Maybe the occasional Scribble Reader has wondered just who in the heck this Scribbler is. But let me tell you, that ain’t nothin’ compared to how much I wonder who the heck you guys are.
But that’s the beauty of Web 2.0, ain’t it? No more agonizing over the wording of your letter to the editor of Omni Magazine in the hopes of seeing your name in print. Just hit the Comments button and fire away.
So here’s your chance to do some scribbling of your own and fill me in on one or more of the following 15 pressing questions:
1. How did you get here? (no need to get cosmic on this one)
2. Have you visited this site before?
3. Are you just here for the baby turtles? (you would not believe how many people search the Internet each day for baby turtles)
4. What kind of posts do you like the best? (a) ocean science (b) climate change (c) birding (d) surfing (e) other?
5. Are the posts (a) about right or (b) too damn long?
6. Would you like more coverage of (a) climate change (b) islands being devastated by rats (c) weird deep-sea creatures (d) earthquake-type stuff (e) celebrity feuds and/or adoptions (f) sex (g) atmospheric physics (h) other (please specify)?
7. How educated are you: (a) made it out of high school; curious about the world (b) still interested in most things (B.S.) (c) able to detect the infantile flaws in some stories; peripherally interested in all the rest (M.S.) (c) basically humoring me (Ph.D.)?
8. Do you wish the words I use were (a) longer (b) shorter (c) funnier (d) snarkier (e) less stupid (f) rhyming?
9. Do you occasionally wonder what possesses me to spend an hour or so writing about such obscure topics?
10. More pictures? (Of what?)
11. Are you not leaving comments because (a) the posts arrive fully formed and inviolable (b) you never make it to the end of a post (c) it’s interesting, just not that interesting (d) try writing about something that matters (e) you have a lingering feeling that even though only a tiny fraction of the world’s population will ever look at a comments page, you might come off sounding stupid and someone, somewhere, might snicker at you from the lonely confines of their poorly lit hovel
12. If scientists were to turn their collective intellectual power toward designing one and only one robot animal, what animal should that be?
13. I am an heir/heiress and I would like to contribute ___ million dollars to further the Scribbler agenda
14. Do I know you? How?
15. Setting aside the surfing and the birding for a moment, if there was one thing in the world you’d like me to write about, what would it be?
I’m really not kidding about this. Answer as much or as little as you see fit. Post a comment – or – if you don’t feel like going totally public – send aphriza at gmail dot com an e-mail. Thanks for reading.
surf.bird.scribble. 
1. How did you get here? (no need to get cosmic on this one)
I believe the scribbler himself cued me in to the existence of this blog.
2. Have you visited this site before?
Yup.
3. Are you just here for the baby turtles? (you would not believe how many people search the Internet each day for baby turtles)
Actually, I was just talking to some friends(a few marine biologists) the other day about how we’re sceptical of turtle people. And dolphin people. Not to be a snob, but if you really want to establish your ocean-hugging credentials you need to go after the most cryptic invertebrate you can find.
4. What kind of posts do you like the best? (a) ocean science (b) climate change (c) birding (d) surfing (e) other?
A-B-D-C with E mixed in for good balance.
5. Are the posts (a) about right or (b) too damn long?
Just about right.
6. Would you like more coverage of (a) climate change (b) islands being devastated by rats (c) weird deep-sea creatures (d) earthquake-type stuff (e) celebrity feuds and/or adoptions (f) sex (g) atmospheric physics (h) other (please specify)?
I’m a fan of islands being over-run by rats and weird deep-sea creatures. I’d be slightly uncomfortable if there were daily coverage of sex in this blog, UNLESS you could tie it in with atmospheric physics. Then it’d be alright.
7. How educated are you: (a) made it out of high school; curious about the world (b) still interested in most things (B.S.) (c) able to detect the infantile flaws in some stories; peripherally interested in all the rest (M.S.) (c) basically humoring me (Ph.D.)?
I’m a B with aspirations of D.
9. Do you occasionally wonder what possesses me to spend an hour or so writing about such obscure topics?
If you didn’t write about them, what would I read when I’m at work?
11. Are you not leaving comments because (a) the posts arrive fully formed and inviolable (b) you never make it to the end of a post (c) it’s interesting, just not that interesting (d) try writing about something that matters (e) you have a lingering feeling that even though only a tiny fraction of the world’s population will ever look at a comments page, you might come off sounding stupid and someone, somewhere, might snicker at you from the lonely confines of their poorly lit hovel
Just cause they’re in a poorly lit hovel doesn’t mean it won’t hurt when they laugh.
12. If scientists were to turn their collective intellectual power toward designing one and only one robot animal, what animal should that be?
Something akin to a mountain lion. Then you could release it in game reserves and set it to hunt poachers. It’d be be like Predator meets Green Peace.
13. I am an heir/heiress and I would like to contribute ___ million dollars to further the Scribbler agenda
20e-300000 – that’s scientific notation for I’m poor.
14. Do I know you? How?
Yes. I’m that guy who leaves dishes in your sink.
15. Setting aside the surfing and the birding for a moment, if there was one thing in the world you’d like me to write about, what would it be?
I don’t always hear that much about what is working/isn’t working as far as ocean conservation or resource management goes. I guess that’s partly because people don’t always know, but it seems entirely too often that conventional wisdom gets passed around with sometimes dubious evidence backing it up.
1. How did you get here? (no need to get cosmic on this one)
By clicking on the bookmark to your blog. Its on our bookmarks bar.
2. Have you visited this site before?
Yes – it is part of my daily internet routine.
3. Are you just here for the baby turtles? (you would not believe how many people search the Internet each day for baby turtles)
No!
4. What kind of posts do you like the best? (a) ocean science (b) climate change (c) birding (d) surfing (e) other?
I like A & B a lot – I’m so plugged into the world of birding at the moment that I find your posts about ocean science & climate change so very interesting. But I like that C & D make an occasional appearance.
5. Are the posts (a) about right or (b) too damn long?
About right.
6. Would you like more coverage of (a) climate change (b) islands being devastated by rats (c) weird deep-sea creatures (d) earthquake-type stuff (e) celebrity feuds and/or adoptions (f) sex (g) atmospheric physics (h) other (please specify)?
A thru D – there are millions of websites devoted to E, F and H, and those are too easy to come by.
7. How educated are you: (a) made it out of high school; curious about the world (b) still interested in most things (B.S.) (c) able to detect the infantile flaws in some stories; peripherally interested in all the rest (M.S.) (c) basically humoring me (Ph.D.)?
I’m a solid B
10. More pictures? (Of what?)
No – I think that a picture a post is nice.
11. Are you not leaving comments because (a) the posts arrive fully formed and inviolable (b) you never make it to the end of a post (c) it’s interesting, just not that interesting (d) try writing about something that matters (e) you have a lingering feeling that even though only a tiny fraction of the world’s population will ever look at a comments page, you might come off sounding stupid and someone, somewhere, might snicker at you from the lonely confines of their poorly lit hovel
I’ve never been much of a commenter on blogs – maybe it is something that I should start practicing. So here I am.
13. I am an heir/heiress and I would like to contribute ___ million dollars to further the Scribbler agenda
I wish.
14. Do I know you? How?
Yes – I’m a member of the Love Magma fan club, and a devoted roadie.
1. How did you get here? (no need to get cosmic on this one)
I was on a hunt to find the elusive Driveway Bird, and I found it here.
2. Have you visited this site before?
I check it out at least once a week, if not more.
3. Are you just here for the baby turtles? (you would not believe how many people search the Internet each day for baby turtles)
Not a big (or baby) Turtle fan, although I hear they sold a lot of albums.
4. What kind of posts do you like the best? (a) ocean science (b) climate change (c) birding (d) surfing (e) other?
I find them all informative and entertaining.
5. Are the posts (a) about right or (b) too damn long?
I think that they should be as long as it takes to say what you need to say. So far, they’ve been just about right.
6. Would you like more coverage of (a) climate change (b) islands being devastated by rats (c) weird deep-sea creatures (d) earthquake-type stuff (e) celebrity feuds and/or adoptions (f) sex (g) atmospheric physics (h) other (please specify)?
I love earthquake-type stuff as opposed to real earthquake stuff. Also, weird deep-sea creatures rule! Can you write something about the diminishing sea monkey population? They don’t get enough coverage.
7. How educated are you: (a) made it out of high school; curious about the world (b) still interested in most things (B.S.) (c) able to detect the infantile flaws in some stories; peripherally interested in all the rest (M.S.) (c) basically humoring me (Ph.D.)?
I am none of the above. I don’t want to lump myself in with just anyone.
8. Do you wish the words I use were (a) longer (b) shorter (c) funnier (d) snarkier (e) less stupid (f) rhyming?
Snarky rhyming would be perfect. Could you throw in some code as well?
9. Do you occasionally wonder what possesses me to spend an hour or so writing about such obscure topics?
I wonder much about you. You are a mystery wrapped in an enigma.
10. More pictures? (Of what?)
Lava and obscure oceanic life.
11. Are you not leaving comments because (a) the posts arrive fully formed and inviolable (b) you never make it to the end of a post (c) it’s interesting, just not that interesting (d) try writing about something that matters (e) you have a lingering feeling that even though only a tiny fraction of the world’s population will ever look at a comments page, you might come off sounding stupid and someone, somewhere, might snicker at you from the lonely confines of their poorly lit hovel
I’m laughed at openly, I don’t care what people are thinking at this point. I’m pretty much used to snickers in good light.
12. If scientists were to turn their collective intellectual power toward designing one and only one robot animal, what animal should that be?
I would have to say a horse…useful, intelligent, great design.
13. I am an heir/heiress and I would like to contribute ___ million dollars to further the Scribbler agenda
Would that be the hidden agenda? If so, I am an heiress and I’ll be forwarding a blank check.
14. Do I know you? How? Yes. I’m the one who will always be here. Oh, and I ROCK!
15. Setting aside the surfing and the birding for a moment, if there was one thing in the world you’d like me to write about, what would it be?
That would have to be your memoir. I believe that you are one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. You have so many talents and diverse interests and I think many would find you fascinating. They would also find that you are several people spliced together. I think you might be a scientific experiment on the lam.
as far as earthquake-type stuff goes- did anyone else feel the one on Saturday night? It was my first. The coolest part was that I was sitting around a campfire and when it happend all the frogs/animals went completely quiet for about 5 minutes before resuming their racket…
1. How did you get here? (no need to get cosmic on this one)
A mutual former coworker sent me the link.
2. Have you visited this site before? Yup. I visit every now and then, especially when I’m looking for excuses to avoid an onerous work task.
3. Are you just here for the baby turtles? (you would not believe how many people search the Internet each day for baby turtles) I’m not surprised in the least by what people search for on the net. There’s something for everyone. I’m not here just for the baby turtles–although they are soooo cute.
4. What kind of posts do you like the best? (a) ocean science (b) climate change (c) birding (d) surfing (e) other? birding I think.
5. Are the posts (a) about right or (b) too damn long? They should be long enough to say what you want to say, after all it’s your gig. They seem fine to me.
6. Would you like more coverage of (a) climate change (b) islands being devastated by rats (c) weird deep-sea creatures (d) earthquake-type stuff (e) celebrity feuds and/or adoptions (f) sex (g) atmospheric physics (h) other (please specify)? Maybe islands being devastated by celebrity feuds? weird deep-sea creature sex?
7. How educated are you: (a) made it out of high school; curious about the world (b) still interested in most things (B.S.) (c) able to detect the infantile flaws in some stories; peripherally interested in all the rest (M.S.) (c) basically humoring me (Ph.D.)? Technically none of the above, but I guess c is the closest.
8. Do you wish the words I use were (a) longer (b) shorter (c) funnier (d) snarkier (e) less stupid (f) rhyming? Ha! rhyming would be a challenge, but I bet you could do it. However it would quickly become annoying and the comments would probably get snarkier.
9. Do you occasionally wonder what possesses me to spend an hour or so writing about such obscure topics? You spend an hour or so on these? Just kidding–I know you used to spend hours writing about parts of Georgia where the most exciting thing was poison ivy. It’s nice that you spend time writing about things you are interested in and then put the distilled information out to the uneducated masses.
10. More pictures? (Of what?) I think what you have going on now is fine. This ain’t People magazine or USA Today.
11. Are you not leaving comments because (a) the posts arrive fully formed and inviolable (b) you never make it to the end of a post (c) it’s interesting, just not that interesting (d) try writing about something that matters (e) you have a lingering feeling that even though only a tiny fraction of the world’s population will ever look at a comments page, you might come off sounding stupid and someone, somewhere, might snicker at you from the lonely confines of their poorly lit hovel
As I said before, I’m merely a non-science interloper using this blog to periodically avoid work. I’m also not much of a list serve/blogger type.
12. If scientists were to turn their collective intellectual power toward designing one and only one robot animal, what animal should that be? Something that would do my laundry and clean my house. What? Isn’t part of the idea of science to make our lives better? O.K, maybe a cat-dog. A hybrid with the best attributes of both critters that doesn’t shed.
13. I am an heir/heiress and I would like to contribute ___ million dollars to further the Scribbler agenda. Ha! Not even close–but as soon as I win the lottery I’ll hook you up.
14. Do I know you? How? Yep. We used to work and play together in another lifetime.
15. Setting aside the surfing and the birding for a moment, if there was one thing in the world you’d like me to write about, what would it be? Squirrels, otters, dolphins or other similarly facinating animals.
[…] a note: Thanks to all those relatives, friends, and relatives of friends who have completed the Scribble Readers’ Poll. Your responses have been excellent proof of the fact that people who like this blog like this blog […]
1. How did you get here? (no need to get cosmic on this one)
Ummm… Link from your Woods Hole bio, I think? I did an Internet search for your name.
2. Have you visited this site before?
Yes.
3. Are you just here for the baby turtles? (you would not believe how many people search the Internet each day for baby turtles)
No. Not that I have anything against baby turtles: numerous seagulls have indicated to me baby turtles are delicious.
4. What kind of posts do you like the best? (a) ocean science (b) climate change (c) birding (d) surfing (e) other?
Mostly ocean science and climate change, but the I read most of them, regardless of subject.
5. Are the posts (a) about right or (b) too damn long?
The posts are about right. The spacing between my visits is too damn long, which means I always have a lot to catch up on.
6. Would you like more coverage of (a) climate change (b) islands being devastated by rats (c) weird deep-sea creatures (d) earthquake-type stuff (e) celebrity feuds and/or adoptions (f) sex (g) atmospheric physics (h) other (please specify)?
Pretty much anything aside from the celebrity stuff. Devastation by any mechanism is interesting. Don’t get me wrong, I rather it didn’t happen, but since it does, I think we should try to understand it so we can reduce it.
7. How educated are you: (a) made it out of high school; curious about the world (b) still interested in most things (B.S.) (c) able to detect the infantile flaws in some stories; peripherally interested in all the rest (M.S.) (c) basically humoring me (Ph.D.)?
I briefly took up lodgings at University of Illinois at Chicago (it would be unfair to say I “attended”), and discovered that despite my love of learning and thirst for knowledge, I wasn’t ready for college. My career path since has provided very slight motiviation to go back and get a degree. So really, I’m just saying “a” in a tedious and insecure way.
8. Do you wish the words I use were (a) longer (b) shorter (c) funnier (d) snarkier (e) less stupid (f) rhyming?
No.
9. Do you occasionally wonder what possesses me to spend an hour or so writing about such obscure topics?
No.
10. More pictures? (Of what?)
Look, if I had any complaints, I wouldn’t keep coming back, okay?
11. Are you not leaving comments because (a) the posts arrive fully formed and inviolable (b) you never make it to the end of a post (c) it’s interesting, just not that interesting (d) try writing about something that matters (e) you have a lingering feeling that even though only a tiny fraction of the world’s population will ever look at a comments page, you might come off sounding stupid and someone, somewhere, might snicker at you from the lonely confines of their poorly lit hovel
(f) by the time I read many of your posts, they’ve been around long enough that I feel like a jerk for not showing up more often, and I figure commenting would only display my inattentiveness. So thanks for stripping away from me even that thin armor with your insidious, ceaseless questioning. I hope you’re happy.
12. If scientists were to turn their collective intellectual power toward designing one and only one robot animal, what animal should that be?
Ummm… Which animal is it that eats parents who, instead of reading the provided explanatory material, tell their children that Triops sp. are “Trilobites, I think,” at public aquariums? Whatever animal it is, that’s the one they should make.
13. I am an heir/heiress and I would like to contribute ___ million dollars to further the Scribbler agenda
Ummm… I could loan you a Hamilton until payday.
14. Do I know you? How?
Yep. We spent a good deal of time in one another’s company during our dissolute youth. Okay that isn’t true. We weren’t old enough to be dissolute yet. But we did hang out a lot.
15. Setting aside the surfing and the birding for a moment, if there was one thing in the world you’d like me to write about, what would it be?
Have you ever heard the “This I Believe” (http://thisibelieve.org/) segments they run on NPR? I bet you could write a really good one of those. I realize you keep things mostly about science here, but I would personally find it gratifying to know more about the person you’ve developed into over the years.
Either that or the relative merits of shotguns and machetes in fighting zombies. If you could only have one, which would you choose?
1. How did you get here? (no need to get cosmic on this one)
You begged me to look at it
2. Have you visited this site before?
Yes
3. Are you just here for the baby turtles? (you would not believe how many people search the Internet each day for baby turtles)
No, and I am not one of them
4. What kind of posts do you like the best? (a) ocean science (b) climate change (c) birding (d) surfing (e) other?
e. Other. I like surprises
5. Are the posts (a) about right or (b) too damn long?
I could stand a few longer pieces. Not “New Yorker” long, but additional adumbrations arising out of the Scribbler’s own thoughts
6. Would you like more coverage of (a) climate change (b) islands being devastated by rats (c) weird deep-sea creatures (d) earthquake-type stuff (e) celebrity feuds and/or adoptions (f) sex (g) atmospheric physics (h) other (please specify)?
(e), concentrating on the Brittany/Paris/Lindsay axis and the Anna Nicole thanatopsis. There is some weird behavioral ecology lurking in there
7. How educated are you: (a) made it out of high school; curious about the world (b) still interested in most things (B.S.) (c) able to detect the infantile flaws in some stories; peripherally interested in all the rest (M.S.) (c) basically humoring me (Ph.D.)?
About as close to (d) as you can get without actually having the piece of paper
8. Do you wish the words I use were (a) longer (b) shorter (c) funnier (d) snarkier (e) less stupid (f) rhyming?
A natural history rap might be interesting
9. Do you occasionally wonder what possesses me to spend an hour or so writing about such obscure topics?
No, I realize that you really can’t help it
10. More pictures? (Of what?)
Yes, of Brittany, Paris and Lindsay, of course. How do you expect to build up enough inbound links to become a cultural phenomenon otherwise
11. Are you not leaving comments because (a) the posts arrive fully formed and inviolable (b) you never make it to the end of a post (c) it’s interesting, just not that interesting (d) try writing about something that matters (e) you have a lingering feeling that even though only a tiny fraction of the world’s population will ever look at a comments page, you might come off sounding stupid and someone, somewhere, might snicker at you from the lonely confines of their poorly lit hovel
I can’t think of anything interesting or clever to say
12. If scientists were to turn their collective intellectual power toward designing one and only one robot animal, what animal should that be?
A better scientist, one that wouldn’t mind the drudgery of taking and reducing data, but would leave the good parts for us. Oh, yes, it would write the papers, too, and deal with the reviewers.
13. I am an heir/heiress and I would like to contribute ___ million dollars to further the Scribbler agenda
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
14. Do I know you? How?
I am a close relative.
15. Setting aside the surfing and the birding for a moment, if there was one thing in the world you’d like me to write about, what would it be?
As much as I have enjoyed the blog in the past, figuring out the identities of the other respondants to this survey has been far more amusing
Please tell RDP his cover is blown.
Well, when you are my size and shape, it is hard to get completely covered.
1. How did you get here? (no need to get cosmic on this one)
I followed the pelicans
2. Have you visited this site before?
Guilty.
3. Are you just here for the baby turtles? (you would not believe how many people search the Internet each day for baby turtles)
Ahhh…no.
4. What kind of posts do you like the best? (a) ocean science (b) climate change (c) birding (d) surfing (e) other?
Pretty much in the order you’ve listed them; I deal with feathers enough that to read more would ruffle my own.
5. Are the posts (a) about right or (b) too damn long?
Is damn right a choice?
6. Would you like more coverage of (a) climate change (b) islands being devastated by rats (c) weird deep-sea creatures (d) earthquake-type stuff (e) celebrity feuds and/or adoptions (f) sex (g) atmospheric physics (h) other (please specify)?
I like the maritime posts the most, as well as the zany science bits I’ve missed; seems like there’s a surfeit of sex/celebrity feuds/adoptions on the web.
7. How educated are you: (a) made it out of high school; curious about the world (b) still interested in most things (B.S.) (c) able to detect the infantile flaws in some stories; peripherally interested in all the rest (M.S.) (c) basically humoring me (Ph.D.)?
If I say (c.), do I get to be both an MS and a PhD?
8. Do you wish the words I use were (a) longer (b) shorter (c) funnier (d) snarkier (e) less stupid (f) rhyming?
So long as the snarky posts are devoid of boojum I am willing to keep reading; otherwise, keep it real.
9. Do you occasionally wonder what possesses me to spend an hour or so writing about such obscure topics?
Nope.
10. More pictures? (Of what?)
1 or 2 does the trick…
11. Are you not leaving comments because (a) the posts arrive fully formed and inviolable (b) you never make it to the end of a post (c) it’s interesting, just not that interesting (d) try writing about something that matters (e) you have a lingering feeling that even though only a tiny fraction of the world’s population will ever look at a comments page, you might come off sounding stupid and someone, somewhere, might snicker at you from the lonely confines of their poorly lit hovel
I generally feel stupid leaving comments because, invariably, I mispell something.
12. If scientists were to turn their collective intellectual power toward designing one and only one robot animal, what animal should that be?
A snark.
13. I am an heir/heiress and I would like to contribute ___ million dollars to further the Scribbler agenda
I’ll give you a 10% finder’s fee for a million dollars if you go retrieve it. It’s being held by this Kid named Larry Sellers. He lives over on Radford…near the In and Out Burger. He should be a pushover for you and your goons.
14. Do I know you? How?
In the biblical sense, or at least we’ve both been enveloped in Love Magma.
15. Setting aside the surfing and the birding for a moment, if there was one thing in the world you’d like me to write about, what would it be?
Reverb.
1. How did you get here? (no need to get cosmic on this one)
I googled “lollipops” and somehow ended up here; I’m really freaking disappointed.
2. Have you visited this site before?
Maybe, but you can’t prove it. Unless you are recording ISP addresses
3. Are you just here for the baby turtles? (you would not believe how many people search the Internet each day for baby turtles)
Baby turtles are pretty good, but not as tasty as frog legs. Something about the crunch in the middle. And much like every other baby, they all look discouragingly similiar.
4. What kind of posts do you like the best? (a) ocean science (b) climate change (c) birding (d) surfing (e) other?
Definitely other.
5. Are the posts (a) about right or (b) too damn long?
Just right.
6. Would you like more coverage of (a) climate change (b) islands being devastated by rats (c) weird deep-sea creatures (d) earthquake-type stuff (e) celebrity feuds and/or adoptions (f) sex (g) atmospheric physics (h) other (please specify)?
I would like to see more bikini babes firing automatic weapons; there is something deeply fascinating about a 6 foot Norwegian chick in a thong with an AK that calls for a serious treatise. Please include video and the model’s phone number.
7. How educated are you: (a) made it out of high school; curious about the world (b) still interested in most things (B.S.) (c) able to detect the infantile flaws in some stories; peripherally interested in all the rest (M.S.) (c) basically humoring me (Ph.D.)?
Judging from the previous answer, I am clearly about to get my PhD, just like my Dad–er, your Dad, uh, I mean rdp1710. Other than that, I would say that my education is much like that of Ted Kazincski; brilliant but with nothing to prove it. Except a shack. And some high explosives.
8. Do you wish the words I use were (a) longer (b) shorter (c) funnier (d) snarkier (e) less stupid (f) rhyming?
How about some iambic pentameter? “I waked, she fled, and the harlot stole my baby turtle”–(with apologies to John Milton).
9. Do you occasionally wonder what possesses me to spend an hour or so writing about such obscure topics?
No, I’m pretty sure it has something to do with too many cases of shallow water blackout, hallucenogenic substances, and late night carnitas.
10. More pictures? (Of what?)
Yes. Breasts.
11. Are you not leaving comments because (a) the posts arrive fully formed and inviolable (b) you never make it to the end of a post (c) it’s interesting, just not that interesting (d) try writing about something that matters (e) you have a lingering feeling that even though only a tiny fraction of the world’s population will ever look at a comments page, you might come off sounding stupid and someone, somewhere, might snicker at you from the lonely confines of their poorly lit hovel
Concerned that too many family members, relatives and uber-cool NorCal surfer scientists may not find my comments suitably amusing.
12. If scientists were to turn their collective intellectual power toward designing one and only one robot animal, what animal should that be?
A dog. I want a robot version of my Black Lab, Winston, a la Philip K. Dick–an exact copy in every way. But able to talk. And to do everything an Iphone can. And with a flamethrower hidden in his snout, with which he can incinerate my platoon sergeant and any one else that pisses me off….
13. I am an heir/heiress and I would like to contribute ___ million dollars to further the Scribbler agenda
Let me work this medical retirement for PTSD, and then we’ll talk.
14. Do I know you? How?
1981. The Sierra Nevadas, deep within the Palisades Basin. Mount Dookie. We spent a week trapped in a tent at 11,000 feet by a bizarre and unforecast mid-July blizzard. I was the one that farted a lot.
15. Setting aside the surfing and the birding for a moment, if there was one thing in the world you’d like me to write about, what would it be?
The brilliant leadership of our beloved Commander-in-Chief, President George W. Bush, and his visionary crusade to bring enlightenment, Jeffersonian democracy, and Chicken McNuggets to the peace loving people of Iraq. Goodbye, Karl Rove, we never really knew you
1. How did you get here? (no need to get cosmic on this one)
Googled surf scribble
2. Have you visited this site before?
yes
3. Are you just here for the baby turtles? (you would not believe how many people search the Internet each day for baby turtles)
I’m here mostly for the funny german sign. And more in depth stuff about whats going on down South. But I do have to admit I like the baby animals. Note: not the baby vegetables, though.
4. What kind of posts do you like the best? (a) ocean science (b) climate change (c) birding (d) surfing (e) other?
everything but surfing!
5. Are the posts (a) about right or (b) too damn long?
a
6. Would you like more coverage of (a) climate change (b) islands being devastated by rats (c) weird deep-sea creatures (d) earthquake-type stuff (e) celebrity feuds and/or adoptions (f) sex (g) atmospheric physics (h) other (please specify)?
I’d really like to see some coverage of your sister adopting again. That’d be AWESOME! Failing that, anything you find interesting. Especially if it involves baby animals!
Also, obscure deep sea creatures. Especially the Humboldt squid in Baja that I keep telling you eat humans!!
7. How educated are you: (a) made it out of high school; curious about the world (b) still interested in most things (B.S.) (c) able to detect the infantile flaws in some stories; peripherally interested in all the rest (M.S.) (c) basically humoring me (Ph.D.)?
What’s a B.A., then? And what does a degree have to do with being educated, anyway??
8. Do you wish the words I use were (a) longer (b) shorter (c) funnier (d) snarkier (e) less stupid (f) rhyming?
Rhyming would rock.
9. Do you occasionally wonder what possesses me to spend an hour or so writing about such obscure topics?
Every time.
10. More pictures? (Of what?)
Baby animals! And funny german signs!
11. Are you not leaving comments because (a) the posts arrive fully formed and inviolable (b) you never make it to the end of a post (c) it’s interesting, just not that interesting (d) try writing about something that matters (e) you have a lingering feeling that even though only a tiny fraction of the world’s population will ever look at a comments page, you might come off sounding stupid and someone, somewhere, might snicker at you from the lonely confines of their poorly lit hovel
e. there is an absolute certainty that the scribbler will find numerous grammatical errors and point them out to me and the rest of the world, further destroying my lagging sense of self.
12. If scientists were to turn their collective intellectual power toward designing one and only one robot animal, what animal should that be?
No point. Just get a real one.
13. I am an heir/heiress and I would like to contribute ___ million dollars to further the Scribbler agenda
I’ll let you know when we inherit something!
14. Do I know you? How?
I’m not sure. Do we ever really know anyone? But you have got almost 35 years experience to draw on.
15. Setting aside the surfing and the birding for a moment, if there was one thing in the world you’d like me to write about, what would it be?
Declining moral values and the threat to the family unit.