In a journal talking about a Garfield comic in which Jon is seen looking for a jewelry store: kingconan92: OMG Do you think Jon is going to propose on Christmas?! _godot: It's time he and garfield stopped living in sin
In SmiloDan's thread about what to make with Boneless Chicken: SmiloDan: I got some defrosting, but don't know what to make. Any ideas? Only 1 rule: No cheese! 7451: F*CK I HATE THAT RULE
Q: Do you believe that Joan of Arc's visions were from God?: Abzurd: God would never speak directly to a French woman.
In a journal about weight loss, violingirl and shakira are comparing waist size and height: violingirl77: Like 5'4". shakira7: I'm 5'3"-ish. So, we're waist twins.. violingirl77: High five! jdappleton: You're 5'4" and 5'3", there's nothing "high" about that "five."
Q: Would it be in poor taste to ask our Jewish neighbor to water our Xmas tree while we're gone?: spacepeanut: I'm jewish. If it were me I'd make an effort to crucify everything in your house.
Joke of the Week
What’s Orange And Fizzy And Comes Down The Chimney On Christmas Eve?
The member of the week is skade. A member since January 2006, Skade has changed quite a bit in her two years at YT. Always passionate about what she believes in, she's also a lot more laid back now and great to see in threads about any topic. Congrats!
JoeInterview's Member Feature
This week's interview features snowbdr88. This interview was conducted by travbowman.
JoeInterview: How did you find YT?
snowbdr88: Geez, you know I always think about that when I read the interviews, and I don't know how I ever got here. I mean it was years ago, and I've taken several bumps to the head and all, but seriously, I have no clue. Probably just bored online and signed up. Around that time I was signing up all over the place. Seriously - google "snowbdr88" and you'll see I'm all over the place - some of which I don't even remember creating!
JI: What would you say is the biggest reason you keep coming back?
SB88: Boredom. Well, boredom and news - I scan generals quite frequently and sometimes post the odd article, but I love that I can find strange and bizarre news articles. I'm not so much about the politics - never really been all that political - but the funny stuff, like "Red Bull pulls nativity ad", that's stuff I'd never see on the local news. And the Australian/NZ news - man there must be some nuts living down there! That's why I come back now. Originally it was the questions - heck, I was here for years before I even realized there was journals/generals/etc. Or maybe it wasn't there back then, the site was pretty new at the time.
Plus, it's great to piss off DYW - which isn't hard.
JI: You are one of the rare few who got to experience YT's first summer in 2001. Describe what it was like back then to the rest of us who weren't as lucky to discover it that soon.
SB88: Well, it was definitely different. First, there weren't as many spammy n00bs - and everyone knows how much I like them - and second, there seemed to be LOTS more debate in questions. Well, to be honest, there may still be debate in questions, I just don't venture there as often anymore. Plus, in the old days, there was a VERY set group of people on here, and everyone had their place, many of which the new ruling class has never heard of, or doesn't remember (#124). Also, the group seemed much closer back then pre-momusicide, of course! Loyalties seemed tighter, and there was less worry about pissing anyone else off. Not that pissing people off has ever really been a worry of mine.
And then there was the cheese. Everything about cheese - seemed there was a million questions about cheese! Questions seemed easier to get approved, and there was - for a while - a rush to get questions in. After a while, though, people started dropping off - I haven't seen emitchell or aprily on in years. To be honest, I was gone for a long stretch myself.
You know, it seemed back then, people were more about keeping avy's that represented themselves, too - like emitchell with his smoking skull. Only a few still do that these days - namely thh and postalbear (although I guess falconwing usually does have coffee in her avy as well...)
JI: At what age did you get into snowboarding?
SB88: I was around 10, so about 20 years ago. I've been instructing for about 16 now (since I was 14).
JI: Describe the most difficult person(s) you've had to instruct.
SB88: Well, I've worked closely with several Special Olympians, which can be quite challenging, and I've taught a range of people from 3 year olds to an 86 year old (who I was convinced was going to break a hip), and worked with a student who is pre-qualified for all the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix this year and, quite possibly, could be in the X-Games this season but the absolute most challenging lesson I've ever had? Classicgirl - my wife. Friends don't let friends teach friends. It gets WAY too stressful and causes too many fights at home, so now I have friends working with her.
JI: Speaking of teaching, are you still teaching school as well?
SB88: Yeah, I teach English at an alternative high school - which is probably why I'm so anal about spelling/grammar.
JI: How long have you been doing that? How'd you get into that field?
SB88: This is my first year in this position, but I've always wanted to be a teacher. I think it's just a passion some people have. I love helping make other people understand things they normally don't - seeing that light bulb turn on is just amazing - whether it's English, snowboarding, or whatever!
JI: How did you and your wife meet?
SB88: Long version - my buddy convinced me to fight for time off of work from Home Depot - during a holiday, that's hard to do - for a 4th of July party at his condo complex up near Michigan State. Turns out I get the time off and go up to party with him, but as I was playing beach volleyball, classicgirl was on the other team and spiked on me. I made some comment, calling her an amazon-woman, and proceeded to make a fool of myself before walking her home (she lived in the complex) and passing out (literally) on her couch - but not before I got the first kiss. The next morning she kicked me out with a story about having to go pick-up CD's from the post office (best blow-off, ever, right?) and I invited her to come over to my buddy's place when she got back. Needless to say, she did finally show up several hours later, and we've been together (mostly) ever since.
Short version - she schooled me in volleyball @ MSU and put up with my drunk ass!
JI: Do you guys talk much about stuff that happens on YT?
SB88: Here and there, sure - but not too much. She's not on nearly as much as I am. Most times she just plays trivia - she's good at that. Honestly, I think she's only ever made one journal, and only commented on a few of mine.
JI: What was the high school version of snowbdr like?
SB88: Younger, obviously, and not as hairy. Honestly, I was a scrawny kid with a smart mouth - which often got me in trouble - but I soon figured out how to talk myself out of trouble. Actually, I learned to talk myself out of all kinds of trouble. Senior year I missed more days than I attended, but still graduated with zero absences reported at the end of the year. I used to raise hell in school, honestly. I skipped, talked my way out of assignments, and occasionally caused trouble I couldn't talk my way out of, which led to suspensions...
Kind of ironic that I became a teacher, huh?
JI: As a result of the way you were, do you find yourself going easier on kids with similar behaviours at your school?
SB88: Yeah, I do. Not that I just pretend it didn't happen or anything like that, but I'm less likely to freak out about anything like that. Honestly, I try not to do any write-ups at all, but that's just not realistic at my school.
JI: What music is getting the most spin from you these days?
SB88: Lately I've been listening to Dropkick Murphys and Reverend Horton Heat. It's winter, so I've been listening to music that's got a good fast beat to ride to, but I'm not that big into heavy metal, so it's usually punk or old school rap. Beastie Boys are great - License to Ill is one of my favorites - and I listen to country most of the summer - I'm a huge Johnny Cash fan.
I guess I have an eclectic taste in music...
JI: What are you looking forward to most in 2008?
SB88: Well, hopefully I'll get a teaching job in Colorado - I love it out there and I'd REALLY love to be able to move out there.
JI: If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
SB88: Well, as of right now, Steamboat Springs is my favorite place in the U.S., but I'd really love to visit Ireland and/or Austria. Ireland always looks so amazing and I have many friends living in Austria AND they have snow in the summer.
JI: Could you survive in a place that never gets snow, like Florida?
SB88: No. Even though I like to surf and I love girls in bikinis, I couldn't live like that.
JI: I notice that you have "decline to state" listed on both your religious and political preferences in your profile. Is this more because you think both are purely personal matters, or because you just don't care to get involved in discussions of those topics? Or something else?
SB88: I hate arguing either - you'll never really change someone's opinion and it's just a giant frustration. Neither is worth it to me, but sometimes I will allow myself to get dragged into the religious debates... and then I get frustrated at the lack of willingness to look at life from another point of view and I give up, again.
JI: If you ever bring a little Classicbdr or Snowgirl into the world, how will you approach those topics with them?
SB88: That is really going to be interesting, since my wife is fairly religious, and I'm rather anti-organized religion. Honestly, I think we will start them out in the church, not only because she will want them to (and she ALWAYS wins) but also because I believe there are positive messages that can be learned there, without going overboard or off the deep end.
JI: Haha...did you just compare your wife to a Wookiee--it's the best game plan to just let her win?
SB88: I would NEVER infer my wife was ANYTHING like a Wookiee - you're killing me, Smalls!
My wife is beautiful and amazing - and would never rip my arms off. (I hope)
JI: Any final words of advice to share with your fellow YTers?
SB88: To all the newbies out there, don't spam too much, don't talk about MySpace, and if you have any questions - PM Explodo!
Why I don’t like snobs
Excerpt: Ok, I guess that it is obvious and no one likes a snob, but I can’t help but wonder what makes one person think that they are better than another?
