85 posts tagged “qotd”

Window or aisle?

Aisle. Always aisle. I have the world's tiniest bladder and there is no view from 35,000ft that can compete with having easy access to the bathroom. Sorry Grand Canyon or Uluru.

Have you (or someone you're close to) ever been on television?

Yes, there is someone who was on reality TV in my office, and it was fascinating to learn about the psychological techniques they use to manufacture tension and arguments.

What's one thing a houseguest should always do?

Okay there are a few things houseguests should always do in my opinion. If they are coming from the UK then they should bring a stash of British groceries (chocolate, chocolate biscuits, Scottish tablet, etc) and the latest BBC History magazine. If they are coming from the US to the UK then they should bring a stash of Tylenol, Levi jeans and This American Life slash Battlestar Galactica DVDs. They should not be too fussy eaters and able to flow with things. Be willing to venture out on their own to give the people they are staying with some breathing room, and most importantly they should remember Ben Franklin's saying:

'Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.'

If you had one day to spend $100,000 - and you had to spend it totally selfishly - what would you buy?

• Pre-pay grad school
  
• Book a Mediterranean cruise & take in all the sites of ancient Greece
• Make a donations to support C-CAP  and Donors Choose
  

What do you tend to worry about in the middle of the night?

My exam results they are due next month!!!!

What is your "bad manners" pet peeve?

Littering. 

This ranges from dropping trash on the pavement to not busing your own table at Starbucks (I am wagging the finger at you Europeans about that one) to dog owners not cleaning up after their animal.  If something accidentally flutters out of my pocket on the sidewalk I feel guilty if I don't scoop it up quickly. I do not care what you do in your own space but in the public arena pick up after yourself.

If money didn't matter, what job would you most like to have?
Submitted by Rainbird.

I am pretty certain that Alex thinks that I am under the impression that money doesn't matter and that is why I am bent on studying classics and not law or accountancy. So to answer your question if money didn't matter I'd be in school full time rather than part-time, and would go on to get lots of masters.

What question do you hate being asked?

Are you a vegetarian? I radiate a faux vegetarian persona.  It has dogged me since forever, and I swear I could be chowing down a hot dog and I would still be asked if I was a veggie.  I don't quite know how someone can 'look like a vegetarian'  but I apparently do.  Given that I love meat, and am about as far removed from vegetarianism you can get this is rather annoying. Yes I am pale, but I am BRITISH not anemic. Do I dress like a veggie? Is it the Birkenstocks, natural fibres and the multiple earrings? You know carnivores get things pierced and enjoy sensible sandals.  A few weeks ago a group of us from work went out for lunch, to accommodate a veggie we went to a veggie restaurant nearby and of course at the last moment the veggie had to stay behind so we were all condemned to tofu and beansprouts.  The restaurant was good but the portions were lacking.  I had pasta with pumpkin and asparagus. It was tasty but could have done with some chicken, a nice lamb chop or even some tofu to bulk it up. If you're serving veggie food the least you can do is pack the dishes with lots of vegetables (and perhaps cheese) don't treat the asparagus like a truffle or a garnish. 

They say that you should never meet your heroes, who are your heroes and, given the opportunity, would you ever meet them?
Submitted by Beautifully Broken.

Funny this question should pop up whilst I am in Seattle because last time I was here I ran into a 'hero' of mine at the ATM on the University of Washington campus. When we came to Seattle last April for Alex's ALT.Net fest there was also a conference on Roman art at UW (Go Huskies!) so we were both able to get our respective geeks on.  One of the speakers I got to see was renowned classicist and blogger Prof. Mary Beard, and it was she who I ran into at the ATM very early on that Saturday morning. I didn't say anything as it caught be by surprise and I am painfully shy at times, but she was very don-ish and came across as a stereotypical academic. She also gave an excellent presentation so idol status was left very much intact.
 

Today is the first day of the Season of Lent. Are you giving anything up for the next 40 days?

Nope. We atheists are maverick bunch, we're perfectly happy to munch down pancakes on Shrove Tuesday but give the whole Lent bit a wide birth. Instead of giving something up I've decided to take up wearing make-up for the next 40 days.