Chris Hartman (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} chrishartman) wrote,@ 2008-01-01 18:40:00 |
|
Another meme
Yeah, so I only post every three or four months...
sabyl was my vector for this one, but it seems kind of fun:
1. Leave me a casual comment of no particular significance, like a lyric to your current favorite song, your favorite kind of sandwich, or maybe your favorite game. Any remark, meaningless or not.
2. I will respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better.
3. Update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
So here are my answers to her questions:
1. What are you favorite and least favorite things about living in Alaska?
Hard to pick one favorite thing. I love being able to drive an hour, then hike an hour, then not see people for a week. Or to go on 9 day camping trips only seeing a handful of people every day. I love all the hiking/fishing/camping/boating opportunities. But I also love the people that are here. An odd mix of frontier, backwoods, intelligent, etc. Alaskan parties are NEVER boring. And the percentage of truly interesting people is astounding.
My least favorite thing is that travel to the rest of the world is inconvenient.
2. What one book or movie has been most influential in your life and how so?
Hrmmm. I'd have to go with Heinlein's "Time Enough For Love (the Life and Times of Lazurus Long)", but only because I read it in junior high. Heh, I suppose I shouldn't feel too embarrassed about that, it seems I'm not alone (after browsing some amazon reviews just now.) It was most influential because it pretty much matches what has become my philosophy of life. Basically enjoy everything and don't hurt anybody. :) 2nd place would be "The Fountainhead", which I read as a freshman in college. Both seem a bit simplistic now, but they're still great books.
3. Tell me something about yourself that would surprise most people who know you?
I'm stumped here. I live my life too openly for anybody who knows me to be surprised about much. Ahah, how about this one: My wife (of 16 years, so far) is a fairly religious Mormon. I have absolutely no religious tendencies. I've been to church twice in the 16 years we've been married. Once was last week, our two oldest kids played a Christmas carol and I wanted to watch them. (The oldest is 12, she plays the violin, my son is 9, he plays the harp.)
4. How did you become friends with Bill and Jerrod?
Through the internet, beginning, oh, probably 1994 or '95. Part of that whole rec.gambling crowd. (Yeah, before it was rec.gambling.poker.) But more specifically through a joint project/poker study group just three or four years ago. I didn't actually meet them in person until the 2006 WSOP.
5. What do you like and dislike about being a professor?
I like teaching. I love it when I can help a student grasp a concept. (And I'm good at it. :) ) It makes me feel like I actually contribute to society.
I dislike the fact that it's work, meaning, a job. I have a schedule, things I need to get done at certain times, etc. (Admittedly, much less scheduled work than most jobs, and I really only work 8 months a year, but still.) I make much more at poker and other gambling projects than I do at my job, and I'm often irritated by the amount of time taken up by planning lectures, grading homework, and making and grading tests.
Yeah, so I only post every three or four months...
sabyl was my vector for this one, but it seems kind of fun:1. Leave me a casual comment of no particular significance, like a lyric to your current favorite song, your favorite kind of sandwich, or maybe your favorite game. Any remark, meaningless or not.
2. I will respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better.
3. Update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
So here are my answers to her questions:
1. What are you favorite and least favorite things about living in Alaska?
Hard to pick one favorite thing. I love being able to drive an hour, then hike an hour, then not see people for a week. Or to go on 9 day camping trips only seeing a handful of people every day. I love all the hiking/fishing/camping/boating opportunities. But I also love the people that are here. An odd mix of frontier, backwoods, intelligent, etc. Alaskan parties are NEVER boring. And the percentage of truly interesting people is astounding.
My least favorite thing is that travel to the rest of the world is inconvenient.
2. What one book or movie has been most influential in your life and how so?
Hrmmm. I'd have to go with Heinlein's "Time Enough For Love (the Life and Times of Lazurus Long)", but only because I read it in junior high. Heh, I suppose I shouldn't feel too embarrassed about that, it seems I'm not alone (after browsing some amazon reviews just now.) It was most influential because it pretty much matches what has become my philosophy of life. Basically enjoy everything and don't hurt anybody. :) 2nd place would be "The Fountainhead", which I read as a freshman in college. Both seem a bit simplistic now, but they're still great books.
3. Tell me something about yourself that would surprise most people who know you?
I'm stumped here. I live my life too openly for anybody who knows me to be surprised about much. Ahah, how about this one: My wife (of 16 years, so far) is a fairly religious Mormon. I have absolutely no religious tendencies. I've been to church twice in the 16 years we've been married. Once was last week, our two oldest kids played a Christmas carol and I wanted to watch them. (The oldest is 12, she plays the violin, my son is 9, he plays the harp.)
4. How did you become friends with Bill and Jerrod?
Through the internet, beginning, oh, probably 1994 or '95. Part of that whole rec.gambling crowd. (Yeah, before it was rec.gambling.poker.) But more specifically through a joint project/poker study group just three or four years ago. I didn't actually meet them in person until the 2006 WSOP.
5. What do you like and dislike about being a professor?
I like teaching. I love it when I can help a student grasp a concept. (And I'm good at it. :) ) It makes me feel like I actually contribute to society.
I dislike the fact that it's work, meaning, a job. I have a schedule, things I need to get done at certain times, etc. (Admittedly, much less scheduled work than most jobs, and I really only work 8 months a year, but still.) I make much more at poker and other gambling projects than I do at my job, and I'm often irritated by the amount of time taken up by planning lectures, grading homework, and making and grading tests.
