Antmeister
07-28-2008, 12:49 PM
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Toms River, New Jersey. Was born in Point Pleasant hospital and lived for the first five years of my life in Lakewood, New Jersey. But I don't remember all that much from Lakewood. My parents tell me that we lived in the same apartment complex as Mookie Wilson, though we moved in 1985 (interesting timing, eh?). Then we moved to Toms River.
The interesting thing about this is the two places I grew up in NJ, at some point won the Little League World Series, though Lakewood did it before I was born. I don't know what that means, but its a nice coincidence... if Decatur or Roswell, GA wins the LLWS at any point in the future, all credit goes to me. Seriously.
What brought you to the FOFC?
To be honest, FOF. I was gladly surfing my way through the internet. Chatting mostly on forums devoted to Civilization type games and reading up on sports, news, as well as doing... ahem... other things, when I saw an NFL sim. I believe it was FOF 2001. I saw a few screenshots, downloaded, played it for a while, but I was far more hooked on the forum and the personalities on the forums. That seems to be a recurring theme. I hardly play games anymore (I have a bunch that are unfinished). I keep coming back to the forum communities every day though. You peoples are addictive.
Have you ever played werewolf?
No. Next question.
Do you have any superpowers?
I... uh... know esoteric facts about history that really don't apply to anything else. Then again, on the interwebs... that's not exactly a superpower. I guess I could tell you that I can leap tall buildings in a single bound... but that would be lying. And I don't lie... unless I have to, or its a woman. Or when I feel like it.
What do you do for fun? What do you do for money?
You mean aside from posting here? ;)
Well, I watch plenty of movies, and I think my DVR hates me with all the TV shows I record and watch, and on the weekends I tend to out to dinner with my friends quite a bit, but try not to get too drunk since I still live in Roswell, a suburb, and drive into the city to see my friends.
For money, I work as Pension Investigator for the United States Department of Labor. I make sure employers aren't stealing pension or health care money from participants. It pays decently enough.
How long do you expect to live?
Is "forever" not a proper answer here? I'd hope I'll live to my 90s. I don't smoke or anything and don't drink all that much. I'm relatively healthy, especially since I've been working out far more lately and dropped weight.
What do you look like?
I'm a 5'11'' male who is 3/4 Pakistani and 1/4 Turk (my maternal grandfather was Turkish). I have black hair, brown eyes (big shock being a Pakistani orgin, eh?) and look of average build.
How did you get your username?
It was really tough. It was the initial of my first name and my entire last name. Took me like 3 weeks to come up with it ;).
What sports do you follow?
Baseball, American football (college and pro), Soccer, sometimes Hockey (but much less now its on Versus).
And I'll watch a variety of sports when they are on the Olympics, but not really otherwise (well, unless its Curling... Curling freaking rules!)
I've even watched a bit of cricket a few times and found it wasn't all that bad (well, as long as you don't watch all day... this is why Twenty20 is a godsend for the casual fan).
As for American football. It's interesting. When I was younger, I liked the pro game MUCH more and liked the college game, but didn't care if I missed a Saturday of games. Now, it's the opposite. And its not really because I'm in the South, where they care about college football (they don't really in the North). I think I like the college game because of all the different styles they have. You even have teams playing the option. By contrast the pro game is stale and boring in its variety of play styles.
Which are your favorite teams?
New York Mets (MLB)
Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
Newcastle United (EPL)
New Jersey Devils (NHL)
I used to like the San Francisco 49ers way back when, but they lost me along the way and I had a bit of a gap (I kind of rooted for the NY Jets, but not really) when I moved to Atlanta, so I took the local team.
I also kind of liked the San Francisco Giants, and still root for them to do well. Since seeing a game in Tampa, I want the Rays to kick some ass as well (Tampa is a fun town, btw).
Why or how did they become your favorite teams?
Oops, I think I already expounded on the Falcons. As for the Mets and Devils, I'm from Jersey and don't really like to jump on the local bandwagon, so I couldn't root for the Yankees or NY Giants (though I did root for them against the Pats, because I freaking hate the Pats). Besides Yankee fans and Giants fans when I was a kid, in my school, were jerks.
Newcastle was because I really liked Alan Shearer and he played for that squad. If I got into the EPL in 1994, I may have been a Blackburn supporter... the world will never know :D.
What do you do for a living?
It's the same thing as what I do for money... I wonder, why the seperate generic questions? You trying to trick someone into telling you that they sell naked pictures of themselves on the internet for money (Pumpy, I think they are looking at you!!)?
Do you have any post-secondary education? if so, where?
Well, I went to Rutgers College, Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, NJ for undergrad from 1998 to 2002. There I double majored in Political Science and Economics and minored in History. Then went to Emory Law School from 2002-2005.
How did you stumble on FOFC?
See above.
Are you married? Have a common law partner? Have kids?
Not married... but sometimes it felt like it my on again, off again girlfriend of six years. Now I'm free!!! And its kind of nice.
What would you say is some of your favorite music?
I am actually branching out currently into more indie rock. I've liked classic rock for years and then went into a country phase (which I'm out of) and really got into the blues. So right now I'm enjoying indie rock, classic rock, and the blues (including blues rock). I also am looking for more eclectic stuff, such as stuff that mixes genres (especially indie rock and electronica)
So artists indicative of what I'm listening to these days are:
The White Stripes
Spoon
The Black Keys
The Kills
Franz Ferdinand
Led Zeppelin
The Who
What would you say are some of your favorite movies?
Oh jeez... considering all the movie threads I've been involved in, this could be a combustable answer ;).
Let's see:
Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Life of Brian
The Empire Strikes Back
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Doctor Strangelove
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
A Clockwork Orange
The Royal Tennenbaums
Princess Bride
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
The Big Lebowski
O'Brother Where Are Thou
There Will Be Blood
The Truman Show
Shakespeare in Love
Annie Hall
Bull Durham
and The Dark Knight is getting some consideration by me, but I'll have to see it again when it comes out on DVD.
Where were you born?
See above.
Where have you lived and where do you live now? Do you have any opinions on the places you have lived in?
I originally lived in Ocean County, New Jersey, not far from the shore. I really enjoyed it there. Though going back recently realized it doesn't really change all that much. Doesn't get all too many new stores or anything, at least in Toms River at any rate. Maybe I'm spoiled by the rapid growth in Georgia. The beach and boardwalk (at Seaside Heights) is still very nice though.
New Brunswick, NJ wasn't bad. But I lived in the nice collegy area with lots of young people having fun, booze, and restaurants to cater to them. So may have been somewhat rose colored glasses ;).
I've liked Decatur and Roswell in Georgia so far. Currently in Roswell, but I think I'm planning on moving back in the city area (or rather inside the perimeter) to be closer to the fun.
Do you play any sports? Have you played any sports in the past? Are there sports you want to try out?
Currently, no. I did play soccer for about 11 years or so in my childhood and enjoyed it greatly. I played Little League Baseball for like 2 seasons because my parents wanted me to play. I actually don't think I got a single hit. This was before I actually liked baseball too.
I'd like to try out Curling (it's the sport, people!!), but I'm not fond of ice... that could be an issue.
Happiest moment of your life?
I guess not really a "moment" (so what, I'm cheating... it's my thing): Sophomore and Junior years of college at Rutgers. Sophomore year I ended up Leupp Hall, which is somewhere I didn't want to be. For one, no high speed internet and small ass rooms (requiring bunked beds). But it actually ended up to be great since the floors were so small (like 10 rooms a floor) that I became pretty close with everyone on my floor during the year and became pretty good friends with a lot of them. Much different (and IMO, better) than being on a floor of 50 rooms. Then I decided to room with one of them (my best bud, Jon) for my Junior year. Jon was 21, which meant the alcohol was flowing in our room and we had a blast hanging out together. He was probably the best buddy I ever had and it was sad when we lost touch.
I was also the President of the Rutgers College Republicans and Vice President for the Rutgers Association for International Relations at the time and met some cool people through those groups.
Also towards the end of Junior year I started dating my other close friend and we were having a great time.
Saddest moment of your life?
My parents are both still alive (knock on wood), so its a breakup story. The same woman who was "my other close friend" in the vignette above, 6 years later, after breaking up and dating off and on, we finally got 'officially' back together, only to irrevocably break up 2 months later. That last week or two was utterly heartwrenching and painful for me.
Though it served as the catalyst to really reconnect closely with some of my old college friends (thanks Facebook!), so silver linings... and she was bad for me, I realized later (at least my friends say so.. whether they are being nice... well... who knows).
If you had to re-live one moment in your life, what would it be?
Well, I think the person I am today is a result of everything that happened to me, so I think all the joys and pains are something I wouldn't want to change, but I will say the last time I talked to my friend Jon was over cell phone a year after he graduated and I was in my Senior year. I would have taken better care of his cell phone number and not have lost it right afterwards (maybe put it in my wallet or something). I probably could have used his counsel in the last few years. That's not really a moment, I guess.
What regrets do you have?
To preface, my parents are fairly religious and don't approve of me "dating". That's not how it works in Islam. So, I wasn't fully forthcoming with the fact that I dated, which was really quite a problem when I got involved in a serious relationship. They knew I was in one, and I kind of knew that they knew, but it was like an unspoken agreement not to talk about it. After I moved to Atlanta, I should have been forceful in making it clear and telling them they had to deal with it. Sure, the relationship ended sour, but it would have been healthier for me to do so (and would have forced me to grow some balls).
Then again, if the relationship still went sour over another reason, I may regretted having my parents not talk to me for a while as a result of stepping up. But perhaps that would have been the better route.
And sometimes I regret being so open with my life among others.... perhaps like now ;).
Do you consider yourself to be an introvert or an extrovert?
Most of my friends would call me an extrovert, but that's because they know me. I tend to be shy a bit among people I don't know that well. Once they get to know me, I open up and become my plesantly wierd self.
What is your favorite catch phrase?
"That's what she said"
What are your top 5 movies?
I have to rank some of those movies? Crap!!!
1) Empire Strikes Back
2) Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail
3) Bull Durham
4) There Will Be Blood
5) The Big Lebowski
What would you do with 1 million bucks? 10 million?
With 1 million bucks, I'd pay down my student loan debts and my car loans. I'd purchase a decent house in either Atlanta or Decatur (inside the permiter for the win!), buy a new 1080p flat screen TV and perhaps a few computers and save the rest.
With 10 mil... all of the above, and probably buy a bigger house in Atlanta (maybe worth a couple mil), get a Porsche 911, and travel around the world a bit (taking some of my friends to fun and exotic locales). Maybe get a second home on the coast of France. :D Also give a bit to my parents and perhaps my brother to get a house.
You're at a party and as it progresses, everyone strips naked and jumps in the pool, do you join?
Sure. Why not?
What's your beverage of choice?
A nice fairly dark beer or a martini (gin, of course, with 2 olives).
As for non-alcoholic: Coke Zero or Pomegranate juice.
I grew up in Toms River, New Jersey. Was born in Point Pleasant hospital and lived for the first five years of my life in Lakewood, New Jersey. But I don't remember all that much from Lakewood. My parents tell me that we lived in the same apartment complex as Mookie Wilson, though we moved in 1985 (interesting timing, eh?). Then we moved to Toms River.
The interesting thing about this is the two places I grew up in NJ, at some point won the Little League World Series, though Lakewood did it before I was born. I don't know what that means, but its a nice coincidence... if Decatur or Roswell, GA wins the LLWS at any point in the future, all credit goes to me. Seriously.
What brought you to the FOFC?
To be honest, FOF. I was gladly surfing my way through the internet. Chatting mostly on forums devoted to Civilization type games and reading up on sports, news, as well as doing... ahem... other things, when I saw an NFL sim. I believe it was FOF 2001. I saw a few screenshots, downloaded, played it for a while, but I was far more hooked on the forum and the personalities on the forums. That seems to be a recurring theme. I hardly play games anymore (I have a bunch that are unfinished). I keep coming back to the forum communities every day though. You peoples are addictive.
Have you ever played werewolf?
No. Next question.
Do you have any superpowers?
I... uh... know esoteric facts about history that really don't apply to anything else. Then again, on the interwebs... that's not exactly a superpower. I guess I could tell you that I can leap tall buildings in a single bound... but that would be lying. And I don't lie... unless I have to, or its a woman. Or when I feel like it.
What do you do for fun? What do you do for money?
You mean aside from posting here? ;)
Well, I watch plenty of movies, and I think my DVR hates me with all the TV shows I record and watch, and on the weekends I tend to out to dinner with my friends quite a bit, but try not to get too drunk since I still live in Roswell, a suburb, and drive into the city to see my friends.
For money, I work as Pension Investigator for the United States Department of Labor. I make sure employers aren't stealing pension or health care money from participants. It pays decently enough.
How long do you expect to live?
Is "forever" not a proper answer here? I'd hope I'll live to my 90s. I don't smoke or anything and don't drink all that much. I'm relatively healthy, especially since I've been working out far more lately and dropped weight.
What do you look like?
I'm a 5'11'' male who is 3/4 Pakistani and 1/4 Turk (my maternal grandfather was Turkish). I have black hair, brown eyes (big shock being a Pakistani orgin, eh?) and look of average build.
How did you get your username?
It was really tough. It was the initial of my first name and my entire last name. Took me like 3 weeks to come up with it ;).
What sports do you follow?
Baseball, American football (college and pro), Soccer, sometimes Hockey (but much less now its on Versus).
And I'll watch a variety of sports when they are on the Olympics, but not really otherwise (well, unless its Curling... Curling freaking rules!)
I've even watched a bit of cricket a few times and found it wasn't all that bad (well, as long as you don't watch all day... this is why Twenty20 is a godsend for the casual fan).
As for American football. It's interesting. When I was younger, I liked the pro game MUCH more and liked the college game, but didn't care if I missed a Saturday of games. Now, it's the opposite. And its not really because I'm in the South, where they care about college football (they don't really in the North). I think I like the college game because of all the different styles they have. You even have teams playing the option. By contrast the pro game is stale and boring in its variety of play styles.
Which are your favorite teams?
New York Mets (MLB)
Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
Newcastle United (EPL)
New Jersey Devils (NHL)
I used to like the San Francisco 49ers way back when, but they lost me along the way and I had a bit of a gap (I kind of rooted for the NY Jets, but not really) when I moved to Atlanta, so I took the local team.
I also kind of liked the San Francisco Giants, and still root for them to do well. Since seeing a game in Tampa, I want the Rays to kick some ass as well (Tampa is a fun town, btw).
Why or how did they become your favorite teams?
Oops, I think I already expounded on the Falcons. As for the Mets and Devils, I'm from Jersey and don't really like to jump on the local bandwagon, so I couldn't root for the Yankees or NY Giants (though I did root for them against the Pats, because I freaking hate the Pats). Besides Yankee fans and Giants fans when I was a kid, in my school, were jerks.
Newcastle was because I really liked Alan Shearer and he played for that squad. If I got into the EPL in 1994, I may have been a Blackburn supporter... the world will never know :D.
What do you do for a living?
It's the same thing as what I do for money... I wonder, why the seperate generic questions? You trying to trick someone into telling you that they sell naked pictures of themselves on the internet for money (Pumpy, I think they are looking at you!!)?
Do you have any post-secondary education? if so, where?
Well, I went to Rutgers College, Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, NJ for undergrad from 1998 to 2002. There I double majored in Political Science and Economics and minored in History. Then went to Emory Law School from 2002-2005.
How did you stumble on FOFC?
See above.
Are you married? Have a common law partner? Have kids?
Not married... but sometimes it felt like it my on again, off again girlfriend of six years. Now I'm free!!! And its kind of nice.
What would you say is some of your favorite music?
I am actually branching out currently into more indie rock. I've liked classic rock for years and then went into a country phase (which I'm out of) and really got into the blues. So right now I'm enjoying indie rock, classic rock, and the blues (including blues rock). I also am looking for more eclectic stuff, such as stuff that mixes genres (especially indie rock and electronica)
So artists indicative of what I'm listening to these days are:
The White Stripes
Spoon
The Black Keys
The Kills
Franz Ferdinand
Led Zeppelin
The Who
What would you say are some of your favorite movies?
Oh jeez... considering all the movie threads I've been involved in, this could be a combustable answer ;).
Let's see:
Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Life of Brian
The Empire Strikes Back
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Doctor Strangelove
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
A Clockwork Orange
The Royal Tennenbaums
Princess Bride
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
The Big Lebowski
O'Brother Where Are Thou
There Will Be Blood
The Truman Show
Shakespeare in Love
Annie Hall
Bull Durham
and The Dark Knight is getting some consideration by me, but I'll have to see it again when it comes out on DVD.
Where were you born?
See above.
Where have you lived and where do you live now? Do you have any opinions on the places you have lived in?
I originally lived in Ocean County, New Jersey, not far from the shore. I really enjoyed it there. Though going back recently realized it doesn't really change all that much. Doesn't get all too many new stores or anything, at least in Toms River at any rate. Maybe I'm spoiled by the rapid growth in Georgia. The beach and boardwalk (at Seaside Heights) is still very nice though.
New Brunswick, NJ wasn't bad. But I lived in the nice collegy area with lots of young people having fun, booze, and restaurants to cater to them. So may have been somewhat rose colored glasses ;).
I've liked Decatur and Roswell in Georgia so far. Currently in Roswell, but I think I'm planning on moving back in the city area (or rather inside the perimeter) to be closer to the fun.
Do you play any sports? Have you played any sports in the past? Are there sports you want to try out?
Currently, no. I did play soccer for about 11 years or so in my childhood and enjoyed it greatly. I played Little League Baseball for like 2 seasons because my parents wanted me to play. I actually don't think I got a single hit. This was before I actually liked baseball too.
I'd like to try out Curling (it's the sport, people!!), but I'm not fond of ice... that could be an issue.
Happiest moment of your life?
I guess not really a "moment" (so what, I'm cheating... it's my thing): Sophomore and Junior years of college at Rutgers. Sophomore year I ended up Leupp Hall, which is somewhere I didn't want to be. For one, no high speed internet and small ass rooms (requiring bunked beds). But it actually ended up to be great since the floors were so small (like 10 rooms a floor) that I became pretty close with everyone on my floor during the year and became pretty good friends with a lot of them. Much different (and IMO, better) than being on a floor of 50 rooms. Then I decided to room with one of them (my best bud, Jon) for my Junior year. Jon was 21, which meant the alcohol was flowing in our room and we had a blast hanging out together. He was probably the best buddy I ever had and it was sad when we lost touch.
I was also the President of the Rutgers College Republicans and Vice President for the Rutgers Association for International Relations at the time and met some cool people through those groups.
Also towards the end of Junior year I started dating my other close friend and we were having a great time.
Saddest moment of your life?
My parents are both still alive (knock on wood), so its a breakup story. The same woman who was "my other close friend" in the vignette above, 6 years later, after breaking up and dating off and on, we finally got 'officially' back together, only to irrevocably break up 2 months later. That last week or two was utterly heartwrenching and painful for me.
Though it served as the catalyst to really reconnect closely with some of my old college friends (thanks Facebook!), so silver linings... and she was bad for me, I realized later (at least my friends say so.. whether they are being nice... well... who knows).
If you had to re-live one moment in your life, what would it be?
Well, I think the person I am today is a result of everything that happened to me, so I think all the joys and pains are something I wouldn't want to change, but I will say the last time I talked to my friend Jon was over cell phone a year after he graduated and I was in my Senior year. I would have taken better care of his cell phone number and not have lost it right afterwards (maybe put it in my wallet or something). I probably could have used his counsel in the last few years. That's not really a moment, I guess.
What regrets do you have?
To preface, my parents are fairly religious and don't approve of me "dating". That's not how it works in Islam. So, I wasn't fully forthcoming with the fact that I dated, which was really quite a problem when I got involved in a serious relationship. They knew I was in one, and I kind of knew that they knew, but it was like an unspoken agreement not to talk about it. After I moved to Atlanta, I should have been forceful in making it clear and telling them they had to deal with it. Sure, the relationship ended sour, but it would have been healthier for me to do so (and would have forced me to grow some balls).
Then again, if the relationship still went sour over another reason, I may regretted having my parents not talk to me for a while as a result of stepping up. But perhaps that would have been the better route.
And sometimes I regret being so open with my life among others.... perhaps like now ;).
Do you consider yourself to be an introvert or an extrovert?
Most of my friends would call me an extrovert, but that's because they know me. I tend to be shy a bit among people I don't know that well. Once they get to know me, I open up and become my plesantly wierd self.
What is your favorite catch phrase?
"That's what she said"
What are your top 5 movies?
I have to rank some of those movies? Crap!!!
1) Empire Strikes Back
2) Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail
3) Bull Durham
4) There Will Be Blood
5) The Big Lebowski
What would you do with 1 million bucks? 10 million?
With 1 million bucks, I'd pay down my student loan debts and my car loans. I'd purchase a decent house in either Atlanta or Decatur (inside the permiter for the win!), buy a new 1080p flat screen TV and perhaps a few computers and save the rest.
With 10 mil... all of the above, and probably buy a bigger house in Atlanta (maybe worth a couple mil), get a Porsche 911, and travel around the world a bit (taking some of my friends to fun and exotic locales). Maybe get a second home on the coast of France. :D Also give a bit to my parents and perhaps my brother to get a house.
You're at a party and as it progresses, everyone strips naked and jumps in the pool, do you join?
Sure. Why not?
What's your beverage of choice?
A nice fairly dark beer or a martini (gin, of course, with 2 olives).
As for non-alcoholic: Coke Zero or Pomegranate juice.