Toadfish Monastery

1. How well do you deal with blood/guts/gore that are caused by violence?

Not well in the abstract, in the real word? Like cleaning up crime/abuse victims or helping out in emergencies? I do quite well at that moment and then puke my guts up for 3 or 4 days afterward, unless I have more to deal with... Once the 'evidence' is collected, the cops are generally happy to allow the friends or family to take over...

Somebody has to. As to photos, videos? Can't even look at them.

(Sorry, but when you've waited until the crime lab people are through and then scraped the brains of your friend off the walls...reality is bearable, because it keeps the family from having to do it. To them, it's so much morse.)

2. How do you feel about games/flashes like that [http://www.joecartoon.com/cartoons/67-frog_in_a_blender]?

Cartoon violence is cartoons. To sane adults, it's a sort of sick release, a reflection of the 'revenge need' every last one of us has. It's not something that kids should be exposed to, even the bleeped language tells you that. But, it's not something that I would try to regulate, either. THAT is noting compared to the sick shit on some of the everyday videogames out there, believe me. It's annoying cartoon gophers, NOT 'simulated' real humans being raped, tortured and murdered. It's as real as a talking frog or a talking gerbil or whatever. Can't waste any angst on bad taste or releasing anger in that way.

3. How long do you brew your tea?

Can't let it brew for long. the more it brews, the stronger, the more apt it is to cause me problems. Weak tea for me.

Bonus: Do you like Doc Martens?

I think I would love them, but they're expensive and out of the question. I'd like to have some decently warm and sturdy shoes of some sort, but I'm difficult to fit.

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1. Would you shop for gifts here?
http://proshop.blackwaterusa.com/

2. Does the prospect of severe climate change scare you more than the prospect of gross political disruption? Financial fallout from bad policies, or both of the previous? Or does it all seem like a 'somebody else's problem' field?

3. Was life simpler 50 years ago, or were people simpler?

Bonus: Baklava, yes or no?

1. Would you shop for gifts here?
http://proshop.blackwaterusa.com/

I will shop nowhere else! whether i need a universal holster or a hat expressing my support for thuggish state sponsored terrorists it has everything I need. And great customer service (provided you are not Iraqi.

2. Does the prospect of severe climate change scare you more than the prospect of gross political disruption? Financial fallout from bad policies, or both of the previous? Or does it all seem like a 'somebody else's problem' field?

I rather suspect that severe climate change and political disruption will go hand in hand. There is a little sneaky bit of me that is looking forward to a kind of post apocalyptic existence a la Day of the Triffids.

3. Was life simpler 50 years ago, or were people simpler?

I found life very hard 50 years ago! But seriously it was much easier. many of the inventions designed to make life easier actually make it more stressful and increase the work we all do many fold. Take email..... no please take it and get rid of it!


Bonus: Baklava, yes or no?

i prefer a cap. The bit over your mouth and nose becomes disgusting and people assume you are a terrorist or bank robber! (you may infer from this that I have no idea what Baklava is)

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1) could you survive in a post apocalyptic world?

2) if so where do your skills come from? the scouts? being part of a survivalist militia? Playing resident evil incessantly?

3) Is male pattern baldness a sign of virility or just a sign that your hair is falling out?

1) could you survive in a post apocalyptic world?
Depends. I can probably feed myself, and perhaps protect myself, but that's kinda iffy.

2) if so where do your skills come from? the scouts? being part of a survivalist militia? Playing resident evil incessantly?
I went to a camp in elementary school that taught some survivalist skills, and I read a fair about about edible plants. I own several books about them, too.

3) Is male pattern baldness a sign of virility or just a sign that your hair is falling out?
It's a sign that your hair is falling out.
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1. Do/did you go to class regularly in college?

2. Favorite citrus fruit?

3. Do you like the circus?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baklava

Quote from: Sibling Chatty on December 06, 2007, 01:15:53 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baklava

You could wear Baklava on your head.  Baklava wouldn't be warm like a balaclava would.  Balaclava are not as tasty though. 

All this talk about balaclavas has made me nostalgic for some Kendall Mint Cake.

(Don't ask why, I can't explain it in less than a novella)

And I have to invest in more honey and some nuts, or else just buy another tray of baklava. (Not to mention buying the pastry....then assembling and baking it.)

Gotta buy another tray of baklava.

Baklava is lovely, especially when fresh.

1. Do/did you go to class regularly in college?

Yes, I did. I skipped a lot of my 10th grade year, though. I was really bored. BUt then I went to alternative school and things got better. I paid for my own college, so that may have made me want to get my money's worth out of it.

2. Favorite citrus fruit?

The best citrus I ever tasted was when I was in Saratoga, Florida vacationing at my employer's house on the bay (she didn't pay us much, but we did have this one fabulous perk). There was a white grapefruit tree on her property and every morning my spouse and I would go out and pick a grapefruit to split for breakfast. They were as sweet as candy! There was an orange tree too, and the oranges were very good, but the grapefruits were out of this world! I've never tasted them as sweet before or since.

3. Do you like the circus?

There are certain things about the circus that make me uneasy, such as making animals do things they are obviously not choosing to do. But I look at it as an historical form of entertainment, one that has been around and been appreciated for a long time. When I think of it in that context I can enjoy it.

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1) What is your favorite sort of sky?

2) Do you think that the right kind of music could raise you from a coma?

3) Do you believe in omens?

Bonus: If frogs are in frogurt, what are yurts made out of?

1) What is your favorite sort of sky?
right after the rain goes away, when clouds are trailing behind the group, and the sun is peeking out.

2) Do you think that the right kind of music could raise you from a coma?
Possibly. I bet if you play Dethklok loud enough, you'll wake the dead.

3) Do you believe in omens?
I'm an atheist with some pagan leanings, but not so much.

Bonus: If frogs are in frogurt, what are yurts made out of?
Small children.
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1. Do you think Bush is full of scat of a bovine nature when he says he didn't know that Iran had quit with the nukes in about 2003?

2. How much of what he says is really equal to what somes out of the "south end of a north-bound cow"?

3. Who's the brains of the white House?

Bonus: What's the Bilderberg Group?

1. Do you think Bush is full of scat of a bovine nature when he says he didn't know that Iran had quit with the nukes in about 2003?

Certainly, he'd been told. What he remembers...he is a wetbrain "dry" drunk, and sometimes the medication level is off and he doesn't remember things.

2. How much of what he says is really equal to what comes out of the "south end of a north-bound cow"?

Is there a percent above 100%? Over the years, he's been able to repeat what he's been told--most of the time.

3. Who's the brains of the white House?

Cheney's been pulling the strings, Rove was the babysitter with the evil ideas. As long as the military/industrial complex was being served...anybody could give a string a tug to see what happened, showing that there NEEDS to be some level of self-preservation in a President. the current pResident has never needed that because Daddy's Buddies would always pull him out.

They're backing off now, with good reason.

Bonus: What's the Bilderberg Group?

An annual meeting of "the big guys"; leaders of industry, politicians, etc. Been going on since the mid 50's. Supposedly a brain trust kinda thing, international in scope. they meet at expensive resorts and engage in a mutual admiration and mental masturbation weekend that lets them think they're in control.

Evidence suggests otherwise, they control nothing, but it's a prestige thing, so they all want to be there. the group is named after the original meeting place, from when it was a let's keep an eye on this divided Germany thing, and "protect" Europe sorta meeting.

Some folks think it's the planning group for "the New World Order". I think it would have been more fun to call them the Oosterbeek Group.




1. Recession or depression? Which do you expect?

2. Why?

3. Should we string up the Bushistas or Greenspan? Both?

1. Recession or depression? Which do you expect?

Too early to tell.  If we get through the next 6 months without major financial collapse, recession, otherwise depression.


2. Why?

The central banks have lost control of setting interest rate policy.  The BoE lowered interest rates yesterday but the markets signalled they think interbank rates will go up.  If liquidity is cut off to industry then failures will go up markedly. If the housing market goes into a vicious circle decline then buy-to letters will bail out, and the banks will trust each other even less.
The central banks are between a rock and hard place. Small  interest rate drops don't have any effect on faith, a big one might, but if it suddenly re-established normal interest rates then inflation could take off, needing a fast reversal and big loss of credibility. 
Meantime enjoy the ride, because no-one is steering.



3. Should we string up the Bushistas or Greenspan? Both?

Neither.  Hang up those who delude themselves by building complicated mathematical models of financial risk and how to offset it.  Massive edifices are built on these models, but they ignore how ordinary traders react. At some point, when the real world stops behaving like the models, traders stop believing the models, switch into cash and stay there. This is no surprise to anyone but the modellers; this  did for LTCM over a decade ago.

Greenspan has warned against this, Warren Buffet has warned against this, and last century Maynard-Keynes warned again it (see the "Market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent" quote in that LTCM link).
This time people are not only saying they want to be in cash, but also exactly which banks they want that cash to be with.  When even Citibank has to get Arab bail-out (remember them? - the people not respectable enough to run ports?), things do not look rosy.


Brits will tell you this wouldn't have happened when the banks were run by Mr Mainwarings.


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1  iPhone - leap forward or gimmick?

2  Porridge or muesli?

3  Christmas or New Year?

1  iPhone - leap forward or gimmick?
Gimmick. A pretty gimmick, but it can't do anything a laptop can't do better.

2  Porridge or muesli?
coucous instead, please.

3  Christmas or New Year?
Christmas. New Year's is so hollow (not that Chirstmas isn't, but at least chirstmas is supposed to be spent with family rather than drinking)
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1. What's the bet way to deal with terrorism?

2. What's the best way to deal with the economy?

3. Favorite kind of muffin?

1. What's the bet way to deal with terrorism?

Economic development.  Despair at poor economic conditions does more to promote terrorism than anything else.


2. What's the best way to deal with the economy?

Ooh.  Tough question.  To start, do exactly the opposite of what Bush proposes.


3. Favorite kind of muffin?

Depends on when you ask.  What am I hungry for at the moment?


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1)  From all of human history, what is the most important invention?

2)  Which of Robert Heinlein's novels is the best?

3)  Who is your favorite classical composer?

1)  From all of human history, what is the most important invention?
Walking upright, kindl(e?)ing fire, maybe contraceptives will take first place some time in the future

2)  Which of Robert Heinlein's novels is the best?
Sorry, although I know the author, I have not yet read any of his novels

3)  Who is your favorite classical composer?
Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov

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1) What's for dinner?

2) Does censorship crush or unintentionally encourage creativity?

3) Ever considered diving as a hobby?

1) What's for dinner?
Chicken and vegetable Wok with Rice

2) Does censorship crush or unintentionally encourage creativity?
I think it's more complicated than that. among other things on has to define creativity... But yes, censorship restrains creativity no doubt (but to make an odd comparison ) it also puts it in a pressure boiler and steam under pressure can cut like a knife. The allegories; stories, paintings etc. made to slip under the censors radar can be very powerful but they always make me wonder what this person could accomplish in full freedom. I guess my answer is that censorship smothers the creativity in the majority but fuels it for a few.

3) Ever considered diving as a hobby?
I love driving! And I could consider it if I had the money for it.
But driving to different places like very old churches or old industrial sites (like Sala silver mine, you can see some photos on my flickr site) to wander around and take pictures is something of a hobby for me and my SO.

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1) What is your favourite season?
2) Chicken or fish?
3) Flowers or green plants?