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Topic: ~Reposted~ Random Thursday Questions
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| Janetblueyes | Posted – 12/13/2007 11:20:49 AM | show profile Dilbert does not like RTQ for some reason but let's try them again and see what happens. 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? |
| keltoi2 | Posted – 12/13/2007 11:24:56 AM | show profile Save a copy, everybody! |
| sue ellen mischke | Posted – 12/13/2007 11:33:30 AM | show profile 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? Wal-Mart and The Pampered Chef for similar reasons. However...it wasn't a difficult thing to boycott because I never really shopped there in the first place... 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? Bundled in front of a fire on a cold snowy night. 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? Oh...dunno... 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? No. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? Chinese people are bad drivers...but The New Yorker explained why two issues ago. I also live in a Chinatown, so I have more exposure... 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? Pride and Prejudice 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? No...not at all...mostly because I am blonde now. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? My first BFF, Leah... 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? My weight. 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? Riding my pony. ("I had pony!" - Seinfeld) ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? I would be admitting it if I told you... |
| wineaux | Posted – 12/13/2007 11:46:29 AM | show profile 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? Best Buy...and still am. I bought a brand new fridge from them, complete w/ a 3 year warranty, and it broke shortly after I bought it. Their customer service line gave me the run around for several weeks, and they never sent anyone to fix it. They replaced it w/ a cheaper fridge a full MONTH afterwards. We lived out of a cooler for that whole time. It was awful, and I will never buy so much as a battery from them as long as I live. 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? A place where loud noises (except music I like) don't exist, and offensive things like bad odor (b.o., rotting garbage, ) people fighting, raucous dogs are nowhere near. Oh, and door to door salesman and telemarketers can't get anywhere near me. 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? Mostly the war, and all of the HUGE mistakes by this administration. And the plunging housing market. And the fact that the dollar is worth less and less. Well, I should just say anything that has to do with the plundering and floudering of this administration. 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? Many times. My first house was in a rough neighborhood. By necessity, I had to get a big, mean brute of a dog just to feel safe at night. If I told you about all the stuff I saw and had to deal with, it could take hours. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? That women are meant to be caretakers of the home and of children. Gloria Steinam would kick my ass right now. So would my Woman's Studies professor from college. 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? When I start a book, I finish it. No matter what. 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? No, I don't think so. I'm very vanilla-looking I guess. Brown hair, brown eyes, medium height and weight. I'm mostly Irish and a little Italian, but no one has ever asked me if I was either. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? A girl I have known since I was 2. She hasn't been returning my calls this year. I suspect she has a health problem, since we haven't fought or anything like that. I'm worried something is wrong. 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? Cooking, food and wine. 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? When my dad had a boat and we used to spend our summers all over Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island, etc.... It was truly amazing. Big bbq's right on the beach with all the fresh fish and lobster he and his fishing buddies caught and the clams tha we kids dug up all day long. Long hikes, lazy days at the beach. Fresh Peach and blueberry icecream at this outstanding ice cream shop where we kept our boat. Oh, it was truly magical. |
| wineaux | Posted – 12/13/2007 11:49:37 AM | show profile forgot one...What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? Reading the TMZ website. If my husband ever knew, he'd mercilessly tease me. I can't believe, after trying three times to post, that I got through. |
| mad fingers | Posted – 12/13/2007 12:14:20 PM | show profile 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? Exxon 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? I can't stand people who bicker and fight. Need to be as far away from that as possible. Don't love cold weather anymore, although I loved it as a kid. 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? What news? It's all propaganda. 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? Yes. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? Since moving to the South, I'd have to say yes, Virginia, there is white trash... 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? Joyce and Faulkner tend to lose me. I do keep trying. 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? Maybe 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? Sometimes, I think I'd like to meet up with my "one true love," but I think we'd both be disappointed. 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? Finding a way to make a living that doesn't involve me working at Wal-Mart or Home Depot. 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? Almost all of them. I had a great childhood. ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? I'm really bad at keeping my own secrets. If there's something I truly enjoy, chances are, at least one other person knows about it. |
| Unemployed-gal | Posted – 12/13/2007 12:33:39 PM | show profile 1. Nope. 2. Staying at home. 3. I'm ashamed to admit this, but I really don't pay attention to news. 4. Yes. I've even been the evildoer myself, a few times. 5. Oh, yes... the blonde stereotype, the crazy mother stereotype, the gay one, the one about men not being able to ask for directions, the WASP one, the Irish one, the JAP one. Otherwise, they wouldn't be stereotypes. 6. Anything by Ken Follett. 7. Yes. I look and act like a WASP all the way. 8. An old teacher who I had a crush on in high school. I'd love to be able to look him up and see what he's up to--even if he's married by now and has kids. 9. Anthropologie in a HUGE way. 10. Going to my grandparents' house in the summer. Running through the sprinkler. Bonus: Can't think of anything. |
| keltoi2 | Posted – 12/13/2007 1:41:26 PM | show profile 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? I won't buy gas at BP because my best friend works in environmental clean-up, and he's been fighting BP for years to clean up a site polluting the Delaware Bay and they've been doing everything possible to stop him. Evil company. 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? A quiet, calm, happy and loving home. Unless you're talking "personal space", in which case, about 18 inches distance, or far less for those I care about. 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? The big ones that go unreported. (Hi Belinda!) 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? Personally? Nothing too dramatic. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? As a poster noted above, many (but not all) stereotypes have a grain of truth to them, but often not more than that. 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? The Scarlet Letter in high school--appalling. Dune in my 20s--based on a desert planet. I got too thirsty reading it. Couldn't continue The Wheel of Time series after 8 volumes and about 6,000 pages--no lie. An amazing series, but Robert Jordan just kept on going. (Sadly, he died recently, so he'll never be able to finish it.) 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? Some say I have "the map of Ireland" on my face, but when I backpacked Europe solo in 1986, I was mistaken for a local in all 11 countries I visited, ie, locals would approach me and ask me questions in their native tongue. Happened most frequently in the Netherlands and, of course, Ireland. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? Would be curious to learn how a few of my childhood friends turned out. 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? In case anyone didn't notice, I'm a bit caught up with the national and world scene as well as the media's role in it. 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? I had a wonderful childhood, but a few moments stand out, mostly vacations. Family trips to Cape Cod and other parts of Massachusetts, a wonderful October week at my godfather's farm in upstate New York when I was 10, and a weeklong trip to DC with my grandparents the same year. ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? I still think Bugs Bunny is brilliant, I am a frequent Ebayer (seller mostly), I like the occasional game of computer solitaire, and I'll admit to any of it. |
| voracious reader | Posted – 12/13/2007 2:26:49 PM | show profile 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? Yes. Domino's Pizza. Even though its founder, Tom Monaghan, who gave massive donations to Operation Rescue, is no longer a part of the company, I'd rather buy pizza from a local mom and pop pizzeria where the pizza is made by real Italians! When Domino's advertised "Brooklyn Pizza" in the New York Metro area last year, I asked myself who's the bigger morons, their corporate office or the Brooklynites who actually bought a Domino's pie. 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? Undisturbed (meaning 1 hour or more) reading and writing. 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? Besides the aforementioned ones, I think Al Gore receiving the Nobel Prize. I think that will be debated well into the future. 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? Yes. The elevation of Clarance Thomas to the Supreme Court was a crime. I believed Anita as much then as I do now. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? Latins make great lovers? 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? I'm pretty notorious for starting books, skimming books, and misplacing books. No worries, there's always an abundunce more to read. My husband, on the other hand, started reading Moby Dick when we were first married almost 29 years ago, and from time to time I ask him if he's finished reading it yet. 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? Probably not. It's funny because when I was a teenager and had long, straight black hair, some people asked if I were of Native American descent. Think Pocahantas. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? My childhood friend, Alice. 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? Reading, first, writing second. 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? Visiting Sebago Lake, Maine, I distinctly remember swimming with my buddies and was able to see the pupils in their eyes under the most sparkling, crystal clear waters. Bonus Question What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? I require little effort to look good, feel good, and maintain my weight. My friends waste too much of their time with beauty parlor appointments and dieting. 7. |
| catlondon | Posted – 12/13/2007 2:50:07 PM | show profile 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? Yes, lots. I used to be quite the activist. My main boycott today is against Southwest Airlines because the last two times I've flown them has been a horrible experience punctuated by rude and unhelpful employees. I had to stop boycotting Wal-mart because a good friend is deeply involved in the company's green initiatives and he wants to prove to them that going green is better for their bottom line, so I shop there on his behalf. 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? In my house, in the evening after work, drinking wine, watching mindless TV or reading, with the pets scattered around snoozing or a good friend visiting. There are people in my life I purposefully will not let into my home because I don't want their energy disturbing its peace. 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? That a black man and a woman are both truly viable candidates for president. The continuing horror in Darfur, which America continues to ignore. The accelerating extinction or endangerment of species. 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? Yes. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? madfingers-I'm right there with you on white trash. Mean and stupid and proud of being mean and stupid. 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? Lord Jim. 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? Yes. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? No one. 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? Making the perfect loaf of bread in my Kenmore oven at home. It may be beyond me. 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? Sadly, my childhood was awful and I am extremely glad it's over. ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? Jan Karon's Mitford books. I read them in secret and find them as comforting as a security blanket. |
| jjones | Posted – 12/13/2007 3:29:25 PM | show profile Magical guitar dream 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? Wal-Mart. I've never been in one. Pretty easy since I live in NYC. I want to boycott Verizon but it's near impossible. 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? Home. Home. Home. My bed. 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? The campaign. Snooze. The White House scandals, same old story. 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? Yes, I was on the subway when a guy ripped a gold chain off a woman's neck and ran out the doors. It was pretty horrible. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? Yes. That's all I'm saying. 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? Lots of them. Seems to be my new issue. 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? Unfortunately yes. I'm Jewish (I know, it's not an ethnicity). Occasionally people have mistaken me for Irish, which is a compliment, I think. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? Can't really think of anyone. 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? Myself. Writing. Money. 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? Riding on the highway in my nanny's car, I saw one of those vehicles that transports new cars. I swear I saw a car from the highway switch places with one of the new cars on the top tier of the truck. I swear. Also, once I dreamt I was playing a guitar. I was simultaneously deep in sleep and waking up. As I opened my eyes, I could see and feel the guitar in my hands. I tried to sit up. I thought if I opened my eyes slow enough, I could hang onto and materialize the guitar from my dream. Alas, I opened my eyes and it was gone. ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? Oprah! Okay, but I admit it. Most of the time. I freaking love to watch Oprah. It's my guilty pleasure. |
| caitlinkelly | Posted – 12/13/2007 5:15:22 PM | show profile 1. Probably. Not a major focus. 2. Anywhere silent, calm, sunlit and containing only people I really love. 3. News is consensus reality, so whatever is "big" to top new execs is not necessarily what I thought important. Endless reporting of data is not the same as coming up with some smart analysis and fresh solutions, so the "news", however "big" is not interesting to me without that included -- as it rarely is. 4. Yes. I was the victim. 5. Too many to list. 6. Life of Pi, A Suitable Boy,Buddenbrooks. 7. Many Europeans think I'm Dutch or German. 8. I'd like to find out what happened to my former best friend, who simply vanished from my life a few years ago. 9. Making my home beautiful and welcoming. 10. Going to Expo 67 with my Dad in Montreal wearing a groovy yellow minidress, riding the rides and enjoying the pavilions. Eight years of summer camp in Northern Ontario, learning fun athletic skills and making good friends. Going to Miami and going deep-sea fishing. Eating clotted cream for breakfast in London while visiting my aunt and uncle. BQ Pop Tarts, maybe -- the "toaster pastries" not the candy. |
| mb_greg | Posted – 12/13/2007 6:57:31 PM | show profile | email poster Per Janet's request. 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? Yeah, but for reasons having to do with my experience there rather than because I wanted to make a political statement. That always felt pointless. 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? Hmm, really depends on what we're talking about: Physically? Emotionally? Geographically? I will say that I'm one of those people who always does better in familiar situations, but I also know that I end up feeling unfufilled if I don't challenge myself every once in awhile. I moved abroad after I graduated college, which was a really scary thing to do, but I now look back on it as the best experience of my life. 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? What, you mean other than mediabistro.com getting bought by Jupitermedia? :-) 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? Yes, but I refuse to comment further without a lawyer present. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? I'd say there are practically NO stereotypes that don't have at least a kernel of truth. Otherwise, they wouldn't have any staying power. 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? I'm one of those people who will plod through a book I don't particularly enjoy, solely because I believe in finishing what I started. Having said that, I loved Barack Obama's first book, but really saw no reason to continue reading "The Audacity of Hope" after the first 100 pages. Not so much because it was bad as because I didn't think I would learn anything new from the rest of the book. 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? You'd have to ask them, but yes, I think so. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? My best friend from childhood summer camp. I've even tried to track him down on Facebook/Friendster, but he has a generic name which returns tons of results. 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? Just "somewhat"? Nothing. If I'm going to be obsessed, I'm going all out, baby! 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? The time I got to spend with my grandparents. I didn't fully appreciate those moments -- or realize how much I missed my grandparents -- until I married a woman with two living grandmothers. ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? My wife watches "Gossip Girl" religiously. I usually just keep myself occupied while she's watching, but will occasionally sneak a peak, and it's ... not terrible. ------ Greg Membership Director mediabistro.com |
| Nikongirl | Posted – 12/13/2007 7:10:59 PM | show profile 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? Several. 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? Being at the beach, swimming in the ocean. Feeling the sun. 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? I think the biggest news stories were not actually in the news. Today's news is crappy infotainment with farrrr too much NEWS about Britney, Lindsay, Paris and the other youngsters from HO Wood. 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? Yes, police beat a homeless old man who was waiting to cross the street on a blistering cold, snowy evening. He did absolutely nothing wrong. One beat him from the backseat and the other beat him from the front seat. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? You betcha! I too have lived in the south, Atlanta and Tennessee, LA and NY; stereotypes abound in every region. Living in Oh Canada it is widely felt and spoken, that Americans are loud, obnixous and act like they own the world. Having said that, Americans often think Canadians are tuke-headed, mukluk footed, igloo living bone heads, eh? Yeah and they are shy and reserved too. 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? Blindness by Jose Saramago, Saturday by Ian McEwan, Tolstoy's War and Peace. 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? Yes - well they used to when I was young, now it's a crap shoot. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? A couple of old friends from New York. 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? I'm not prone to obsessive. I am more "everything in moderation" no matter what that thing might be. 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? My childhood was anything but magical, unless you want to talk about the witch and the big bad wolf. ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? If I would never admit to it well I certainly will not spill here! THAT secret remains safe with me....utter not a single hint. |
| PublicityChick | Posted – 12/13/2007 9:38:52 PM | show profile 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? hewlet packard products 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? my parents' house on christmas eve 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? pass 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? yes, and i did something about it. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? pass 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to fin ish? milan kundera's immortality and faulkner's as i lay dying 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? no, i'm a mutt 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? ahh, that would be my best friend in high school 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? castles 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? month long roadtrips with my mom and dad all over the united states (parents were teachers and had the summers off) ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? luxury toilet paper |
| Janetblueyes | Posted – 12/13/2007 10:46:35 PM | show profile Welcome aboard Media Bistro Greg! Pleasure to meet you. 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? I don't like Starbucks for various reasons, but mainly because the little "Mom and Pop" coffee shops can't compete with them and therefore go out of business. Also not a big fan of Exxon. 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? Napping in my big bed with my big dogs curled up next to me, snoring and twitching while lost in their canine dreams. I also love my home office which my pups also frequent. 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? The pregnancy of Nicole Richie. I'm just kidding. Sort of. 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? Yes. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? That gay men are witty, smart and dress well. All true in my experience. 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? I have started the DaVinci Code twice and just can't make it past the first few chapters. 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? I'm Irish but look Scandinavian thanks to the good folks at Clairol and their brilliant conncoction of "Swedish Baby Blonde #9B." 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? My best friend from childhood who had the last name of Jones. If anyone knows a Sandy Jones, please point her in my direction. Last I heard she was living in PA and working as a history teacher. 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? Celtic history, labrador retrievers and pretty noses. 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? Every visit with my grandparents at their house in Southampton. ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? ABBA songs, plain tofu sandwiches, peeling dried Elmer's Glue off of my palm and seeing how many words I can form from the letters stamped on license plates. ~PublicityChick: There is luxury toilet paper? I'm most interested in hearing more about this (and Foto probably is too). It sounds wonderful. |
| foto | Posted – 12/13/2007 11:34:55 PM | show profile 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? I'm uncomfortable everywhere 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? The conflict between Janet and Dilbert. 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? no 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? Most stereotypes that seem to be true only seem that way because we don't know the whole picture. People act in deviant ways because of abnormal circumstances, not because they're inherently bad. Interestingly, back in the nineteenth century, the ethnic group most associated with crime and urban squalor in America was the Irish. 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? Let me think... 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? I'm German and Irish. I could possibly look like German and/or Irish. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? God 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? snicker bars, budweiser, fart jokes 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? I can't remember. But they were few and far between. ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? McDonalds. |
| pamelabeth | Posted – 12/14/2007 1:07:13 AM | show profile 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? i boycotted dominos for the reasons vr did, when it was owned by nutty anti-choice guy. have never been to a walmart (but i, too, live in nyc, where they are not). (cat, should we all reconsider on that one? what about how they treat workers?) the fur industry. i write a shopping column and won't review any store that carries fur--let alone buy it. 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? the beach in the evening. a not-crowded place that's playing music i love. for my loved ones, as close as they want to stand or sit is fine. for some people, yards away from me is too close. 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? the valerie plame thing was big and, i predict, will get bigger, someday, when the truths come out. the administration's dropping popularity and escalating arrogance. 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? a friend and i had to run from gunfire! a man was shot on the street where we were walking. the next day, when i'd stopped shaking, i called the police to tell them what i'd seen. i had horrible visions of getting involved in a frightening trial, getting threatened...but i felt obligated to call. and would you believe, they didn't even take my name or number. they said one drug dealer had killed another--end of story. also i got mugged; and also my apt. got robbed, though thankfully i did not witness that. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? see above--that the police do not always choose/care/feel obligated to do their jobs. 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? i tend to finish. even if i put them aside for years. but i do not think i got through "beowulf." 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? hi, jjones. as a jew, i often get "you don't look jewish," which i hate--what does it mean? i'm eastern european/jewish with a dash of chinese, and i don't know what ethnicity i look like. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? valerie from childhood. randi from camp. polly from 10 years ago. 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? real estate. i find myself staring at every realtor window--"half a million for *that*?!?" 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? cupping fireflies in my hands on the lawn. the pool parties my parents gave, and also their new years eve dinner parties, with a big fire in the fireplace. sitting on my mom's lap with my face in her neck. ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? hmm. cheesy 70s pop. but i admit it, all the time. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 12/14/2007 3:51:59 AM | show profile | email poster I submitted to the lost thread on this one. I'm going to try to come up with different answers. 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? I have a longstanding irritation with Northwest Airlines from when my child was injured in an accident while we were off on vacation and I couldn't get their cooperation with realigning tickets. I ended up bringing him across the country on Amtrak, in a handicapped berth, him on his gurney in a bodycast. The Amtrak people were fantastic and even held a connecting train for us when ours was late from hitting a cow. 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? Anywhere I can hear water lapping or rain falling works wonders.I need to get the CD. 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? Plame was big. The mortgage crisis is still unfoldng. 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? Driving along a freeway, saw two cars stopped on roadside, a working guy chasing a business man around them with a baseball bat, and one windshield was stove in. Surely someone was doing something illegal there. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? Canadians are reserved, polite. I'm Canadian but have been in the U.S. most of my adult life, and having worked some in PR and broadcasting I seem to have been weaned away from this behavior to some extent, to my siblings profound (impolite) amusement. 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? Lately -- Nobody's Fool, James Russo. Nowhere near as interesting as Empire Falls. 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? From a distance, people think Mediterranean even with my blonde hair, but up close I'm a mutt. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? I think maybe I've reconnected with those I wished to -- I've been disappointed with a couple reconnections. 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? My dog gets a lot of attention. He's very verbal because we talk to him all the time. I used to think people that did that were batty. 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? My maternal grandfather's laugh, the smell of his cherry pipe tobacco. Starched WHITE sheets on the rollaway at my paternal grandmother's, drinking juice from little etched glasses, any food she prepared and especially her Scottish shortbread (she was pure Norwegian), hiding under her weeping willow tree, the morning glory vine and pansy border on her cottage. ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? reading the scandal-reveling iVillage emails. |
| catlondon | Posted – 12/14/2007 1:26:09 PM | show profile pamelabeth: Wal-mart is a good example of the power of public opinion and the market. The negative publicity was having an impact on their business and their ability to get new stores approved, so they more or less have to change. I'm less familiar with how they are doing on treating their employees, so I can't really speak to that. However, if you're looking for a decent big-box store, Costco is a good bet. The founder is still in charge, he treats his employees well, has no problem with them being unionized, and gives generous benefits. You can often find some six-figure Wall Street analyst grousing that if Costco didn't pay its employees so well and would slash medical benefits, the share price would go up. I don't think Wall Street analysts are known for their ability to perceive irony. However, some of its other practices aren't so good. It's all toss up and you have to decide which battle you want to fight. Interestingly, I once heard a prominent activist from Bangladesh speak and he said one of the biggest problems with Americans is that they believe once the child-staffed sweatshops are shut down, the problem is over. What they don't realize is that putting children out of work can often make things worse, as many turn to prostitution to earn money. The basic message being the children aren't working because there's no room in Little Leauge. But anyway, how you spend your money can make a difference and I recommend Coop America's Green Pages for good info. Okay, hopping off my soapbox. Back to Thursday questions. |
| PublicityChick | Posted – 12/14/2007 4:39:33 PM | show profile For JBE -- TP answer I consider luxury toilet paper anything that has several layers of paper, is quilted looking and costs more than about 75 cents per roll. Dancing bears or angels on the packaging are a giveaway too. I've handed over the TP buying responsibility to my finace because he hates the TP I buy. He's says i have horrible taste in TP. I just can't stand spending money on something that is used for 5 seconds and goes down the toilet. It makes me angry. But, when I'm at other peoples' houses, I secretly enjoy the smooth sensation that only luxury TP can bring to the bathroom experience. |
| cori | Posted – 12/14/2007 5:42:24 PM | show profile Hi, Janet 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? I won't set foot in Wal-Mart! 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? My home. 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? I am saddened whenever I hear the horrors of the war. 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? Thankfully, no. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? Ok, here comes the flaming, but I don't believe illegal immigrants from Mexico do want to learn English. 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? Several years ago, I tried War and Peace and tried it again and again. Last year, I finally made my way through it. Liked Anna Karenina better. That one, I just started and kept reading. 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? I am a mixture. They'd assume the Irish part. Not the other. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? An old friend, Michael. I miss him and hope life is treating him well. 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? I started watching Lou Dobbs last year and can't miss it. Some of what he says makes me furious, but I agree with many things he touts. 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? Family vacations were always fun -- esp. when I was really little. A trip to Frontier Land, The North Pole (Lake Placid, actually), a visit to Disney World - each was very special. We had a summer cottage on Shelter Island (LI) for several years and those vacations were the best . Tons of other kids who were great to be with. Imaginative games, lots of swimming and old-fashioned fun. One of my most magical moments happened when I was 9. My godmother took me to see a staged production of Camelot. I was blown away. Had never seen a musical before. That same year, my dad took us to a theatrical production at Jones Beach. It was incredible. Sitting under the stars and seeing a play! Made me long to be an actress! Too bad, I often think, that I did not choose that path when I became an adult. ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? I often blissfully enjoy reading a terrible romantic novel. There, I admitted it! |
| nandy | Posted – 12/14/2007 9:09:30 PM | show profile 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? Yes. 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? Adequate salary to pay for my middle-class necessities: decent home; car; groceries; kid's college; a decent vacation every few years 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? Watching the Presdential candidates 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? Saw a couple of assaults from my apartment window...and the guy who broke into our car. But what can you do when you're several stories up and it's the middle of the night? My ex used to throw ice cubes at the perverts. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? That certain ethnic groups are drunks...obviously alcoholism is inherited, so it would tend to be more prevalent in groups that marry within their own kind. 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? Puffed up auto-biographies. 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? Probably. I think my red hair and freckles give it away. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? Some early childhood friends. 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? My skin. It's going through adolescence again. 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? THE moment was when my father came home with tickets for the first Beatles concert at Shea stadium. He had a close friend who worked with Bill Shea and used to get baseball tickets from him all the time. My brothers got to go to several games every year. I figured, if he could get baseball tickets, he could get Beatle tickets, too, so I begged and begged. It was the only time a I every asked him for something like that, and amazingly, he came through...the only catch was HE had to go with me. LOL ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? I'm a closet sci-fi fan. I love the genre, be it books or movies. But you'll never see me running around in some crazy costume at a convention. |
| df | Posted – 12/15/2007 6:08:28 PM | show profile 1. Have you ever boycotted any products or establishments? the catholic church for obvious reasons 2. What would you define as your comfort zone? my bed, books and cookies 3. In your opinion, what were the biggest news stories of 2007? ohh. how bad I really have to think about it. in the media: the endless campaign for the primaries. the weather. isn't that bad? The ones I think should have been big: the bad intelligence on WMD, campaign finance, the pardon of scooter libby... 4. Have you ever witnessed a crime being committed? yes, was the victim, mugged at knifepoint, and saw other people being the victim. awful. 5. Are there any stereotypes that you secretly think might have some truth to them? females with lower education are full of drama. at least every single one I have ever worked with. its awful, sort of racist, but I can't help it. 6. What books have you started to read and just can't seem to finish? one in all my years of reading: one hundred years of solitude. Unreadable for me. 7. Would someone be able to guess your ethnicity based on the way you look? if you can't, you are an idiot. 8. Who have you lost contact with and you would love to reestablish a connection? some friends from college 9. What are you somewhat obsessed with? reading & food. 10. What were some of the magical moments of your childhood? disney land ~Bonus Question~ What do you secretly enjoy but would never admit to? I am a shameless person, so i readliy admit to everything. |
| foto | Posted – 12/15/2007 7:10:24 PM | show profile Janet and PublicityChick: Years ago I used to shoot for a large paper manufacturer who made several well known brands of paper towels and toilet paper. They told me they were very concerned about the feel of the toilet paper around the anus. Its the big selling point of the product and they test it thoroughly. I wonder if people get paid to test toilet paper? |
