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A tag dog. From Jimshoresart flickr. Check out his shop too.
Hmm. I’ve been tagged. By Maggie and Susan. Their wish is my command. They are not to be trifled with, those two.
Last year I did the 5 things tag, so it seems that we are now heading into inflationary times.
1. I skipped going to the South African Army. At the time it was compulsory for white males to go, but I figured that if I stayed at university for long enough, the problem of spending two years being shot at or being very very bored etc would go away. It worked. This same technique doesn’t work for tax returns though.
2. I’m a collector of useless facts. While at prep school I once stood up (aged 10) in assembly and corrected the headmaster. He had just said that Charles Lindbergh had been the first person to fly non-stop across the Atlantic. I stood and said, “Please sir, you are wrong. It was Alcock and Brown in 1919 in a Vickers Vimmy, Lindbergh was the first solo flight.” He replied, “Otter, I bow to your superior knowledge.” Unfortunately, most other people are not as gracious when I bore them with trivia. This does mean I’m quite good in a pub quiz.
3. I lose things. My latest loss is my jawbone. If you find it, please send it back.
4. Before I was married, I drove an old Porsche. A 1970 911 2.2T to be precise. It was a fantastic car, if a tad expensive to maintain. A early 911 remains my dream car.
5. One of my biggest regrets is that I never really gave mathematics a proper go at high school. I disliked my teacher, so I then disliked maths. It was dumb. Today I sense a beauty in mathematics that I can’t quite grasp.
6. I was born in England.
7. My favourite bar in Heidelberg, if not the world, is Destille.
8. My brother will probably beat anyone you know at Scrabble.
In the tradition of these meme things, one should pass it on, so I’ll tag James Farrar, Steve Mann, Mike Prosceno,and Nigel James.
Vendorprisey 
Hi Tom, I share 2 of your 8 things. Can you guess?
Have a great year,
Carel
http://blog.beyond438.com
Words for time immemorial: “Otter, I bow to your superior knowledge.” You shall be reminded of this at opportune times from this day forward.
HOWEVER– you broke the rules. You were supposed to post the rules and tag 8 more bloggers. But, we will let you slide, seeing how you are math-challenged. Four is like eight, just too clever by half. 🙂
But #8 is about your brother! How about you and Scrabble?
I share your #5, and it cost me an A- in first year computer science (damned calculus).
Thomas,
I do hope in your new job, you will continue to demonstrate your upfront analytical skills on software vendors and other analysts in open forums like you did on your headmaster 🙂
I just lost my jawbone also… they need to invent a better way to keep these things attached to one’s body (the Bluetooth earring?). The new Samsung WEP200 is worth looking at as a replacement (is half the size and doesn’t have that annoying loop over your ear). The only downside is they don’t come with the USB adapter for easy charging on the road.
PF.
Thanx Thomas.. let me give this some proper thought.
Thomas, it’s never too late to get back to mathematics. The next time I’m over in Germany visiting the mothership, let’s get together to chat about the “Queen of the Sciences” (even though math is not a science) over a gehaengter at Destille.
Loren,
you are on.