20 even MORE (Random Internet) Questions
Why do you think we dream?
The brain has been ‘designed’ for millions of years to “make sense” of the environment and increase our chances of survival and reproduction. When we sleep, this sense making aspect is left to interpret the activities of a brain that is no longer receiving exterior input. It is, in a sense, free-wheeling as it does what it needs to do to process the days data, store long term memories and do housekeeping. The ‘sense’ made of these activities is what we call ‘dreams’.
If you had to rename yourself, what name would you choose?
For some unknown reason, people I have met over decades seem to think my name is David. Maybe I should go with that one.
What’s your favorite holiday, and why?
Visiting historic cities and seeing historic sites – plus things like museums and art galleries.
What’s the weirdest thing you used to eat as a child?
Possibly salt & vinegar sandwiches.
Would you rather always be hot or always be cold?
Well, I’m normally always cold so...........
Would you rather discover a new periodic table element or win gold at the Olympics?
Definitely an element. That stuff is FOREVER. Although an Olympic gold is a heck of an achievement it won’t be long until it's forgotten because of the next one.
What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?
Going to University.
Would you rather be trapped in a sandstorm or snowstorm?
Sandstorm. I’ve been in a snowstorm (well, a mini blizzard) and it really wasn’t nice. At least in a sandstorm you could hunker down and wait until it ‘blows over’.
What is the weirdest dream you’ve ever had?
I mentioned my ‘wading through blood’ dream last time so... There was one where I landed on an alien planet which was alive and essential ate all of my high-tech equipment so I had to live in the forest, reduce to a stone age lifestyle. That was pretty odd.....
Have you ever cheated on someone?
No.
What is the worst thing you’ve ever done in your life?
SO much to choose from. Mostly stupid decisions, comments or actions in my youth.
Would you rather starve to death or eat humans for the rest of your life?
As a veggie, that would be starvation.
If you could be any animal, what would you be?
Erm, let me see...... Cat, duh!
What would you tell your younger self if you could go back in time?
Be more open to possibilities. Don’t always say no to things that initially make you uncomfortable. Take more risks (at least sometimes).
What TV shows did you watch when you were a kid?
FAR, FAR too many. I used to watch a staggering amount of TV as a child.
Would you rather brush your teeth with rocks or drink milk that smells like bad breath?
I only left this in because the question was just SO ridiculous.
What’s the most ridiculous thing you have convinced someone is true?
I think I mostly convinced someone that scientists had actually produced elephants with HUGE ears that could fly.
What would your perfect day look like?
Nice weather, good company, good food, maybe an outdoor event of some kind (with music) followed by a relaxing chatty evening around a dinner table with wine.
What country can you name, but besides the name, you know almost nothing else about?
Most of Africa, a good chunk of Asia and a portion of South America at least. My world knowledge (over and above general common knowledge) is embarrassingly scant.
What do you think people automatically assume about you when they look at you?
A surprising number of people automatically think I’m gay. I’ve rationalised this as an aspect of me treating women as equals and looking them in the eyes when I’m talking to them.
8 comments:
Some interesting questions with some interesting answers.
I think the main thing I would tell my younger self is to not let others tell me what I can and cannot do because I am a woman.
Salt and vinegar sandwiches....okay I'm curious. Is this two pieces of bread with only salt and vinegar in it, or are the salt and vinegar being used as condiments for some unnamed sandwich fixing? I love salt and vinegar chips -- err, "crisps" for you, I think -- as a kid, and still enjoy salt and vinegar pork rinds. I understand it's common in the Uk for French fries to be served with vinegar?
@ Marianne: I seem to have been criticised for everything I did or didn't do - from the books I read, to the clothes I wear to the food I eat my whole life. I stopped listening to people's 'advice' - AKA to be more like *them* a long time ago. You have to march to your own drummer if you want to be your own person.
@ Stephen: Yup. Two slices of bread, plus a sprinkling of salt and a dash or two of vinegar. Totally weird but I liked it! I did grow out of it in my teens though. I don't mind Salt & Vinegar crisps and I'll eat them if offered. ATM I like Sour cream & onion Pringles or Prawn Cocktail. 'French fries', known simply as chips here, can come with vinegar (and salt of course) but these days they ask you if you want it or offer it to you from a bottle on the counter. When I was younger they just put it on as standard unless you asked them not to. I preferred them with salt only. Still do.
I'm the same with chips/fries and salt. I can enjoy them with ketchup, but there's so much corn syrup in that stuff I'd rather stick with the salt. Interesting to learn about the S&V 'sandwich'!
...prawn cocktail chips are definitely a new one. Sounds like some flavor Pringles would come up with!
Oh, there are HUNDREDS of flavours of crisps here. The 'standards' you get everywhere are Ready Salted, Cheese & Onion and Salt & Vinegar. Prawn Cocktail is common as is Smokey Bacon and Chicken. We do get rather unusual ones from time to time but they don't often stick around. One of the funniest was *Hedgehog* flavour! That caused quite a stir some years ago [lol]
It's not just the critizising. My parents didn't have much money and "encouraged" me to leave school after ten years and start an apprenticeship which is perfectly fine in Germany. However, I would have loved to study and regretted not having done so for the rest of my life. Still do.
I was very fortunate with my education. My parents were on the low end of the financial ladder and if I'd wanted to go to University these days its highly likely that I just couldn't have afforded it even with low interest loans. Luckily, I managed to get a 'full grant' for Uni which paid for my tuition and some other things. I left the 3 years in debt but not hugely and managed to pay it off when I started work.
I presume, like me, that you fed your love of studying by reading as much as you could about things that interested you? Not the same, I know, but no doubt it helped at least a bit. I also signed up for local Adult Education classes whenever I found something of interest. Most of them were just for a day, but a few were over 10 weeks which was fun. A great way to meet people too.
Well, if I left school today in Germany, I would much more likely be able to study than I could back then. There were no grants, just some money poor families could receive if they had four kids and more, but mainly for the younger ones. I was the oldest and there hardly was any that I could have received. Tuition was free, as it was today (I know, damn commies) but you also had to live and jobs for students were not as readily available as they were then. I might have managed but my parents were not keen on supporting me since I was "only" a girl and would marry and have kids anyway. In the end I did and I gave up the job for them but only because I just didn't like working for people a lot less smarter than me.
And yes, I did read a lot because of that and I am sure I know more about some subjects than some who went to university for it but that's still not the same. And yes, I tried to sign up for adult education classes and visited many but since I hardly ever lived in a large city, the good ones were far and beyond.
Post a Comment