177 posts tagged “qotd” (page 2)

If you were independently wealthy, where in the world would you live?
Submitted by Eileen.

For a mere US$2m, plus a likely equivalent sum to build a decent home, install solar and wind power generation, and a small desal plant, there's White Island. (the second link will provide a Google Earth KMZ file). Looks wonderful, isolated and within reach of an airport if needs be. Naturally, I'd have my twin open pilots licence, and be flying myself into and out of my island escape in my new Antilles Goose. At US$1.3m for the radial engined version, and US$2.3m for the thirstier, albeit more powerful turbo-props, I think I'd rather stay traditional and opt for the radials.

What do you think is too serious to joke around about?

The Iraq War. We know from the news that 4,000 American military lives have been wasted. What we don't know are the number of civilian lives - Iraqi and foreign - which have been squandered to suit the ideology of a tiny political elite inside American politics. It's not a joke. It's not something to respond to questions about by saying "So??". The entire scenario is a crime. Invasion was always illegal. Those who planned and perpetrated this gross display of human pride and ineptitude need to be held to account. Not just by history, but by the present. In the here-and-now. They need to be made to pay.

What do you most hate sharing with other people?

My time. It's too valuable to waste on other people. Lords know we get so little of it to ourselves and then others want to horn in on it. As Ford Prefect tells Arthur Dent, "Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so". To me it's so illusory I seem to always have someone else wanting theirs and mine as well. Fuck off! Give me my space. If I want to share my time, I'll put up a sign saying so. Until then.....HTRJ.

What's the one thing you're most neurotic about?

Sexual performance, believe it or not. But then, aren't most men?

If you could go back and change one thing you've done in your life, what would it be?
Submitted by Devinoid.

In 1972 I won a cadetship to study drafting at the Queensland Institute of Technology (now the Queensland University of Technology). I enjoyed what was then called, 'technical drawing' as a subject, but didn't have any understanding of what drafting was. The education system didn't provide any guidance either. It was simply a matter of "Hey, you've won a cadetship. You wanna take it up, or not?" Of course, being entirely ignorant of just what I'd won, I opted out. I only found out years later that what I'd won would have seen me eligible to enter a vast field of studies leading to architectural, engineering and design professions. Instead, I joined a bank, taking up a job secured for me by my parents through a friend who was high up in the bank at the time.

Where would I be today? Would I be happier? Would I be better off financially? Would I have lived the life I've lived to date, seen the things I've seen and done the things I've done? It's a complete unknown, but I'd sure as hell like to know. The message to me over the past 36 years has been to always make your own decisions. Never allow others to decide what's best for you.

When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?
Submitted by Maraschino.

I honestly don't remember. It's been so long since I had a damn good belly laugh I think I've forgotten what it's all about.

How did you create your username for VOX? What influenced your decision?
Submitted by Strive2Be.

Simple.....my initials

What is a "charmed life"?

One in which everything one touches turns to gold. Or at the least, not to shit. One where the worries of a common life never raise their heads. Where ones family doesn't tear itself asunder. Where one gets to occupy one's time in gainful pursuit of a career one really, honestly enjoys being a part of.

In short, a 'charmed life, is nirvana, legend, myth. It doesn't exist. Would but it did. I'd be at the front of the queue.

What aspect of your personality could use a little work?

Yes, as the title says........if I absolutely HAD to choose something, it would be my inate inability to suffer idiots. I don't regard that part of my personality as a deficiency, but it has created hurdles for me in the past. I'm not one to take a back seat when confronted by obtuse, ignorant, arrogant, selfish people. I particularly can not tolerate control freaks. Such people, to me anyway, clearly have deep-seated inadequacy issues if they can't delegate to others or admit that other people can take responsibility for their own actions.

My boss is one of the latter. It's currently taking me all my efforts to treat his anal-retentive, pedantic manner as amusing, but I'm losing the battle. We're the same age, have the same experience level but different views on lending, credit analysis and people management. In addition, it's his business I'm working in, but just how long does one have to suffer being double-checked on tasks one has been doing all of one's professional working life??!!

Fucking idiot! Yes, I suppose if I could fine tune my idiot filter, I might not go home at night so stressed.

If you could teleport to any place in the world right this second, where would you go?

Right here.