fub's questions

[greybeta]

1. So, what's the best anime you saw in the past three years?
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Yeah, it was rather cheesy in some parts, but it's the kind of cheese I eat up. Also, the rap opera version of "Row, row, fight the power!" is an amazing representation of the series and plays at a perfect moment.

2. What one thing (be it song, anime, TV show, movie) of the past (no younger than five years) do you find yourself returning to?
I had a bit of trouble understanding this question, but I think you're asking me what media I keep coming back to...I'll admit to watching American Idol. Sometimes, I just don't wanna have to think.

3. Have you ever tried to get into a TV quiz show to try and win some big prize with your knowledge of trivia?
I tried the online Jeopardy test once but I didn't do well. My problem is I have particular subsets of trivia knowledge and if I want to make it on there I would have to diversify my trivia base. Speaking of which, maybe I should go about doing that...

4. What one invention would you like to be made within the next six months? Why?
A device that could type what I'm thinking. We think faster than we can move, so I imagine we could get a lot more done. The problem, of course, would be filtering out incessant amounts of noise.

5. As a student of history, is there any event that you would wish to change? What would the repercussions of that change be?
My standard answer to these types of questions is to change nothing because of chaos theory. However, if there was something I could change, I would go back and change the thinking of the State Department with regards to the Communist bloc. Back in the 60's and 70's, the "experts" at the State Department believed that the Communists were one united bloc. It took America a long time to ascertain that was patently false. We could have prevented many tragedies if we had realized that sooner. Also, I would probably be in Vietnam instead of America.

On a related note, the Bush administration portrayed the war on terror as America versus a united enemy. In thirty years, we'll most likely find out that we misunderstood (perhaps even purposely). Yes, there are Iraqi and Afghan insurgents, but each has their own agenda. I have a personal bias against Hillary Clinton, but I'm hoping she understands the real picture and uses her talents to address America's declining global reputation.

Comments

[fub.livejournal.com]

You interpreted question 2 as I had intended. I formulated the question poorly. :(

I'd be interested in a detailed account on your alternate Earth that you sketch in your answer to question 5. Now there's a thesis subject! ;)

[greybeta.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, alternate Earth would take a lot of work. Also, it'd be hard for me since a lot of the archival work would be in Russian and Chinese.

[jacobford.livejournal.com]

Regarding anime: Have you seen "Planetes"? For a show about garbage collectors in space, it's actally quite good.

[greybeta.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen Planetes, although I hear that it actually depicts space life better than live action television (e.g. showing the astronauts wearing adult diapers).

[jacobford.livejournal.com]

That it does. Diapers, zero-g movement, the difficulty 9and near-impossibility) of finding and collecting tiny bits of debris in Earth orbit, the effects of space development on developing nations, etc. It was my first hard sci-fi anime, and I was quite impressed. So I highly recommend it, if you have time.