In a struggle to be happy and free

Drystone Wall

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Stuck in the middle with you

I took The Politics Test at OKCupid.com. It described me as socially liberal (70%) and economically conservative (60%), at least politically. This amused me because when I signed up for Facebook, I described my political views as “Socially liberal, fiscally conservative.”

Here are my leanings, in chart form:

I think the description of my politics are accurate, but I quibble with my placement on the chart. Rather than being a libertarian near both the democrats and the centrists, I would’ve expected to be much nearer the capitalists or even the republicans, and far away from the democrats. The thing is though, this test was made for Americans. A centrist in Canada would be seen as being well to the left in the United States.

Go take the test and report your results in the comments!

One-hundred things

One-hundred things, with the things I’ve done in bold, and my comments in italics.

  1. Started your own blog. Obviously.
  2. Slept under the stars. In a tent is the closest I’ve come.
  3. Played in a band. This was a fun but short-lived experience in high-school. I still have the bass under my bed and the amp in my closet.
  4. Visited Hawaii. I’d like to go to see the Keck Observatory, but I don’t expect the public is allowed to really check it out.
  5. Watched a meteor shower. More than a few times. It’s a wonderful experience.
  6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
  7. Been to Disneyland. I’m not interested, but I’d go in a New York minute if I had kids.
  8. Climbed a mountain. Not many of them around here.
  9. Held a praying mantis.
  10. Sang a solo. I wouldn’t subject anyone to this. It would be mean.
  11. Bungee jumped. With my back? I think it’d be unwise.
  12. Visited Paris. Paris Ontario, but I don’t think this is what they mean.
  13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
  14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. I started taking pictures when I was thirteen and my first formal instruction was in college. This is close enough to ‘self-taught’ for me.
  15. Adopted a child. Not by myself.
  16. Had food poisoning. Subway, many years ago. I’m not sure I’ve been back since.
  17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. It was closed for repairs and covered in scaffolding when I was there. I would have, but couldn’t.
  18. Grown your own vegetables.
  19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
  20. Slept on an overnight train. Would love to do this someday, perhaps with a special someone.
  21. Had a pillow fight.
  22. Hitch-hiked.
  23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. If you say you haven’t, I don’t believe you.
  24. Built a snow fort. Interestingly, I’ve only done this as an adult.
  25. Held a lamb. I’ve seen plenty, but never picked one up.
  26. Gone skinny dipping.
  27. Run a Marathon. I wonder…
  28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice. Someday, with a special someone, except that the gondolier is standing there looking at us like some kind of creepy voyeur.
  29. Seen a total eclipse. Many lunar eclipses, but the solar eclipses have always been obscured by clouds.
  30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. More than a few, but I want to see many more.
  31. Hit a home run.
  32. Been on a cruise. It’s on my list.
  33. Seen Niagara Falls in person. I used to drive past it on my way to work.
  34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. When I was six.
  35. Seen an Amish community. Not outside of Witness.
  36. Taught yourself a new language. If HTML counts.
  37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. It doesn’t buy happiness…but I’ve learned that when you’re unhappy, you think it would.
  38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person. Crooked old tower. No big.
  39. Gone rock climbing. Just last year for the first time! Whoop! Thank you, Brad.
  40. Seen Michelangelo’s David. Would love to.
  41. Sung karaoke.
  42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt. Meh.
  43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
  44. Visited Africa. I’d like to climb Kilimanjaro but the rest of Africa isn’t high on my list.
  45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. Someday, with a special someone.
  46. Been transported in an ambulance. Kidney stones. I panicked when I realized it could’ve been my appendix. There’s no way I could’ve driven myself, and it was 4 a.m. so who would I call?
  47. Had your portrait painted. This would be weird.
  48. Gone deep sea fishing. Not really interested. I’d rather just enjoy being on the boat than fool with a fishing rod.
  49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person. Would love to.
  50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
  51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
  52. Kissed in the rain. Someday, with a special someone.
  53. Played in the mud. Surely off-roading counts.
  54. Gone to a drive-in theatre. Just last year for the first time! Whoop! Thank you, Lori.
  55. Been in a movie. If you take a Film Production program, this is hard to avoid.
  56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
  57. Started a business. I don’t think that lemonade stand counts.
  58. Taken a martial arts class. I have been thinking about this as a possibility.
  59. Visited Russia.
  60. Served at a soup kitchen.
  61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies. I’d rather buy them, and then eat them!
  62. Gone whale watching. I’ve seen dolphins. Does that count?
  63. Got flowers for no reason. Once.
  64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. Have I really not done this?!
  65. Gone sky diving. This is a possibility for the future.
  66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
  67. Bounced a cheque. Once.
  68. Flown in a helicopter. Only in a flight simulator, and what a disaster it was!
  69. Saved a favourite childhood toy. I’ve still got my Lego.
  70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
  71. Eaten Caviar.
  72. Pieced a quilt.
  73. Stood in Times Square.
  74. Toured the Everglades.
  75. Been fired from a job. I’ve been laid off once, but never fired.
  76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London. Would love to go to London, but this doesn’t rank high among the things to do.
  77. Broken a bone. A chicken bone, but not one of mine.
  78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. I was a passenger on my uncle’s when I was six, but we just went around the parking lot. No speeding.
  79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
  80. Published a book.
  81. Visited the Vatican. Would love to.
  82. Bought a brand new car. Yes.
  83. Walked in Jerusalem.
  84. Had your picture in the newspaper. Name, but not picture…I don’t think.
  85. Read the entire Bible. I’ve thought about it, but it’s not an easy read.
  86. Visited the White House.
  87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
  88. Had chickenpox. And I’ve got the divots to prove it!
  89. Saved someone’s life.
  90. Sat on a jury. Always wanted to, but now I’m thinking it would be such an inconvenience. I’ve got stuff to do, you know?
  91. Met someone famous. Not in person. My brushes with fame have been via e‑mail.
  92. Joined a book club. All the book clubs I know are women-only.
  93. Lost a loved one.
  94. Had a baby. Not likely, because you know, I’m a guy and all.
  95. Seen the Alamo in person. I’m sure it means a lot to many people, but I’m not among them.
  96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
  97. Been involved in a law suit. Was served, but it never made it to court. Don’t ask…I’ve never told anyone about this before.
  98. Owned a cell phone. Since September!
  99. Been stung by a bee.
  100. Read an entire book in one day. Many times. The first when I was eleven.

Hat tip to Kevin.

The heart test

Dee posted her results of the Heart Test, one of the many cornball quizzes available for your amusement on the IntarWebTubes. Curious, I gave it a spin and this popped out:

Your heart type: Slave to Emotions

You are 50% Independent, 70% Idealistic, 70% Intimate, and 70% Indulgent!

You are the most emotional of hearts, the Slave to Your Emotions. You crave love, and have high standards for love. You are very intimate and value harmony with a mate. Sometimes you may feel that you are over-emotional and see this as a curse at times, because you are so emotionally-charged, and you so greatly desire love. You might want to break the emotional chains that bind you, but find that the ideals of love and intimacy are firmly shackled to you and cannot be severed.

I can see the truth of a lot of what it says if I only read the facts. The way they word it however, makes it sound far too flowery and fairy-tale to really represent me.

What bugs me the most about these quizzes is how there are only two choices to questions that may have a spectrum of possible answers. These tests ultimately serve no purpose, save our amusement, but it still annoys me!

And speaking of annoying, the quiz site hosting the Heart Test is supremely annoying. You answer some 30 questions, and are then prompted to sign up before they’ll give you your results. Annoying!

I clicked 134 times in 30 seconds

I thought I’d surely reach ‘spastic.’


A tip of the hat to Tamara at View From the Porch.

Tardy number seven

On August 1, I followed Craige’s lead and described seven random things plucked from my brain. I misunderstood the question and my things were largely secret, or at least not well-known, so I win. Then again, I only listed six things, so maybe Craige won after all.

Except I have a seventh!

You know how you can adjust the rear view mirror so the headlights of the cars behind don’t blind you? For as long as I’ve driven, I’ve always left the mirror on the night setting. I can still see just fine during the day, and I never have to adjust it. As an added bonus, the driver behind me can’t tell when I’m looking at her in the mirror.

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