Vanity Fair

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/06/hitchens-proust-questionnaire-201006

Christopher Hitchens (13 April 1949–15 December 2011) has died of esophageal cancer. He admitted in part that, staying up too late with friends smoking, drinking to keep the conversation going may have been the reason that cancer formed. Not a whole lot I can say here about this 'demigod' that has not been said before but he may not been a teacher in the classical sense but he is one to learn a great deal from.

Having a female friend who gets Cosmopolitan, I see they have many surveys but they are a little too female oriented.  Combining these two threads is the topic of the link above. It is safe for work and life. If I may, in defiance to ACTA/SOPA,PIPA and take this survey myself to enjoy a mental exercise:

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Pain, misery, hunger, sickness when these things are so easily fixed in our community and world by sheer economics of needing to maintain a society where profit rules supreme.


Where would you like to live?
The future; I would like to know more about the universe, the sciences of the mind, and where we were going as a civilization.  Do we prosper or something worse?


What is your idea of earthly happiness?
non-contingent happiness.  Some sort of intrinsic happiness.


To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
To my appetite and sometimes to my listlessness


 Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?
The characters of Star Trek.


Who are your favorite characters in history?
That's more difficult to nail down for history usually has a lens on it.  I would say the writers of our constitution, or the many unnamed, often times soldiers, through time who stood up to tyrants, theocratic leaders, and despots AND who knew they were doing a moral right.


Who are your favorite heroines in real life?
All those women who wrote under male names or anonymous


Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?
Evey in V for Vendetta, Star Trek Heroins especially Uhura for a female character in a technical role that commanded respect and not subservience. 


Your favorite painter?
If I can abuse the openness of the question I would say Bill Watterson, even though he may be more of an animator.


Your favorite musician?
How do I pick just one? In my teenage years the one group that was most influential for me was Korn.


The quality you most admire in a man?
Not being afraid to fail, while not possessing arrogance but still not being submissive to the thoughts of others.


The quality you most admire in a woman?
The same as above but with the seemingly innate sense to take care for one another.


Your favorite virtue?
Honesty, in life and in truth


Your least favorite virtue, or nominee for the most overrated one?
Like Hitchens', faith. and piety.


Your proudest achievement?
I'll Let you know when I find one remarkable.


Your favorite occupation?
One that you can earn money on your owns terms. I have not found it yet.


Who would you have liked to be? 
The US president after Sept. 11th 2001. I would hope I would have had the strength to differ in the course we took for this nation in nearly every regards. Especially so in how we have wasted our respect in the world that took so many years to build up.


Your most marked characteristic? 
Internally; question everything. Externally; my height.


What do you most value in your friends? 
The will to challenge me in a positive way.


What is your principal defect?
 Intolerance of bad ideas or perceived stupidity


What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes?
Living a life not worth dying for.


What would you like to be?
Free of daily physical pain in the chronic sense


What is your favorite color?
Clear


What is your favorite flower?
The tulip or possibly the Iris


What is your favorite bird?
The Mallard


What word or expression do you most overuse?
Expressions of frustration and/or disbelief, although  feel I may not be at fault.


Who are your favorite poets?
Song writers. Vague I know but the marrying of music with words moves me the most. Pink Floyd for instance.


What is it you most dislike?
Myself sometimes.  The monetary system.


Which historical figures do you most despise?
The Stalins, Pol Pots, Maos and Che Guevaras, the REAl bastards


Which contemporary figures do you most despise?
The Jerry Falwells of the world, Pat Robertson


Which events in military history do you most admire?
The desperate ones in retreat. The English Expeditionary Force in WW2 for instance. Its history combined with an emotion.


Which natural gift would you most like to possess?
Oration in front of many strangers.


How would you like to die?
At a ripe age and with as little pain as possible.


What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I'm balding with glasses and fat which makes it hard to choose


What is your motto?
Paralysis through analysis




How would you do?


Thank you.