B&B Interviews - Meet member haggis
@haggis has been a member of Badger and Blade since May 18 2020
01. How did you find Badger and Blade and why did you become a member?
I always search around and look for busy specialist communities to support learning and discovery in topics of interest. B&B rang all the right bells for me: actively moderated, modern enough interface to make it pleasant to use, but most of all an active and diverse community.
02. When you did or if you are working, in general what did or do you do?
My first steady job was twenty years working as a process technician on specialized cathode ray tubes and test-and-measurement equipment development. Basically playing with toys (as I see it). I transitioned to technical writing and spent fifteen years managing a technical writing staff supporting enterprise software. I tapered into retirement with a final job running books and media through a sorting machine for a cooperative of thirteen libraries.
03. What part of the country where you were born do you like the most?
I grew up in Western Massachusetts. During college I transferred to Oregon where I have happily remained. I retain a fond nostalgia for New England.
04. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I am occasionally tempted by images I see of Norway, Scotland, and Ireland.
05. Do you have any hobbies or pastimes?
Cairn Terriers have been running my life for the past 27 years, so related things like maintaining dog club web sites, putting on earthdog tests (a hunting simulation) and participating in various other dog sports. We're about to start training our two current dogs in scent discrimination.
06. Why did you choose the avatar that you have now?
My screen name is actually taken from a beloved dog, but small dark dog photos often don't translate well to avatar size so I went with an image of his namesake, packaged in a format I found amusing.
07. If you could choose any person in the world, now or from the past, who would you like to sit down and have a drink with?
Vladimir Nabokov.
08. What is something you'd like to do, but have not had the opportunity to do it?
Fly helicopters.
09. What is one thing or accomplishment in your life that you are proud of?
Successfully leading a local dog club from creation through a multi-year licensing process, serving as its president for six years. As a fundamentally shy person that was a step well out of my comfort zone.
10. What is one piece of advice that you would offer to people in general?
Be both patient and persistent.
11. If you could have any super hero power, what would you choose?
Editing for Concision, or possibly Time Travel. Tough call, as either one could make the world a better place. For example, with Editing this would be less painful to read.
12. If you had to choose to be a kind of animal, what would you want to be?
Tardigrade ("water bear"). I've already got the looks, now to have their endurance. Bring on the apocalypse, I'll be ready.
13. What kind of music do you like?
I am musically inept so I appreciate, admire and enjoy its many manifestations. My default setting is jazz in its higher energy flavors. I enjoy various styles and artists in many genres though, from Anonymous 4 to Zydeco. My ringtone is the opening notes of a pibroch.
14. If you could be any movie character, who would you like to be?
Man in crowd, third from left, with the hat.
15. If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the Title of that book be?
"30% OFF!"
@haggis has been a member of Badger and Blade since May 18 2020
01. How did you find Badger and Blade and why did you become a member?
I always search around and look for busy specialist communities to support learning and discovery in topics of interest. B&B rang all the right bells for me: actively moderated, modern enough interface to make it pleasant to use, but most of all an active and diverse community.
02. When you did or if you are working, in general what did or do you do?
My first steady job was twenty years working as a process technician on specialized cathode ray tubes and test-and-measurement equipment development. Basically playing with toys (as I see it). I transitioned to technical writing and spent fifteen years managing a technical writing staff supporting enterprise software. I tapered into retirement with a final job running books and media through a sorting machine for a cooperative of thirteen libraries.
03. What part of the country where you were born do you like the most?
I grew up in Western Massachusetts. During college I transferred to Oregon where I have happily remained. I retain a fond nostalgia for New England.
04. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I am occasionally tempted by images I see of Norway, Scotland, and Ireland.
05. Do you have any hobbies or pastimes?
Cairn Terriers have been running my life for the past 27 years, so related things like maintaining dog club web sites, putting on earthdog tests (a hunting simulation) and participating in various other dog sports. We're about to start training our two current dogs in scent discrimination.
06. Why did you choose the avatar that you have now?
My screen name is actually taken from a beloved dog, but small dark dog photos often don't translate well to avatar size so I went with an image of his namesake, packaged in a format I found amusing.
07. If you could choose any person in the world, now or from the past, who would you like to sit down and have a drink with?
Vladimir Nabokov.
08. What is something you'd like to do, but have not had the opportunity to do it?
Fly helicopters.
09. What is one thing or accomplishment in your life that you are proud of?
Successfully leading a local dog club from creation through a multi-year licensing process, serving as its president for six years. As a fundamentally shy person that was a step well out of my comfort zone.
10. What is one piece of advice that you would offer to people in general?
Be both patient and persistent.
11. If you could have any super hero power, what would you choose?
Editing for Concision, or possibly Time Travel. Tough call, as either one could make the world a better place. For example, with Editing this would be less painful to read.
12. If you had to choose to be a kind of animal, what would you want to be?
Tardigrade ("water bear"). I've already got the looks, now to have their endurance. Bring on the apocalypse, I'll be ready.
13. What kind of music do you like?
I am musically inept so I appreciate, admire and enjoy its many manifestations. My default setting is jazz in its higher energy flavors. I enjoy various styles and artists in many genres though, from Anonymous 4 to Zydeco. My ringtone is the opening notes of a pibroch.
14. If you could be any movie character, who would you like to be?
Man in crowd, third from left, with the hat.
15. If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the Title of that book be?
"30% OFF!"
