I have always found beginning to be the hardest part of writing. The blank page stares at you. The cursor winks mockingly. So this post serves to break the ice off of my frozen writing machinery. Please forgive the stream-of-consciousness style (though all writing represents, to some degree or other, a stream of consciousness, right?).
When some kinds of managers and teachers want to "break the ice", they force the group into meaningless and embarrassing activities. As an horrific manager of myself, I shall do the same:
(My answers will be of the sort I always wish I can give in these sessions, but always manage to restrain myself)
Question: If you could be any kind of animal, what kind would you be?
Answer: Well, I guess by most definitions, I would choose to be human. The rational animal. Maintaining my blog would be difficult without the complex brain and many digits of a human.
Question: Very funny. I suppose I will reword, if you could be any non-human animal, which would you choose?
Answer: I don't suppose it would matter. "I" am a collection of thoughts and a perception of consciousness, possibly as part of a soul. No nonhuman animal is widely considered to have the necessary hardware to support "me", so why bother choosing a means of nonexistence?
Question: Just pick an animal, okay? Geez.
Answer: Golden eagles are awesome. In some parts of the world they hunt wolves! In some part of Scandinavia (I do not recall which), they have been known to prey on baby bears! Take that goldielocks!
Of course, I would probably find writing my blog too much of a challenge. See humorous post at Hyperbole and a Half (it's about a common typo, but there's a picture involving an eagle which I like alot).
Okay, enough of that.
So what you're probably wondering at this point is "Why in the world should I read this blog?"
Well, the most probable answer is "because you are my wife or my mother, and love every word I type".
But, supposing the above is false, well, maybe you just have a lot of free time.
Maybe you're like me and interested in math, computer science, physics, biology, and the intersection of these fields.
Maybe you have an interest in philosophy and theology
Maybe you want to haunt the comment section, having beautiful hours of meaningless and vociferous arguments with strangers.
Maybe you want to hear about geek culture stuff from a guy who was a nerd before it was cool (and doesn't worship Joss Whedon).
Or maybe you're just hoping I'll post pictures of my sexy wife (keep reading, someday I just might).
Well, you've let me bore you this long, so now it's your turn. Post in the comments your favorite (real, nonhuman) animal, and why you chose it.
