Twenty questions... about me

[fajrdrako]

Got this from tudorpot: Twenty questions.

1. Elaborate on your default icon. Captain Jack Harkness of Torchwood and Doctor Who. I've been using him for a while now, cycling through some favourites. This is one I made myself. I like the 'time travel' aspect of the character.

2. What's your current relationship status? Single. Would like a relationship, if I could only figure out what kind.

3. Ever have a near-death experience? A few times.

4. Name an obvious quality you have. Curiosity.

5. What's the name of the song that's stuck in your head right now? A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square. Torchwood fans will know why.

6. Name a celebrity you would marry. Marry? Not likely. I don't intend to remarry, ever.

7. Who will cut and paste this first? What silly kind of question is that?

8. Has anyone ever said you look like a celebrity? No. Wait, yes, actually, when I was in my teens people said I looked like Genevieve Bujold. I never saw it myself, but I heard it from various people.

9. Do you wear a watch? Yes, always, on my right wrist.

10. Do you have anything pierced? Ears, but I seldom wear earrings now. I've developed an aversion to wearing metal.

11. Do you have any tattoos? No.

12. Do you like pain? No.

13. Do you like to shop? Not usually. Sometimes. I love browsing bookstores.

14. What was the last thing you paid for with cash? Groceries.

15. What was the last thing you paid for with your credit card? A book, online.

16. Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone? maaseru

17. What is on your desktop background? Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor, in a screencap from The Empty Child, part of the hospital scene where he's talking to Dr. Constantine.

18. What is the background on your cell phone? I don't have a cell phone.

19. What was the last movie you watched? Eragon, in a theatre. My Fair Lady, on DVD at my friend Sheila's place.

20. What was the last book you read? Blue Screen by Robert B. Parker.

Comments

[msp-hacker.livejournal.com]

Robert B. Parker! I just finished "Cold Service" a little while ago.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I really liked "Cold Service". "Blue Screen" was fun, but I don't think he writes Sunny Randall as well as he writes Spenser. I love Spenser's sense of humour, and ethics. And besides, there's Hawk!

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

Aw! Nice ones.

*goes off to paste them in her lj*

And oh, yes, Nightingales sung on Berkley square... ahem.

Possibly I'll do End of Days tonight. If I don't turn chicken again. *g*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Nightingales sung on Berkley square... ahem.

Yes. Makes me all happy and teary. In a good way.

Possibly I'll do End of Days tonight. If I don't turn chicken again.

It's really only difficult the first time, and the pay-off at the end is magnificent. Jack at his best.

[cupati.livejournal.com]

I'veonlygottowaittilltuesdayI'veonlygottowaittilltuesday....

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Four days?

[wanderinunicorn.livejournal.com]

I also haven't a cell phone, I'm single now, last book I've read: "The History of the Crusades" by Hans Eberhard Mayer, the last movie "Walk the Line", last thing I've paid with my credit card a lamp, and yes I like shoping (too much, I think it replaces other things I miss), I hate pain, I haven't any tatoos but pierced ears, a horse throw me once and I flew like a rocket and fell on the stone ground (it's a wonder that I'm still alive), yes people said often that I look like a celebrity, but I don't remember the names,I also wouldn't remary, even a celebrity, but I would like to know a couple of them.
My icon, if I understand the question, it's a pick I've made while visiting Pompei; it's a famous mosaik "Cave canem".
An obvious quality I have? I think it's the ability to see and analyze the circumstances and people very keen and exactly (but it's possible that this quality exists only in my fancy).

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

"The History of the Crusades" by Hans Eberhard Mayer,

I've read that one - my thesis supervisor translated it into English.

"Walk the Line"

I heard that was good.

a horse throw me once and I flew like a rocket and fell on the stone ground (it's a wonder that I'm still alive)

Ouch! Yes, my goodness, I'm glad you survived.

I would like to know a couple of them.

Mostly I do know the celebrities I care most about. (Writers, for example.) Do I don't really pine to know the famous - generally speaking, my fannish heroes are the characters, not the actors who portray them. Though it does seem that John Barrowman would be nice to know.

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<i>"The History of the Crusades" by Hans Eberhard Mayer,</i>

I've read that one - my thesis supervisor translated it into English.

<i>"Walk the Line"</i>

I heard that was good.

<i>a horse throw me once and I flew like a rocket and fell on the stone ground (it's a wonder that I'm still alive)</i>

Ouch! Yes, my goodness, I'm glad you survived.

<i>I would like to know a couple of them.</i>

Mostly I do know the celebrities I care most about. (Writers, for example.) Do I don't really pine to know the famous - generally speaking, my fannish heroes are the characters, not the actors who portray them. Though it does seem that John Barrowman would be nice to know.

<i.I think it's the ability to see and analyze the circumstances and people very keen and exactly (but it's possible that this quality exists only in my fancy).</i>

It's a good skill to cultivate, in any case.

[wanderinunicorn.livejournal.com]

Mostly I do know the celebrities I care most about. (Writers, for example.)

It's beautiful - the people I do know are mostly idiots.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Sadly, there are two many idiots wandering around. I have cultivated some wonderful friends who are not idiots, and have had the good fortune and opportunity to befriend some of my favourite writers.

[wanderinunicorn.livejournal.com]

Sadly, there are two many idiots wandering around

How true.BTW, Last week I've watched the movie "Van Helsing"; it's an awful movie I hate it. But what I really despise is how West Europe and the USA (which is the heir of west european culture) see such a beautiful land like Romania only trough the count Dracula and vampires myth. Basically it the same with the other east european countries. There is no interest to know something about them, about history, culture, literature and so on. I still wonder how it's possible, for example an average German or Austrian or even other West European people would rather show interest for India, Indonesia , South Africa, Marocco or South Pol - but not for their neighbours. On the contrary their mostly despise them and still think that this culture is minor to their own.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of ignorance in this world, and too often the *myth* of a place is mistaken for its truth. I think people should look for truths, but that seems to generally be a low priority!

I am fascinated by other countries and like to read about them, but even so there are many places about which I am totally ignorant.

[wanderinunicorn.livejournal.com]

but even so there are many places about which I am totally ignorant.

Me too, for example I know almost nothing about Eskimo or Zulu but I know relatively much about Europe (and therefore about America because like I've said above American culture is a heir of the west european culture) because I'm living here. But the west european ignore entire east european culture and believe or want to believe there is none.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Seems to me most nations either pay no attention to Canada (not that there's much reason they should do otherwise!) or lump us in as being "the same as the United States" - a perception that I hope is changing with time. In Europe I had to go to great efforts to convince people I was not "American". Even though they all seemed to have cousins in Vancouver or Toronto!

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

We generally regard Canada as the more civilised bit of N America... ;-D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think we are, on the whole, rather good at being civilized. In a polite and low-key sort of way.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

A bookshop owner I know in St As said that she could always tell the difference between US and Canadian customers because of their manners. In St As, most of the Americans who tend to come over are either rich golfing holiday-makers or spoilt, preppy 'junior year/semester abroad' (or even 4-yr) students. I remember overhearing one student in the shop going on about how she liked the 'Scatch' accent because her father had a Scottish caddy!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, the Canadian manner is very different from the American. I've never been sure why. Our history is similar, and our language, but there's been a divergence in culture - and not because of the French influence, I don't think. I'm not sure what caused it. To a Canadian, the differences are glaringly obvious.

[wanderinunicorn.livejournal.com]

The European even mostly don't know how different the USA are - for example it's very hard to compare Chicago with Luissiana (I think so, I've never been there). For an average German or Austrian an Ami is an Ami- nothing to add.

Sorry, I today spit my bitterness all over you. I have to train Joga or Kung Fu to gain some distance from this things but believe me, I'm living here and I meet this sh*t every single day.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, I certainly think yoga is wonderful - and really should be doing it myself. More than I am doing. I've been using my head cold as an excuse to do nothing. Okay: a promise to both you and me - tomorrow I will do a session of hatha yoga. There! Now I've said it, I have to do it.

Hope you're feeling more cheerful soon.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

But the west european ignore entire east european culture and believe or want to believe there is none.

Sorry, but that's total nonsense. I can't think of a history department that doesn't teach at least some Eastern European history. Also, many universities here in the UK teach East European languages, and some also art. My own doctorate was on how 19C Russian history painting treated subjects from the Petrine era (17-18C). The University of London has the School of East European and Slavonic Studies.

[wanderinunicorn.livejournal.com]

Sorry, but that's total nonsense.

Have you read Henryk Sienkiewicz, Adam Mickiewicz, Boleslaw Prus and Stanislaw Reymont? Have you ever hear to the music by Stanislaw Moniuszko?

They are all great writer and composers. And there can be a differece between single European countries, I think England and France have a little positiver attitude to the east european countries than german speaking countries.

Oh, I guess you've read Quo Vadis by Sienkiewicz. The German and Austrian I've met didn't even know he was an polish author.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

And there can be a differece between single European countries, I think England and France have a little positiver attitude to the east european countries than german speaking countries.

I think it depends more on the educational level of the people you're talking to. Most people in the UK seem pretty oblivious to their own culture, never mind anyone else's.

Also, it's a matter of age. With cheaper travel and the end of the Cold War, younger people are travelling more. I'd love to go to Budapest: Hungarian history and culture fascinates me because it's a completely different language group to its neighbours.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

1. Rosa Luxemburg: I played her in a 'balloon debate' at school, ad have been fond of her ever since. One of those fascinating 19-early 20C radical women.
2. Single. Lifelong. I prefer falling in love with dead people.
3. Only metaphorically, from embarrassment.
4. Scholarliness.
5. There isn't one right now.
6. None.
7. ?
8. No.
10-12. No to all.
13. For books and DVDs.
14. A coffee.
15. A book, online.
16. Parents.
17. 19C French Romantic imaginary portrait of Conrad of Montferrat from the Salles des Croisades.
18. A green eye.
19. The 1930s US remake of Michael Strogoff with the wonderful Anton Walbrook.
20. Various mediæval chronicle texts.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Forgot 9. Yes. My everyday watch has a picture of Mata Hari as the dial - an in-joke, as she was a Mrs MacLeod in real-life, so gets called "Aunt Gretje".

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

that's an amusing take on Mata Hari.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I would like to cultivate scholarliness more than I have.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

1 A character from the anime series Bleach. I watched about 108 episodes in a few days and made my sister crazy by talking about it. This is one of the shinigami/death gods. A tiny pinkhaired creature called Yachiru Kusajishi who in spite of her innocent looks (big eyes, big smile and 2 pink spots on her cheeks) made it to the rank of luitenant and is fighter in her own right. And yes, she wants candy and pie and a hug. Don't we all?

2 Single and though not averse to a new relationship I find it hard to imagine myself in one. It has been many years where I simple couldn't. A long and intense aftermath of a concussion and subsequent depressions did help me to go out in the world and meet new people. The last time I met someone it went wrong and worsened a latent depression. So, apprehensive might be the words.

3 Not in the sense of seeing myself, but yes in the sense of having the fear of dead put into you. Whether the risk was realy there or not. Once on a mule trip, the reins broke just when we passed a cliff and my mule went galloping.

4 I like things, can be made enthausiastic by other peoples interests.

5 You know, the medication I take does work against obsessive toughts. It is clear that farmaceutical science is not yet so far as to pinpoint such things, for 1 effect is that I don't get songs in my head. Not even if I play them over and over again.

6 I don't know any celebrities. I would need to know someone to decide to marry.

8 I've been compared (when about 11) with Nana Mouskouri (I did playback her in a schoolperformance).

9 When I feel like it.

10 Just like most of us, 1 hole in each ear. I did reopen one of the holes that had closed itself in the last ten years that I didn't wear any earrings. I must take take for I feel a bit like a child in a toyshop, all these possible earrings to buy. ;-)

11 no

12 rarely. (I can like pain after a workout, but it should be just a little bit of strain. I make a bad masochist.)

13 sometimes I like to be in crowds (or I did when my moods were not restrained like now) shopping is good for that. For clothes, sometimes I find something I realy like and that can make me very happy. But I rarely go shopping.

14 the ingredients for a meal I prepared for a good friend.

15 I have no creditcard.

16 my sister. She is the person I speak with most often.

17 A black and white striped wallpaper with a very very sad looking young Soubi from the manga Loveless.

18 On of the allready installed ones, bit orangy. Just choose one that seemed the easiest readable to me.

19 Perfume, the story of a murderer

20 John Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Funny, I was just talking to maaboroshi about "Loveless" today. She has been collecting the anime.

Thanks for explaining about Bleach - I wondered who that was!

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

Loveless is way more dark and angsty than Bleach, (at least so far, there are some hints at darker things to come). The episodes I've seen were filled with an awefull lot of fighting, and for the amount of it staggeringly few deaths. Just spectacle and jokes and easy fun.
Loveless is about abandonment and fear, about abusive parents and weird magic that takes huge physical toll. Still, there is strong love, in spite of its name.
I am currently taken in by Saiunkoku Monogatari, without doubt one of my favourites so far. It is set in a ficticious medieval China and handles about the court, the politics and above all the people. It is a complex story with rather fleshed out persona, I like the art style and though it is mostly serious it knows when to strike a light or comic note (I do dislike the absolute goofball comic style many anime use, where the character sudden gets drawn different, changes into things or stuff like that.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Loveless is about abandonment and fear

Hmm. I think I might like it.


I am currently taken in by Saiunkoku Monogatari, without doubt one of my favourites so far. It is set in a ficticious medieval China and handles about the court, the politics and above all the people.

I never heard of it. Sounds fascinating!

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

I am currently taken in by Saiunkoku Monogatari, without doubt one of my favourites so far. It is set in a ficticious medieval China and handles about the court, the politics and above all the people.

I never heard of it. Sounds fascinating!

You can find it here (http://www.dreamorabt.com/torrents-search.php?search=saiunkoku&cat=0&cat=0&incldead=0)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you!