Friday, July 29, 2005

The 5 Question Meme

This came via Larry at The Love Lemming. (If you haven't read his blog, go do so immediately. It's fantastic.)

So here's the drill. As part of this meme you get to request 5 questions from me. Just read the instructions at the bottom of post and send me a comment requesting some questions. Please be patient, it may take me a day or so to post your questions in the comments.

1) Have you made the world a better place?

Alright, starting with the big questions!

I would sincerely like to think so. I'm trying very hard to live a compassionate and ethical life, and by doing so to play my part in trying not to cause suffering for others, and to also try and reduce the causes of suffering. I don't just mean suffering at the gross level, hardship etc, but subtler forms of mental suffering as well. Anger, jealousy etc. In Buddhist terms you harm yourself when anger, hatred, jealousy, and other negative emotions, arise.

One of the things that initially drew me to Buddhism, and is at the core of Buddhist teachings, is the focus on compassion teamed with wisdom. Caring about others, and having the wisdom to do it in a skillful way. At risk of getting all theological, the type of Buddhist school I belong to is called Mahayana, and is primarily concerned with working towards liberation from suffering for all sentient beings. The first step of this is tidying up your own mind; so that your habits of judging, anger, desire etc are reduced. It's an ongoing process, but understanding how everyone responds to kindness, warmth and affection helps reinforce that we are all more alike than we are different.

2) Who is your favorite Firefly character?

There's actually a few, but I think if I had to name one it would be Wash, the pilot. I find him cute as a button, and I love his mix of vulnerability and wiseass.

I have a soft spot for Jayne too, not least of which because I think Adam Baldwin is hot, but his character also has some great quirks. Just so you don't think it's all about the guys, I also love Kaylee. For me she is the 'heart' of the show in many ways.

3) Where is your least favorite place to be kissed?

Um, I actually had to think real hard about this because there are few places that I can think of that I haven't enjoyed being kissed... I guess, maybe the back of the neck if I'm feeling ticklish. Maybe I should ask for volunteers to test the theory?

4) If you could replace a single body part with a new one of your choosing, what part would it be?

Jeez, just one? OK. This will make me seem like I have 'short man syndrome', but I'd replace my legs with a slightly longer model. I'm only 5'4" and don't mind being this height, but sometimes it's just inconvenient. Supermarket shelves for instance... oh, and that time I had a 6'5" boyfriend, all number of inconveniences there.

5) What is your favorite song?

Ack, this is hard. It changes quite often.

I think 'True Colours' by Cindi Lauper would have to be it, if I must name just one. I think it's a beautifully written song, and I love the sentiments of it. I've heard other singers cover it and it doesn't quite have the same effect, it has to be Cindi's vulnerable, slightly plaintive singing for me. (I love 'Time After Time' from the same album also.)

Does that make me sound sappy? So be it!

Now your turn!

Instructions:

1. If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying “Interview me.” (”Blow me” or “Eat me” are not acceptable substitutes.)

2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person’s will be different. I’ll post the questions in the comments section of this post.

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

16 comments:

Michael said...

I seriously love "Time After Time". I can't fully embrace "Twue Colows" because that impediment is just laziness, young lady!
And of course I'll bite you. Interview me at your leisure if you're so inclined.

Anonymous said...

Oooohhhhhh, a chance to fill out another Meme here at TOA. And a one off designer haute-blogture Meme with specific questions for only Moi to boot? Ohh, be still my beating ego!

Now, as I don't blog myself (stop smiling, bitches) might I suggest we change the rules just a little pour Moi. If you email me my five questions to me here at work Andrew, I will post them along with my answers here as a comment.

Thanking Vous,

Bodhi :-)
Sydney, Australia

The Other Andrew said...

Michael,

1. If you had to leave a legacy to the world, what would it be?

2. What is your ideal pet?

3. What is the biggest misconception most people have about gay men?

4. Who was your first kiss?

5. Who would you like your last kiss to be?

The Other Andrew said...

Bodhi,
I'm not sure that's going to work! One of the most important parts of this is 'passing the baton' by having people ask to be interviewed...

Maybe you should get yourself a blog, like I have suggested before! :-)

The Other Andrew said...

Michael,
"If you're lost, you can look and you will find me. Time after time."

..::sniff::..

Love that song!

But hey, Michael:
"I see your true colours shining through, and that's why I love you. So don't be afraid, to let them show... your true colours, your true colours, your true colours... are beautiful like a rainbow!" - OK, off to weep quietly now. :-)

Anonymous said...

Well thats just so .... so ..... Bloggist!

I'm just going to sit here and quitely mumble to myself, pout, and generally behave broodily.

Hmmrphhh!

Bodhi
Sydney, Australia

Michael said...

Of course you're right, it is lovely, esp. the way you spell it. If only my true colours weren't like a wainbow.
So quick with the questions you are. I'm sleeping on them.

The Other Andrew said...

Awwwww, Bodhi, don't be like that.

So cute when you're sulky!

Larry said...

Thank you for Andrew! i thought your answers were very thoughtful. And I'm with Michael, Time after Time is my favorite Cindi Lauper song :)

Michael said...

I'm up.

The Other Andrew said...

Thanks Larry, and thanks for kicking this off for me with your blog! (Credit where it's due, I love reading your blog. Your writing is great, very open and honest.)

Hey everybody, Michael's 'up'! Party with Michael time! :-)

mesquirt said...

Hey Andrew, my name's Martin, I'm relatively new to blogging and certainly new to the meme thing but it sounds like fun so please interview me. (I am one of Michael/Bodhi's new cyber friends and he recommended I check out your site) Thanks, have a great Sunday

The Other Andrew said...

Hi Martin, thanks for stopping by! I had a quick scan of your blog, but I'm not real familiar with it, so apologies if any of these questions have been covered by your blog.

I was interested to read that you're a dancer, I studied ballet for 4 years, packing it in when I was 12. Interesting times.

1. What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about ballet, and dancers?
2. When times are tough, what keeps you going?
3. If you had to choose one or two adjectives to describe yourself honestly, what do you think it would be?
4. If you could choose one or two adjectives that the people closest to might use to describe you, what would you like that to be?
5. What is the most positive thing you have discovered about having a blog?

Good luck!

mesquirt said...

Thank you very much for that Andrew, sorry if it took me a while to get around to it, but if you go to my blog you will find the answers up there. I did my best! And it's a pleasure dropping by at your blog. I hope you don't mind but I've put a link to it on my blog, or at least I tried to. If it hasn't worked I'll go back tomorrow and do it, unless of course you would prefer that I didn't! It's also funny that you studied ballet, but I maintain that you were lucky to get out when you did! Take good care of yourself and have a great day ;D

The Other Andrew said...

Martin, thanks for playing! I just posted a comment on post, I enjoyed reading your answers.

I gave up ballet because I was too short! I'm still only 5'4", and when it because obvious that I wasn't ever going to be a tall enough adult well that killed any ambition I had.

I learnt to tap about 6 years ago, just for fun and exercise, but I've never really continued that seriously.

worldpeace and a speedboat said...

True Colours:

I bought tix to see Cyndi in 1986. I took my First Real Boyfriend(tm). we pashed during True Colours. he sent me a love letter quoting it.

sigh. I don't know if I love it or hate it!

talk about bittersweet... heh.