[A large number of people have done this, but this instance was snared from otaku-tetsuko, who gave me the letter “C”.]
Comment and I’ll give you a letter. You have to list 10 things you love that begin with that letter. After, post this in your journal, and give out some letters of your own.
- California Highways. OK, you knew this would be first. But what I’m into with California’s highways is not taking pictures of them, as many roadgeeks do. Rather, I’m into the history, the routings, and the numbering system. I’ve always loved maps, and it is the map aspect that I love. When you look at the history, you’ll see that California was the leader in many highway innovations. Alas, my home state really hasn’t maintained the infrastructure as it should. I lay the blame for that on all governors from Ronnie on.
- Camp. Specifically, Camp Hess Kramer and Gindling Hilltop Camp. Where I grew up as a kid, where I was safe, and where I still visit any and every chance I get. It is something the recharges the soul. It is a very special place for me.
- Computers. When I was in Jr. High, I wanted to be a veterinarian. But then I started playing on our CompuCorp programmable calculator, and by the time I got into high school, I was programming the MISS system in WATFIV and the HP 3000C in Basic. I haven’t looked back, and I have enjoyed the work I do.
- Computer Club. When folks go to college, they often stumble into their social groups. For some, it is the fraternity or sorority life. For others (many on my friends list) is it dance groups. For me, it was this little room at 3514 Boelter Hall, the messiest room on the third floor, where the snap-chuff-sparkle-sparkle of glitter traps were heard regularly, where you could walk in and find regular games of bridge, Cosmic Encounter, Junta, or D&D going on, where you could get time on TSO or URSA on the 360/91… in short, the UCLA Computer Club. A wonderful place… which alas is no more.
- Computer Security. I stumbed into this area of computers; it certainly wasn’t what I specialized in during college. I was originally doing office systems (payroll, etc.), and developing office automation tools. But then Dan Berry invited me to dinner, and a fellow by the name of Harvey Gold was also at that dinner. They invited me to SDC for an interview; Jon Fellows hired me to work on BLACKER… and I’ve been doing computer security ever since (for 22 years now, in fact).
- Conferences. Specifically, the Annual Computer Security Applications Conference. Back in 1989, just after I started at Aerospace, Dixie Baker asked me to help her run tutorials for the ACSAC conference (which was in Tucson that year). I did, and the next year I took over as tutorial chair. I’ve been doing it ever since, with added responsibility for a few years as overall conference chair. I’m still doing tutorials, so I should plug that the conference has a great tutorial program this year. Registration will be open soon on our website, so I encourage you to register, and hopefully I’ll see you in Miami Beach in December.
- Cardboard. Specifically, when you take that cardboard, press it with other cardboard into a thick and stiff board, and place markers and meeples on it, with other accoutraments of gaming, and play it in a large room with lots of other people, all of whom have specifically joined together just for that purpose (apologies to Ed Kleban there). More specifically, I love board gaming and card gaming. I’ve never been into role playing games, but I’ve love boardgames since I learned Risk as a kid, and then switched to Diplomacy. The Computer Club was a great place for this, as we gamed all the time.
- Casts. Specifically, the cast of the theatre production, musical or not. I’ve loved theatre ever since the first show I can remember, “The Rothschilds” at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in 1972. Those who read me regularly know my love of theatre: I’d rather go see a live production than a move.
- Cooke, Shep. Shep Cooke is a folk singer from Tucson AZ who originally sang with Linda Rondstadt and the Stoney Poneys. I’m using Shep as an indicator for the type of folk music that I love: the 1950s and 1960s style folk music of artists such as Tom Paxton, Peter Paul and Mary, the Gateway Singers, the Limelighters, and many others. I’ve loved this type of music even when it was out, even when my friends were into Disco or other 1970s or 1980s music.
- Classic Comedy. When I’m feeling well, I’m a very serious person. That’s because I love good classic comedy. In movies, this means artists like The Marx Brothers, Abbott & Costello, Laurel & Hardy, W.C. Fields, Harold Lloyd, and others who have timeless comedy (many of today’s comedians aren’t really timeless). I grew up with Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart, Stan Freberg, Allen Sherman, Tom Lehrer, the cartoons of Jay Ward, George Carlin, and Soupy Sales. The form of humor that is both silly and intellectual. I’m not into what passes for humor today, especially the clowns that get elected to public office (although it would be great to see some of our leading politicians be hit with a nice creme pie in the face).
So, there are 10 things. Now it is your turn.
