From the
altfriday5:1. How old were you when you started walking or biking to some places (e.g. school or a friend's place) on your own? What were the circumstances?
Just before 18. Well, okay, I think I did walk out as far as the next block or two but there just wasn't much within walking distance back in the old country. Then when I went to college in NYC, I walked all over.
2. How old were you when you started taking public transit on your own? What were the circumstances?
Just before 18. Same as first question, plus public transit wasn't great back in the old country at the housing development.
3. How old were you when you first took a long-distance trip (unaccompanied on the bus, train, or plane, even if you were met at your destination) on your own? What were the circumstances?
Same as 2 and 1. How long a trip do you mean? When I was in college, I did try taking the train out to Jersey once. (to Woodbridge) I also walked across the George Washington Bridge to Fort Lee. When I was 19, I took an airplane ride back to the old country. 36 hours!!!
4. This set of questions was inspired by a news story about a woman leaving her nine-year-old in downtown Manhattan to find his own way home on transit and the controversy it caused (http://news.aol.com/newsbloggers/2008/04/07/is-9-too-young-to-ride-the-nyc-subway-alone/). What's your reaction to this story?
Oh, Manhattan is perfectly safe. The story about a geocacher getting mugged and beaten up was an isolated incident. Am I being sarcastic again?
5. At what age would or did you let your kids (hypothetical kids, if you don't have them) do those things where you live now?
This town has a crime rate in the single digits. They can go out any time! They just need to be careful crossing the road and to avoid stretches of road where there are no sidewalks.
From Five on Friday:
1. What does your body tell you when you get out of bed in the morning?
Either need to pee or sleep five more minutes!
2. How well do you treat your body? Do you feed and exercise it well? Go for regular check-ups?
All the fried fish I want!
3. What part of your body feels strongest?
Legs. Honorable mention should go to my gastrointestinal tract for handling the kind of food I eat on weekends with no problems.
4. Which is the weakest?
Eyes.
5. If you had to live without the use of one body part for the rest of your life, which would it be? Why?
Toes. Stub them too much anyway.
From
fridayfiver:1. When were you born?
In the 70s.
2. What's your favorite photograph?
3. What's the longest distance you've run?
I hate running. I think I did one lap around the field at school.
4. What is familiar?
5. What do you count on?
Monetary inflation, as long as there is a Federal Reserve.
From
thefridayfive:1. If you had the ability to legally change your name, would you? To what?
It's not worth the bother. Think about it. On the web, you're almost everywhere known by your user name anyway.
2. What do you with with change that you receive from banks/purchases/find on the ground?
I put it together with all the other change and take it to the coin counting machine at TD Commerce Bank.
3. If you could travel back in time to change the course of one historical event, what event would it be?
This question assumes a lot about one's ability to change history. So what if you can travel back in time? It doesn't mean that you'll be able to infiltrate organizations that hold the power and influence their decisions. I would go back to 1913 to stop Congress from passing the Federal Reserve Act.
4. Would you rather live a safe, stable, moderately interesting life or one where every day was dangerous, volatile, and different?
Danger is overrated.
5. What do you think you'll be remembered for when you die and, if you could, would you change it to something else?
I don't think I'll be remembered for anything and that's okay.