Ask me a question

[ciphergoth]

...but not any question.

Ask me something you might ask if you saw me down the pub. I haven't suddenly decided to bare my innermost soul on public entries, but I don't talk about my life at all on LJ, and I'd sort of like to. Ask me something you might normally ask me if you saw me more often, and I'll use it as the stimulus to talk about something other than geekery.

Comments

[lilitufire.livejournal.com]

So, how *is* the new flat?

:)

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Top fab! The roof terrace has been great over the summer, and living just above ergotia and lilithmagna is magic. We could do with more space, but that's always true I guess...

I'm greedy I want 3 questions!

[trishpiglet.livejournal.com]

Who got you your Dennis jumper?
How old is it?
Can I have a cuddle?

Re: I'm greedy I want 3 questions!

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Alison knitted it for me I guess about a decade ago now!

Sorry I couldn't stay at the pub to deliver your cuddle in person - next time I see you I promise! *cuddle*

[envoy.livejournal.com]

How much trouble is it to find an ok tech job in London nowadays?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

I don't really know. I wasn't by any means beseiged by offers when I went job hunting a little over a year ago now, but I've landed a job which suits me very well, so I guess things can't be too bad.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

So have you been back to Edinburgh much since the move to London? How's everyone doing up there?

Anything interesting going on in London? Remind me whether I'd be nuts to go over there in winter. I think I would be, but...

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

I've been to Edinburgh quite a few times, and I'm going again this weekend. Things seem to be going pretty well - maybe it's easier to see the good things with a little distance.

There are always a hundred interesting things going on in London. If you do come over in winter we must meet up!

Since the BVT box is down right now

[webcowgirl.livejournal.com]

For heaven's sake, I consider the lack of opportunities to sit around and ask you questions in a pub-type atmosphere one of the greatest shortcomings of my life at present. So ...

How did you ever get involved with L&L? Jason and I were debating the exact number of years as we paddled around yesterday, but I am even more intrigued by how you were roped in in the first place.

If that's still too personal for LJ, then how long have you three been together? (Imagine Jason and me having made a wager before meeting you at the pub just to make it more realistic). (And I do know that now you are four but I know a lot more about that part of things.)

Re: Since the BVT box is down right now

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

I've been with them since summer 1996. It's not too personal, but the story of me and L&L getting together is quite long and has been told many times. I look forward to getting drunk with you and telling it again in person soon!

[booklectica]

Was it silly of us to arrange a date the Thursday before Whitby?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

I have our date down as Nov 4, which is the Thursday after Whitby...

PS.

[booklectica]

http://www.masquerade-ball.org/. Just booked tickets for duranorak, adjectivemarcus and myself.

Re: PS.

[conflux.livejournal.com]

Oooh, that does sound fun. I will ask Hessie and Meg and see if they want to come, afterall we have the masks now.

[redcountess]

How are you? *hug*

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Overworked, but I can't complain; sometimes things are slack and I don't work too hard, other times things are busy and I work very hard. If we ever hit permacrisis I shall start to assert my free time more assertively, but as it is I don't mind rising to the occasion.

[hieroglyphe.livejournal.com]

Ask me something you might ask if you saw me down the pub.

Fancy a shag then?

Okies, too much bloodstream vs alcohol for that to work...

Okay then - can I rely on you as supreme corset tightener when you are available/in the same place? FFS you do a decent job without that pointy knee-in-back nonsense!

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

For when you want it really tight, knee-in-back does actually work though...

[tempaccount99]

Fancy a pint?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Yeah, sounds good, when?

[venta.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure this'll help with the other-than-geekery part, but:

Can you recommend me a good way to keep up with current developments in cryptography ?

I've a maths degree and a little knowledge of cryptography, but I'm no expert so nothing too hardcore ;) It's more for my own interest than any actual requirement.

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Er, read conference proceedings and journal articles? I'd be surprised if there was any other way TBH...

[bondagewoodelf.livejournal.com]

Got the vanilla scent out of the hair yet?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Heh, it took over a dozen washes though! Next time apparently we'll use massage oil which is cheaper and better.

[purplerabbits.livejournal.com]

Are you eating much meat since living with three vegetarians? Have your beliefs changed since living with them (on animal rights or anything else)?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

I do still eat meat, but pretty rarely; not for lunch much, but usually when I'm eating out or getting takeaway. I think my position on animals and morality has mellowed somewhat but I'm still not about to take up the banners to shut down Huntingdon Life Sciences....

[adjectivemarcus.livejournal.com]

So, what are we drinking?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Pint of bitter, ta, Marcus!

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

"How's things?" :)

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Pretty damn good really! Three fab partners, lovely fab, good job, nice friends, not too unhealthy, can't complain!

[sibelian.livejournal.com]

Do you think Gordon suddenly breaking ranks and opening up the rift between him and Tony again is contrary to New Labour interests given that destabilising the leadership just before a general election will lose votes? Or do you think that Tony and Gordon are in total collusion and that Gordon talked Tony out of stepping down early this year, for the above reason, and that Tony wants out, like, NOW, but that didn't fit the New Labour game plan until recently, (assuming that THEY are assuming that Gordon *will* be Prime Minister but they wanted him to take up the position after the election)?

Or do you think something else?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

I can never tell if there really is a rift between Gordon and Tony at all, or if the whole thing is made up by the press to give them something racy to write about at these conferences..,

[conflux.livejournal.com]

Well as I ask you any kind of question down the pub, then maybe I should wait until then? Are you coming to Baby Simon's do tonight?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

I did indeed come down the pub, as you know cos you saw me there!

[keirf.livejournal.com]

What number am I thinking of?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

37

[cillygirl.livejournal.com]

what do you think are the best places to go (out or generally) in london?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Hmm, big question! Er, B-Movie, Goddess, Slimelight of course (still have a good time every time I go), still haven't been out in London nearly as much as I might like actually so I feel like I've yet to find out...

[biog.livejournal.com]

Why do I think you're so damm atractive (in the sexual sense as in all others).

I leap into the conversation

[webcowgirl.livejournal.com]

'Cause he is, in every way.

[narnee.livejournal.com]

It has to say something about me that I can't think of a question that doesn't have to do with something naughty or something potentially leading to naughtiness, politics or geekery.

So I don't think I'd be much help in providing stimilus to talk about something else.

However, I think that does encompass every conversation we've ever had. :>

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Sex, politics and geekery sounds like a fine mix for any conversation to me - I don't see a problem so far! xxx

[pavlos.livejournal.com]

What's your work like these days? Are you working as a cryptographer?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

No. I get to use my skills a little, but the work is largely unrelated. Nonetheless, I quite like my work though I'd rather it was a little less madly busy just now...

From an intriguing but absolute stranger

[yomi-no-miko.livejournal.com]

Shouldn't do this, but bugger all...

You have no idea who I am, but I found your lj through your web site which I found through some old uk net.goth page. (Yes, far too much time on the computer today...) Anyway, if I were at your pub and knew all this interesting stuff about you, AND if I'd had enough alcohol, I might ask:

Do you prefer being the only man in a group of women, or would you be equally happy being in a mixed group of partners (where you were not the only man)? I must say the thought of you with another man (not even saying it would have to be me) is an absolutely lovely one. *happy sigh*

^_^

Re: From an intriguing but absolute stranger

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Assuming I'm interpreting your question correctly...

We are two men and two women. We refer to lilithmagna as "she" in casual conversation, but that's a kind of affectionate-pet-name thing - he's very definitely a boy (albeit one who drags up beautifully). He's tall, with long dark hair, firm but not too pronounced musculature, and very very beautiful indeed. And yes, people say that watching the two of us get it on is very nice indeed :-)

How do you eat your jelly babies?

[pallandozi.livejournal.com]

How do you eat your jelly babies? Do you bite the heads off first? Wolf them down whole? Nibble the edge?

Re: How do you eat your jelly babies?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Nibble the edge,definitely. Feet first.

[batswing.livejournal.com]

Hi, lovely to meet you!

um: Do you not find london a bit too impersonal?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

No, not really - I I know lots of folk there, and generally find Londoners friendlier than everyone says...