Game: Ask the Person Below You

[North Star]

Sure, PM away. Comments on that ditty I wrote as a response to another poem on the subject of Christmas in about 10 minutes are welcome.
I can't say I have, I don't even remember ever believing in Santa Claus, when all the other kids still did. My immediate family isn't religious at all, but my maternal grandpa was actually a traveling preacher, and mom's sis married a very Christian man (she drank sparkly wine at my high school grad party only after her daughter had left...), and the cousins are in the faith. It was priceless to be at the wedding of one of them - the minister talked endlessly about hell and damnation - at a wedding sermony.
I feel something when in the midst of beauty - nature, music, literature even, but not anything I'd call religious. I wouldn't mind knowing what made the Big Bang happen, though.

E: Same question.

[Lykren]

I don't remember whether I believed in Santa but I never understood how order or reason or meaning could exist, and those things seem to be part of the package with religion. That's just my delightful personality shining through though

I would also like answers regarding the idea of cause, the infinite, etc.

What's the most danger you've ever been in?

[tonywalt]

Not of organised religon - but i do believe ALL THIS came from somewhere, something.

Do you make principled stances at work (specifically) when you know it will cost you real damage? (ex. of real damage - seriously taking you down a notch for a promotion)

[Lykren]

No - I spend a lot of time at work goofing off.

Danger?

[North Star]

The most danger I've ever been in? Close encounter with a common adder (they're not that poisonous or aggressive), crossing a road by foot or bike, and obviously none of those is really dangerous. I did witness an idiot trying to overtake a car directly in front of us a road which has a ~30 mph limit, hitting a truck, and lots of near misses of idiotic drivers on highways. Oh, and some time after one of the few Finnish school shootings, there was a written threat on my pulpit of one to be committed there. It turned out to be a hoax, as far as I know.

Same (danger) question.

[Pendragon]

I was in a mental hospital and stepped between a raging schizophrenic man I had just watched bench press 400 pounds and his intended victim, a poor fat guy who was out of it but harmless. If I ever read death in a face it was then. He respected me and backed down, but warned me this was the only time. The next time I got in his way it would be over. When I got back to my room I fell apart and had to be given something for it. But if I had shown a sign of fear during the confrontation, I'd have died right there...

Continue question...

[Lykren]

Continuing the cheerful nature of this conversation, I took a massive overdose of Wellbutrin and Abilify.

Do you like to read biographies?

[Pendragon]

Sometimes, but I am morbid, so they are about people like Lizzie Borden...

Who would you like to read about>

[North Star]

E: Who would I like to read about? Mostly the great artists - composers, painters, etc. of the past. Writers' autobios, of course. This wonderful bit about Henry James' asking for directions has me wanting to read Wharton's autobiography.

I have to say that those drugs are not good for ending it all. That's a good thing, of course.

A good biography can be very nice reading, especially if it's about someone interesting. I have Jean Renoir's Renoir, My Father on the back burner at the moment.

Same question.

[tonywalt]

I'd probably like to read Mick Jagger's AUTObiography

what percentage of books do you put down/not finish?

[Lykren]

I have to say that those drugs are not good for ending it all.

Nope, they are not.

I always finish books.

What is your relationship with exercise for the sake of exercise?

[North Star]

I'm not a fanatical exerciser, but cycling, skiing, swimming (in the summer in particualr) and jogging are regular activities.

E: When was the last time you saw your parents?

[Lykren]

1 minute ago.

How much do you spend on clothing?

[Clopin]

Well, lots. The most I've paid for one thing was this leather jacket, second hand, for $850ish, after shipping.

http://i45.tinypic.com/16lwbr6.jpg Mine is dark brown suede however.

Same question.

[Pompey Bum]

As little as necessary.

What time do you typically hit the sack?