Florence, for the opportunity to learn a language.
If we were all idle, and our fate was up to us, wouldn't we be poor?
Kyoto or Taipei?
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Florence, for the opportunity to learn a language.
If we were all idle, and our fate was up to us, wouldn't we be poor?
Kyoto or Taipei?
Well, I do live in Taipei, although I'm not there at the moment. Kyoto is a far more beautiful city, but I like the weird more-Chinese-than-the-Chinese culture on "the Rock"--plus the prettiest girls and best food on the planet. It's not for everyone, though. I'd rather live in Taipei (except in August) but I think Kyoto is a better bet for a holiday.
Will Taiwan rejoin mainland China in the next 30 years?
I don't think so? Your guess is going to be way more informed than mine though.
In a text, when you encounter a reference to another text, or something that involves particularly specialized knowledge, what effect does it have for you? Would you describe that act of reference as an aesthetic decision on the author's part?
I think by the time I get this out, someone else might have replied and i'll be behind the curve!
just today I was looking through a little book I have called the quotable runner. its a collection of quotes about running, often times by famous/world class runners themselves, or the people who coached them. one of the odd quotes is from a fellow named jumbo Elliot, who was the coach at one time of villanova, and he said "live your life like a clock."
just a little while later, I started the sequel to a very well acclaimed cult classic, "once a runner", called "again to carthage." in the book, these two (fictional) world class athletes are out for a run, one facing the disappointment of just having won the silver medal at the Olympics and wondering what he was going to do with his life now, and the other, a former gold medalist, told him "live your life like a clock"
I got this wonderful warm fuzzy...and smiled all over.
and id say yes...and in this case, one that added legitimacy to the story---its as if Quinton Cassidy and bruce denton (the two runners in question) are real characters, I mean, afterall, they are talking about real things and people we know.
im not sure if that's what you were going for lykren?
when screen writers and producers of movies add characters or story lines that aren't in the original novel sources, do you like that? can you go with the flow? or does it somehow ruin the experience?
No, a movie is a director's artistic vision. It's fine.
And I wish I knew the future of "the other China," Lykren. One of the things I'm doing at the moment is trying make arrangements if I ever had to get out fast.
Will the United States and China go to war in the 21st century?
I suppose I wouldn't be surprised; but I'm not really paying attention to whatever signs there may be.
Do you ever purposefully starve yourself so that when you do eat, it tastes great?
No. I'll die fat and happy
Does anyone realize that a lot of these questions fall into the realm of "politics" and the admin and moderators have forbidden "politics"?
I thought of that, yeah. They have yet to speak up, though...
What to do when all the beautiful things in life just hurt you?:bawling:
It's never happened. Most of the beautiful things in my life never hurt me. And if they do, it usually just part of what comes with their territories, as when I wipe out when snowboarding or surfing, or when my wife laughs at my singing. It's all good.
Do you amend your taste or aesthetic preferences to adapt to what you think others will consider cultured and/or sophisticated?
Sometimes, yes, with people who I am in awe of, or whose taste I really respect. In general, no.
Lykren I have never hurt you ;)
What makes The Great Gatsby a masterpiece?
Aw. Of course not.
You know it better than I. I haven't read it since high school, but alongside the juxtaposition of a lush prose style fraught with romantic, delicate metaphors and a cynical depiction of material (as opposed to the prose's spiritual) excess, there is as you once pointed out to me, the way Fitzgerald tangles the notions of truth and falsehood. Luv dem paradoxes.
Will culture eventually be free? Or is that a utopian ideal promulgated by the advent of the internet, but ultimately impractical?
Never completely - owning a Rembrandt for example. But viewing art reproduced might be, and what with the development of monitors, the difference between viewing the actual artwork and seeing it on screen will diminish.
Can professional artists exist in an environment where art is free?
No, they need to make at least as much as waiters. :)
If a psychotic takes himself off his meds, then murders someone he hated in the first place, would he be not guilty by reason of insanity?
holy cow what a conundrum! if that's not a law and order episode waiting to happen! I suspect there are indeed cases like that out there. I lean towards thinking what you are suggesting would have to be the case. it seems though there must be some other distinction out there, "insane, but still guilty?"
during the recent sony hacking event, some emails were uncovered bandying about the idea of a black james bond. it caused all sorts of hubbub on the internet with people talking about it and disagreeing over it. so this kinda speaks to the issue of canonicity vs artistic license. (I hope lots of folks answer this one).
what would your reaction be to the idea of, or the reality of, a black james bond?
It would depend on the Black James Bond, if it were Idris Elba, I'd be thrilled. If it were Chris Rock, not so much.
Would you think less of a work of art just because it was extremely popular?
There's nothing wrong with the idea. I think people are silly to fuss over it. I think that to the current generation, M is a woman (and Dame Judy Dench, no less). That seems weird to me, growing up with a clear Idea of a male M, but I guess the sky didn't fall in. Somehow I suspect that Hollywood would screw it up, but in principle, a black James Bond would be fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by bounty
Would you purchase a hand gun and teach yourself to shoot if you were convinced it was the only way to protect yourself and your family?
My reaction to it is: Yes! I can't wait to see Idris Elba play the character.Quote:
Originally Posted by bounty
No.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pike Bishop
I doubt that I would be convinced, but of course I would if I thought it would be the only way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pompey Bum
As to the earlier question, they'd be not guilty by reason of insanity, and locked away in a mental asylum for an indefinite time.
Who are your favourite contemporary poets?
YesNo and _Joe_
Should the US make common cause with Putin and Assad in opposing ISIS?
I think the fuss grew out of, first, people were saying, out of fidelity to fleming, that you simply just cant have a black james bond. (it would be interesting to see how those same people reacted to the female m) and then the response to that created the fuss when the original people were accused of racism. I think its a neat topic. its interesting too that in the last bond (spoiler alert!), they killed off judi dench and the next m is male.
I think there is something to be said for fidelity, and something to be said for experimentation and fictional stretching. the tension between the two is fun to figure out. ive not given the cbs show "elementary" a viewing yet, with lucy lui as Watson.
hmm, a good question...I am very pro 2nd amendement but I personally don't like guns. I think I would say yes, but id more than likely go with a shotgun than a handgun (if that doesn't change the spirit of the question).
lemme just pass your question along to the next fellow..."Would you purchase a hand gun and teach yourself to shoot if you were convinced it was the only way to protect yourself and your family?"
Firstly, as to fidelity, the Bond film series abandoned fidelity the moment it left the 60's, so having a Black James Bond is no more untrue to the novels than having a Bond film set in 2015. As to many of the critics of Elba, many--if not most of the criticisms--of Elba were racist, as were the criticisms of Michal B. Jordan for Johnny Storm.
As to the handgun question, I don't think there is any place in America one would need a handgun to protect their family, certainly not one where the danger to my family would outweigh the danger of the gun to them.
Sure, if I thought that serious harm to me or my family was likely and that the cops were not taking the threat seriously or waiting to respond to actual violence. And if I lived in or near an area where the cops don't do business anymore; as, in recent years in parts I don't know if it is ongoing) in Oakland and Detroit. I wouldn't take relish in to doing it, but like North says, if it were the only option, I would.Quote:
Originally Posted by bounty
Would you be less inclined to favor social programs if you made enough to be very heavily taxed for them? Alternately, would you favor a flat tax if you had children and a mortgage (which are major tax deductions)?
I hope not and I don't think so.
Do you enjoy shopping for clothing, or accompanying someone shopping?
No, I hate it with all my heart and soul and mind and strength. I buy almost all my clothes from the LLBean catalogue, and I only do that when something I need wears out. I've considered writing an autobiography and calling it Bad Consumer.
Same question.
Yes, I love it, though I buy most clothes online as well. Honestly I pretty much love buying anything, but clothes and books especially.
How important do you think a good sound system is to your enjoyment of music?
I rarely buy clothes, and when I do, I don't do it online, and it can be very nice indeed, unless you happen to be in a rush to find something.
Good is mandatory, but relative. I listen to music for hours daily on my computer, but the speakers didn't cost more than 25 € new, and I'm certainly happy with them. If the system doesn't sound good to you, though, you're probably not going to enjoy the music.Quote:
Originally Posted by Clopin
Who is your favourite contemporary novelist?
It's very important if you want to get the most from your music. But you can also get joy from a cheap system, so it really depends on what you're looking for.
Favorite contemporary novelist: it's a fairly pedestrian choice, but I really dig Donna Tartt. Not Proust, I know, but fun in a compulsive sort of way.
Have you ever considered joining a cult?
No cults, and I like Anne Carson, though I've only read one novel by her and it was in verse.
Would you rather die of a heart attack from excessive consumption of cuteness, or a really fun drug?
If it can't be from a totally unexpected shotgun blast point blank to the back of the head, I would probably go for the heart attack. Drugs are bad, m'kay? Only I want to consume ice cream, not cuteness.
How would you choose to die?
Painlessly in my sleep of course.
If you had to join a cult (and you had to be really serious about it) which major cult would you join (past, but recent cults are fair game)?
Coed naked Bible study.
Come on, fess up, how many seasons of South Park have you watched?
Smothered in girl, if that would do the trick.
Shotgun blasts work too.
EDIT: no south park, but an episode or two with friends. Honest.
How do you feel about dancing?
E: Not a big fan of dancing, but I have nothing against it either.
None of South Park, not even a full episode.
Excessive consumption of cuteness?
Really fun drug? I didn't see this question before I posted in This or That.
Smothered in girl sounds good to me.
Haydn's String Quartets or Symphonies?
Well quite a few, I used to watch it all the time when I was younger and I still think some of the stuff can be pretty funny though the latest episodes have been garbage. Probably like four or five complete seasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pompey Bum
Is the Simpsons better than Seinfeld?
Symphonies; but I don't really know well enough to judge...Quote:
Originally Posted by North Star
Simpsons or Seinfeld?
And Lykren if you're going to answer something like "I don't like either" you can just leave.
I didn't answer! I like both, but I'm not really into them so I left it for someone else! Sheesh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Clopin
Smothered in girl is an interesting possibility, but remember the limitations of the "all women are goddesses" theory.
What has been your favorite calendar year so far?
I like a certain period of the Simpsons a lot--a couple years in, then for a few years after that. But it's been a completely different show (and much less funny) for many years now.
And I've never seen Seinfeld, like I've never played chess and don't know the rules to basketball.
Best year so far?
E: Best year so far? 2010 was a rather nice one for me.
I haven't watched Seinfeld - I've only seen some bits of it. The early seasons of Simpsons (up to the eighth season or so, and gradually decreasing in quality after that.) can be brilliant.
Who is your favourite TV show character?
Best year of my life is this one.
Don't watch TV so I'll pass it on; favorite TV character?