The final results from yesterday’s genius quiz question:

Men who say Man: 12
Men who say Woman: 16
Women who say Man: 11
Women who say Woman: 4

People who say Man: 23
People who say Woman: 20

Some of the responses:
-- Woman says it’s a man because men relate to their stomachs
-- Woman says it’s a woman because I’ve heard women say that before
-- Man says it’s a man because I’ve heard men say that before
-- Man says it’s a woman because a man wouldn’t have used that many words
-- Man says it’s a man, but he’s totally metro
-- Woman & Man says it’s a woman because she’s talking about rage
-- Woman says it’s a man because women don’t say “ragingly greedy”
-- Woman says it’s a man because “I know a man who is a writer and he writes like that”
-- Man says it’s a woman because it is expressing something about emotions and attachment
-- Man says it’s a man because girls don’t say “like starving”
-- Woman says it’s a man, but it could go either way. God created us to mate. (Son of Woman then announces his discomfort with the current conversation.)
-- Man says it’s a woman because “no comment”

What respondents said, and how they said it, was where all the fun was. Other things I recall: A few sought me out later to change their answer; some guessed immediately without a second thought; some wouldn’t answer without more context. Some men didn’t want to talk about it and gave me an answer so I would stop bugging them. I suspect that the sex of the questioner (I’m a man, baby) may have influenced some guesses. I also suffered threats when I refused to divulge the answer immediately (It’s amazing the power people give you when you withhold information).

'Nuff chit-chat. The author is unveiled:

These words were penned by Megan, an engineer in Sacramento. So she’s a woman. A very articulate, very geeky (in a good way!) California gal.

Megan writes, “I would have thought it would be immediately obvious that a woman wrote that.  I don't think of men as pining for a relationship that much.”

Kudos, Megan, for being able to succinctly express a common human condition. And thanks for letting me rip off your comments for fun and non-profit. At the very least, I learned a lot about my co-workers; and they me.

I’m taking a poll. Conducting a test, as it were.

Here’s how it works: I share a quote, and you tell me whether it was authored by a man or a woman.

I did not write it. No one in the state of Washington wrote it. If you know how to effectively use teh internets, you can learn who wrote it soon enough. To be true to the test, please respond using your gut rather than your google. For now, please read the following and answer the question:

When I think even a little about wanting to be with someone, I get ragingly greedy. It feels awful, like starving. Please let it happen soon, or please let me stop wanting it so much.

The question: Was this written by a man or a woman? Why did you give that answer?

Here’s my Why (as in, "Why are you even asking?"): I read this and I immediately identified with the sentiment. I’ve seen it in my life; I’ve seen it in other people’s lives, both men and women. My working theory is that this blurb expresses a universal emotion and experience with which both women and men can identify because it is such a basic truth. (You could probably make other guesses... good for you. You are soooo smart.)

My current results (data pool is mostly Caucasian, Anglo-Saxon office workers in a software company where men outnumber women):

Men who say Man: 11
Men who say Woman: 12
Women who say Man: 9
Women who say Woman: 4

People who say Man: 16
People who say Woman: 14

Thanks to those who have guessed already. There is a correct answer to the question, but the answers to “Why do you think so?” have been where most of the fun is. Each person who entered the office’s lunchroom yesterday was sucked in to the discussion. I’d like to get a few more respondents before I publicize the final results.

I’ll share the Who and the final What later.

[Update 2006-11-03T16:20:41Z: Concluding comments are here.]

From The Old Testament Made Easy (Jeanne Steig), the following poem:

A Romance

Jacob fancied Cousin Rachel,
Uncle Laban’s comely child.
Seven years he toiled to earn her,
While her glances drove him wild.

When at last his bride was bedded,
Jacob drew the veil to kiss her.
Under it was Cousin Leah,
Rachel’s older, squint-eyed sister.

“Be not so distraught,” said Laban.
“Though at first she looks alarming,
Leah’s fun. I’ll throw in Rachel—
All for seven years of farming!

“Only seven more, dear nephew,
For the pair. You find that shocking?
Rachel will divert you nicely,
Leah darns a dandy stocking.

“Take the two. And take their handmaids—
This, I think, is rather lavish—
Saucy Bilhah, nubile Zilpah.
Both of them are yours to ravish!”

Leah bore him seven children,
Zilpah had a couple more.
Rachel and her handmaid, Bilhah,
Managed yet another four.

One of Leah’s was a daughter.
Sons made up the other dozen.
All twelve tribes of Israel sprang from
Jacob’s craving for his cousin.

(h/t Fosteronomo)

Sure, it's sounds like fun. But do I actually do it?

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
          -- Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (ESV)

My parents came to visit; I took the week off of work; my parents went. It felt good to sleep in a few of those days. It also felt a slight bit o’ good not to go to work when I knew everyone else had to.

One thing, among many, that I miss by not being at work is the perk of listening to music. If I am fortunate enough to have a block of uninterrupted time where I can just do my thing, music is usually playing through my headphones.

Because you're dying to know, here are my top 10 favorite bands/artists, as determined by how much of each band's/artist's music is ripped to my harddrive:

• Vigilantes of Love / Bill Mallonee : 19.5 hours of music (13 hrs as VoL, 6.5 as non-VoL Bill)
• The 77s / Mike Roe : 18 hours (13 hrs as 77s, 5 as non-77s Mike)
• Over the Rhine : 12 hrs, 16 min (11 hrs as OtR, 1:16 as Linford Detweiler)
• The Choir : 10hr 50min
• Phil Keaggy : 8hr 24min
• Iona : 6hr 26min
• Lost Dogs : 5hr 54min
• Afro-Celtic Sound System / Afrocelts : 5hr 38min
• Havalina : 5hr 03min
• Sixpence None the Richer : 4hr 58min

The funny part (funny, interesting; not funny, ha ha) is that most of these bands/artists are not in my regular music rotation anymore. Some music is more appropriate for different times of life, I suppose. And although I was once a completist for a number of these bands, I know full well that my library is missing at least one album from each artist's catalog. I'll make you a list of missing CDs if you need Christmas ideas.

In terms of overall musical enjoyment, my favorite from this list is Over the Rhine. They rock and/or roll every time.

Artists/albums not making this list that I must mention, just because I said so: Steve Taylor, Brooks Williams, Claire Holley, 25 Paste Magazine samplers.

I have a lot on my mind.

I should be paying bills. Some of them are late. I hate being late.

I should be wooing a woman. Some of them are awesome. I love making them laugh.

I should be eating better. Some of my recent dinners are crap. It’s like I’m making my own Super Size Me movie, but without the video camera and the fame.

I should be solidifying old friendships. I should be spending more time in prayer. I should memorize poetry. I should finish the laundry. I should be helping the poor. I should ride my bicycle. I should work late. I should blog more. I should this, and I should that.

Tonight I add one more: I should perform karaoke.

I met a friend after he got off of work at at a local establishment that, unbeknownst to both of us, was holding its weekly karaoke night.

Chip loves karaoke. Jimbo, not so much. He’s a performer; I’m a, um... not. Usually. Especially when it comes to singing.

Chip (stage name “Chucky D”) went wild (it was a slow night) and sang 3 times (Johnny Cash, The Bee Gees, America). He even won a drawing for a $20 gift certificate. I drank an adult beverage and flipped through the song title booklet, hoping no one would lay on the you-should-sing-it’s-a-lot-of-fun-everyone-is-doing-it guilt trip. (Boy, am I out of it. There are a ton of pop songs I don’t know.)

I didn’t sing this night, but maybe next time. I think I’d rather sing my own songs, if I ever were to write them. Oh, and play my own music, if I could learn more than those 4 chords. (Add another "I should": I should practice my guitar.)

Or maybe I should lighten up.

As Chucky D says, “Sometimes life doesn’t always make sense... and that’s why we should do karaoke.”

The folks are in town for a few days, so I’m taking a few days off of work.

It’s a vacation for them, but it’s also a vacation for me. I’ve only taken a day here and there during the summer, and the last time I took a whole week away from work, I spent it, um... working.

We went to a Western Washington Vikings football game on Saturday. Cheap tickets, decent seats, ok football. I’ll be back for sure (they have two more home games in Bellingham this year). It’s the first live football game I’ve attended since seeing the Lions get clobbered by the Seahawks back in 2004. The Vikings got clobbered by the South Dakota Coyotes, so at least that was familiar.

Despite the clouds on Monday, we took a chance at visiting Mount Baker. Artist Point was all clouded in, but we stopped a few other places to try to make up for it:

Groundcover colors are brilliant up there:

Looking over the valley from a picnic area:

Looking down the valley:

My mom remarked about how the water has a green hue:

Random woods picture:

Random Nooksack River picture:

A week-ago Monday, as I was entering a supermarket, a random dude wearing a St. Louis Cardinals cap was walking out. I was wearing my Detroit Tigers cap.

He says to me, "See you in the World Series!"

I say, "Looking forward to it!"

This episode was just after the Tigers defeated the Yankees in 4 games and before they started playing the A’s. St. Louis was playing, um... someone. It was presumptive on Random Dude’s part to confidently declare the World Series participants even before the LCSes began. But at least he was clairvoyant about the Tigers. :)

The Tigers defeated the A’s this weekend in the American League Championship Series to advance to the World Series. The Tigers haven’t been there since 1984; the last time they were in the playoffs was 1987; they haven’t had an above-.500 winning percentage since 1993.

AND NOW THEY’RE IN THE WORLD SERIES

If you need me, I’ll be at the zoo tending to my family. I am now a monkey’s uncle.