Post 10 Facts About Yourself

[Holdfast]

I'm somewhat different. I like seeing things in the music itself that stimulates the mind and the soul in different ways, whether it tickles me on an intellectual, thought-provoking basis (especially during the JS Bach era), or is purely there for creating a particular atmosphere or mood (which for me is what the early to mid 20th Century pieces feel like) or is merely a bit of in-between. If it explicitly tells a story or accompanies or enriches some other medium such as stage, moving pictures, or dance, then it's an added bonus.

I should listen to more music, I think.

The "somewhat different" is a bit of an understatement.

You consume music in precisely the opposite way to me; it's fascinating, really, to think of the different neuronal pathways, learned interactions, cognitive processes, emotional biases, and so on, that are involved in such a completely divergent understanding of the same stimulus.

I just cannot find value in music the way you do. For me, my favourite music (if it is not used for storytelling purposes) is something like K136; stimulating, engaging, elegantly and skillfully put together, but light enough to not annoyingly intrude on conversation. A silk scarf blowing in the breeze, if you will. An enhancer of activity, rather than an activity of its own. Of course, it was deliberately designed to be such, but that doesn't take away from the point that it's exactly the kind of classical music I prefer.

I think I should have majored in music. Or maybe not: it would seem too much like work.

At the least, you could still take it up in a more focused way. Do you play, or would it be Theory of Music that you would be more interested in?

 

[Zulu Romeo]

The "somewhat different" is a bit of an understatement.

You consume music in precisely the opposite way to me; it's fascinating, really, to think of the different neuronal pathways, learned interactions, cognitive processes, emotional biases, and so on, that are involved in such a completely divergent understanding of the same stimulus.

I just cannot find value in music the way you do. For me, my favourite music (if it is not used for storytelling purposes) is something like K136; stimulating, engaging, elegantly and skillfully put together, but light enough to not annoyingly intrude on conversation. A silk scarf blowing in the breeze, if you will. An enhancer of activity, rather than an activity of its own. Of course, it was deliberately designed to be such, but that doesn't take away from the point that it's exactly the kind of classical music I prefer.

I think I should have majored in music. Or maybe not: it would seem too much like work.

At the least, you could still take it up in a more focused way. Do you play, or would it be Theory of Music that you would be more interested in?

Well, I've played at least 1 musical instrument since I was 6, and am keen to learn how to play others. I play mostly classical music on my main instrument, and now mostly folk music and some classical on my secondary instrument. Through playing music and taking lessons I have also picked up a fair bit on music theory and the history of music (albeit limited to classical music only: my jazz, blues and pop knowledge and understanding is pretty nonexistent, although I might do well if I ever entered "Pop Master with Ken Bruce.").

I've attempted to learn the guitar all by myself, which in a way has also brought me back into basic general music theory (it's really quite beautiful to look at). However, I haven't really achieved much beyond the basic dozen or so chords, and have not practised much. I do know how to play the theme from M*A*S*H though.

 

[J.Ashmore]

Zion Ravescene, I am a music major and it is really hard. I know everyone in any kind of major says that, but it really is a big workload. But it's totally worth it, if you're committed enough!

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Zion Ravescene, I am a music major and it is really hard. I know everyone in any kind of major says that, but it really is a big workload. But it's totally worth it, if you're committed enough!

I understand. At University I had quite a few acquaintances who majored in Music (mostly from the society orchestras I joined) and it is pretty tough going and a different type of work to what I ended up doing. I decided against a music career back then as I felt that to do it as an occupation rather than for leisure might have taken the enjoyment out of it.

Who knows, really. If things were different, and I was that focused, I might have enjoyed going for music as a career. I certainly enjoyed making music outside work. It's difficult to say, really.

 

[Alpinemaps]

Okay, guess it's my turn to play. I'm mostly a lurker these days, but I've been enjoying this thread, even if I haven't read every single list. So, here's 10 to start (and I have more, too!)

1. My wife and I met in 1991, at the age of 18 (me) and 17 (her). We dated for 8 years before we got married (1999), and then waited until 2008 to have our first child. 2011 will be 20 years since we met.

2. I met my wife online, via email, before most people knew what BBS or email meant (1991). When I would tell people that I met her online, they'd ask if I met her through a computerized dating service.

3. I have a Bachelor's of Science degree in geographer, and my official job series within the federal government is 'Geographer'. I used to make maps every day, but now I just supervise my program. I am still considered the expert in cartography for the Marine Corps. There's no one else that has my experience in making maps that works for the Marines.

4. I got my love of maps when I was 3 years old. My mom gave me a puzzle that I would, literally, take apart and put together for hours on end. Later, my step-mother and dad would hand me a Thomas Bros map in the car, and tell me to read it to keep me quiet.

5. I never wanted to have children until I read the book 'The Time Traveler's Wife'. After that, I realized I needed to have a child.

6. I hate sleep. It's a waste of time. If I could take a pill that would let me stay up 24 hours a day, I would do it. I can't stand taking naps - it just makes me useless the rest of the day.

7. I have taken at least one photograph of my daughter every day of her life. She'll be 3 in January.

8. I've been published many many times, but don't keep track of most of it. I've had a National Geographic book published that was solely my work, and I've had maps show up on CNN. While I don't get 'fan mail', a couple times a month, I do get contacted about a paper I've written or a map I've produced.

9. I once got into an argument with Lou Ferrigno ('The Incredible Hulk') over whether he could charge for an autograph. I won the argument, and declined the autograph.

10. I'm a huge baseball fan. I traveled to Cooperstown, New York in 2007 to see Tony Gwynn get inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame. I've seen the home stadium of 11 different teams (9 majors, 2 minor). I've been to a Padres game every year since 1982. A couple of years ago, I flew to the Bay Area, caught a day-night double header (one game in Oakland, one in San Francisco), and then caught a game in San Diego the next day. It was '27 Innings in 27 hours'. Despite that, I've never seen a no-hitter or perfect game in person, nor have I ever seen a triple play live.

 

[TorontoTrekker]

9. I once got into an argument with Lou Ferrigno ('The Incredible Hulk') over whether he could charge for an autograph. I won the argument, and declined the autograph.

That's pretty ballsy - Mr. Ferrigno still looks like he could bench press any three of us.

I suppose I should provide a list...

1. I've met dozens, if not hundreds, of celebrities through my work on conventions, and Lou Ferrigno is the only one I've ever embarrassed myself in front of. After he signed his autograph for me, I was talking merrily away at him about how impressed I was that, all these years later, he was still in such amazing physical condition. He smiled, and thanked me, I walked away, and then I realized... the man is stone deaf. (I was told that he's also an excellent lip-reader, so he did understand me... whew.)

2. Until about four years ago, when I went back to school and subsequently got a job as a Web developer, I may very well have been the youngest COBOL programmer outside of India.

3. I don't consider dinner complete without dessert... preferably ice cream, despite the fact that I'm lactose-intolerant.

4. I'm a Life Master in the North American Contract Bridge League. (That's not nearly as impressive as it sounds. Besides, I haven't played competitively in seven or eight years.)

5. Having been asked by a friend to accompany her to an audition for a musical, I subsequently sang as well (having done a fair bit of musical theatre in university, I thought, what the hell). They thanked me, I thanked them, I walked out... and upon reading a sign on the wall, discovered that I had just auditioned for the Broadway production of "Rent". (No, I didn't get the part. )

6. I was married in 1993, in a United Church ceremony, before the law recognized same-sex marriage. It didn't last; he left me about four and a half years later for another guy with whom he'd been cheating on me, and they were subsequently married via the banns. It made national news up here, and led directly to the legalization of same-sex marriage. As you can guess, I wasn't terribly thrilled. As my friends say whenever I bring up the subject, "BUT HE'S NOT BITTER!"

7. I'm a character in the Tanya Huff novel The Better Part of Valor. And Tanya did a pretty good job of portraying me (she should have - we've known each other for about 25 years), though the character gets more nookie than I do.

8. I'm known among my circle of friends as a Pet Shop Boys fanboy, though I've only gotten to see them live twice. If I'm at a karaoke place, and they have any PSB song other than "West End Girls" (I'm kind of tired of it), I'll be on stage eventually. (Though I'd appreciate it if anyone had one of their songs that was less than 20 years old... "Opportunities" is starting to lose its charm, too.) I'm also a fan of Erasure, Depeche Mode, and Rufus Wainwright.

9. With a friend, I submitted a spec script to Star Trek: Voyager. Their guidelines said to expect a response within two to eight weeks - 18 months later, we got a rejection. Though a couple of scenes mysteriously similar to scenes from our script did find their way into season 7 episodes.

10. I've been bowling in leagues since I was 8 years old - I started with 5-pin (which I think is only played in Canada - in addition to only having 5 pins, you get three balls, and the balls are smaller) but I started bowling 10-pin about 15 years ago. My current league average is 165, and my highest game ever was one in which I started with seven consecutive strikes, and ended up with a score of 244 (I had a 235 the same night).

 

[Jadzia]

The "somewhat different" is a bit of an understatement.

You consume music in precisely the opposite way to me; it's fascinating, really, to think of the different neuronal pathways, learned interactions, cognitive processes, emotional biases, and so on, that are involved in such a completely divergent understanding of the same stimulus.

The way you consume music may stem from your intellectual pragmatism coupled with your tendency to compartmentalize. If you see music as a thing of enjoyment/leisure, and feel that enjoyment/leisure is opposite to work/effort, then you may believe that enjoyment of music should not require the same focussed effort that you put into your work.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I was married in 1993, in a United Church ceremony, before the law recognized same-sex marriage. It didn't last; he left me about four and a half years later for another guy with whom he'd been cheating on me, and they were subsequently married via the banns. It made national news up here, and led directly to the legalization of same-sex marriage. As you can guess, I wasn't terribly thrilled. As my friends say whenever I bring up the subject, "BUT HE'S NOT BITTER!"

I can't *believe* he's not bitter.

 

[Kestra]

6. I feel my prettiest in Indian clothes.
7. I have slight allergic reactions to most fruits, and now many vegetables as well. I'm now scared of eating a lot of fresh food.
8. I didn't have a middle name until about 2.5 years ago.
9. I've never met anyone that came close to matching my reading speed.
10. My sister is my other half.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Even more:

1. I have a large head. It's hard to find baseball caps to fit - I need a size 8 3/4.
2. I am a Lutheran. I go to a contemporary-style Lutheran church. here
3. I am mostly Republican, but I hate the damn Tea Party.
4. I have never been in a fight.
5. I have been bald since 2005.
6. My favorite baseball players who are not on my favorite teams are Dave Dravecky (Padres/Giants), Kevin Millar (Marlins/Red Sox/Orioles/Blue Jays), and Mark Fidrych (Tigers). Dave Dravecky, in particular, is a major inspiration in my life.
7. I have only been out of the USA once - for my brother's wedding, at a resort in Mexico, in 2007.
8. I am a hypochondriac.
9. The only football team I like is the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
10. I am an absurdly light sleeper; I usually need earplugs.

 

[starfox]

1. I am a constant explosion of life.
2. I usually leave a mess.. woot

TMI!

1.) I'm 6,1 inches tall (6,2 if I could sort my posture out!)

Just over six inches tall? I assume you meant 6'1".

5. My favourite numbers are 2, 4, 7 and 8, which in my mind correspond respectively to the colours white, red, black and blue.

Do you have synesthesia?

10. Due to a relatively rare heritary condition, I've continued to grow physically well past adolescence. At 21, I suddenly grew 2 inches taller in 6 months. At 28, I'm finally reaching my 'adult' size. Before this condition manifested itself, my pediatrician projected I would be no more than 5'0" tall. I'm currently 5'9".

That is so cool! Did your feet grow as well? Did the people at the DMV ever raise an eyebrow when you updated your height on your driver's license?

1. I wish I was left-handed.
2. I wish I was the opposite sex.
3. I wish I could be a kid forever. Being an adult is overrated.
4. I wish I had heterochromia.
5. I regret not getting a small, stylized tattoo of my favorite animal when I had the chance.
6. When I was young, I wanted to be very tall. Now I wish I was very short instead.
7. One of my life goals is to develop a mechanical investing algorithm that produces a small but steady income.
8. I think I have some weird form of ADD. My interests are numerous and varied, but I seem to jump from one interest to another at random. What attracts my attention one week, may be boring the next, and suddenly be interesting again six months later. It's frustrating.
9. I map my keyboards to Dvorak (for typing comfort) and don't understand why everyone else doesn't do something similar. Colemak is another superior alternative to Qwerty.
10. I use a double slip knot to tie my shoelaces, and don't understand why everyone else doesn't do something similar. It's almost as easy to tie, just as easy to undo, and NEVER comes loose accidentally like the silly knot we're taught in kindergarten.

 

[TorontoTrekker]

2. I wish I was the opposite sex.

Well, that is achievable, though it takes a lot of work (psychological and physical). Are you actually transgendered (you don't have to have had surgery for this), or is this just a bit of wishful thinking for another reason?

I once created a panel for a convention called "Tonight I Think I'll Be A Woman", which speculated on future technology that would allow you to change your sex, your height, your appearance, or pretty much anything else on a temporary basis. Unfortunately I have no idea how the discussion went, as I was busy elsewhere during the panel. The thought still intrigues me, though I don't know if I'd use it to alter my appearance too drastically if the technology existed.

4. I wish I had heterochromia.

Wear two different coloured contact lenses?

5. I regret not getting a small, stylized tattoo of my favorite animal when I had the chance.

Why do you think the chance has passed you by? Tattoo parlours haven't exactly become illegal - you just need to be careful to find one that's hygienic.

I've actually been thinking for a while about getting a tattoo, but I still haven't decided on a design. A month or two ago I thought about getting a Trek arrowhead, but instead of one of the standard symbols inside it, getting a blue maple leaf. It would symbolize my two fandoms. (Alternatively, I could get a red maple leaf, symbolizing the fact that I'm Canadian.) But I'm still not convinced.

 

[Smellincoffee]

1. I became interested in Star Trek after being hospitalized for three weeks with nothing to occupy me by the television. (I dislocated my elbow and acquired a slight fracture after a tramopoline accident.)
2. I practice Greek philosophy, and am particularly interested in Stoicism and the work of Epicures.
3. My favorite author is Isaac Asimov, and I have several shelves full of his books. I'm most proud of my Black Widowers collection.
4. Though raised in the deep south, I do not have an accent: it vanished at some point between late high school and early general college. I never realized this until I started talking to my online friends on the phone and they told me I had no discernable accent. I asked my friends and family in real life to verify this, and they said I sound like 'a Yankee'. I think perhaps my preference for speaking standard, grammatically correct English, contributed to the decline of my 'southern drawl', but whenever I watch an episode of Firefly that reserve vanishes completly.
5. I enjoy playing with accents. It is not unusual for me to answer the phone with an accent to throw off the person on the other end. I have been known to carry on for entire conversations in 'Received Pronunication'. Currently I'm interested in being able to effect a "working-class Irish" sound.
6. I've become quite interested in anarchism this year.
7. There are few kinds of music I won't listen to, but I'm most fond of big band, folk, and fifties-sixties pop and rock.
8. I have a degree in history, but enjoy science, sociology, philosophy, poetry, and most other human endeavors.
9. I enjoy playing PC games, particularly: The Sims (1 & 2), SimCity 3000, Mafia: City of Lost Heaven, GTA Vice City, GTA San Andreas, and Civilization 3.
10. I have been told on several occasions that I would make a good monk, and sometimes feel as though I'd like to be a minister and help people even though I am not religious. (I consider myself a Humanist.)
11. I changed my location to "Vulcan" on several forums after watching Star Trek XI and leaving the theatre stunned that they'd blown up Vulcan and not brought it back.

 

[RAMA]

Hmmm what 10 more random things can I think of....

1. I'm a science and tech junkie, and have been since I was a kid.

2. I'm a New York Yankee fan, but didn't got to a game till 2008 in the old Yankee Stadium. I've been to the new stadium numerous times.

3. I've been an atheist since I was about 13 years old though I was agnostic before that. My mother is devoutly Catholic and I was raised to go to church, though I refused to have my confirmation.

4. I've been to the Arnold Sports Festival twice. Its the largest sporting event in the world, and thousands more athletes compete in it than the summer Olympics.

5. I've been married since spring 2004.

6. My wife's unoffical joke name for me is "manwhore" because of how many women I used to date before I met her..in fact right up till the day I met her.

7. My artwork has won awards and toured States. I've also done some freelance ad design work though I haven't done any work in 4 years now.

8. I'm a certified personal trainer.

9. I was the strongest kid in my high school. I've since found out that if I had applied myself, I probably could have broken the state squat record for a teen, since I was only about 75 pounds off the 2005 record. I weighed as much as 260 lbs.

10. Almost every single day a woman or male tells me I smell good. Today it happened twice!

RAMA

 

[Alpinemaps]

9. I once got into an argument with Lou Ferrigno ('The Incredible Hulk') over whether he could charge for an autograph. I won the argument, and declined the autograph.

That's pretty ballsy - Mr. Ferrigno still looks like he could bench press any three of us.

I suppose I should provide a list...

1. I've met dozens, if not hundreds, of celebrities through my work on conventions, and Lou Ferrigno is the only one I've ever embarrassed myself in front of.

I love that you followed up with a Lou Ferrigno story, too.

Yeah, he could have pounded me. I think it was our argument that caused the San Diego Comic Con to formalize their policy on autographs. Prior to that, they had a rule, that they didn't really enforce, that said celebrities could charge for autographs, if they were providing the material, but couldn't charge for autographs on official Comic Con 'stuff' (like the program). I forget what the rule is now - but, at the time, I was right - he wanted to charge me for something that, at that time, was supposed to be free. (It probably doesn't make any sense any more - I just always remember that he and I exchanged words, he called security over, and they told him I was right).

Oh, and even though you and I have only met in person once, I've always thought that if we were local to one another, we'd be good friends.

 

[RAMA]

1) I'm the oldest sibling, with a younger brother and sister.
2) Places I've traveled to include Alaska, Patagonia, Estonia and Latvia, and Japan.
3) I'm a 52-year-old male virgin.
4) I've worked for the same company for 25 years.
5) I have Master's degrees in physics and computer science.
6) I've never smoked, drank alcohol, or tried marijuana.
7) I learned to recite the 50 American states in alphabetical order when I was in school, and can still do so.
8) I got my driver's license 30 years ago, and have never driven since then.
9) I wear glasses because my vision is about 20/200.
10) I've played Ranma 1/2 characters Mousse, Tatewaki Kuno, Happosai, and Kasumi Tendo in anime LARPs (live action roleplaying games).

Interesting, if you don't drive maybe that's why you don't date that much? Is this something you planned? I have never smoked or tried marijuana, though I have had alcohol.

RAMA

 

[TorontoTrekker]

Yeah, he could have pounded me. I think it was our argument that caused the San Diego Comic Con to formalize their policy on autographs. Prior to that, they had a rule, that they didn't really enforce, that said celebrities could charge for autographs, if they were providing the material, but couldn't charge for autographs on official Comic Con 'stuff' (like the program). I forget what the rule is now - but, at the time, I was right - he wanted to charge me for something that, at that time, was supposed to be free. (It probably doesn't make any sense any more - I just always remember that he and I exchanged words, he called security over, and they told him I was right).

Makes sense. It's something similar that got James Marsters in trouble with the IRS, as I recall. (Celebrities generally charge for the autograph, but not for the photo, because if they charge for the photo they have to charge the applicable sales tax. Mr. Marsters was charging separately, but wasn't charging tax. I have no idea whatever became of the situation, though.)

Oh, and even though you and I have only met in person once, I've always thought that if we were local to one another, we'd be good friends.

Oh, absolutely. I don't know if I've ever told you this before, but I've always enjoyed looking at maps too, even if they're of someplace I've never been and may never go. There's just something about them that transports me to the other place in my imagination. Plus - and I think you did know this - when I was in university, I did three co-op terms at RADARSAT, analysing satellite imagery of the Arctic to determine ice motion and thickness. (The normal thing was to do two in each place, but I wanted to go back and they wanted me back.) I still have copies of the two papers I wrote while I was there - one was even nominated for an award.

 

[RAMA]

9. I once got into an argument with Lou Ferrigno ('The Incredible Hulk') over whether he could charge for an autograph. I won the argument, and declined the autograph.

That's pretty ballsy - Mr. Ferrigno still looks like he could bench press any three of us.

I suppose I should provide a list...

1. I've met dozens, if not hundreds, of celebrities through my work on conventions, and Lou Ferrigno is the only one I've ever embarrassed myself in front of.

I love that you followed up with a Lou Ferrigno story, too.

Yeah, he could have pounded me. I think it was our argument that caused the San Diego Comic Con to formalize their policy on autographs. Prior to that, they had a rule, that they didn't really enforce, that said celebrities could charge for autographs, if they were providing the material, but couldn't charge for autographs on official Comic Con 'stuff' (like the program). I forget what the rule is now - but, at the time, I was right - he wanted to charge me for something that, at that time, was supposed to be free. (It probably doesn't make any sense any more - I just always remember that he and I exchanged words, he called security over, and they told him I was right).

Oh, and even though you and I have only met in person once, I've always thought that if we were local to one another, we'd be good friends.

I've met Lou Ferrigno several times, and he's not deaf, but he's been hard of hearing since he was a child. He also gave me and autograph for free...or I'd have kicked his ass. j/k

RAMA

 

[starfox]

2. I wish I was the opposite sex.

Well, that is achievable, though it takes a lot of work (psychological and physical). Are you actually transgendered (you don't have to have had surgery for this), or is this just a bit of wishful thinking for another reason?

I dislike every single gender-specific aspect of my body, and have since I was young.
Switching isn't an option now because of 1) I'm married, 2) my religion, 3) if not done at a young age, the results will be disturbing.

4. I wish I had heterochromia.

Wear two different coloured contact lenses?

Possible, but I expect everyone who knows me would find it laughable.

5. I regret not getting a small, stylized tattoo of my favorite animal when I had the chance.

Why do you think the chance has passed you by?

Religious restriction.

Alternatively, I could get a red maple leaf, symbolizing the fact that I'm Canadian.) But I'm still not convinced.

I'm not Canadian, but I live in Canada, eh.

 

[TorontoTrekker]

I've met Lou Ferrigno several times, and he's not deaf, but he's been hard of hearing since he was a child.

Oops. My mistake, then.

He also gave me and autograph for free...or I'd have kicked his ass. j/k

2. I wish I was the opposite sex.

Well, that is achievable, though it takes a lot of work (psychological and physical). Are you actually transgendered (you don't have to have had surgery for this), or is this just a bit of wishful thinking for another reason?

I dislike every single gender-specific aspect of my body, and have since I was young.
Switching isn't an option now because of 1) I'm married, 2) my religion, 3) if not done at a young age, the results will be disturbing.

I'll grant you the age issue, but you have to weigh the first two against the possibility of being unhappy or unsatisfied for the rest of your life. It can be painful to hurt the ones you love, but it can be equally painful to spend the rest of your life portraying someone you're not.

Possible, but I expect everyone who knows me would find it laughable.

Again, though, you have to be true to yourself. Do you think this guy cares about being laughed at?

(I can tell you, he doesn't. I've actually met him - we were both at the 2004 Gaylaxicon, in San Diego.)

Why do you think the chance has passed you by?

Religious restriction.

I'll grant you that one too - although I'm not religious myself, whether or not to get a tattoo strikes me as fairly low on the life satisfaction scale. (Unlike the transgenderism question, which I rank much higher.)

Alternatively, I could get a red maple leaf, symbolizing the fact that I'm Canadian.) But I'm still not convinced.

I'm not Canadian, but I live in Canada, eh.

Excellent. One by one, we shall take over the board.