community spotlight (december 4 to december 10, 2016)


questions


1. what is the one thing your dream home MUST have?
A view of and access to the ocean. I almost said a pool but that's too easy, I need to ocean as my backyard somehow.

2. what silly ways do you de-stress?
You know those match-3 games like Bejeweled and things like that? That's it for me. I've got a monthly subscription to Big Fish Games.

3. name one person who's had the most influence in your life.
My father. He's not an easy man to get to know but he's helped shape me into the person I am wby listening and not trying to push too hard.

4. what has your heart have been telling you differently from your brain?
To trust more easily.

5. what are your daily tasks and has it caused you the want to shift away from them?
My 'daily tasks' shift from day to day. Because of my memory problems, I tend to stay fairly consistent in them and I get a little panicked when I don't, so no, I don't have any desire to move fully from them. Yet.

6. is there an institution you believe needs work from the ground up?
The United States Congress. Clear out both houses, hold new elections, and impose term limits; six 2-year terms for Representatives, two 6-year terms for Senators. If the President is bound to term limits, so should Congress. If you can't get anything of substance done in a decade, then get out.

7. what do you fear the most?
Losing the memories I have. Twelve years is a lot to have gone, I don't want to lose any more and be an effective eternal blank slate.

8. What’s your philosophy in life?
Live every moment like it's your last.

9. Is what you’re doing now what you always wanted to do growing up?
I can't answer this questions because I honestly don't remember what I wanted to be when I was younger. Probably the usual: fireman, sports star. The position I'm in now isn't the one I expected to be in though.

10. What makes you feel accomplished?
Making it to the end of a day.

11. What’s an ideal weekend for you?
Lately it's watching movies with the Dude and his cat in pajamas and eating way too much Asian food. The ultimate ideal weekend is being on the boat, sailing up the coast.

12. When have you felt your biggest adrenaline rush?
The first time I went SCUBA diving. It was like coming home.

13. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done and would you do it again?
Technically there's a gag order on that weekend and I'd have to ask Silas and/or Ed if we're allowed to repeat it. There were a lot of casino chips, booze and scantily clad people, I can reveal that much.

14. If you were a singer, what would you call your first album?
Fish Tales.

15. What super power would you like to have for a day?
Invisibility.

16. Is it better to beg forgiveness or ask permission?
I used to say 'beg forgiveness'. Now being in the midst of begging forgiveness, 'ask permission' seems more plausible.

17. How would you describe yourself in three words?
Reckless. Resolute. Raucous.

18. What are you three weaknesses?
Pulling into myself when I feel overwhelmed, not letting people in when I should, poor eyesight.

19. What is the nicest thing anybody has said, or you believe they would say, about you?
'You're my knight in shining armor'.

20. Which fictional character do you believe is the most like yourself?
Captain Marko Ramius from Hunt for Red October. Sometimes you have to do crazy, fucked up shit to make a stand for what you believe is right.

21. Would you prefer to be twice as smart or twice as happy?
Twice as smart. I'm pretty damned happy right now all things considered.

22. what question are you most scared of someone asking you and why?
Anything about my childhood, because I hate the feeling of inadequacy it brings.

23. what would you say is the most challenging part of your career?
That I spend less and less time dealing with people and the science and more and more in administrative and gladhanding with donors.

24. what is your favorite sea creature?
The octopus. They're adaptable, clever, come in all kinds of colors and pretty darned cute.


25. what has been the biggest surprise, good or bad, that you've had this year?
The biggest surprise was that I met this guy. WEll, I thought I knew him but apparently, there's a lot more to learn. He's kind of neat. Oh and gravity waves totally exist. Go Einstein.

26. do you believe in optimism?
Yes, even when I'm being a cynical asshole.

27. what do you want for christmas? totally asking for a friend.
This was already discussed with a certain friend, but since he doesn't want to comply I GUESS what all I already told him. I still propose that my initial idea was stellar. Blue is his color.