored 61 Wisdom, 77 Tactics, 56 Guts, and 52 Ruthlessness!

Or rather, King Edward the Longshanks if you've seen Braveheart. You, like Edward, are incredibly smart and shrewd, but you win at any costs.... William Wallace died at his hands after a fierce Scottish rebellion against his reign. Despite his reputation though, Longshanks had the best interests of his people at heart. But God help you if you got on his bad side.

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A misspent youth is all I can blame for the following results to the test I found at Lawren's place:

Bacardi 151 Congratulations! You're 144 proof, with specific scores in beer (60) , wine (133), and liquor (121).

All right. No more messing around. Your knowledge of alcohol is so high that you have drinking and getting plastered down to a science. Sure, you could get wasted drinking beer, but who needs all those trips to the bathroom? You head straight for the bar and pick up that which is most efficient.

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I have been meme smacked again. I am answering both of them below.

Meme I: Five Things I Miss From My Childhood, from Kathy

Thanks, Kathy, for tagging me with this one. I am a bit of a nostalgia hound and this one was fun.

1. I miss being brown. I miss living before people cared about sun screen. I spent every Summer toasted a golden brown. I gleamed with health. I ran everywhere and all of my clothes had holes in them because I was that kind of a kid. We didn't have car seats for kids. I remember being allowed to stick my head out of the window of my parents' huge Oldsmobile and the wind sucking my breath away.

2. I miss sprinting down the street after the Good Humor truck as it spewed forth its horrible jingle. I would clutch, in my grubby little hand, enough money to buy ice cream sandwiches for my sister and me. My feet were always bare and I remember that the pavement on the street was always hot and I would try to run on the front of our neighbors' lawns so not to burn my feet. I was barefoot a lot. I wear socks and shoes now. I miss the hard little leather feet I had.

3. I miss my dad being young. I miss my grandmother, my maternal grandmother. I don't feel like elaborating. Do I need to?

4. I miss my sister being so gullible that she would hold her breath, on my instructions, as we drove past the local cemetery. I told her that if she breathed, the dead souls could come into your body and haunt you and that the only way to get rid of them was to eat liver. My mother would actually slow down and drive past the cemetery as often as possible because she said it was the only time we were quiet in the car.

5. I miss or maybe am just nostalgic for a time when we were allowed to be kids, when we weren't over scheduled with dance class and martial arts and gymnastics. When we could have the luxury of wasting time in play, in digging in the backyard looking for dinosaur bones, in feeling like our lives stretched out in front of us like an endless Summer punctuated by trips to the pool and bike rides to get ice cream at the end of the day. I miss that sense of wonder and of the time given to us to develop our imaginations, to realize and believe that anything was possible because we had the time to dream it. Seems like a paradox, but we as children then were better able to take advantage of our time by wasting it than by squeezing it and manipulating it in order to fit in as many different activities as our parents think the Harvard Admissions Office will look favorably upon. I miss being allowed to be a kid. I miss that on behalf of all the kids I see around me. My kids, I think, are going to have that. I hope. *fingers crossed*

The rules:

Remove the #1 item from the following list, bump everyone up one place and add your blog's name in the #5 spot. You need to link to actually link to each of the blogs for the link-whorage aspect of this fiendish meme to kick in.

Villainous Company
Pirate's Cove
Fistful of Fortnights
Cake Eater Chronicles
Random Pensees

Next, select four unsuspecting victims, list and link to them. Get the plank ready.

Nope. I rarely do that. If you'd like to play, jump on in. This one was a lot of fun.

Meme II: The DVD Collection, from Margi

Margi asked me to do this and I always try to do whatever Margi asks.

1. Total number of films I own on DVD/video:
Like Margi, I'm not sure how many we own. Probably somewhere between 30 and 100. I doubt we own more than that, but I have been surprised in the past by little things like this.

2. The last film I bought:
“Danger UXB”, I think. My wife gave it to me as a present. I heart Danger UXB and I recommend it every chance I get. It is about 14 hours long and it chronicles the adventures of the British Army in defusing UneXploded Bombs (UXB, get it?) which fell in London during the Battle of Britain and were in too senstive a location to be allowed to explode.

3. The last film I watched:

Umm, I'm not really sure. I don't get time to watch a lot of movies. We don't really let the kids watch television too much so it would have to be when they are sleeping. If they are napping, I'm doing errand stuff -- cleaning or cooking or napping myself if I can get away with it. If they are sleeping, I'm usually too tired to focus on a movie. Maybe the last one I watched in full was the Lion King in Norwegian. That was interesting.

4. Five films that I watch a lot or that mean a lot to me (in no particular order):

Auntie Mame, with Rosalind Russell

Animal House, which I watched like 30 times in order to prepare for going away to college

Blazing Saddles

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Zero Mostel)

Saving Private Ryan, which I saw in a theater in Oslo and it was only with the greatest self-control that I stopped myself from standing up at the end and shouting at the whole theater -- "Did you see that? Those boys died for your freedom!" I can't tell you how close I came to doing that. And yes, I cried at the end.

5. Tag 5 people and have them put this in their journal/blog:

Nope. I rarely ever do that. If you'd like to play, jump on in and self select.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 10:28 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Lacking energy and inspiration, I took this meme from Jennifer. Thanks for the boost! By the way, go see her answers. They rock.

1. My uncle once: took me for a ride in the hills of Los Angeles in his Porsche 911. I was maybe 12. It was hot.

2. Never in my life: have I been sorry I met, dated, and married my wife.

3. When I was five: I used to have a Great Dane named Claudius. He was my refuge when I was sad. He was so big, I could lie on top of him and cry.

4. High School was: a long time ago, but I can't seem to let it go. In some ways, it was a better educational experience than anything that followed. It was that good. Really.

5. I will never forget: what I was doing when the first plane hit the World Trade Center. Rest in peace, Mary Joe.

6. I once met: Peter Graves. He lived across the street from my aunt and uncle and I went and knocked on his door. He was pretty nice to me, but then, I was just a little kid. I also once met Danny Glover and his wife in Paris. They were lost and I stopped and gave them directions and some recommendations about where to go, all without ever letting them know I knew who they were. I figured that they were on vacation and the last thing they needed was my telling him how much I admired his work in Lethal Weapon.

7. There's this girl I know who: used to piss us all off as a control freak, but then she had kids and, believe it or not, totally relaxed and became very easy to be around. Odd, huh?

8. Once, at a bar: what do you mean, once? Ok, how about my friend almost got beat up by the bartender when he asked said bartender what his background was that facilitated his writing a book on Irish mythology. The bartender took exception. Tips may have been lower than usual that night.

9. By noon, I'm usually: wondering where the day went.

10. Last night: I came up to go to bed and found that the Girl Child was still awake. She came in to keep us company while we brushed our teeth and then she got into my bed with her two stuffed animals. I joined her and we cuddled. It was delicious.

11. If I only had: taken that stupid Chinese language course pass/fail Freshman year, I would have graduated Summa from college. Grrr.

12. Next time I go to church: it will most likely be for a funeral.

13. Terry Shiavo: should be left in peace and not used as a poster woman for anything.

14. What worries me most: is the very real possibility that I may fail to equip my kids with everything they need to get the most out of this great big life. And that the people I love won't know it always, which could be why I'm relentless and obtuse in making the point. [This was Jenn's answer and I have left it pretty much the way she put it -- how can you improve on perfection?]

15. When I turn my head left, I see: File cabinets overflowing with papers and files, representing years or work and tens of thousands of dollars worth of time.

16. When I turn my head right, I see: a wall with some old French legal prints and a print of a clipper ship under full sail. I like maritime art.

17. You know I'm lying when: beats me. Ask my wife. She always seems to know and she won't tell me how.

18. What I miss most about the eighties: the music. And my youth. Lacrosse. That big old Oldsmobile I drove. My buddy, Jeff and the people he and I used to be.

19. If I was a character in Shakespeare, I'd be: wearing a cod-piece and waving a bodkin.

20. By this time next year: I will have hopefully settled into a new house, new community, new life, and be totally and utterly consumed by a piece of litigation so large that it makes everything else I've ever done look like a rounding error.

21. A better name for me would be: something that shortens better.

22. I have a hard time understanding: ketchup on a hot dog (or catsup, for that matter). Also, why people reflexively blame America for everything that is wrong in the world. May be related to the ketchup thing.

23. If I ever go back to school, I'll: take a Ph.D in something I really want to know more about -- like Classical Studies, or Architectural History, or Economics, or Renaissance Studies.

24. You know I like you if: I give you shit. In a nice way. Not in that this is an invitation to step outside kind of way.

25. If I ever won an award, the first person I'd thank would be: my grandfather. Unless my wife was right there. Then I would have to thank her. I love my grandfather like nobody's business, but I have to go home with my wife.

26. Darwin, Mozart, Slim Pickens & Geraldine Ferraro: Marlin Perkins, Schubert, Johnny Cash & Maggie Thatcher.

27. Take my advice, never: if you want me to get so pissed off after I take the time to give it to you that I will write you off completely as not worth the time. I am only partially kidding.

28. My ideal breakfast is: brunch. I love brunch. And bloody mary's. Seriously, everything about a yummy brunch -- the eggs benedict, the roasted beasts, the salmon, the shrimp, the dessert tables, the sausage. Love brunch.

29. A song I love, but do not have is: nothing really comes to mind, actually.

30. If you visit my hometown, I suggest: brunch. There really isn't much to do in my hometown *cue Paul Simon -- my hometown. . . * but there is a hotel that does a nice brunch. See #28 above.

31. Tulips, character flaws, microchips & track stars: Honeysuckle, idiosyncracies, chocolate chips & shooting stars.

32. Why won't people: drive better?

33. If you spend the night at my house: you will stay up too late chatting and drinking wine and will fall asleep in our guest room, amidst many, many books.

34. I'd stop my wedding for: a Menthos.

35. The world could do without: cruelty to children. It lacerates my heart.

36. I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: Really? There's an answer to this?

37. My favorite blonde is: my wife, followed by my children.

38. Paper clips are more useful than: most other Norwegian inventions. Did you know that? Yup, a Norwegian invented the darn thing.

39. If I do anything well, it's: listen.

40. And by the way: did you really read everything or did you just skip to the end?

Posted by: Random Penseur at 11:21 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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1 Yes, yes I did.

Posted by: Oorgo at May 31, 2005 12:59 PM (lM0qs)

2 You wrote: ...papers and files, representing...tens of thousands of dollars worth of time. In real life, I almost never think about time as having a dollar value. As an economist I do not object, but I never think "I just spent $50 weeding the garden".

Posted by: tex at May 31, 2005 01:02 PM (YtqTh)

3 Yup, sure did read it all. I hope you enjoy pickles in your bloody marys...and a woman always knows when a man is lying. Must be part of the x chromosome.

Posted by: C at May 31, 2005 01:05 PM (0yCni)

4 I read every single word and thought about the thoughts behind them at the same time. Your wife and kids are very lucky to have you in their lives.

Posted by: Azalea at May 31, 2005 02:00 PM (hRxUm)

5 I'm so glad you carried through on your threat of caving to the meme. It's a great one. As are your responses. Very enlightening, on the whole. Except for the Menthos thing. :-) I had a Great Dane named Duke when I was five. Smallish world, isn't it?

Posted by: Jennifer at May 31, 2005 04:32 PM (jl9h0)

6 I read it all too RP. Pretty cool. You sound like you aspire to the same type of Fatherliness that I do. Gotta love the cuddling. And don't forget the cheese cutter. That'sa Norwegian too. I may take this meme up as well. Maybe I'll make a new one.

Posted by: Dr pants at June 01, 2005 03:05 AM (PHXL1)

7 oh.. and ... Didn't they teach your friend in school not to bring up Irish Mythology in a bar? I mean... Isn't it obvious why?! (gets blank look and stares at wall) I had a similar exprience in a bar too, except my friend brought up the bartender's possible small penis size.

Posted by: Dr pants at June 01, 2005 03:15 AM (PHXL1)

8 That was great - When i have time this weekend I think I'll do this one (I don't get to waste work time at a computer like some of you!!! LOL) I am a little concerned, however, that if we hook up in NY, you'll take me out to brunch and make me eat "roasted beasts". P

Posted by: Mark at June 01, 2005 07:45 AM (JQvok)

9 I'm glad you all enjoyed it. It was a fun one to do. Feel free to appropriate it for yourselves. Mark, the nice thing about brunch is that there are so many different things to eat, the roast beasts can be entirely optional. Doc, I think I'd like to hit a bar with you one day, so long as we leave your friend at home! Azalea, thank you for your very kind words. Jen, I heart Great Danes. I still miss mine. C, they always know? That would explain a lot. Interesting observation, Tex. May be a post in it later for me.

Posted by: RP at June 01, 2005 08:54 AM (LlPKh)

10 Seriously, your response to number 36 still has me giggling.

Posted by: Helen at June 01, 2005 09:27 AM (8wm0s)

11 I skipped a bit, but I read the really important stuff. I don't get 'ketchup on a hot-dog' either. Best answer - the description of your Great Dane and I'm guessing if you laid on top of him and cried, he comforted you when no one else could.

Posted by: Roberta S at June 01, 2005 03:57 PM (PB9Ja)

12 funny. i just recieved these same questions in an email. i guess it's going around.

Posted by: SeaKitty at June 04, 2005 03:51 AM (4htW2)

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I have been tagged by a couple of memes (is my nose bleeding?).

Eric got me on the this one:

List five things that people in your circle of friends or peer group are wild about, but you can't really understand the fuss over.

Ok, since I like Eric and I sort of think this one is interesting, I'll give it a shot.

First: Reality Television.

Reality television is not reality. I have seen very little of it and what I have seen is execrable. I don't really need that much crap in my life.

Second: Competitive Admission Pre-School

Ok, while maybe I do understand it, sort of, that there are a limited number of slots at good pre-schools in New York City (read: Manhattan) and every parent is convinced that his or her child will not get into Dalton if they don't go to Ms. Frobishers' Finishing School for the Pre-School Years, it's the hysteria part of this that I don't get. Schlepping your poor kid from interview to interview and test to test. For what? A pre-school where you get the chance to spend $12,000 a year for nose picking and finger painting? Please.

Third: College Savings.

Much of my peer group is consumed with the idea of college savings. We are more concerned at this point with retirement savings. As my wife points out to me, the kids can, if they have to, borrow money to go to college. No one will ever lend us money to retire. That said, we are putting money away for the kids, we're just not consumed with it.

Fourth: Golf.

I'm sure it's very nice and all, but have you ever been part of a golf conversation without wanting someone to come along and either shoot the people talking about golf or shoot you and you don't care anymore which it is?

Fifth: Crackberrys

Why do you want to be reachable from work all the time? Why is constant availability a virtue for most people? Why sit there and peck away, looking so terribly important, when all you're doing is exchanging bullshit with a friend? I don't get it. I don't have one and I don't want one.

END OF MEME ONE

START OF MEME TWO

Tinklebelle tagged me with a book meme:

1. Total number of books IÂ’ve owned

No idea. I can say that when we bought our last house, I had an additional 80 linear feet of shelf space put in and I've outgrown it in three years. We are voracious readers in my house.

2. The last book I bought.

I'm not 100% sure. There were two books. Right now, I'm not supposed to be buying any more books in light of the impending move. But the two I bought were:

Alexander Hamilton: A Life, by Willard Sterne Randall (currently a bargain selection on Amazon, I note); and,

Freakonomics : A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything,
by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner.

3. The last book I read.

I am almost finished with Rubicon : The Last Years of the Roman Republic,
by Tom Holland. I would have finished it sooner, but I keep falling asleep on the train at night!

4. 5 Books that mean a lot to you.

Gee, I am not really sure. Some books have meant more to me at other times than now, for instance.

How about, and only as a partial list:

*Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Marc Weissbluth (a must read for any new parent)

*Kim, by Rudyard Kipling (inspired a life long fascination with the whole region)

*The Three Musketeers, Dumas (love historical fiction)

*The Norton Anthology of Poetry (enough said)

*Breakout: The Chosin Reservoir Campaign, Korea 1950, by Martin Russ (the heroism of these brave men during a war we often forget about will take your breath away).

I think this list could go on and on, but I have to get some work done today.

5. Tag 5 people and request they fill this out on their journal.

Nope.

END OF MEME TWO

If you want to identify yourself and play along with either of these two memes, that would be great, but I'm not inclined to tag anyone else with any memes. Not really my thing. But thanks for asking me to play!

Posted by: Random Penseur at 10:36 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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1 I've never heard them called "crackberries". that's funny.

Posted by: GrammarQueen at May 20, 2005 12:15 PM (XzHwx)

2 Great idea RP. I think I will pass on the 2nd one to a book review discussioin board I paricipate in!!! Things I don't get that others do: 1. Star Wars 2. Sideways 3. Howard Stern 4. Don Imus 5. Secretary's week Books: 1.Total number of books I've owned? No idea. At least 1,000 2.Last book I bought? Tangled Loyalties:The Life and Time of Ilya Ehrenburg by Joshua Rubenstein 3.Last book(s) I've read: Stalin's Foly: The Tragic First Ten Days of the Eastern Front by Constantine Pleshakov and Epitaph for a Spy by Eric Ambler (I alternate fiction and non-faction) 4.Five books that mean a lot to you" Music of a Life, Andrei Makine Life and Fate: Vasily Grossman Fateless: Imre Kertesz Small Gods: Terry Pratchett (His entire Discworld series is a treasure) Huck Finn: Mark Twain

Posted by: ivan at May 20, 2005 07:10 PM (Nny4f)

3 Golf. I'm sure it's very nice and all, but have you ever been part of a golf conversation without wanting someone to come along and either shoot the people talking about golf or shoot you and you don't care anymore which it is? I've never understood dressing like a pimp and cussing all afternoon.

Posted by: Mark at May 20, 2005 10:02 PM (2Yps7)

4 RP, thank you for humoring me

Posted by: Emily/Tinklebelle at May 20, 2005 10:48 PM (CZWnO)

5 Hey, all thought all you JD types were supposed to be golf fanatics! Besides, I LIKE golf, sheesh. Although I do try not to bore people who don't golf. But when my boss and I get started ....... well, that pretty much means serious glazed looks from our admins.

Posted by: Eric at May 20, 2005 11:58 PM (ZUryZ)

6 Thanks for playing, Ivan! And long time no see. Glad to see you back around. I think it's interesting how few of those books I've ever heard of. I wasn't humoring you, Emily. I like to talk to about books! Eric, I suppose I really meant I can't understand taking up perfectly good oxygen to talk about golf. Playing it may be another matter. As for JD's and golf, my wife thinks I don't really need another expensive hobby. Out here in NY, joining a good golf club could set you back over 6 figures. Even if I had it to spend, I don't think I could bring myself to do it!

Posted by: RP at May 21, 2005 06:13 AM (X3Lfs)

7 Ditto on all in Meme 1! Well, with the exception of Crackberry's. That was truly very funny. Blackberry's or IM/Email on my PDA, are the only way for me to keep my cell charges down while receiving business information and updates from friends located all around the globe. I love my TREO! Meme 2: I found the Hamilton book interesting, I've not finished it yet as life has been busy as of late. I thought of buying Freakonomics, but since I have 2 shelves in my bookshelf of yet unread books I restrained myself.

Posted by: michele at May 21, 2005 09:07 AM (ht2RK)

8 Iwas in full agreement till I got to the crackberrys and then I started to wonder where I had been all my life. Re books. My motto has alweays been more bookspace not less books. That Twillight Zone with everyone dying and the one bookworm left...I can relate.

Posted by: Rachel Ann at May 23, 2005 11:04 AM (jZHsa)

9 There are some benefits to a crackberry type device. Mine takes photos, for instance. I could get away with a camera phone though and gain the same benefits. I'm with ya...resist the crackberries. They only lead to self-induced ADD.

Posted by: C at May 23, 2005 01:26 PM (Ds4xI)

10 RP, We have a fair amount of overlap (1, 4, and 5). And I agree with your answers to 2 and 3. If we didn't live in a good public school district, I would have included the competitive pre-schools, too. We have friends down in Dallas who are obsessed with getting their kids on the right private school "track." Ditto on the retirement versus college savings. Our current strategy is to save enough to provide our kids with the equivalent of tuition/books/small living stipend to the University of Texas for four years. If they go there, fine. If they go elsewhere or take longer than 4 years, they'll have to make up the difference.

Posted by: JohnL at May 23, 2005 05:44 PM (Hs4rn)

11 The other thing about college savings: I went to a fairly expensive college. My college roommate came from an upper middleclass background. He had a bank account specifically for college funds [birthday gifts from grandparents, etc.]. The college assumed that money [gathered over 18 years] represented the amount he could make in one summer, and gave him very little in aid.He reapplied the next year, after that account was gone, and did better.

Posted by: owlish at May 25, 2005 05:59 PM (sBj9U)

12 RP! I like it. Now give away all but your most precious! i have to say I like your answers to the first meme. The overall mindset reminds me of how I think. I am going to pick up that sleep book right away.

Posted by: dr pants at May 28, 2005 03:51 AM (PHXL1)

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With Angie's answers up, this now concludes the interview game for my blog.

Thanks for playing, Angie!

This was actually a lot of fun and I might seriously think about doing it again some time, assuming interest on the part of prospective interviewees!

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John has posted his answers and they are, uniformly, excellent and interesting. I highly recommend you go forth and read them. John's description of his perfect performance was exceptional. Thanks, John, for your thoughtful answers!

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Helen has posted her answers and they are, as expected, really great. Go forth and read them! Thanks for playing, Helen!

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John is someone I like very much and so, when he came in late on the responses, I told him that I'd be happy to make an exception for him and throw some questions his way.

So, I will ask John five questions below and he will respond on his blog, let me know, and I will link to his answers. Actually, though, I'm posing six questions in case he doesn't want to answer any one question. So, John, you can pick and choose or answer them all. I leave it up to you, entirely.

Anyway, here are the questions and a link to the rules, which John has to include on his page:

1. You are on the desert island. What three books would you have to have and what would you want to be able to drink while reading them?

2. WhatÂ’s your opinion on the designated hitter? Ruined baseball or extended the careers of some great players?

3. What is the most iconic song to come out of the 1980's?

4. What did you want to be when you were growing up? Did you become it? Are you ok with not becoming it? If you did become it, has it been all you hoped?

5. Describe the best performance youÂ’ve ever given and tell me why it was the best. Was it the crowd? The technical aspects? What made it great?

6. Describe your perfect, self-indulgent, guilty escape from work/family day. Even if it is just a fantasy.

John, it was only with the greatest restraint that I refrained from asking you: where is the oddest place youÂ’ve ever had sex (and I donÂ’t mean on/in your body by place)?

Posted by: Random Penseur at 02:15 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Helen is our fifth, but not final, interview. I must say that I'm both delighted that she stepped forward and feeling a little constrained by interviewing someone for whom I have such affection and admiration. Plus, I'd really hate to piss Angus off with my questions. I like Angus. One of these days, soon, I have to write a bit about dinner with the two of them!

So, I will ask Helen five questions below and she will respond on her blog, let me know, and I will link to her answers. Actually, though, I'm posing six questions in case she doesn't want to answer any one question. So, Helen, you can pick and choose or answer them all. I leave it up to you, entirely.

Anyway, here are the questions and a link to the rules, which Helen has to include on her page:

1. You live in London and have lived in Sweden. Has living abroad changed your understanding of your own native country? Do you sometimes feel as if you are the designated American representative on all issues?

2. You are on death row and it is time to pick your last meal. What is it and what would you drink with it. Assume no limits.

3. YouÂ’ve won the lottery and are going back to school to do a doctorate. In what field and why?

4. If you could go back in time and apologize to someone, who would it be and why?

5. Do you think that men who prefer woman who shave their pubic hair are threatened by real women?

6. Why do you blog? What do you get out of it?

Helen, I had several other questions I wanted to pose, too! So, if you don't like these, let me know. Although the others might be worse! For instance, which cartoon character do you identify more with, Tom or Jerry?

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Hannah has posted her answers to the interview questions and they were full and detailed. Some very cool explanations of things like the Dutch educational system. Go check 'em out!

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Say hello to Angie, our fourth interview.

I will ask her five questions below and she will respond on her blog, let me know, and I will link to her answers. Actually, though, I'm posing six questions in case she doesn't want to answer any one question. So, Angie, you can pick and choose or answer them all. I leave it up to you, entirely.

Anyway, here are the questions and a link to the rules, which Angie has to include on her page:

1. If you could pick one world affliction to end, which would it be and why? What bad effect on the world at large do you think your choice might have?

2. What is your biggest disappointment to date? How have you rebounded from it, assuming you have?

3. How is it to work in a traditionally male dominated profession? Do you find it different from other jobs you have held?

4. What is your favorite room in your house and why? How is it furnished?

5. What was the most unexpectedly great class youÂ’ve ever taken?

6. Why do you blog? What do you get out of it?

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Wow, Dee, that was really fast! Thanks for playing. If you'd like to go see Dee's answers, and I'm sure you do, go check 'em out here!

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Dee is the newest person under the lens today.

I will ask her five questions below and she will respond on her blog, let me know, and I will link to her answers. Actually, though, I'm posing six questions in case she doesn't want to answer any one question. So, Dee, you can pick and choose or answer them all. I leave it up to you, entirely.

Anyway, here are the questions and a link to the rules, which Dee has to include on her page:

1. What is the one food you cannot abide and why? If there isnÂ’t one, what is the oddest thing youÂ’ve ever eaten?

2. What is the single most impulsive thing youÂ’ve ever done? How did it turn out for you?

3. What piece of art moves you more than anything, and why?

4. How did you come to find yourself living a submissive lifestyle? Was the transition very difficult? Do your children know?

5. If you could pack up in live in any other city in the world, which one and why?

6. Why do you blog? What do you get out of it?

Tune in later for Dee's answers!

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Hannah is our second interview and I think ought to be very interesting, considering she lives in the Netherlands but hails from New York. Some herring with attitude, it strikes me.

I will ask her five questions below and she will respond on her blog, let me know, and I will link to her answers. Actually, though, I'm posing six questions in case she doesn't want to answer any one question. So, Hannah, you can pick and choose or answer them all. I leave it up to you, entirely.

Anyway, here are the questions and a link to the rules, which Hannah has to include on her page:

1. How many magazines do you subscribe to? Which one is your favorite and why? Which one is your guilty pleasure?

2. How old were you when you moved to the Netherlands and what was the process of cultural adjustment like for you? The biggest shock?

3. If you went skydiving, would you jump or would they have to push you and why?

4. Why do you blog? What do you get out of it?

5. What is the biggest risk you've ever taken and how did it turn out?

6. What piece of literature has had the greatest impact on your life and why? Should I read it, too?

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1 Hey, I'm not from New York! I've been there exactly once: when I stopped in La Gaurida (sp?) airport! :-P Going to answer questions!

Posted by: Hannah at March 31, 2005 11:37 AM (0tNIc)

2 Oops, my bad. Sorry about that. I wonder why I thought you were from NY?

Posted by: RP at March 31, 2005 01:24 PM (LlPKh)

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Indigo has answered her interview questions and I highly recommend going to read them. At a minimum, you will learn something really cool about traditional Indian dance.

Thanks, Indigo!

Tune in tomorrow for the next subject.

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1 Nice questions for Indigo... can't wait for the next subject. Wait a sec - that's me, isn't it?

Posted by: Hannah at March 31, 2005 08:51 AM (zr6mn)

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Indigo boldly stepped up to the plate for the first interview. I will ask her five questions below and she will respond on her blog, let me know, and I will link to her answers. Actually, though, I'm posing six questions in case she doesn't want to answer any one question. So, Indigo, you can pick and choose or answer them all. I leave it up to you, entirely.

The Questions:

1. What was the biggest surprise to you about coming to NY? What do you miss most about Hawaii?

2. You are a dancer in a particular field I am only a tiny bit aware of and thatÂ’s only because of you. Can you explain the field and what you derive from it?

3. Have your politics changed since Sept. 11? If so, how?

4. Has the internet brought people closer together or made it easier to maintain isolation?

5. Why do you blog? What do you get out of it?

6. What bad habit do you have that you wish you didn't?

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So, this should be fun. Our interviewees have been (self)selected and include, in the order they responded:

1. Indigo

2. Hannah

3. Dee

4. Angie

5. Helen

and because he asked so nicely to be included

6. John.

These people represent a really interesting cross section and I think it will be great fun to interview them. Stay tuned as I invent some questions for their amusement.

The rules are that you answer the questions on your site, include the rules as I did in my link, and I will link to your responses here on my blog.

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Kathy, at Cake Eater Chronicles, has kindly consented to interview me and even more kindly did not impose any time limits on my answers. So, a day later than I would have liked, I herewith reply below the jump. Here are the questions:

1. You're a corporate litigator. The lawyers I used to work with would occasionally become tired of cleaning up other people's messes---and would whine about it. If you could, what would you say to a particularly idiotic client if you didn't have to fear the loss of their billable hours?

2. You live and work in the NYC metropolitan area. For those of us who have never been, explain the pros and cons of living and working in that city.

3. If you could become a cat burglar, and were able to access (albeit illegally) any musuem in the world, knowing that a. what you're choosing to steal is for your personal pleasure and b. you wouldn't be caught, what piece of art would you choose to steal and why?

4. You're an anonymous blogger. Why did you choose to blog anonymously? Do you feel it gives you more leeway to write certain things than if you attached your name to your work? Do you ever feel the compulsion to fib to your readers, knowing full well that they'd have no idea if you were telling the truth or not?

5. Name your all-time favorite book. Why do you love it so?

By the way, this is part of a meme (a concept I find fascinating, like the way a bad virus takes over the body) and here are the rules:

Leave me a comment saying “interview me”. The first five commenters will be the participants. I will respond by asking you five questions. You will update your blog/site with the answers to the questions. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions. (Write your own questions or borrow some.)

If you're interested in my answers to Kathy's excellent questions, read on in extended entry below:
more...

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1 And thank you for answering them so well! Great job!

Posted by: Kathy at March 29, 2005 11:10 AM (Tosbv)

2 i wouldn't mind an interview considering i've been plum out of inspiration for weeks.... perhaps you could jumpstart somethin for me.. (?) =) indy

Posted by: Indigo at March 29, 2005 02:07 PM (5PkrR)

3 ooooh, me, me, me! And I loved reading your answers!

Posted by: Hannah at March 29, 2005 02:09 PM (0d7ig)

4 I loved it! Great idea!

Posted by: dee at March 29, 2005 02:46 PM (sZnML)

5 I'm game too.

Posted by: Angie at March 29, 2005 02:55 PM (FlWAT)

6 Count me in

Posted by: Helen at March 29, 2005 03:25 PM (1i2pB)

7 And I was sure you'd pick the Laughing Cavalier as your 'stolen pleasure'. Thanks for sharing your answers!

Posted by: GrammarQueen at March 29, 2005 04:48 PM (XzHwx)

8 Excellent interview. Yep, the architecture in the city is great. And yer a Munch fan! Kewl!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 29, 2005 11:01 PM (shq3M)

9 Interesting answers. Too bad I'm the ninth commenter; I would have been interested to see which questions you would send my way.

Posted by: JohnL at March 30, 2005 01:06 AM (gplif)

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