…but Key was nice enough to email me to let me know she tagged me, so here it is (even though it might reduce the number of questions that Basil will get for my blog interview!!!).

What were three of the stupidest things you have done in your life?

The first one is easy, marrying the wrong woman when I was young and stupid.

The second one is related to the first one. I only achieved a Masters of Science in Physics rather than a PhD because my wife of the time insisted that she was “tired of being poor” and wanted me to get a real job and start making real money. So, I left school before I had earned my PhD to satisfy the woman I ultimately divorced because she was unwilling to accomodate what I wanted and needed.

These are both MY mistakes and not attributable to her, my ex-wife, at all. I simply did not have enough faith in myself to stand up to her (if you are guessing there is far more to this story than I am revealing here, you are correct, but you will get no further information from me).

I will list that as my third mistake, not having faith in myself. I have a list of other mistakes that is so long and so impossible to prioritize that I cannot find the best to list as a third, but the common theme is that of not having enough faith in myself.

So, there it is.

At the current moment, who has the most influence in your life?

I’m sure this answer will disappoint most, but I am the one who has the most influence on my life at the moment.

Am I a selfish bastard?

Well, the answer to that question has always been a resounding “YES!” (except when I was young and stupid and married), but the reason behind my answer is rooted in my current circumstances. I live in France at the moment, far from family and friends.

Who else would have the largest influence upon my life, other than the cat I brought to France with me, and he doesn’t get even a quarter of a vote, given his brain is smaller than the size of my fist (yes, I’m an elitist, too…).

Sorry if you expected some answer related to religion. God gave us brains for a reason, and I refuse to abdicate the use of mine, since in my opinion my brain works so well.

If you were given a time machine that functioned, and you were allowed to only pick up to five people to dine with, who would you pick?

Hmmmm… only five folks.

Thomas Jefferson, because he had such a large influence upon the formation of our government (although he was in France when the Constitution was written). I often wonder how the Constitution would have turned out if Jefferson had been present at the Constitutional Convention. President John Kennedy said when hosting 49 Nobel Prize winners at the White House, “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.” President Kennedy was correct.

Benjamin Franklin, because he was such a renaissance man, a man of science, of politics, and of the world (in ALL senses of that expression). I could learn a lot from him. (an aside, my first passport was green, in stark contrast to all other US passports being blue, in commemoration of Bejamin Franklin being the first Postmaster General and in charge of passports for the US… it caused some inconvenience to me, but despite the problems, I appreciated it and asked that it be returned when I had to get it renewed)

Ulysses S. Grant, not only because I share his last name, but because he overcame adversity in a way that is rarely seen.

Jesus, known to many as “The Christ,” because I would like to look him in the eyes to see for myself.

Finally, Richard Feynmann, because he seemed like a remarkably fun guy for a genius in Physics. I mean, c’mon, he did a lot of his work in nudie bars…

You can learn a LOT from eccentrics, if you are willing to look and listen with an open mind.

If you had three wishes that were not supernatural, what would they be?

Hmmm…

For reasons both selfish and altruistic, I would like to be as successful as Bill Gates. Despite what he has done with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, I think I could do more good with the same amount of money (plus, I wouldn’t have to have a real job any more…).

Second wish, entirely selfish, to have that gene that provides for relative ease in physical accomplishment. I have always had to work hard to be good at any physical sport, raquetball, bicycling, running, whatever. I simply have never had the natural talent for those efforts that many others do have. I envy them.

Third wish… this one is difficult. I have an internal war between the altruistic and the selfish. I am only human, after all. I think the third wish would be for the culture of the United States to not be so hung-up about sex. This topic merits volumes to be written on it in addition to the volumes that already exist, but that falls outside the scope of this meme (thankfully…).

Name two things you regret your city not having, and two things people should avoid.

I will assume the city means Austin, Texas and not where I currently live in Grenoble, France, which is lacking in a LOT for an American (you would not believe how much I miss both good Tex-Mex and bar-b-que…).

So, for Austin, what is lacking and necessary to avoid?

Lacking: Good Memphis bar-b-que (yes, Phin does not agree with me on that…), and a beach… which geography prohibits, but at least saves Austin from hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico.

To avoid? That one is difficult, because I have yet to find anywhere or anything I feel is unsafe after my experiences…

You might want to avoid the “East side” of Austin if you don’t speak Spanish or are unwilling to at least make an attempt, but I doubt you would ever be in danger of anything other than a slight ridicule (they assumed I could speak Spanish there… I ordered as best I could, and they accomodated this gringo with no problems…).

A second thing to avoid? Other than any event involving hoidy-toidy Texans who get too full of themselves sometimes, I don’t know what else to say.

Name one thing that has changed your life.

My divorce. I had to take my soul out and examine it closely. Not fun, but very necessary. I am a better man for it, but I can honestly say it was the least fun experience of my life.

Keep the virus alive. Swap spit with five hotties.

“Swap spit”???? I don’t like that imagery even when it is applied heterosexually…

So… anyone who wants to take this one up is welcome, but I won’t tag anyone (even though there are indeed a few I would because I am curious about their responses).