Date: 2008-06-20 11:35 Subject: thefridayfive Security: Public Current Mood: restless

I haven't done one of these in a long time.

1. Did you get an allowance as a kid, and if so, how much was it?

When I was about six, I got twenty cents (about a dollar in today's money)--A nickel of that went into the piggy bank, another nickel into the collection plate at church, and the remaining dime usually went to the candy store. By the time I was old enough for a raise, my parents switched to a paid-chores system (that made prison wages seem like backdated CEO stock options).

2. How old were you when you had your first job, and what was it?

Thirteen: People brought newspapers to the local high school for recycling one Saturday a month. My job was to unload the papers from their cars into a semi trailer. If you were lucky, they came bundled, and the driver would help. The worst was when it was over 100F, a Cadillac drove up, the driver sat in the A/C, and popped the trunklid remotely, to reveal the trunk completely full of loose paper. Rainy days weren't too unpleasant, but the work was smelly and dangerous.

3. Which do you do better: save money or spend money?

I save money more consistently than I spend it well, because the savings all comes out of my paycheck before I have a chance to squander it. reillye has done a good job of throttling back my dumb spending.

4. Are people more likely to borrow money from you, or are you more likely to borrow from them?

Neither, as long as you don't count trivial stuff like me getting the pizza this time and you getting it next time. I learned long ago that "lending" money in moderate amounts (under $1000) falls under the "never bet more than you can afford to lose" rule, and as such, I usually consider loans like that to be gifts, and anything that's repaid is "found money".

5. What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?

My house, natch. Other than houses and cars, our biggest purchases have been improvements to the house, like the new kitchen in 1999.

Date: 2008-05-18 14:09 Subject: Seven interests Security: Public Current Mood: relaxed

Comment on this post and I will choose seven interests from your profile. You will then explain what they mean and why you are interested in them. Post this along with your answers in your own journal so that others can play along.

Requested by blamedstarlie:

TiVo: Revolutionized the way we watch TV. No more racing home to catch a specific show. No more screwed-up VCR programming. And a much cleaner user interface than the DVRs most cable companies provide.

Tom kha gai: Thai chicken soup made with coconut milk and lemongrass. It's what got me hooked on Thai food, even though it's so bad for you.

Palak paneer: An Indian dish made from spinach ("palak", sometimes called "saag"), paneer, cilantro and other spices, it might be my absolute favorite food. Its close cousin, aloo saag, substitutes potatoes for the cheese.

Veronica Mars: Some shows are worth watching just for the dialogue. This was one of them, but it also explored the ramifications of wide socioeconomic differences within a small community. It was unceremoniously cancelled a couple years ago.

Cribbage: An overly complicated card game that's popular on my mother's side of the family. My grandfather is the only one who can beat me on a regular basis, but having read a couple of books on the game, it's clear I'm still a living-room player, nowhere near tournament skill.

Unitarian Universalism: My adopted religion. The Catholic Church's theology didn't work for me, nor did their stance on social issues. Most other organized religions also claim to know much more about God and cosmology than I think any human can. At worst, they discard all scientific knowledge in favor of an unprovable supernatural view of the universe. OTOH, UUism has no set creed to which people are expected to adhere. Instead, the religion provides a framework within which each person find and comes to terms with their own answers to the Big Questions. It's a whole lot harder than following a preset gospel, but it's also a lot more spiritually fulfilling.

Seven Principles: The closest thing Unitarian Universalism has to commandments or rules. A common criticism of UUism is that the organization that opposes nothing stands for nothing and that the organization that stands for nothing will fall for anything. Those two sayings may be true, but our principles state clearly what we stand for and what we oppose.

Date: 2008-05-14 17:22 Subject: My turn Security: Public Current Mood: restless

( That 36-question thing... )

Date: 2008-04-29 16:51 Subject: Food meme, ganked from cheezchick Security: Public Current Mood: bored

( my turn... )

Date: 2008-04-12 09:39 Subject: My Turn Security: Public Current Mood: amused

thefridayfive

1. If you had the ability to legally change your name, would you? To what?

I gave serious thought to hyphenating my name the way reillye did, but at the time, I figured my older relatives would at best not get it and at worst be mortally insulted.

2. What do you with with change that you receive from banks/purchases/find on the ground?

When I notice it in my pocket, I dump it into a ceramic jar on my dresser. The quarters generally end up at work as vending machine fodder, and the rest generally ends up in the kids' piggy banks.

3. If you could travel back in time to change the course of one historical event, what event would it be?

There are bunches of drunk nights I'd like to delete. On a larger scale, the 2000 elections comes to mind.

4. Would you rather live a safe, stable, moderately interesting life or one where every day was dangerous, volatile, and different?

I had dangerous and volatile for a long time, and most of it I wouldn't trade, but safe and stable is good for this graying, middle-aged codger.

5. What do you think you'll be remembered for when you die and, if you could, would you change it to something else?

Likely: "I can't believe that in thirty years of Scrabble, he never hit 1100."
Change to: "I can't believe that in thirty years of Scrabble, he never hit 1100, even after his kids were grown and he played twenty tournaments a year. Too bad he was too old for the Quackle brain implants the NSA uses for School Scrabble now."

Date: 2008-03-25 13:52 Subject: Done 200 things or not Security: Public Current Mood: bored Current Music: boring telecon

( OK... )

Date: 2008-03-01 13:23 Subject: OK, OK Security: Public Current Mood: relaxed

( My turn... )

Date: 2008-03-01 13:23 Subject: One movie left Security: Public Current Mood: surprised

There's one left, folks, so here's another hint. I'll add one every day until someone gets it.

4. I've been talking to the record company. They're going to buy you a little house.
+ Do you ever get the feeling you've been cheated?
+ None of your free hippie love sh*t here!

Date: 2008-02-23 10:50 Subject: More hints Security: Public Current Mood: busy

Here's some more help. I'm only unsurprised that nobody got #14. That's a tough line, even though you've all seen the movie.

2. You just earned yourself twelve hours of scrubbing garbage cans.
+ Look, if you don't want me in your Army, kick me out, but get off my back.
3. "Ditto"? "Ditto", you provincial putz?
+ Dock that ch*nk a day's pay for laying down on the job!
4. I've been talking to the record company. They're going to buy you a little house.
+ Do you ever get the feeling you've been cheated?
14. Philip! I knew that was you, man, they said you didn't come here no more!
+ Would you like an espresso, with a lemon twist? I make it myself. It's nice.

Date: 2008-02-21 20:59 Subject: Forget IMDB... Security: Public Current Mood: mischievous

I'm doing these from memory:

1. I happen to know a great deal about a lot of things. sopprafina has never been a quitter.
2. You just earned yourself twelve hours of scrubbing garbage cans. greatscott66 has one heavily-armed recreational vehicle.
3. "Ditto"? "Ditto", you provincial putz? chanda knows where to get a shitload of dimes.
4. I've been talking to the record company. They're going to buy you a little house.
[Edit: Someone did this movie earlier.]
5. As clear as an unmuddied lake. As clear as a azure sky of deepest summer.
5. "You can't stop progress!" kdiddy and thesnark are sharing a beach house on Porpoise Spit.
6. Compliment her shoes. Girls like that. scrabblek8 knows how to spell ERUDITE.
7. What do you say we pop some popcorn and rent some new releases? hector31 knows which red button.
8. These pipes don't grow on trees, you know! hoops_mccan really knows what heaven is like.
9. I'm sorry Alyssa, wherever you are. thesnark and kdiddy are closet comic-book geeks.
10. I installed two-way mirrors in his pad in Brentwood. He came to the door in a dress. basophil has all night, every night!
11. Could you describe the ruckus, sir? key_lime_guy gets out of detention.
12. Ask me now, before I become sane. reillye is at the top of her game.
13. I think it's time to deflower the kid. hector31 went on tour at 15.
14. Philip! I knew that was you, man, they said you didn't come here no more! greatscott66 drives his car every day.
15. Look, but don't touch. Touch, but don't taste. Taste, but don't swallow. thesnark always takes the subway.

Date: 2008-02-09 04:11 Subject: OK, off to bed now Security: Public Current Mood: sleepy

( Who comments the most on this journal? )

Date: 2008-01-07 12:12 Subject: My Turn Security: Public Current Mood: lazy

They should probably update this as people drop out. Right now, Biden, Dodd, Gravel and Tancredo are out, and a few more might drop out after New Hampshire. Anyway:

95% Mike Gravel
95% Dennis Kucinich
81% Chris Dodd
81% Barack Obama
80% John Edwards
78% Joe Biden
77% Hillary Clinton
70% Bill Richardson
31% Rudy Giuliani
30% Ron Paul
19% John McCain
16% Tom Tancredo
13% Mitt Romney
13% Mike Huckabee
6% Fred Thompson

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

Edit: Everybody on my flist who's done this has had pretty much all Democrats on top. So now let's hear from the conservatives...

Date: 2007-07-18 22:22 Subject: It's either this or TiVo Security: Public Current Mood: restless Current Music: Alanis

( 50 Questions Memeage... )

Date: 2007-06-19 14:04 Subject: Advice Security: Public Current Mood: hopeful

Give me some. One sentence, on any subject. Like, "Never trust a driver wearing a hat."

Date: 2007-04-07 16:50 Subject: 20 Rock Concert Questions Security: Public Current Mood: busy

[Well, aren't we prolific today?]

Define "show" your own way, from small club gigs to stadiums.

1. What was the first show you ever saw? Boston, 1979. If you cough hard, what you have inhaled has a stronger effect. Just saying.
2. What was the most recent show you've seen? Mannheim Steamroller, about ten days ago. I was one of about five people there who knew them before the Christmas albums.
3. About how many shows have you seen? Hard to say. Best guess is between 50 and 75.
4. What band have you seen the most times? I've seen lots of bands twice. I can't think of any I've seen three times, but I'm seeing Steely Dan for the third time in a couple months.
5. What was the best show you ever saw? For a long time it was Erasure, about 1990. But the Steely Dan show last August may have eclipsed that.
6. What was the worst show you ever saw? Ted Nugent, Corpus Christi, 1980. That was two hours out of my life I'll never get back.
7. What was the loudest show you ever saw? Skinny Puppy, NYC, 1986, or N-Joi, NYC, 1993.
8. What was the biggest disappointment? Depeche Mode, Giants Stadium, 1991. Gahan was all smacked out and they played nothing but their doom-and-gloom songs.
9. Have you ever walked out on a headliner? I walked out of Peter Murphy's first solo show post Bauhaus. Pretentious and dreary.
10. Has any show you've been to made headlines? I was at the 1990 Sinead O'Connor show where she refused to go on if the National Anthem was played.
11. What show was the most memorable, good or bad? The second half of Pink Floyd's "Momentary Lapse of Reason" show at Giants Stadium was drowned in almost seven inches of rain.
12. What was the most surprisingly good? Nitzer Ebb, opening for The Cure. Their albums were dull, but they rocked HARD on stage.
13. What was the best show you saw on the spur of the moment? The Rolling Stones "Steel Wheels" show at Shea Stadium. I hadn't planned on going, but had a great time.
14. What band do you most regret not seeing when you had the chance? Jean-Michel Jarre in Houston. I didn't know about the Houston and Lyon concerts until the CD came out.
15. What show had the worst crowd? The Ramones at some club in Trenton, about 1989. The rest of the crowd were a bunch of 15-year-old pseudopunks looking for fights.
16. Who would you go anywhere in the world to see? Probably Kate Bush.
17. Who would you like to see in the next year? Dido, KT Tunstall, the Dixie Chicks, that sort of thing.
18. Who would you go see only if you could see them for free? Bruce Sprinsteen. Once in my life I'd like to see a Bruce show (being the ONLY person from Jersey who hasn't), but not for what his tickets cost these days.
19. Who would you go see only if someone paid you? Any 80's hair band.
20. Who wouldn't you see under any circumstances? Any gangsta rap act.

Date: 2007-04-07 15:30 Subject: Yeah, why not? Security: Public Current Mood: contemplative

List 10 musical artists you like, in no specific order (do this before reading the questions below).

Note: These are the first ten I think of. There are many more bands I like, many of which I like more than these.

1. Fleetwood Mac
2. Steely Dan
3. Dixie Chicks
4. KT Tunstall
5. Alanis Morissette
6. Depeche Mode
7. Kraftwerk
8. Gary Numan
9. PiL
10. Styx

What is your favorite song by 9: Hmm, "Happy", I guess. "F.F.F." and "This is What You Want" are faves, too
What was the first song you heard by 6: "Something to Do". I had heard about this great band but hadn't heard their stuff, so I bought Some Great Reward blind.
What is your favorite song by 7: "Taschenrechner/Denkatu", on The Mix. The cheesy lyrics don't sound so bad in German. "Trans-Europe Express" is a close second.
How did you get into 10: I grew up in the midwest in the late 1970s. 'Nuff said.
What is your favorite song by 5: "You Learn". Nobody should have that much wisdom at 21.
How long have you been listening to 1: Thirty years. *shudder*
What is your favorite song by 4: "The Universe & U" despite the U. "Black Horse" is Herself's favorite song ever.
Have you seen 3 live: Nope. Missed them last time around, but I really want to see them.
What is your favorite song by 1: "The Chain", live, Bloomington Minnesota, 1979.
Do you have any merchandise by 9: Nope.
What is your favorite song by 2: Oh, Lord, I gotta pick one? "Peg", live, last August at the Garden State Arts Center, with Michael McDonald on BVs, like in the original. (I'm starting to sound like a Deadhead.)
Which song makes you sad by 5: None, really.
What is your favorite song by 3: "Goodbye Earl". Justice.
List all of the band members in 4: Well, there's this girl on lead vocals, and...
What is your favorite song by 8: "Are Friends Electric." The best of big fat analog synth basslines.
What do you NOT like about 7: Their cancellation of their 1992 North American tour.
What is your favorite song by 6: "Pleasure, Little Treasure." The first song I ever played on a 1200, at my first "real" DJ gig.
Have you visited 1’s official website: They have one? Lemme check. Sure do. They're old. I'm old.
What is your favorite song by 10: "Too Much Time on My Hands"
Which of these bands have you added on your Myspace: None. I only have a placeholder Myspace account.

Date: 2007-03-09 09:48 Subject: My turn... Security: Public Current Mood: restless

( Memeage )

Date: 2007-02-08 12:02 Subject: Quiz answers Security: Public Current Mood: bored

( But please take the quiz first... )

Date: 2007-02-07 12:11 Subject: Yeah, why not.... Security: Public Current Mood: restless Current Music: Boring Wednesday telecon

There's one question on here that's so hard even reillye might miss it, but I've tried to keep the rest reasonable.

ETA: C'mon, guys, except for the Scrabble tournament question, this test is open-book. More than one of the answers can be found in my profile or in my postings.

Create your own Friend Quiz here

Date: 2006-09-29 16:42 Subject: The (late) Friday (afternoon) Five Security: Public Current Mood: restless

thefridayfive

1) What TV show(s) do you find yourself watching the most?
We TiVo House, Grey's Anatomy, ER, Project Runway, Veronica Mars, Studio 60, Medium, Numbers, and a few others.  The first four we will sacrifice sleep to watch.  A lot goes unwatched, as do all commercials.

2) What if any TV shows do you own on DVD?
None, but we currently have Sports Night on loan from greatscott66 and Battlestar Gallactica on loan from bpende.  About the only series I could see myself spending that kind of money on would be My So-Called Life, and Joan of Arcadia.

3) Can you name your favorite TV show theme song (I would encourage you to make a phone post and sing it to us)?
Yes.  Seriously, my fave, Night Court, is instrumental.

4) Have you ever been on TV and if so for what?
When I was in high school I worked security for the Minnesota Vikings.  Among my duties, I was one of the people who ringed the field to keep the drunks from rushing onto the field after the game.  One Sunday I happened to be in the back corner of the endzone at a point where the fence was within a foot or so of being inbounds[1].  And on that day, the last-second game-winning hail-mary touchdown pass was caught in that corner[2].  I had to jump out of the way as the receiver and two defenders crashed into the fence right next to me, all on national television.

5) What is your favorite YouTube video (feel free to post a link)?
It's not on YouTube, but my favorite Internet home video, titled something like "Looks like somebody's not getting their security deposit back", shows a guy doing a loud smoky burnout on his motorcycle, in his living room.  Afterward there are whoops and unintelligible grunts from the guys in the room.  One of the coments in one place was, "Effin' Finns", which is probably why I couldn't understand them.

[1] It was all they could do to squeeze a football field into Metropolitan Stadium, which was barely big enough for the baseball diamond it was designed to house.

[2] It was caught by a Viking, but almost thirty years later, I can't remember who.  It might have been Chuck Foreman.