Toadfish Monastery

1) Apples or Oranges?

Both? I loooove pink lady apples and looooove blood oranges, so I can't really pick.

2) Do you believe in love at first sight?

Nope. That's, at best infatuation, and at worst, lust.

3) Favourite season?
We have three seasons around here--winter, summer and in
between. I <3 in between.
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1. How often do you get sick?

2. Who is your most interesting ancestor (that you know of)?

3. What is the air velocity of an unladen swallow?

1. How often do you get sick?

More often than I'd like. My immune system is crap anyway, but I also have Seasonally Affected Disorder, due to being born and brought up in the Tropics. Not enough sunlight in the UK... One thing SAD does is decreases your immune response. Makes me a bit of a human canary when there is anything going around.

2. Who is your most interesting ancestor (that you know of)?

The Taylors who are affiliated with Clan Cameron as a sept are said to be descended from Donald "Taillear dubh na tuaighe" (Black tailor of the [Lochaber] axe), who lived in the time of Mary Queen of Scots.  He was the "natural son" of Ewen Cameron, 14th Chief of Clan Cameron and a daughter of the Chief of Clan MacDougall, out of wedlock.  Ewen had Donald nursed by a tailor's wife at Lundavra; thus the name Taylor.  After his father's death (Ewen died while a captive of the Chief of the MacDougalls, held prisoner until he agreed to marry the Chief's daughter), Donald would became the greatest warrior that Clan Cameron had even known.  Acknowledgement of his parentage by his deceased father not being enough to ascend to the Chiefship, he excelled in the field of battle, usually against the Cameron's principal foes, the Clan Mackintosh and usually with his trusty Lochaber axe.  In time he would flee rising Cameron-Mackintosh internal Clan treachery, with a band of loyal followers, to Cowal.  The descendants of his followers there were for ages known as Mac an taillear; later as Taylor.  A tribute to Donald remains in the Cameron Coat of Arms, where his likeness, along with a Lochaber axe, borders/protects the outer shield.


3. What is the air velocity of an unladen swallow?

African or European?

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1. What is your quest?

2. What is your favourite colour?

3.What is the capital of Assyria?

1. What is your quest?

Good health.

2. What is your favourite colour?

Blue

3.What is the capital of Assyria?

A

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1.  What's your worst memory of your first school?

2.  Have you or would ever darn a sock?

3.  Do you prefer to travel north, east, south or west from your home and why?
 

1.  What's your worst memory of your first school?

When I was going for 7th grade, I had heard all sorts of tales about the boys showers in gym class.  As I was painfully shy, it was a literal nightmare-- I had bad dreams about it all summer.  But, the actual experience was not that big a deal-- I was not the only one there.  It seems that misery loves company.  So does embarrassment.

2.  Have you or would ever darn a sock?

I have. Many, many years ago.  I used a darning attachment on an electric sewing machine.  Not that satisfactory-- left a "lump" on the sock that was not that comfortable to walk upon.

Socks are cheap.  When they have holes-- they go.  But, usually it's the elastic that goes first-- and out they go.  I hate loose floppy socks....

3.  Do you prefer to travel north, east, south or west from your home and why?

South, and/or East.  I live in the NW part of my city.

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1. Trackball, mouse, touch-screen or keyboard short-cuts?

2. 1 computer screen, 2 or more?  Flat LCD, plasma or old-fashioned CRT?

3. Carpet, hardwood floors or something else?  (like mutated grass? AKA The Ringworld series )

1. Trackball, mouse, touch-screen or keyboard short-cuts?
Yes. I've used allof the above and all have their strengths.

2. 1 computer screen, 2 or more?  Flat LCD, plasma or old-fashioned CRT?
I had two on one old Mac. The smaller (integral) screen was for menus and the like, the big, additional monitor was for layout.

I've also had a workstation with both Mac and PC, scanner, printer, etc. That was nice.

I'd like a larger, flat screen for my current system, but it's not in the cards right now. As for plasma, at high altitudes they can "buzz" which I would find very annoying.

3. Carpet, hardwood floors or something else?  (like mutated grass? AKA The Ringworld series )
I have new carpeting here, which is nice to walk on, but it sheds like a pet. My old place was a craftsman style house with big windows shining sunlight onto hardwood floors, which were gorgeous. They had to be swept constantly, though...

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Books or e-books?

Jazz or blues?

Lamps or candles?

1. Books or e-books?
I've been reading eBooks since my first palm pilot. Now I have a Sony Reader which currently has all discworld books and all Asimov's robots/foundation books. Regular books are nice but carrying them around isn't.

2. Jazz or blues?
Blues. I do like some jazz (with the exception of the easy listening smooth crap), but I don't know much on the subject.

3. Lamps or candles?
Candles, specially during the satanic invocation rituals prior to the baby feast.  
Seriously speaking, I do like candles, although I use them less and less now. 

(why don't we have an eating baby emot/smilie? Now I'll have to use Goya )


1. Babies, roasted, fried or boiled?

2. Do you season the baby before or you prefer BBQ sauce?

3. Is a questionnaire on eating babies in poor taste? (see Q.2)

1. Babies, roasted, fried or boiled?

Raw.

2. Do you season the baby before or you prefer BBQ sauce?

I prefer to marinate it in a bubbly brine of chamomile.

3. Is a questionnaire on eating babies in poor taste? (see Q.2)

Yes, and I wouldn't aswer it if I were me. Luckily, I'm not feeling quite myself today. 


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1) If the babies in questions were cannibals, would you then feel more justified in eating them?

2) If you were being pursued by cannibal babies, how would you escape?

3) Should a cannibal baby run for president?

1) If the babies in questions were cannibals, would you then feel more justified in eating them?

I'd wait around their first 4-6 months to check they really were cannibals - always good to draw out the anticipation.

2) If you were being pursued by cannibal babies, how would you escape?

I'd lure them into the mouth of a Great Whilte Shark and then escape in the confusion.

3) Should a cannibal baby run for president?

Been done before !

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1. If a cannibal baby head were left in your bed would you pass it on to your enemy?

2. How many canibal babies does it take to change a light bulb?

3. Which type of cannibal baby did Hannibal like best?

1. If a cannibal baby head were left in your bed would you pass it on to your enemy?
No, too useful as shredder.

2. How many canibal babies does it take to change a light bulb?
No need for lightbulbs, they glow in the dark

3. Which type of cannibal baby did Hannibal like best?
The aquatic ones that bit the Romans in the back at Lake Trasimene

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1. Do cannibal babies eate ach other?

2. Was Swift actually discussing cannibal babies when making his modest proposal

3. What is the text of the official cannibal baby lullaby?

1. Do cannibal babies eate ach other?
Of course.  No respect among cannibals, after all.

2. Was Swift actually discussing cannibal babies when making his modest proposal
Could be.  Swift did overlook the minor problem of too-lean roasted babies.  These are tough and dry, not suitable for parties at all.  And babies of the poor are apt to be underfed and lean. 

3. What is the text of the official cannibal baby lullaby?

to the tune of Brahms' Lullaby
Eat your brains, eat your brains, eat your brains now my darling.
Hear's a fresh one, young and fat, bringing full stomach to you.
Tuck it in, eat it all, eat as much as you can
For it is good, it is fine, you should eat it all up now.

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1) Which would you choose: PC, Mac, Linux, Pocket PC, Palm, Atari, Commadore, TRS-80, IBM-370, PDP-1130, other?  Why?

2) If you had a chance to safely travel into outer space, or to the moon, mars, would you? 

3) Ever desire to spend a summer in one of the Antarctic research bases? 

1) Which would you choose: PC, Mac, Linux, Pocket PC, Palm, Atari, Commadore, TRS-80, IBM-370, PDP-1130, other?  Why?
I have very fond memories of my old Atari ST but it'd be a bit slow these days. GFA Basic was such a good language to program in as an adolescent who grew up with Turbo Pascal

2) If you had a chance to safely travel into outer space, or to the moon, mars, would you?
I'd probably not get the necessary clean health bill for the trip but I'd be generally interested

3) Ever desire to spend a summer in one of the Antarctic research bases?
No great burning desire but I wouldn't necessarily say no (would 2 weeks be okay, all expenses paid by someone else?)

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1) How should sex-ed at school be dealt with? When what and by what means? (Should the applied pregnancy course be taken before the experimental buggering or after theoretical bigotry 101 )

2) Should the theoretical driver's test use sketches or actual photographs?

3) Are trikes preferable to bikes as far as comfort, security etc. are concerned?

1) How should sex-ed at school be dealt with? When what and by what means? (Should the applied pregnancy course be taken before the experimental buggering or after theoretical bigotry 101 Wink )

Having actual experience in sex ed of 4th, 5th and 6th graders.... I would state that it should be taught.  But, just the facts, keep it dry, and stick to the actual details.  I find that if you approach the subject with an 'matter-of-fact' attitude, the kids will fall into line naturally.  When you further demonstrate that you will answer their questions, no matter how 'odd' without laughing or making fun, you can gain their confidence.  Then you often get the chance to answer the real questions that are bothering them.  You need pictures, of course.  I find line drawings less problematic than photos.   The kids seem more comfortable with 'art' (drawings, diagrams, painting-reproductions, etc) than with actual photographs.   The art permits an abstract mind-set.  Photos are too 'real', and tend to dissolve into fits of giggling and uncomfortable laughing.  I use a power point demonstration for the 'mechanics' of it.

Studies show that kids who are informed of the subject are apt to make rational decisions before they engage in sexual exploration.  That is, the either skip it entirely, or if they do engage in sex, are far more apt to use safe sex-- or at the very least, they try to use some form of pregnancy prevention.

It's the ignorant kids who become unintentional parents.... (y'hear that fundies? It's YOUR kids who are most at risk to become parents...! )

*steps down off the*

2) Should the theoretical driver's test use sketches or actual photographs?
I think that drivers tests should be re-taken every 5 years or so.  People's abilities change.... and forcing them to refresh their knowledge of defensive driving wouldn't hurt, either.

3) Are trikes preferable to bikes as far as comfort, security etc. are concerned?
Motorized trikes can be quite dangerous in turns.  Unstable (at least the single-wheel in front style).  They're all but banned here in the US.   Kiddie trikes?  They're still quite popular, I'm told, among the just-learned-to-walk crowd.  Of course, among the 'more-money-than-sense' crowd, battery powered toys are replacing the traditional foot-pedaled versions.  *bleah*  So much for healthy exercise....  Is it any wonder many kids are overweight?

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1) Movie Theater or rented(owned) DVD at home?

2) Microwave popcorn, or Traditional pan-(in hot oil)-fried?

3) If you're going to your favorite Ice Cream parlor to binge on a Banana Split (or other favorite confection) will you, as a salve to your conscience, order a Diet softdrink to go with?  Or will you save roughly 2 times the calories (of the diet versus the regular), by vowing to NOT eat that last bite?   (as in a single bite of your Ice Cream dessert likely has roughly 2 times the calories of that can of regular soda, versus the diet one...)

1) Movie Theater or rented(owned) DVD at home?


Theater.  The recliner in front of the TV is nice, but the big screen can't be  beat.

2) Microwave popcorn, or Traditional pan-(in hot oil)-fried?


Actually, I prefer a hot air popper...though the ease of microwave popcorn is nice.

3) If you're going to your favorite Ice Cream parlor to binge on a Banana Split (or other favorite confection) will you, as a salve to your conscience, order a Diet softdrink to go with?  Or will you save roughly 2 times the calories (of the diet versus the regular), by vowing to NOT eat that last bite?   (as in a single bite of your Ice Cream dessert likely has roughly 2 times the calories of that can of regular soda, versus the diet one...)

Well, I can't have that big a sugar splurge these days.  I would have to go with a single dip and water.  An 'nana split sounds wonderful, but no can do.

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1)  Did you hate, tolerate, or enjoy algebra in high school?

2)  What time of day do you prefer to go fishing?

3)  Marvel or DC?

1)  Did you hate, tolerate, or enjoy algebra in high school?
Loathed it. Still do, in fact.

2)  What time of day do you prefer to go fishing?
I don't fish, but if I did, early evening or early morning.

3)  Marvel or DC?
Marvel or Darkhorse, please..
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1. What do you think of the recent Congressional approval of retroactive forgiveness for the telecom companies that participated in the warrantless wiretaping?

2. How bad is your temper?

3. What things set of nostalgia in you?

1. What do you think of the recent Congressional approval of retroactive forgiveness for the telecom companies that participated in the warrantless wiretaping?
They should be be mashed into a pulp, and have their eyes gouged out, and their elbows broken, have their kneecaps split, and their bodies burned away, and their limbs all hacked and mangled, their heads smashed in and hearts cut out, and their livers removed, and their bowels unplugged, and their nostrils raped and their bottoms burned off...

2. How bad is your temper?
ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?!?

3. What things set of nostalgia in you?
Can't name any specific things, the attacks usually come unpredictably.
Certain Vera Lynn songs do something like that (despite me being born long after WW2)

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1. Would a school timetable with days dedicated to certain subjects work better than having several subjects each day (e.g. Monday:History; Tuesday:Math; Wednesday:Native language/literature...)?

2. At what time of the day should school start, how long should a lesson be, how long the breaks etc.?

3. Many professions require continuing education to keep up-to-date. Should there be something like that for everyone (mandatory that is)?