9-10ths_Penguin - Mod

[rajakrsna]

Umm... moderating?

You don't have to be religious to have an interest in religion... much the same way you don't have to be a Medieval European to have an interest in Medieval Europe.

Hope the moderators here don`t hi-jack the passwords of its members.:angel2:

 

[meee223]

I just want to say hello to a fellow Toronto resident. Hello neighbour!

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I figured I should maybe provide a bit of an update, since a fair bit has changed since this:

Real Name: Jeff

Location: Canada. The Greater Toronto Area, basically.

Age: 30

Education: B.A.Sc., Engineering

Family: Married, no kids.

Religion: none - atheist.

Occupation: Engineer

Interests: auto racing (basically anything but NASCAR and drag racing. No offense to fans of either one, though - I appreciate that both take huge amounts of skill and effort, and it's a great accomplishment to do either one well, but I think the same thing about solving multi-dimensional partial differential equations, and I don't watch that on Sunday afternoons), martial arts, napping.

I'm a brand-spanking new moderator here, just out of the shrinkwrap. Anyone have any questions that they're itching to ask me?

My name's still Jeff, I'm still an engineer, and I'm still into auto racing, but I no longer live in the GTA (still in Ontario, but not exactly near Toronto), I'm now separated, and I'm sure not 30 any more.

I probably also don't qualify as a brand spanking new moderator any more, since through a combination of guile and careful bribery, I've managed to work my way up to Admin.

Oh - and in the past few years, I've become (happily) sucked into the world of robotics competitions for school kids. I've been a coach, a referee, a robot inspector, a design judge, and I'm sure I'll be wearing other hats in future.

... I hope. The robot inspector hat is especially ugly. It's flourescent yellow-green. Apparently, when you need a robot inspector, you REALLY need a robot inspector, so they have to be easy to pick out of a crowd.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Real Name: Jeff

Location: Canada. The Greater Toronto Area, basically.

Age: 30

Education: B.A.Sc., Engineering

Family: Married, no kids.

Religion: none - atheist.

Occupation: Engineer

Interests: auto racing (basically anything but NASCAR and drag racing. No offense to fans of either one, though - I appreciate that both take huge amounts of skill and effort, and it's a great accomplishment to do either one well, but I think the same thing about solving multi-dimensional partial differential equations, and I don't watch that on Sunday afternoons), martial arts, napping.

I'm a brand-spanking new moderator here, just out of the shrinkwrap. Anyone have any questions that they're itching to ask me?

Yea. Where's the dang Dragnet theme while you were posting that flatfoot?

 

[Falvlun]

I just have a few, very pertinent questions for the Penguin:

1. Are these robots going to take over the world? Are they 3 Law compliant?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. If you could have any car you wanted for racing, what would it be?

4. What is your signature dance move?

5. If you were a pirate, what would be the name of your ship?

6. If you could spend 3 months anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?

7. If you were a cereal, which would you be and why?

8. Just admit it. Bagged milk is weird.

9. Were you always a humanist atheist? If not, what's your story?

10. What is your superhero power?

11. What is one skill you think everyone should have?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I just have a few, very pertinent questions for the Penguin:

1. Are these robots going to take over the world? Are they 3 Law compliant?

They're exceedingly friendly robots built by awesome kids. I'm not worried.

2. What is your favorite food?

Sushi.

3. If you could have any car you wanted for racing, what would it be?

A classic Mini. I still have plans to do that some day.

4. What is your signature dance move?

The Rum Shuffle.

5. If you were a pirate, what would be the name of your ship?

I've thought that if I ever got a yacht, I'd name it the Boudica after the warrior queen who stood up to the Roman Empire. That would probably work.

6. If you could spend 3 months anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?

Umm... I'd take it in chunks and do the Mongol Rally, the Rickshaw Run, the Mototaxi Junket, the Dakar Rally and just to relax a bit, the Alcan 5000.

7. If you were a cereal, which would you be and why?

Harvest Crunch. Here's why:

Years ago, on the last night of a canoe trip in Algonquin Park, a bear ate our food (we had it strung between two trees and all that, but when they stand up on their hind legs, bears are tall!). The next morning, we did the few-hour paddle back to our pickup point - my stomach was growling all the way. At the pickup point, there was a small store. The closest thing to food they had was Harvest Crunch and Pop-Tarts, so that's what we had. It was the first time I had tried either one, but at that moment, I thought they were the best thing I had ever tasted.

8. Just admit it. Bagged milk is weird.

Weird is relative. In a land of jugged milk, the bag of milk is king.

9. Were you always a humanist atheist? If not, what's your story?

I think aspects of it were there as far back as I can remember, but I didn't always identify myself as an atheist.

When I was really little, I got this idea in my head - I don't know how - that everyone belonged to some sort of religion, so since my grandmother's Baptist church was the only one I ever went to, I told people I was a Baptist if they asked.

After I was old enough to give the matter some thought, I didn't really say anything. I was pretty apathetic to religion - it was pretty much a non-issue, but if pressed, I'd call myself an agnostic: I didn't believe in God, but I felt like the word "atheist" was reserved for people who had really put serious thought into the matter, and I just didn't care.

Later, a few things happened in my life to make me examine belief, particularly my Catholic wife pushing me to try to become Catholic myself. At the end of the process, I found myself realizing that I identified more with "atheist" than "agnostic". My wife wasn't pleased.

Along the way while examining my beliefs, I came across the idea of humanism and thought, "yeah, that describes me", so I started calling myself a humanist.

10. What is your superhero power?

Turning money into noise.

(it's an auto racing joke, you see )

11. What is one skill you think everyone should have?

Anyone who drives should be able to jump-start a car.

 

[DreadFish]

Weird is relative. In a land of jugged milk, the bag of milk is king.

I just looked up bagged milk because it had been a while since it's existence had been brought up to me. Weird may be relative, but practical is a bit more objective. They make pitchers to put bags of milk in... Why not just sell the milk in something that's kind of like a pitcher? Like a jug? One less thing

Bags of milk are kinda silly, but now I really want to get one and try it

 

[Me Myself]

whats the 9-10ths " of your username about?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I just looked up bagged milk because it had been a while since it's existence had been brought up to me. Weird may be relative, but practical is a bit more objective. They make pitchers to put bags of milk in... Why not just sell the milk in something that's kind of like a pitcher? Like a jug? One less thing

Two thoughts:

- there's a heck of a lot less plastic in a few thin bags than there is in a thick jug. Recycling still has costs in terms of energy and waste. Reduction in materials is a lot better, environmentally speaking.

- If you have your whole gallon of milk in one container, then the last bit of milk will have been exposed to air right from when you first open the jug. If your gallon of milk comes as 3 bags, then the second and third thirds of your gallon will be a lot fresher when you get to them, because they'll still be sealed.

 

[Songbird]

Two thoughts:

- there's a heck of a lot less plastic in a few thin bags than there is in a thick jug. Recycling still has costs in terms of energy and waste. Reduction in materials is a lot better, environmentally speaking.

- If you have your whole gallon of milk in one container, then the last bit of milk will have been exposed to air right from when you first open the jug. If your gallon of milk comes as 3 bags, then the second and third thirds of your gallon will be a lot fresher when you get to them, because they'll still be sealed.

Why not just buy a cow? I have three in my kitchen.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Why not just buy a cow? I have three in my kitchen.

Bags of milk don't poop.

 

[Songbird]

Bags of milk don't poop.

Hair-splitter.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Hair-splitter.

That's not hair.

 

[Songbird]

That's not hair.

Poopy pants!

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

whats the 9-10ths " of your username about?

It's a reference to the book The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams. In the book, a character describes an experience she has while she's unconscious:

It was a couple of days before Kate Schechter became aware of any of these things, or indeed of anything at all in the outside world.

She passed the time quietly in a world of her own in which she was surrounded as far as the eye could see with old cabin trunks full of past memories in which she rummaged with great curiosity, and sometimes bewilderment. Or, at least, about a tenth of the cabin trunks were full of vivid, and often painful or uncomfortable memories of her past life; the other nine-tenths were full of penguins, which surprised her. Insofar as she recognised at all that she was dreaming, she realised that she must be exploring her own subconscious mind. She had heard it said that humans are supposed only to use about a tenth of their brains, and that no one was very clear what the other nine-tenths were for, but she had certainly never heard it suggested that they were used for storing penguins.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Poopy pants!

Well, what do you expect with all this cow **** everywhere?!

 

[DreadFish]

Two thoughts:

- there's a heck of a lot less plastic in a few thin bags than there is in a thick jug. Recycling still has costs in terms of energy and waste. Reduction in materials is a lot better, environmentally speaking.

- If you have your whole gallon of milk in one container, then the last bit of milk will have been exposed to air right from when you first open the jug. If your gallon of milk comes as 3 bags, then the second and third thirds of your gallon will be a lot fresher when you get to them, because they'll still be sealed.

Ok, that makes sense, but what of the accumulation of the many bags of milk that are used as opposed to just one jug? Are they also recyclable? Maybe cartons are better than bags and jugs, but then there is the issue of using wood pulp to make cartons.

 

[Falvlun]

They're exceedingly friendly robots built by awesome kids. I'm not worried.

I'm still suspicious...

Sushi.

Oooh. Delicious. And I should have known the penguin woulda been into raw fish.

A classic Mini. I still have plans to do that some day.

As in, a mini cooper? Because that's my dream car too! Although, likely for different reasons.

The Rum Shuffle.

Might go well with my Tequila Tourrettes.

I've thought that if I ever got a yacht, I'd name it the Boudica after the warrior queen who stood up to the Roman Empire. That would probably work.

That would work quite nicely. Unique too, never had heard of her before.

Umm... I'd take it in chunks and do the Mongol Rally, the Rickshaw Run, the Mototaxi Junket, the Dakar Rally and just to relax a bit, the Alcan 5000.

Cheater! Although, that Mongol Rally does sound like a lot of fun.

Harvest Crunch. Here's why:

Years ago, on the last night of a canoe trip in Algonquin Park, a bear ate our food (we had it strung between two trees and all that, but when they stand up on their hind legs, bears are tall!). The next morning, we did the few-hour paddle back to our pickup point - my stomach was growling all the way. At the pickup point, there was a small store. The closest thing to food they had was Harvest Crunch and Pop-Tarts, so that's what we had. It was the first time I had tried either one, but at that moment, I thought they were the best thing I had ever tasted.

So, in other words, after a long canoe trip, you'll be the best thing I've ever tasted? :flirt:

Weird is relative. In a land of jugged milk, the bag of milk is king.

Well, just keep it north of the border and we'll be okay.

I think aspects of it were there as far back as I can remember, but I didn't always identify myself as an atheist.

When I was really little, I got this idea in my head - I don't know how - that everyone belonged to some sort of religion, so since my grandmother's Baptist church was the only one I ever went to, I told people I was a Baptist if they asked.

After I was old enough to give the matter some thought, I didn't really say anything. I was pretty apathetic to religion - it was pretty much a non-issue, but if pressed, I'd call myself an agnostic: I didn't believe in God, but I felt like the word "atheist" was reserved for people who had really put serious thought into the matter, and I just didn't care.

Later, a few things happened in my life to make me examine belief, particularly my Catholic wife pushing me to try to become Catholic myself. At the end of the process, I found myself realizing that I identified more with "atheist" than "agnostic". My wife wasn't pleased.

Along the way while examining my beliefs, I came across the idea of humanism and thought, "yeah, that describes me", so I started calling myself a humanist.

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I went through that same agnostic-but-realizing-I-was-really-an-atheist phase too, because of RF

Turning money into noise.

(it's an auto racing joke, you see )

Hahaha.

But I'm not sure it would be great at beating up bad guys....

Anyone who drives should be able to jump-start a car.

I agree! I would like to be much more self-sufficient when it comes to cars, but I do know how to jumpstart 'em at least.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I'm still suspicious...

But really - the robots are awesome. Imagine Johnny 5 from Short Circuit, only with the Little Rascals as his entourage. They might get up to hi-jinx, but they're innocent hi-jinx. Pies on windowsills may not be safe, but the world will be.

As in, a mini cooper? Because that's my dream car too! Although, likely for different reasons.

Yeah... the old ones, though. Not the new BMW-made ones. They're fun little cars, too, but I'm really into the old ones.

What are your reasons?

Might go well with my Tequila Tourrettes.

That would work quite nicely. Unique too, never had heard of her before.

I can't remember where I heard of her. TV, probably. Either that or one of the history podcasts I listen to.

Cheater! Although, that Mongol Rally does sound like a lot of fun.

It does! In all seriousness, a couple of friends and I were trying to put together a team to do it, but things kinda fell apart - real life got in the way.

So, in other words, after a long canoe trip, you'll be the best thing I've ever tasted? :flirt:

Lemur!

Well, just keep it north of the border and we'll be okay.

It can't be stopped. It's like evolution: the bag of milk has the advantage over the jug, so natural selection will just take its course.

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I went through that same agnostic-but-realizing-I-was-really-an-atheist phase too, because of RF

I don't think it happened here for me. IIRC, the "hey! I'm an atheist" light bulb switched on while I was on another board before I came here.

Hahaha.

But I'm not sure it would be great at beating up bad guys....

I'm pretty good with a sword. Does that fit the bill better?

I agree! I would like to be much more self-sufficient when it comes to cars, but I do know how to jumpstart 'em at least.

Oh! Fun story:

When I was in university, my roommate's car needed a boost. I went out, moved my car next to his, got out my jumper cables, and handed him one end. He had never jump-started a car before, so I was talking him through it. At one point, I told him something like "clip the black one onto a chassis ground." He pointed to the rubber bump stop for the hood and said "you mean that?"

I can kinda sympathize with someone who's never been taught to jump-start a car, but how does someone go through elementary school, high school, and into university without ever learning that rubber doesn't conduct electricity? It makes no sense.