Guess Torq's job and other jibber jabber

Since this ultimately did not come across in the manner I intended, and what were supposed to be some humorous, obviously self-deprecating comments and/or exaggerated misdirections (with a pre-stated disclaimer that any number of the statements made were wishful thinking and/or utter nonsense) are coming across as bragging etc. I clearly misjudged things here.

I shall come up with a different means of determining who shall get the afore mentioned Modi Multibit (or whatever they fancy that's similar, I guess) etc. sometime between now and the 5th.

 

@Torq , SAS

EDIT: or Han Solo

 

Sounds like a chef to me I bet I'm wrong!

 

Something with food I feel, after reading all that intentional runabout.

 

May have to add a prize for "most wine spat over monitor" for the "Han Solo" part!

And no, not exactly (or perhaps even at all), but the boathouse at Hereford is really at RM Poole.

If I worked with the public I'd be in prison.

I know the author of "Modernist Cuisine" (and keep a copy on my shelf and in the kitchen), and love to cook (and even more to eat), alas, no, I do not work in the food industry. I'd never make any money at it if I did ... I'd eat everything I made!

...

Liking the guesses so far though!

 

@Torq, you are working on the Seven Summits? I am truly impressed. I read Anatoly Boukreev's journals and felt I finally understood the attraction of mountain climbing.

 

Had to look up RM Poole...intrigued...I do think military

 

It'd be more accurate to say that I "was" working on them.

I've done Kilimanjaro twice (at 18 and 21 years old), and did Elbrus in the middle. The third was Mont Blanc. Which doesn't really count as I always figured this in the context of doing the "Bass" ascents. A number of years as a fat-bastard really put a crimp in all this. And you'd have thought, living in Colorado for eight years, that I'd have at least hiked a good number of their 14'ers (and you'd be wrong ...).

A lot of conditioning to get back to where I was, and next should be Denali/McKinley. But I promised my dear intended that I'd save Everest until the last possible opportunity, so who knows?!

 

My first choice of career was as a fast-jet pilot for the RAF (well, my first "realistic" choice ... astronaut was never going to happen, though if things go as they are, and I don't do anything irretrievably stupid, I might still get to fly in space). This dream ended with a one-week induction course at the end of which it was proclaimed I had some "genetic issues".

For those that understand how pilot-induction the RAF really works this can be summarized as "having the wrong parents".

I was offered a commission to fly ... unfortunately that rather involved sitting in the left hand seat of a big four-prop with the defensive capabilities of a slightly inebriated hippo and getting shot at. A lot.

Second choice was helicopter pilot for the navy.

Another week-long induction course. And a near drowning in a qualification exercise (I've "breathed" water ... don't recommend it). Had me saying "Well sod THAT!" and I moved on!

On the aviation vein though ... I may have developed some interesting software for terrain mapping/projection in pre-merge/BVR training simulators.

As a child, in the UK, we got the "Evil Knievel" cartoon. I think I was four or five at the time. I had this little bicycle with a fixed-rear-sprocket, solid rubber tires and a brake that only worked on the front wheel. Having watched the cartoon with rapt attention, I figured I could easily make the jump from the four-foot concrete elevation that was the back patio, over the dirt and on to the lower patio.

Physics had different ideas.

And "Colt Seavers" (yes, yes, I know ... ) never had a worry.

 

@Torq , I so wanna go with MI6, but that would be kinda bonkers

 

Entirely reasonable guess based on the "clues" (which should be easier to rationalize with my various responses).

If it was, I couldn't say.

Going back to the climbing thing for a moment, I did get to meet Ed Visteurs. Amazing chap. Ridiculously humble. Probably not human. Another Seattleite as it happens. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to have him to a charity do if we get the house we're angling for.

 

cizx and me... how symbolic!

 

@Torq, Viesturs? How cool!! That Everest film he did was a pisser..

 

Me? Or @Wilson?

I'm not sure if it's for me to say whether I'm "human" or not - beyond the biological definition. I am definitely unduly affected by fermented-vegetable-products.

Especially right now.

Bloody marvelous Frenchies!

And while I wouldn't call it "my job", I've done the IT director thing.

 

I watched, or tried to at least, that on the flight back home in June of this year ... poor bloody stewardess thought I was losing it.

It struck me a lot harder than reading (and watching) Krakauer's "Into Thin Air".

I was lucky enough to meet a couple of the chaps that didn't make it through that year (and a couple that did). Never got to climb with them. Just crossed paths. Ambitions beyond what was then (and certainly is now) my ability.

 

You should, they're good.

And there's what I've done, and what I do ... So "first place" on the former, certainly. That part, and my comments subsequent to the my first post, are accurate (in the interests of giving useful clues).

 

cizx doesn't like me. So since he can't see this, I'll write that I asked around about him and decided to let it be.

 

Well that's quite spooky (seasonly fitting)!

Not quite close enough to garner the prize (at least yet, we'll see) ... but I'll go point by point ...

I'm definitely technical. Wrote my first code when I was seven, built my first circuit at eight. Never let that go since. I've done both the Chief Architect and CTO roles. And I write code pretty much every day (though for my own purposes these days).

And yes, I was at Microsoft for eight years. Spent two of those directly under Satya. Left whenI got bored (narrowly avoiding the "Pink" cluster and watching, from not-as-afar,-as-I'd-have-liked as Roz further earned her internal "teflon" moniker). Can't say I didn't like working around her though.

Yes, I am outdoorsy. And Washington has captured my heart. I've lived all over (those parts are accurate). It's very close to home here, but with nice summers, proper mountains and some of the most interesting (and challenging) diving in the world. It's a bit of a challenge to my euro-fashion sensibilities (I can only dress out of REI if I'm hiking/climbing/kayaking), but I do love it here.

Very bloody close ...

 

I was thinking of the IMAX doc, but yeah, I couldn't finish the film you are talking about...
I gotta hit the sack. Maybe I'll wake up with a great guess. Either way, fabulous things you have had the courage to experience. The older I get, the more I realize that it is about experience...I've spent way too much time with books, I think.