I realise that I've never properly introduced myself when I became a member. This is a very bad habit of mine that usually just manifests itself in RL, but I guess one can devoid of manners in the digital world as well...
So, I'll try to make up for my earlier slight, by giving you all the opportunity to ask me any and all question that pop into your mind. In stead of just writing something about myself, I'll leave it up to you whether you want to know anything about me at all. Guess I'm rather lazy...
All questions will be answered to the extent of my abilities.
I just want to add that up until now I'm really impressed with the kind of people that have found their way here. Somehow I already kinda feel at home, which is a fairly new sensation for me. Thanks for that...
Posted by suminonA (Member # 8757) on :
Hello Eduardo St. Elmo, I have some questions:
1) What do you think is your most important quality? Why? 2) What do you think is your gratest fault? Why?
Thanks,
A.
Posted by Eduardo St. Elmo (Member # 9566) on :
SuminonA: 1) The ability to view things from variable points of view. This allows me to form the most objective interpretation of matters. 2) A negative self-image. This interferes with almost every aspect of my life. It causes me to be rather indecisive and bashful whenever I have to interact with people. Over the years it has almost turned me into a recluse. But I'm trying to fix it.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Welcome to Hatrack, Eduardo. Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
Eduardo, it's nice to have you here. No questions from me for now -- I'll leave that to the others.
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Welcome to Hatrack!
What's your favorite book by OSC? What's your favorite book?
Posted by Lissande (Member # 350) on :
What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Lissande, you have to be more specific Posted by Lissande (Member # 350) on :
Shh! We have to see if he passes the test. Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
Hi Elmo, have some belated welcome to go with that hello.
What is one thing nobody knows about you that you wish they did?
Edited for clarity's sake.
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Well heck, I got another one, if we're testing him. What's the answer to life, the universe, and everything?
Posted by GaalDornick (Member # 8880) on :
Where did the quote "It doesn't DO anything. That's the beauty of it" originate from?
Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
don't start that again...
Posted by Gwen (Member # 9551) on :
I didn't introduce myself either, but it was out of self-preservation. There's only so many "African or European?" and "42"-type shibboleths you can say before Hatrack seems less welcoming than it did before. Hi Eduardo!
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Where is the enemy's gate? Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
quote:Originally posted by Gwen: shibboleths
hehe. I love that word.
Posted by Lissande (Member # 350) on :
I didn't introduce myself either, because in MY day (*grin*) we didn't hold with none of that there nonsense.
Welcome, by the way, Eduardo St. Elmo Posted by Eduardo St. Elmo (Member # 9566) on :
Hi Y'all!
here's some answers; hope they will bear up to your scrutiny.
My favourite OSC book would have to be Ender's Game. But I haven't read Mr. Card's entire catalogue yet. I've completed the Alvin Maker series and read the first two Ender novels. My all-time favourite book is, obviously, far more difficult to specify. So I'm just going to present you with a short list of nominees (in random order):
* Vernon God Little - D.B.C. Pierre * Making History - Stephen Fry * Lord of the Rings - ah, well, you all know who wrote that one. * The (Ultimate) Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - ditto... * Un Uomo (A Man) - Oriana Fallaci * Wilt - Tom Sharpe
These are only the first titles that come to mind, but I guess it'll have to do. No use listing every book I've read so far.
I'll have to get back to you on the swallow question. (did I make that sound dirty?? I didn't mean to...) Let's just say I know where to look for the answer and will enjoy the research.
The answer to Life, The Universe and Everything is, obviously, 42. (BTW I consider this to mean that absolute truth can never be wholly captured by words and we can only attempt to approximate it by means of comparing things that ring true... tell me when I start boring you)
GaalDornick: I noticed the recurrent discussion of that particular quote before now. It seems familiar to me in some way, but as yet I have not even been able to determine whether it came from a book or a movie or something completely different. Rest assured that the question will be nagging me for some time to come. I thank you for the welcome distraction...
The enemy's gate is down.
Juxtapose: most difficult question... so I saved it till last. Though I must say that the way you frased the question still leaves it open to multiple interpretations. so I'll give you 2 answers:
One thing nobody knows about me and that I wish somebody to know: I've found the love of my life.
One thing nobody knows about me and that I wish everybody to know: I love the human race.
I hope that my answers do not raise more questions than I answered, but so far my experiences have led me to believe that it is a slim hope. All answers invariably lead to more questions. And so should it be. (Dang, I'm starting to come across like a frigging wise-*ss Yoda-wannabe... Must... control... my grammar)
Well, bye for now. I'll be checking in later. Peace, out.
K.
[ August 23, 2006, 07:00 AM: Message edited by: Eduardo St. Elmo ]
Posted by Jeesh (Member # 9163) on :
Were I to hand you a ham sandwich, would you eat it?
Posted by human_2.0 (Member # 6006) on :
What is your social security number? Posted by B34N (Member # 9597) on :
quote:Originally posted by Eduardo St. Elmo: I realise that I've never properly introduced myself when I became a member. This is a very bad habit of mine that usually just manifests itself in RL, but I guess one can devoid of manners in the digital world as well...
I do that too ... but I am a very boring person and therefore am not very good with people.
Are you the same way?
Posted by human_2.0 (Member # 6006) on :
I don't think I ever introduced myself. I just started posting and showing up at hatrack get togethers...
Posted by Eduardo St. Elmo (Member # 9566) on :
Jeesh: define ham sandwich. If it's just bread and ham, I would gladly chow down any time. But once the sandwich expands (adding some cheese, a spot of ketchup, a bit of lettuce, and so forth...) it really depends on how hungry I am at the moment.
human_2.0: In blind trust I will give you my social security number (only leaving out three digits): *********. I have no clue as to what you intend to do with such information, but there ya go...
B34N: I guess it works the same for me. It's just hard for me to find a subject to talk about. I genrally feel that the less people know about me, the less I'm likely to annoy them. Most people might tell you that I'm boring, but I think it's just that the topics that engage my interest hardly ever correspond with what's on other people's minds. So I just tend to shut up and listen (or read).
<Edited out rest of SSN, 'cause although Hatrackers are completely trustworthy, we aren't necessarily the only people reading this. --PJ>
[ August 16, 2006, 12:10 AM: Message edited by: Papa Janitor ]
Posted by B34N (Member # 9597) on :
quote:I genrally feel that the less people know about me, the less I'm likely to annoy them. Most people might tell you that I'm boring, but I think it's just that the topics that engage my interest hardly ever correspond with what's on other people's minds. So I just tend to shut up and listen (or read).
LOL, but only because I know exactly how you feel. Well from one noob to another welcome to Hatrack, it's fun, it quirky and where else can you post to threads like prove your geekness?
Posted by Gwen (Member # 9551) on :
Where were you born?
This is to narrow down the SSN to only two unknown digits, which means only 100 possible combinations.
Oh, yeah, and what's your full name and mother's maiden name, while we're at it?
Posted by human_2.0 (Member # 6006) on :
quote:Originally posted by Eduardo St. Elmo: human_2.0: In blind trust I will give you my social security number (only leaving out three digits): . I have no clue as to what you intend to do with such information, but there ya go...
This. But seriously, you should remove the number anyway, even if you gave wrong numbers. I didn't think you would actually give it up (3 missing numbers is far too few, I only need the last 4 to pretend to be you for many companies).
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
The first three digits signifies where the application for a SSN was filled out. From Rootsweb
quote:The Area Number is assigned by the geographical region. Prior to 1972, cards were issued in local Social Security offices around the country and the Area Number represented the state in which the card was issued. This did not necessarily have to be the state where the applicant lived, since a person could apply for their card in any Social Security office. Since 1972, when SSA began assigning SSNs and issuing cards centrally from Baltimore, the area number assigned has been based on the ZIP code in the mailing address provided on the application for the original Social Security card. The applicant's mailing address does not have to be the same as their place of residence. Thus, the Area Number does not necessarily represent the state of residence of the applicant, either prior to 1972 or since. (Their emphasis)
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
And, welcome Eduardo. Posted by Gwen (Member # 9551) on :
I assumed (bad idea!) that Eduardo'd have gotten a security card from where he was born, as in his parents/guardians applied for it. Not necessarily true, I know.
Posted by Eduardo St. Elmo (Member # 9566) on :
Lissande: I haven't found the average airspeed of that bird yet, but apparently their average weight is 5 ounces and they beat their wings 43 times per second. I'm sure that I could calculate the velocity in some way, but I'm just too lazy...
In stead I choose to answer some related questions: 1) "What is your name?" Eduardo St. Elmo (duh!) 2) "What is your quest?" To seek truth, beauty and peace. 3) "What is your favourite colour?" Blue. 4) "What is the capital of Assyria?" well... this'll take some time. You decide whether you really want to know. Basically, I feel it's a trick question, because at the time the story takes place (932 AD, according to the caption) Assyria didn't exist anymore. So the question should really have been: "What was the capital of Assyria?" A: Assyria was a Middle Eastern empire, located in Northern Mesopotamia (currently Iraq) from c. 2500 - 612 BC. In it's early days the capital was Ashur, but later it was Nineveh, until that city was destroyed in 612 BC.
Gwen: I was born at my parental home. Which is situated in a small town called Stiens. This, in its turn, is found in Friesland, a northern province of the Netherlands. (using Dutch spelling, so don't twist your tongue trying to form the words out loud)
My full name is Klaas van Dijk. My mothers maiden name is Beuckens. ((Beuk = birch) it also has other meanings, but I think it most likely that the family name has something to do with the tree.)
Posted by human_2.0 (Member # 6006) on :
Are you in the Netherlands now?
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Welcome, Euduardo!
Posted by Eduardo St. Elmo (Member # 9566) on :
human_2.0: My physical body is almost always in the Netherlands. I've only traveled abroad three or four times. Mostly because I don't have the money to spend on extensive holidays. But mentally, I travel everyday. "Thinking is the best way to travel" - J. Hayward.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
How did you choose your username?
Posted by Eduardo St. Elmo (Member # 9566) on :
Noemon: Well, basically it's an extension of a previous handle I used. But that other name was chosen for all the wrong reasons, so I had to create a new alter ego. The latter part is a reference to St. Elmo's fire, which is a natural phenomenon that used to be mistaken for lighthouses and led to many shipwrecks. I like it because it to me has also kinda became a generic term meaning something along the lines of 'attractive, but fake'. And I came across it while reading Slaughterhouse 5. for further info on this topic check Wikipedia.
The first part of my name is really the extended part. Shorten it to a single initial, then nudge the latter part to the left and you'll see my first handle. It's up to you to find out whence that one came...
Posted by Eduardo St. Elmo (Member # 9566) on :
*nudge*
I'd like to thank you all for making me feel welcome. I really hope that I answered the questions to your satisfaction.
Since I personally don't have an internet connection, I won't be able to drop in on a daily basis, but I will definitely visit Hatrack as much as possible.
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