What was your random act of kindness today?
Submitted by Cher Cabula.
I exhaled valuable carbon dioxide, providing life-giving air to the plant life of Southern New Mexico. Of course, that means I also contributed to green-house gasses, so maybe it's a wash.
]]>How do you stay in shape?
Several ways, most notably my skeletal system, followed by the presence of skin, and on a more minute scale, the surface membrane tension of my cells.
An artist's rendition of what I would look like without a skeleton. Okay, you got me, that's what I look like now.
I'm in Albuquerque for the night. Night.
]]>What are your irrational fears?
Submitted by Dan Culhane.
My mother, Ladeewolf, came to visit last week and asked me if I remembered the paintings of sad kittens and puppies with huge eyes that I used to have in my room. I don't know what brought them up, but she remembered them and said she thought they were cute. I had to admit to her that I had found them frightening as a child, but never told her. They were kitsch, but they're creepy. After scouring the Internet for a while today, I think I found the actual paintings that were up in my room:
Excuse me, sir, can I have a sardine? Nevermind. I'll be dead in an hour, anyway.
I'd lick you, but I have worms.
Yeah, Mom, you found these cute? Nothing like reminding young children that being cute and vulnerable is no defense against dying from crippling poverty.
I found some other interesting things in my search. There was an artist by the name of Margaret Keane that applied the same technique to children:
Aw, look at the cute little waif.
And then I found an artist by the name of Sas Christian that seems to use the creepiness factor of the technique to good benefit.
I wonder if Sas Christian had big-eyed puppies and kittens in his room as a child, and they scarred him for life?
]]>What's your musical horoscope? (Put your player on shuffle and write down the first 10 songs that come up.)
Veruca Salt, "Born Entertainer", Punk Alternative (Neighborhood only because it's not family-friendly)
Ornette Coleman, "Endless," Clarinet Jazz. (Yes, I know, I'm musically all over the chart)
Covenant, "Edge of Dawn," Euro Power-Techno
Digital Bonzai, "Planet Hip," Instrumental Electronica
Bassic, "Dove," Instrumental Electronica (file couldn't be uploaded, for some reason)
Rachmaninov's Finale, Alla Breve, performed by David Helfgott on the piano
Prince, "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," soft rock. (Yes, I'm ashamed.)
Chopin's Prelude #13, performed by Richard Morris
Vangelis, "So Long Ago, So Clear," Electronica with Vocals
Vangelis, "Spiral," Instrumental Electronica (again, couldn't upload)
Okay, considering the wide range of music in my collection, the fact that my random picks were, with the exception of #1, all very mellow, I'm going to assume this means I have calm, yet intellectually stimulating times ahead.
In other news, Mom and I took the Durango-Silverton railroad today up to Cascade Canyon, and I have a lot of pictures. I also have pics I still haven't posted from Telluride. I'll get to them as soon as I can. Peace.
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What are some ways you save money?
Submitted by Pixiemom.
Many ways. I teach it the dangers of smoking and drinking. I teach it safe sex and the benefits of a healthy diet. I then dunk it in water and tell it its sins have been washed away. Simple, really.
]]>Which TV show never "jumped the shark"?
Submitted by healthypanda.
Three words: Bring It Back!
]]>Where is the farthest you have ever been away from home? Did you get homesick?
Submitted by Melissa.
I once astral-projected into the Large Megellanic Cloud, where time was dilated due to the fact that the cloud is moving away from the Milky Way, and spent millenia fighting Xarlacon, a galactic tyrant, and his interstellar army of zombie cyborgs. I was homesick for a time, but after a few decades came to know the planet of Kralatal as my home, and it was really my home after I defeated the Rylik Empire and was crowned the Galactic Benefactor. It's hard to be homesick when you're ruling in peace and harmony from a diamond throne for five hundred years.
Now, it's not that I'm sorry to be back on Earth, but sometimes I miss my royal cook's version of Palantool soup. It's hard to get the seasoning right when the leaves of Qwelintine trees just aren't available here.
Now, aren't you glad you asked?
]]>Have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon or a helicopter? Where did you go?
Yes, both. (I'm so glad you asked!)
The hot air balloon took off from a field in Nixa, Missouri, with the ride lasting about 45 minutes, and landing on the east side of Springfield. Strix and my mother went with me. It was something I had been promising Mom since Christmas. These are from July, 2001:
It was a cool morning, it was a magical experience, floating above everything. When the burner isn't on, it's perfectly quiet, and you can hear people talking on the ground from a long way off, since there's nothing between you and them. Also, we really freaked the dogs out.
Then, a couple of years ago I took a training flight on an helicopter ambulance. It was a short flight, and there wasn't much to take pics of.
]]>Today is Vox's first anniversary since the official launch. What's the best experience you've had on Vox in the past year?
I honestly don't think I could narrow it down to just one experience. What I've enjoyed most over the last year is meeting some of the most interesting, funny, talented, intelligent people I have ever met. If you want to meet some great people, just peruse my neighborhood for a while. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
]]>Do you have a regular workout routine? What's your favorite form of exercise?
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, I do weights, including curls, bench press, sit-ups with weights, and leg press. Tuesday and Thursday, I do treadmill, and I try to do something aerobic on the weekends, too. I don't really have a preference on which type of exercise I do.
Okay, so wasn't that thrilling? Aren't you glad you asked, now? Nosy.
I'm in Albuquerque for the next couple of days for the APCO/NENA joint conference. Talk at you later.
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