The Never Ending Toadfish Interview Cycle!

[Sibling Chatty]

1)Where do you want to be in 5 years time?

ALIVE!!

Here, but with the house fixed and a functional kitchen.

2) Do you think we - humans- should try and colonize 'space'?

Not yet. Why should we go trash somewhere else until we can learn to take care of what we have??? We CAN do better, but GREED is the problem.

3) When all the water at the poles melts- can I come and live with you?

Sure!! We're projected to be close to the beach about that time...We can head to your house if there's a hurricane!!

bonus: if you live 'lower' than me- you can come stay with me-

I figure we can take up a rotational residential situation until the Monastery's ready.


1. Do you have any allergies?

2. Are rising numbers of allergy sufferers caused by environmental factors?

3. Have you heard about the "green" movement taking place among some US Evangelicals?
http://www.forbes.com/business/2007/05/23/evangelical-environment-republicans-business-cx_0524oxford.html

Do you see this as a positive thing?

[beagle]

1. Do you have any allergies?

Very mild asthma. Penicillin.


2. Are rising numbers of allergy sufferers caused by environmental factors?

My best guess is that some are, e.g. particles from diesel in city centres. I think women aren't supposed to eat peanuts when pregnant these days either.
Others may be due to an inadequate or misdirected development of the immune system in young children due to being raised in an excessively clean environment. Don't think the experts have made up their minds yet. The suspicion is that the immune system "gets bored" and, if there are no bacteria/viruses to fight, wastes its time creating unnecessary antibodies to second-level "threats". Because of the timescales involved and the huge numbers of possible factors I don't think anyone really knows.


3. Have you heard about the "green" movement taking place among some US Evangelicals?
http://www.forbes.com/business/2007/05/23/evangelical-environment-republicans-business-cx_0524oxford.html

No.  Doesn't particularly surprise me though. Green isn't necessarily un-Conservative or un-religious over here.

Do you see this as a positive thing?

I suppose so.  The consequences are a bit hard to determine. If they're rational greens then it sounds promising.  On the other hand if the plan is to annexe the Middle-East or Africa in order to rebuild the Garden of Eden then I predict ructions.


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1  President Musharraf - good or bad for Pakistan?

2  Benazir Bhutto - same  question

3  Why have India and Pakistan had such different outcomes since independence?

[The Meromorph]

1  President Musharraf - good or bad for Pakistan?
A fewking disaster. To some extent the fact that he's still there is a result of King Georges attempt at 'Foreign Policy' by personal relationships between 'monarchs'. He's about to make the fatal mistake of oppressing the brothers and families of the army officers who's support he depends on. Then family will trump and he'll be out on his ear. That won't help Pakistan much, though; like America it's been too much damaged by it's current government to recover soon.

2  Benazir Bhutto - same  question

Possibly Pakistan's only hope for eventual recovery (in a generation or so); otherwise it's civil war/religious wars, and the Balkans all over again. Unless someone gets real stupid and threatens India with Nukes - Then they'll be a sea of glass.

3  Why have India and Pakistan had such different outcomes since independence?
Both are fundamentalist religious, but at least India's is a 'wisdom' religion, not a patriarchal oppression religion. The other critical factor in Pakistan is the Army's effective take over of Commercial and Industrial power, separate from it's military role. That's not only allowed, it's driven, frequent military coups.




1) Will King George succeed in bombing Iran before he's indicted for war crimes?

2) Will Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld stand trial, eventually?

3) How can we help it happen?


Bonus Question.  Can you tell I'm pissed today? 

[Sibling Chatty]

Not a full response, only question three.

Nag the living hell out of Congress, and especially about HR 333, the Cheney Impeachment. (And tell Pelosi to shut the hell up SHE isn't the American people, and if she can't represent what we want, she needs to go home.)

If we expect the US to survive, if there is EVER to be an actual democratic republic instead of a Dominionist theocracy or a facist luanticocracy or whatever the fuck these bastards are trying to do, the government has GOT to be gotten under control. The suspicion that Blackwater is in place to protect the unholy spawn of the NeoCons smells of a coup, an internal revolution wresting the country away from anyone but the Bushista Imperial Presidency.

Cheney's the place to start. Those of us old enough to remember the Nixon Imperial Presidency might recall a young Richard Cheney...one of the architects of that debacle. He moved on along the inside corridors of power, was a Bush I player in the Reagan Era...always concerned with unifying power under the Administrative Branch.

He's almost there. This isn't conspiracy theory crap. It's a pattern. Corporatocracy. Which is Facism. Cheney's goal.

Halliburton's already offshored. Their blood money is rolling in, and they'll not be paying taxes on it.

Greed. Which is NOT good. Never has been. Never will be.
---------------

Can you tell I'm pissed, politically and perpetually?

[Kiyoodle the Gambrinous]

The cycle has once again gone political... I think it's time to change that, in order not to get angry around here... New questions to save the day:


1. Which super hero would you like to meet? Why?

2. If you had one question to ask him, what would it be?

3. If you could obtain any piece of art (I mean any, so also those who are in different museums, too expensive etc...), which would it be?


Bonus: What would you like me to ask you?

[anthrobabe]

1. Which super hero would you like to meet? Why?

The Hulk, actually I think Lou Ferrigno is still smokin hot! especially his 'older' version, like when he did the episodes of "The King of Queens" on TV. mmmmmm Lou, sorry

2. If you had one question to ask him, what would it be?

Not sure--- maybe What his views are about how the world has changed in its view of the deaf/hard of hearing community since he began his career as a body-builder and then into acting.

3. If you could obtain any piece of art (I mean any, so also those who are in different museums, too expensive etc...), which would it be?

Starry Night by Van Gogh--- I've always loved it- and then found out that Van Gogh was a fellow tinnitus person and it suddenly made sense and all the more special.


Bonus: What would you like me to ask you?

Surprise me.

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What was your favorite thing to do as a child? Play outside, play inside, favorite toys, etc.

What did you really, seriously want to be when you grew up?

If you could invite 5 people to dinner- who and why?

[beagle]

What was your favorite thing to do as a child? Play outside, play inside, favorite toys, etc.
Play inside with technical toys like Meccano etc mostly, but also spent ages running around outside with a collie dog.

What did you really, seriously want to be when you grew up?
A physicist, but I though it was more Dr Who than it really was. Soon shifted into computing.


If you could invite 5 people to dinner- who and why?

(I'm using a certain amount of licence here).

Winston Churchill  - One of very few politicians of any time period I admire. Witty guest as  well.

Alan Turing - Computer/logic genius and eccentric. For predictions.

Livia Drusilla - Wife of Augustus and possibly power behind the throne. To find out if she did the things attributed to her.

Judge Sir John Powell - English judge and rationalist. At one of the last witch trials in England his "It is not illegal to fly" comment about a "witch" allegedly seen flying on a broomstick effectively marked the end of the Middle Ages. To find out how  a rationalist coped with the mood of the times.

Mae West - Because she sounds fun.

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1 Favourite tree?

2 Favourite breed of dog?

3 Favourite commandment to break?

[Scriblerus the Philosophe]

1 Favourite tree?
Valley oaks. Oaks in general, too though.

2 Favourite breed of dog?
I like herding dogs. I have a border collie/aussie mix and he's the sweetest. I want an Alano, 'coz of my family history. --->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alano_Espa%C3%B1ol

3 Favourite commandment to break?
I regularly break the one about the name in vain.
_________________________________________
1. What is your favorite seasonal dish?

2. What is your favorite color?

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

[Swatopluk]

1. What is your favorite seasonal dish?
Few things are seasonal anymore these days. I just had very good strawberries (if that counts as dish)

2. What is your favorite color?
dark blue with a hint of green

3. What is the air velocity of an unladen swallow?
Depends on whether it runs on lead or not
If it were a duck, I'd say Quack 1
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1. Would (absent that asteroid strike) dinosaurs be the humans of today?

2. What would society look like, if there were 3 (biological) sexes instead of the standard 2 we enjoy(?) ?

3. Is there a general market for animal-on-animal prawn*?

Bonus Question: Is this the absurd question thread bleeding into this?

*some zoos actually use that to encourage rare animals to mate and procreate

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

1. Would (absent that asteroid strike) dinosaurs be the humans of today?
I actually wonder if a civilization existed 65My would it leave anything left behind? The troodon already had circumvolutions in his brain, and interestingly, the latest findings suggest that the dinosaurs actually survived the asteroid hit for at least 1 or 2 My. Perhaps a dino species was smart enough to create a civilization and destroy it. How can we know?

2. What would society look like, if there were 3 (biological) sexes instead of the standard 2 we enjoy(?) ?
Erm... long hair, short hair and bald?

3. Is there a general market for animal-on-animal prawn?
Apparently you haven't seen the discovery/national geographic channels...

Bonus Question: Is this the absurd question thread bleeding into this?
Absurd? Where? Why? That's absurd!

1. How long until we can have dinosaurs as pets?

2. Is it possible to have decent dietetic food?

3. If you could have a famous sculpture in your house which would it be?

[Sibling Chatty]

1. How long until we can have dinosaurs as pets?

People have all kinda lizardy and toadlike critters as pets already...Get to cloning. If you make it, some nutburger will buy it.

2. Is it possible to have decent dietetic food?

Depends on the type of dietetic. Are you cutting sugar, carbs, fats, what?? Most diet foods end up being heavy in chemicals, salt and non-food. You'd be better off with an attempt to eat NO premade, prepackaged garbage, just fresh, whole foods from local sources.

3. If you could have a famous sculpture in your house which would it be?

Magritte's Madame Recamier de David-1951



I doubt the Menil in Houston would let me have it, though... (Yes, I have a sick and twisted sense of humor.)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1. What do you want for End of Year Festive Gift Giving Holiday??

2. What's your favorite tradition associated with said Holiday?

3. What's your favorite SONG associated with it?


BONUS!! Did I declare War on Christmas??

[Bluenose]

1. What do you want for End of Year Festive Gift Giving Holiday??

A GPS Navigator

2. What's your favorite tradition associated with said Holiday?

Big turkey dinner with cranberry sauce, roast potatoes, carrots, sweet potato & parsnips and green beans followed by Plum pudding with brandy sauce, King Island cream and all washed down with some fine sparkling Durif then have some mince tarts, chocolates and more Durif.  Lay around feeling bloated, finish off playing silly card game Skip-Bo

3. What's your favorite SONG associated with it?

Aussie Jingle Bells

Dashing through the bush,
in a rusty Holden Ute,
Kicking up the dust,
Esky in the boot,
Kelpie by my side,
singing Christmas songs,
It's Summer time and I am in
my singlet, shorts and thongs

*
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

*
Engine's getting hot;
we dodge the kangaroos,
The swaggie climbs aboard,
he is welcome too.
All the family's there,
sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Aussie way,
by the barbecue.

*
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

*
Come the afternoon,
Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce,
are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes 'round to go,
we take the family snap,
Pack the car and all shoot through,
before the washing up.

*
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

English translation for selected terms:
Holden - Holden is the Australian branch of General Motors
ute - short for utility, a pick-up vehicle based on a normal family sedan
Esky - a brand of insulated cooler used for keeping drinks (mainly beer) cold, the name is universal regardless of actual brand
Kelpie - a breed of Australian cattle dog
thongs - NOT underwear, actually a type of footwear consisting of a sole and a strap attached to the sides and to a piece that fits between the big and second toe.
swaggie - short for swagman, men who carried their possession on their back during the Great Depression who wondered about the country on foot looking for work or trying to avoid it, depending on your POV
shoot through - go
     
BONUS!! Did I declare War on Christmas??

Yes.  RETURN FIRE!!!   

=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=

1. What is the silliest thing you have ever done at <enter holiday festival of your choice here>?

2. Is gift giving at this time of year: A) a crass commercial exploitation of the gullible public; or, B) shut up and give me my pressies now!

3. What is the funniest/least appropriate present you have ever received?

Bonus question:  Would you like an egg-nog?

[Scriblerus the Philosophe]

1. What is the silliest thing you have ever done at <enter holiday festival of your choice here>?
Probably just saying something stupid.

2. Is gift giving at this time of year: A) a crass commercial exploitation of the gullible public; or, B) shut up and give me my pressies now!

:smirk: B! B! OMG, B!

3. What is the funniest/least appropriate present you have ever received?
A Moses action figure. I <3'd him. And then he was stolen from me. 

Bonus question:  Would you like an egg-nog?
Yesh! A non-alcholic one, plz.
_______________________[muffin!]_________________________
1. What should the next pope be named?

2. Where will the investigations of Olmert lead to?

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

Bonus: What does the recent posthumous award to Koval mean for relations between the US and Russia? (http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article3155089.ece)

[Swatopluk]

Pope Ultimus of course
---
I did #3 already above and have nothing to say on Bonus.
No good questions coming to mind either.

[Opsa]

I owe you one, Swato, as you came up with a Name That Movie for me when I ran out of ideas.


1) Do you bite your nails? If so, when?

2) Do you like snow? Alot of snow?

3) Would you join Chatty's Anti-Christmas Army?

BONUS QUESTION: Eggnog frogurt: Is it Absolutely Necessary?

PS: Loved Bluenose's Aussie jingle Bells!