Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Who Thinks Up These Things Anyway?

Insect or Human, huh?

Well let's see.

According to Mr. Green, I'm supposed to:

"First, list writer Robert Heinlein's examples of the accomplishments that distinguish a [generalist] human from a [specialist] insect. Then identify the ones [you have] actually done. A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." (Eddie-ted just a tad for better readability.)

Like Roger, I've copied the list with some notes.

Change a diaper (Used to work in the nursery at church. Got this one down.)

Plan an invasion (Does moving count? That's kind of like invading.)

Butcher a hog (Not personally, but I do come from a long line of farm folks who have. My mother has seen my great-grandparents do it.)

Conn a ship (I don't even know what this means, but, like Roger, I've done a bad job of rowing a canoe. In fact, I tipped one over once.)

Design a building (I've sketched out layouts for rooms.)

Write a sonnet (Not a sonnet, per se, but I wrote bad poetry in college.)

Balance accounts (I've had to do this for several grants I've worked on over the years.)

Build a wall (I've painted one.)

Set a bone (Only in first aid class.)

Comfort the dying (I guess Dad counts here.)

Take orders (I do work for government.)

Give orders (I've got a committee meeting today that I'm chairing. I hate these things.)

Cooperate (See above comment. I'm happier on my own.)

Act alone (See above comment.)

Solve equations (I was a math major for two years in college.)

Analyze a new problem (That's part of working in training and development.)

Pitch manure (Like Roger, I've cleaned cat litter boxes.)

Program a computer (Also like Roger, I've installed software.)

Cook a tasty meal (I don't do it much, but I'm a halfway decent cook.)

Fight efficiently (Sorry, I'm a pacifist.)

Die gallantly (Not any time in the near future.)

2 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

You take being harassed quite well.

EM said...

Thanks for the excuse to blog again!