Category: Memes

  • Mari’s Meme, “What would you do for?”

    So here’s my answers to Mari’s “What would you do for”:

    1 US Dollar – Say anything to the person giving me the dollar.

    10 US Dollars – Say almost anything to some other person.

    100 US Dollars – “You just bought yourself four hours of prime Grade-A tech support, my friend.”

    1,000 US Dollars – Shave my head bald.

    10,000 US Dollars – Wear a funny costume and stand in Pioneer Courthouse Square singing a bawdy ballad at the top of my lungs.

    100,000 US Dollars – Wear nothing and stand in… well, you get the idea.

    1,000,000 US Dollars – Tech support and odd jobs for life for you and your friends.

    10,000,000 US Dollars – Move anywhere in the world and do the odd job tech support gig.

    I could probably have come up with better answers, but it’s late and I’m distracted. So there. And in half an hour, the PPF cometh…

  • Past, Present, Future – Round Four

    I could have picked “life” or “death” as an appropriate seed idea this week, but I think I can go one better. And I’ll even put my answers in, this time.

    PAST – Music is just another of those deeply personal things that affects all of us in subtly different ways. One of the most powerful is the way it brings us back to an earlier time. Tell us about a song that takes you way, way back.

    (You know what takes me back to New York faster than anything? Those old Simon & Garfunkel standards. Pick one, any one, and suddenly I’m back in that cluttered bedroom holding the album sleeve in my hands and reading the lyrics.)

    PRESENT – How about giving us a quick glance at the music you’ve been listening to lately?

    (A few tracks from the first Linkin Park album, some Space Brothers, Kevin Gilbert and Toy Matinee, Midnight Oil, VAST, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, some random stuff from anime music videos and what-not. Not necessarily in that order.)

    FUTURE – Mega-palooza 2030 is coming, and all of your favorite musical artists are on the bill (even if some of them are actually holographic recreations). Name the headliner and a few supporting acts.

    (Genesis, including Phil, Peter, Steve and even Ray. Pink Floyd, including Sid and Roger, mainly because I’ve never been to a Floyd show. Kevin Gilbert in some capacity, any capacity. The Pet Shop Boys will be running the discoteque at the opposite end of the venue. Midnight Oil will open the show, because nobody gets you moving like the Oils.)

    You know the drill by now, I hope. Leave a comment with either your answers or a link to ’em, and if you link back to the PPF please use this address: http://greyduck.net/ppf/

    This one’s for Uncle George, and for all of the Kerezman clan, artists that we all are deep down inside.

  • Madly Liberated

    Okay, okay, I surrender. You may already have noticed that Mari introduced us to the Mad Liberation, and Lilith promptly followed suit. Three or four of you may even have wondered why I didn’t immediately put a copy here.

    Laziness, pure and simple. (Happy now?) Anyway, here’s the deal: In the comments or in an email if you’re shy (clickable linky goodness right below the duck logo, thanks) copy and paste the following, filling in the blanks as you see fit.

    I ____ Karel.
    Karel is ____.
    If I were alone in a room with Karel, I would _______.
    I think Karel should _____.
    Karel needs ______.
    I want to ____________ Karel.

    Ego gratification ahoy!

  • Past, Present, Future – Round Three

    This week’s seed idea should be pretty obvious. But then, I’ve always been an inventive sort of guy…

    PAST – Things rarely work out the way we originally intend for them to. This phenomenon is most obvious in the fields of technology and invention. Imagine what you would say to someone, assuming you had a way to send a message to the past, about what their creation has wrought in the world.

    PRESENT – We’re all clever folks here. If you were suddenly imbued with inventive genius, what spectacular innovation would you create?

    FUTURE – It’s the year 2050 and you’re obligated to contact your friends and family to wish them well during the holiday season. (Why? Because you’re a nice person.) Back in the 90’s you might have used a cellular phone or perhaps electronic mail, but those days are long gone. Now you use… what?

    No “seed idea” credits this week, as this inspiration just struck me out of the blue about fifteen minutes ago. You’re always free to email me (via the link right below the duck logo) any seed ideas you might have for future PPFs. As I did last week, my answers will appear later in the day in the comment file. And remember, if you don’t leave a comment then nobody will know you answered this week’s challenge!

    If you want to link back, please use this URL: http://greyduck.net/ppf/

  • I’ve been Voyagered! Ack!

    I’m not much of a Star Trek fanboy (anymore) but hey, I figured, why not spend a few minutes proving just how much of a follower I really am! (“If Mari and Lilith jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?”)

    And so, without any ado at all, here’s the results from my taking of the Star Trek Personality Test. *sigh*

    Myers-Briggs would say that you are an ESFP (Extrovert, Sensor, Feeler, Perceiver). In Star Trek language, you share a basic personality configuration with Kathryn Janeway and Tom Paris. (ed.: “AAAAUUUUGH NOOOOOOOO!”)

    People like you are warm and social, impulsive, and unpredictable. You have a great zeal for life and are intensely aware of the world around you. You love to play and respond quickly to people who will play with you. You respond well to appeals to common sense and poorly to being judged. Attempts to trap you will make you ready to flee or fight.

    You’re highly curious and talkative, but also gentle, sensitive and caring. You close down when people fail to provide you with input and you’re frustrated with silences. You’re most comfortable taking action, particularly in order to help or enjoy the company of others.

    Your primary goal in life is freedom to be spontaneous and have fun. Your reward is to enjoy the company of others and know that they enjoy and appreciate you.

    Good careers for your type include primary education teacher, starship captain, public relations specialist, tour operator, actor, marine biologist, and starship pilot.

    Blah blah blah, I stopped listening when you said I’m most like a couple of characters from Voyager.

    If you’ll excuse me, I feel a strong urge to bathe now. “Still not clean…”

  • One question for every year of my life.

    I wasn’t sure about doing this, but Mari insists, “I want to see your answers!” And if I’m going to take the time to answer these for her benefit, I might as well make it public. Right? My pain is your pain. You’re welcome.

    Oh yeah, and unlike Mari I can’t conveniently hide the enormity of this entry from casual viewers. And unlike Lilith my entries don’t show up each on individual pages by default. Sorry, folks.

    Right then. Here goes.

    1. Youíre born. Youíre given a name. If you had the option to go back in time and change your name to whatever you wanted, what would you name yourself?

    I wouldn’t be the man I am today were it not for the girly name I was given and the lifetime of teasing it has provided me. The value of this fact is left as an intellectual exercise for the reader…

    2. If you had the means to start a business, ANY business, what type of business would you establish? What would you name it?

    (Two questions? Just for that, I’m going to skip a question later on.) I’d get together a group of talented writers, artists and technicians for the purpose of merging original content in creative ways. For instance, what happens when Poet A meets Painter B? How about introducing a singer/songwriter to a Flash animation creator? It would be less of a business than a creative cooperative, really, but we’d try to finance our efforts by doing small publishing jobs or perhaps creative media consulting. The name would be something obscure and nonsensical, of course. “Omnivorous Media,” or some such.

    3. Whatís your view on online journaling?

    I’m for it, obviously. (Answer more-or-less stolen from Lilith.)

    4. What is the one thing youíve never heard said to you that you wish would be said?

    “You’re one helluva smart and talented guy. How would you like to work with this group of professional, highly skilled, creative types on a high-profile project and get paid lots of money?” The “rescue me” streak I inherited from my mother is now revealed. (I’d call it a Cinderella Complex but apparently that name is taken. And I’m not into shoes.) For the record, I do work for a number of skilled creative types. There is, however, zero notoriety and very little money in what I do.

    5. What is your greatest accomplishment in life?

    Getting to the point where I don’t completely loathe myself. I’ll top this if I can manage to impart the skill of maintaining a sense of self-worth to my children.

    6. What is your greatest defeat?

    I don’t have one outstanding defeat to name, unless you count a lifetime of missed opportunities and sighing regret.

    7. Who was your favorite Monkee?

    Remember questions number two? Right.

    8. If you could have grown up with any family, other than the one you did, which family would you have been raised with?

    There are so many things wrong with this question I almost don’t know where to start. For one thing, how many people are so intimately involved with other families that they could choose one over their own? For another, the family you grew up with made you who you are, quite literally. And finally, what makes you think I grew up with a family? The only constants in my life were my sister and Mom. In that order. And… I’m just not going to go off on that particular rant right now. Next question, please.

    9. Tell a complete story in five sentences.

    “I have journeyed from afar and faced many dangers, m’lady, and I mean to have you for my own,” he declared. Her response echoed from the furthest corner of the great hall. “No man shall claim me, for I am my own woman, a queen in my own domain, and all kneel before me!” “Silly wench,” he muttered before throwing her over his shoulder and striding purposefully to the carriage he’d procured. And there was much rejoicing, primarily among the lady’s former servants.

    (Hmm, that was much too silly. What the hell was I thinking? Let’s have another go.)

    A gasp, a twinge, the scent of his own blood and the blurring of vision tallied the cost of his struggle. “Go now,” he wheezed. Numbness crept inward, ever inward, yet also outward from what remained of his heart and soul. “That bad man can never, ever hurt you again.” The anguished keening sang him to his eternal rest.

    (Okay, I’m not really that dark of a soul. Was that a bit overwrought to you? And thank you, Mari, for giving me tacit permission to answer this question twice!)

    10. If you could spend one single day in the company of your exact clone, what would you do with and/or say to yourself?

    I’m assuming this is a clone imprinted with my own personality and memories, right? If that’s the case, there’d be nothing to say to that self that I haven’t already said to myself. You did notice that I talk to myself a lot, right? As for “do with,” I think it would make more sense for us to split up and tackle multiple tasks. That, or really freak out some of my friends.

    11. What is one of your “some day” goals? (i.e. some day I will…)

    Some day I will have That Talk With Her. If you don’t know which one, or who, too bad.

    12. Why are you filling out this survey?

    Mari told me to. And like a good boy, I do what I’m told…

    13. List the first three words that come to your mind.

    Whadda. Stoopid. Question. “First, empty your mind. Then, show us how empty it is.”

    14. State one fact that hardly anyone knows about you.

    When I was a young boy, I sang a lot.

    15. State one fact that everyone in the world knows about you.

    Uh, I’m an oblivious geek-boy?

    16. What is the one thing youíve always wanted to say to a certain person, but havenít? Who is that person?

    While this is technically two questions, I only have one answer: That’s not for public consumption, sorry.

    17. What one online journaller do you look up to and admire the most? Why?

    (After months of Friday Fives, I guess I’ll concede that Why is an implied part of the main question and not a real question of its own. Dammit.) I have to pick one? Too frelling bad. Here’s three, in no particular order:

    Lilith, for baring a remarkable amount of her soul, for the strength of her convictions, and for making every reader feel like a trusted, valued friend.

    Mari, for wringing more out of even the mundane parts of life than I could ever aspire to, and for making her life so delightfully enjoyable to read about.

    Jack Cluth, for his remarkable combination of idealism, self-deprecating humor, sense of justice and fair play, and for putting the effort into finding and commenting on the kinds of above-the-fold topics that I feel inadequate to address.

    18. Can you honestly, beyond a doubt, state that you journal online without any censorship or concern as to who is reading the details of your mind?

    Again I blatantly lift an answer from Lilith: “Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!”

    19. What is one sexual position/experience/situation that youíve always wanted to try, but havenít? Why havenít you?

    (When the creative ideas run dry, there’s always S-E-X. Did this quiz just jump the shark? Oh, and again with the two questions in one, eh?) To be honest, a lot of the positions-or-whatever I used to think I wanted to try just aren’t as interesting to me anymore. I’d much rather have really great “normal” sex for the rest of my life than be continually seeking The Next New Thrill. That’s what junkies do. No thanks.

    As an alternative answer, I suggest you read Lil’s version. Go ahead. I’ll wait.

    20. How do you feel about people who write about their sex lives in intricate detail in their journals?

    As long as the writing is of high quality, and the content isn’t boring… you know what? That describes any sort of journal content, when you get right down to it. Just replace “sex lives” with, oh, just about any other activity. Get the idea?

    21. What is your favorite animal to visit at the zoo?

    The penguins. No, this is not a Linux Geek Moment. I love watching them dive off their little fake ice floes and fly/swim through the water.

    22. What is one scenario that youíve never been in, but would love to construct?

    The sign of a dirty mind: I saw “construct” and thought, “Hmm, how many naked women would it take to build a living-room-sized pyramid-like structure?”

    Hmm. You know what? That’s my answer. And that’s what you get for asking such a suggestive question. You pervert.

    23. What pet have you never had, but always wanted?

    A Pernese fire-lizard. Yes, I’m a fanboy. Get over it.

    24. What is the one area on your body that you ache to have touched, but it seldom gets any attention?

    My head. The one above my shoulders, you goofball. You can play with my ears, run your fingers through my hair, massage my scalp, whatever. Yeah. Mmmmmmm.

    25. What is one of your worst memories from childhood? Teen years? Adulthood?

    (It’s three. Three. Three questions in one! Grr.)

    Childhood – Being thrown against the living room wall.

    Teen – There are so many… the worst could be any of a number of school-related experiences. Bullies, pranksters and other assorted vermin looked upon me in much the same proprietary way that wolves look upon baby deer.

    Adulthood – Feeling utterly humiliated and despised shortly after 9/11/01. On top of the general turmoil about inappropriate email, one of my coworkers saw fit to rip their claws into my soul in a demeaning and cowardly fashion, and to this day I don’t know who it was or if they still work in our building. I try not to think about the fact that I may have a mortal enemy who simply pretends friendliness to my face.

    And thank you ever so much for dragging all of that to the surface.

    26. What is the most vivid memory from each of those stages of your life?

    Screw you. I’ve had enough of vivid memories for one night. Besides, this is three more questions. So there.

    27. What is your idea of heaven? Hell?

    I’m going to assume you mean this in a religious way. Too bad. Asking me three questions, two questions ago, has cost you this answer as well. Or these two answers, to be technical. That, and I don’t feel like dissecting Judeo-Christian notions about the afterlife.

    28. If you were asked to be on any of the “dating” shows, such as Blind Date, Change of Heart, Star Dates, etc. would you do it? Write the script for your introductory profile.

    If I say “no,” do I still have to write the stupid script?

    Oh, fine. I’ll be a good sport for a change: “Hi! I’m Karel. I’m just another guy who gets paid to mess with computers every day. In my off hours I like to read, listen to semi-obscure rock music, watch animated features of various kinds, and amuse myself with daydreams involving beautiful women and derring-do. I could charm your pants off, but that would involve making the first move, and I’m far too timid for that. What you have to ask yourself is, ‘Can I pass up the chance to get to know such a clever, imaginative and compassionate guy?’ I’ll be right here when you know the answer.”

    29. If you could be on any reality television show, such as Survivor, The Bachelor, The Real World, Big Brother, etc., which one would you chose and why?

    You assume far more knowledge on my part about the particulars of these programs than perhaps you ought. Bzzzt! Sorry, try again!

    30. If you could add any question on to this survey, what would it be?

    (Add? Hell, I’d start by subtracting.)

    “XX. Your hated enemy kneels before you, completely at your mercy. What convoluted evil scheme do you devise to shuffle them off of this mortal coil? And do you divulge the details of your master plan beforehand? Why? And do you stay around to make sure of your enemy’s demise, or do you leave them in the care of a trusted henchperson? Why, or why not?”

    Hmm. Some variant of that may end up in a PPF some day. You’ve been warned.