God.

My parents never tried to censor my reading.  The closest it came was with "Portnoy's Complaint", by Philip Roth; they suggested that I not read it until I was older.  (This was probably when I was about 10 years old).  After a year or two, I decided that I was old enough, and read it; I didn't advertise this to my parents because I wasn't sure that they'd agree.

My usual raciest reading was James Bond novels.  And, at one point I read a copy of "Playboy" my father had (this was not a typical thing for him to have in the house); I didn't understand one of the cartoons so I asked him about it.  It showed two buxom women and a girl; the girl's t-shirt said "Watch This Space" on it.  My father explained, although he was clearly slightly embarrassed.

Just three questions.  It won't take long.  It's somewhat philosophical in nature.Poll #1277400
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 1

Why?

Why ME?

Knowledge is...

I think  I'd like a flying surfboard like the Silver Surfer's.

I would attempt to fail, of course.

Today we came home with our puppy.  She's a three-month old black standard poodle who we've named Storm.  One nickname I call her by is "Perfect Storm" -- she's amazing.  She's calm and friendly, and very bright -- today's the first time she's been on a leash, and she's doing a rather good job of heeling already, as of the first time we tried to get her to.  Her fur is amazingly soft, and she's very gentle.

I haven't had a dog since my teenage years in the 70s, and that one was (put bluntly) an idiot, although good-natured.  This is going to be great.

1)  I would send detailed report cards to each of my creatures indicating how I felt that they were doing.  On a case-by-case basis, I would make these public, so that the world could see my opinion of certain people who delight in taking attributing their twisted ideas to me.

2)  I would try to explain why I've left things as cryptic as they are.

3)  I can't list #3 here; it's inappropriate for public viewing.  Sorry.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of seeing what I suspect will be the most influential film of the decade.  I believe that it will have a significant impact on the 2020 elections.

Wall-E.

This dark children's animated film has the most powerful message directed to its audience that I've seen since the anti-hunting message in Bambi.  It is about a very basic truth: Humanity has created, and continues to create, an incredible mess, and we can't get away from it.  We have not only the responsibility, but the need, to fix it.

Any child who sees this film is going to be *extremely* suspicious of agendas which gloss over this.  They're going to watch this film over, and over, and over again, and they will not forget.  Unless the right wing literally cleans up its act, this generation will have a very hard time voting any way but liberal when they come of voting age.

My Dojang (Tae Kwan Do school) is offering us traditional Korean farmer's drumming lessons throughout August.  Naomi, Polly, and I are all going to take the eight lessons.  I'm excited; this should be fun.

My wife and I take Hapkido lessons in case of such an eventuality.  This Korean self-defense form focuses on grappling techniques, many of which are designed to dislocate joints.  I believe (I admit not from experience) that no matter how strong the zombie, if its joints are non-functional its threat level decreases.  The major down side is that the pain caused by the experience will likely not bother the zombie one bit.

I'm a bit concerned about the possibility that the zombie will be able to pop its joints back in and proceed mostly undeterred.  But, these techniques will at least slow them down, and provide me with ways of escaping their grasp.

*One* favorite?  You drive a hard bargain!  Well... how about Corwin from Zelazny's Amber books?  He's great because of the combination of a well-thought out and consistent personality, superheroic abilities, a modern, matter-of-fact style of self-expression, and his ability to enjoy both exotic and mundane friends.  I'd love to sit down to dinner with him.

As for fictional characters who bug me -- let's go with Card's Alvin Maker.  As much as I love Card's writing and his usual characters, the overly folksy style of the Alvin Maker series and Alvin himself seems contrived to me.  Alvin does not feel like a real character --he's made of cardboard.  It didn't stop me from reading the whole series, though.

Naomi, Polly, and I just got back from Maui yesterday.  Highlights included seeing spinner dolphins, green sea turtles, and even a Hawaiin Monk Seal -- and getting photos of all of the above.   I destroyed two cameras in the Pacific Ocean -- an Olympus 1300SW, which is waterproof but apparently one of its latches wasn't closed properly, and a Flip Ultra videocamera which was in an underwater case which leaked.  Alas!  But, both are under warranty.