Q&A

I’ve been wildly remiss in these things since … well, since last Thursday. But since I do one myself, I’d better get caught up.

First, the Thursday Thumb-Twiddler for today:

1. Would it disturb you much if, upon your death, your body were simply thrown into the woods and left to rot? Why? Well, I don’t plan to be worrying much about my body after my death, so, on that level, not at all. I’d love to have a huge monument, just because I think it would be neat, but I’d worry most about this scenario because of what it implies. I don’t think Margie would let this happen, so has something happened to her? Or was my death a mysterious disappearance, and how would that be affecting her? In either case, not something I’d like to see happening.

2. The head of the Postal Service calls you up and tells you that you’ve been chosen at random to create a postage stamp with anyone or anything on it. What would you choose? Hmmmm. A “Farscape” stamp? Or a “Firefly” stamp? Or a stamp with my picture on it? Or Katherine’s? Or a particularly good quotation? Or my blog URL? Maybe the statues of Justice and Law? Jeez, maybe I don’t want this privilege …

3. What’s the longest line you’ve ever stood in? I hate to say it, but probably one of the airport security checkpoint lines in the past several months. That’s what comes to mind.

The longest I’ve waited in line, on the other hand, was probably for Empire Strikes Back. (Or was it Return of the Jedi. 1984. Must have been Jedi.) That was on the order of five or six hours.

This week’s Thursday Threesome is next:

Shake– Is there anything that makes you shake in your shoes? Any phobias you’d like to share? Aside from my fear of ridicule? I have a visceral aversion to needles (or anything that violates my bodily integrity, such as sharp objects cutting into me). Skin-crawling time. Made going for flu shots with Katherine a few weeks back sort of interesting.

Rattle– What’s rattling around in your mental trunk that you need to take care of? Gates. Must build gates this weekend. Must, must, must.

and Roll– When you run up against an unexpected challenge, do you adapt and roll with it or scrap your original plan and go with Plan B? Probably more the former than the latter. Some changes I don’t mind adapting to. Others bug the hell out of me. Part of it is whether I’m expecting change. I don’t adapt well when I have expectations.

Now it’s 3xThursday:

1. Have you ever disagreed with an Oscar for Best picture? I mean what won that you did not agree with and what should have won? My tastes are such that I am rarely surprised by films I like being skipped and films I don’t care for being chosen. Since I see few movies anyway, I rarely have seen all the nominees in the major categories. Last year, though I hadn’t seen A Beautiful Mind, I could easily have seen Moulin Rouge taking Best Picture.

2. What categories are missing from the Oscars? If you had to pick some new catagories what would they be? I’m actually irked that they created an Animation category — not because those films don’t deserve recognition, but because some of them could go up against the actual live action nominees. I think, as virtual acting becomes more common, we’re going to see some interesting times ahead here.

3. What Actor, Actress or Director is ignored by the Academy and deserves more credit and recognition than they now get? I will probably be pretty put out if Peter Jackson doesn’t win a Direction award over the three-year LotR run.

But don’t get me started on the Emmies.

Moving earlier into the week, it’s the Tuesday This-or-That:

1. Hershey’s Kisses: with or without almonds? Nuts are an abomination. Give me my chocolate.
2. Wizard of Oz: Scarecrow or Tin Man? I always liked the Tin Man. A much more tragic character.
3. Meat eater or vegetarian? My ancestors evolved to avoid eating plants.
4. Buy books or borrow them? If you borrow them, then you have to borrow them again when you want to reread them. Plus, you have to return them, so there are all sorts of logisitical complexities. Bleah.
5. At the bank: ATM or human teller? ATM. I like friendly tellers as much as the next person, but the process is slower, and unless I’m looking for social interaction, it’s more of a hassle than swipe, punch, and pocket.
6. Oil or gas (or other) heat? I grew up with electric heat, mostly. Gas is what I have now, and it works fine. Oil heat always seemed kind of … messy, to me.
7. Pen or pencil? Pen. Life is too short for pencils. Plus I dislike having to sharpen them (or reload the mechanical ones).
8. Drive or use public transit? I like driving. I will take public transit if it is more convenient and at least a break-even on cost, but that’s rarely the case.
9. Who IS James Bond: Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan (or any of the others in between)? They all have something to recommend them. Connery, obviously, especially in the earlier films, was closest to the ideal, but that’s because of how those films resembled the books. Later on, things got sort of goofy, even with him. George Lazenby wasn’t given much of a chance, though he has some nice moments in his one outing. Roger Moore had some good moments, too, except when he was being scripted as a goofball or when he got too old. I am one of the five people who evidently liked Timothy Dalton’s brutality in the role (shades of Connery). Brosnan has done well, though sometimes he’s a bit too suave.
10. Your ideal breakfast: full (bacon/sausage, eggs, pancakes, etc) or continental (bagels, muffins, fruit, cereal)? Do you have to ask. I love a full breakfast.

How about some Saturday Scruples?

1. A relative is dying. She asks for help to die with dignity. Assisting suicide is a criminal offense. Do you help? If I can do it at minimal risk of criminal prosecution (more for the impact on my family than anything else), absolutely.

2. A friend calls it “the best entertainment in town.” He uses a scanner to listen to lovers talking on cell phones. Do you do it? Yes. I am too much of a voyeur not to.

3. You’re selling your house because of constant noise from the rooming house next door. Potential buyers ask why you’re selling. Do you tell them? I try to couch it in positive terms. “I’m getting a little place out in the suburbs, nice and quiet and lonesome.” Truthful, and approaching root causes, but making it about me, not about something they might be bugged by. If they want to connect the dots, fine.

I’m going to do the Game WISH in a different post, and FridayFive seems to be 404, so that’s about it. Phew!