A.M.A.
Hi,
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silentq wants to revive the old "Interview Me" meme and who am I to resist her charms?
So:
1. When you were 10 years old (or thereabouts, before high school anyway), what did you want to be when you grew up? If you had a chance at a fresh start, would you do it today?
I'm pretty sure I wanted to be an astronaut and/or a scientist. Bear in mind, when I say "scientist" it's the kind of science you see in Road Runner cartoons. I *might* do the scientist gig today and I certainly *would* do the astronaut gig, except that I'm probably too big for any current or near-future lift systems. Jim Whetherbee, at 6'4" is the tallest astronaut who ever served and I believe that's the current cut-off limit.
I probably also wanted to be an actor/comedian/musician and I *might* take those up in a fresh start. I could probably do all those things but being successful at those things would be a much tougher proposition. Real-world scientists aren't necessarily paid crazy-money but I know they earn a decent living which most struggling artists don't.
Really, I still want to be a scientist-astronaut who invents anti-gravity propulsion and then FTL so...
2. If you could spend a day in the world of a book, which one would it be and why?
For purposes of this question, I assume I'm not actually the protagonist or otherwise directly involved in the story, I just get to be in that world.
Pretty much any one of the Culture novels by Iain M Banks. I'd get my consciousness copied off to a Mind and have a couple hundred major scientific achievements downloaded into my head so that when I was sent back to "reality" I could become a scientist-astronaut who invents anti-gravity, FTL, and human consciousness uploading (see question 1).
Even assuming there was some universal constant that kept my knowledge from being useful in our world, the Culture is, hands-down just the best place to spend a day. A utopian human-AI society that has to go begging for conflict to propel the stories, it'd be a pleasant place to visit.
3. What are your favourite and least favourite things about being tall?
Short answer: cleavage and concussions
Longer answer: Some studies show that there's a bit of tall privilege that I'm sure I benefit from (in terms of how people perceive you). I always know where I set down my cup at parties. I can see over crowds to get my bearing and people can usually find me pretty quickly.
The downsides -- ineligible for the astronaut program, tend to hit my head on things, cool t-shirts/clothing doesn't come in my size, a lot of sports require special footwear that doesn't come in my size, I will never own a Lamborghini or other low-slung sports car.
I dunno. I like being tall, but it comes with some hassles.
later
Tom
p.s. As per the rules of the meme, ask to be interviewed in the comments and I'll ask you three questions. You post the Q/A to your blog and keep the chain going. Robert M. of Trenton NJ broke the chain and he was killed by a rabid John Stossel, so keep it going!
silentq wants to revive the old "Interview Me" meme and who am I to resist her charms?So:
1. When you were 10 years old (or thereabouts, before high school anyway), what did you want to be when you grew up? If you had a chance at a fresh start, would you do it today?
I'm pretty sure I wanted to be an astronaut and/or a scientist. Bear in mind, when I say "scientist" it's the kind of science you see in Road Runner cartoons. I *might* do the scientist gig today and I certainly *would* do the astronaut gig, except that I'm probably too big for any current or near-future lift systems. Jim Whetherbee, at 6'4" is the tallest astronaut who ever served and I believe that's the current cut-off limit.
I probably also wanted to be an actor/comedian/musician and I *might* take those up in a fresh start. I could probably do all those things but being successful at those things would be a much tougher proposition. Real-world scientists aren't necessarily paid crazy-money but I know they earn a decent living which most struggling artists don't.
Really, I still want to be a scientist-astronaut who invents anti-gravity propulsion and then FTL so...
2. If you could spend a day in the world of a book, which one would it be and why?
For purposes of this question, I assume I'm not actually the protagonist or otherwise directly involved in the story, I just get to be in that world.
Pretty much any one of the Culture novels by Iain M Banks. I'd get my consciousness copied off to a Mind and have a couple hundred major scientific achievements downloaded into my head so that when I was sent back to "reality" I could become a scientist-astronaut who invents anti-gravity, FTL, and human consciousness uploading (see question 1).
Even assuming there was some universal constant that kept my knowledge from being useful in our world, the Culture is, hands-down just the best place to spend a day. A utopian human-AI society that has to go begging for conflict to propel the stories, it'd be a pleasant place to visit.
3. What are your favourite and least favourite things about being tall?
Short answer: cleavage and concussions
Longer answer: Some studies show that there's a bit of tall privilege that I'm sure I benefit from (in terms of how people perceive you). I always know where I set down my cup at parties. I can see over crowds to get my bearing and people can usually find me pretty quickly.
The downsides -- ineligible for the astronaut program, tend to hit my head on things, cool t-shirts/clothing doesn't come in my size, a lot of sports require special footwear that doesn't come in my size, I will never own a Lamborghini or other low-slung sports car.
I dunno. I like being tall, but it comes with some hassles.
later
Tom
p.s. As per the rules of the meme, ask to be interviewed in the comments and I'll ask you three questions. You post the Q/A to your blog and keep the chain going. Robert M. of Trenton NJ broke the chain and he was killed by a rabid John Stossel, so keep it going!