Return of the zombie undead five-questions interview meme

[spudtater]

Questions by gominokouhai:

1. Desert Island Anime. Pick three, either films or series (anything that is sold in the shops as a single unit), that you absolutely can't do without.

   Oooh. Tricky. I'm probably forgetting something obvious, but I'd go with:

   • Azumanga Daioh. For those episodes which I just have to keep coming back to.
   • Utena, the series. Good fucked-up fun, and plenty of it.
   • Laputa, castle in the sky. Have to have at least one Miyazaki, don't I? Probably his best.
   
   
2. Specify your language(s) of choice, with reasons.
   

   The ultimate form of language is poetry, I'd say. English actually has quite a bit going for it, with all the variations possible in it (with stuff stolen from other languages, naturally.) The japanese have haiku... and I've always liked the sound of japanese, even before coming across anime. French is rather attractive, as well, for reasons pointed out in The Matrix Reloaded. Hmmm... I'd like to hear a poem in Kalahari bush-speak. Perhaps a sonnet. 'Twould amuse. Chinese isn't so good for poetry; too rigid. Italian is overrated. Swiss German, of course, is right out.   8^)

3. Do you feel as if you've missed out through not growing up in the same society as your current peers, or do you feel that the diversity of your development has broadened you?

   Oooh. That's a big question. Being slightly apart from the culture around you has its good parts as well as its disadvantages. The main one being that whenever somebody brings up a cultural reference I don't understand, they then get to explain it to me. I find that people enjoy sharing their culture, whether they approve of that part of their culture or not. (Ask a Brit about Marmite, and you'll be sorted for conversation for an afternoon.)

   The main aspect of my upbringing has to be the amount of times I've moved country, and have had to adjust to a new culture, new values, new people. I think it made me a bit of an outsider at times, which kinda pushed me into the geeky loner role. I'm still dealing with some negative aspects of that. But it gives me a degree of freedom, almost; I can see the cultural and social assumptions inherent in a situation, and don't feel bound to accept them. That's something I'm proud of, and would like to share with others, somehow or other.

4. Current attitudes in CS/AI: what do you think is being taken in the wrong directions? If this is a leading question, feel free to rephrase according to your whims.

   I think the Informatics department is a little confused at the moment as to whether it's a theoretical science or an engineering course. Some modules are obviously one, some are obviously the other. But a lot seem to waver from one to the other. The students don't know what to expect, and sometimes even the lecturers seem to be unsure of what the course should cover. I'd like to see modules more definitely classified, and the BEng degree being crowbarred away from the BSc degree a little more.

5. What are your plans for once you've graduated? Hopes?

   I still remain hopeful of a PhD, though someone will have to poke me with a stick to make sure I'm planning ahead. Funding would be nice! There again, another part of me wants to settle into a nice lazy IT job; do sysadmin and web design for some small company, exaggerate my workload for the boss's benefit, and work on what I want to work on in the evenings.

Interesting questions. Thanks!

Leave a comment, and I'll ask you five questions, thereby perpetuating the madness. I promise not to be too mean!   8^)

Comments

[stormsearch.livejournal.com]

Oh, go on then! I'm interested to see what you come up with. :)

[spudtater.livejournal.com]

Apologies for the delay. Here goes:

1. Starting innocuously: did you have any pets as a child, and do you want any in the future?


2. Any plans to write a book (either soon or eventually)? Will it be along these lines, or are there other ideas as well?


3. After you cast the frail mortal shell aside and ascend to Godhood, what ceremony must future generations perform to invoke you?


4. I'll try not to cause too much trouble, but... what do you think when you catch Paul looking at other women (if you ever do)? And do you agree with his tastes?


5. I just tasted some pink peppercorn flavoured chocolate. What's your favourite type(s) of chocolate? (The answer to this question may be awarded with special prizes!)