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comment by mike
mike  ·  3638 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The "Get to know Me" Thread

Nice idea goldbludgeon! That's an unusual handle, what does it refer to?

My name's Mike. I'm American but I live in Norway. My hobbies are as weird as yours.

- I'm a father of 3 teenagers. They are awesome.

- I'm a math guy. I've taught every level from preschool to university. Middle school is my favorite.

- I was a circus artist (I did juggling, trapeze, slack wire, and clowing) and graduate of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Clown College. I've performed with three circuses when I was in my 20s.

- I play guitar and piano. Not so good. But I like to write songs. Currently secretly writing songs with steve. Don't tell anyone.

- I make math art. http://nakedgeometry.com, for example.

- I just bought a viking camp last week that I'll be turning into a mathematics creativity center. It's the gutsiest thing I've ever done. http://matematikkbølgen.com

- I got tenure in the US and gave it up to move to Norway. I got tenure in Norway and I'm giving that up to run my own business. I think math in schools entirely misses the point. This makes me unpopular with some of my colleagues. But popular with the downtrodden. Thus my soon-to-be break with the establishment.

- I like cool mathy things, such as puzzles, logic, balloon animals, magic, music, games of all kinds

- I like scifi movies and tv. I don't read books like I should. Instead I read hubski.

- I write. Articles, a novel, children's books, poetry. I perform in a play every year.

- I have a dog. And a cat. They don't like each other. But they like me.

- I have uncurable cancer (how's that for mood-killer?) I've had more unpleasant medical procedures in the last 3 years than a human should be allowed. I'm doing pretty damn good right now and should last for a while.

- I hate sleeping

- I have a few bitcoin. I bought my first one at $600. I like watching them lose value. mk tells me I'll be rich someday. I believe him. If I go broke, I'm going to sleep on his couch.

- I'm a member of a secret organization. We meet every year. And sometimes throw axes.





goldbludgeon  ·  3638 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Hi Mike!

Goldbludgeon was the last name of the first ever character I rolled for DnD. His full name was Ricamross Goldbludgeon, he was a alcoholic dwarf fighter. He first entered the story line by being thrown through the tavern wall by a troll. He was a fun character.

Mike, you sound like an awesome guy. It really blows that you got stuck with cancer, ( incurable at that ) but it sounds like it has made you into who you are now, which is awesome. Your hobbies are rocking. I love that you graduated from the Ringling Brothers College. That blows my mind.

mike  ·  3637 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I think my first DnD character was Norrin the Barbarian, straight from the first Basic D&D set. This must have been around 1980. I don't remember what the stock adventure was called (anyone?) I do remember it had a big building and caves underneath. We finished the building and instead of going back to town and leveling up, we went down into the caves and met level 2 monsters. The first wandering monster we met was a carrion crawler and it killed the entire party. So much for Norrin the Barbarian.

user-inactivated  ·  3638 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    - I was a circus artist (I did juggling, trapeze, slack wire, and clowing) and graduate of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Clown College. I've performed with three circuses when I was in my 20s.

My mother went to Clown College. Frosty Little used to come say 'hi' when we went to the circus, but I was too young to know I should have been impressed. When were you there?

mike  ·  3637 days ago  ·  link  ·  

No way! Tell your mom Mike from class of '93 says hey. Frosty Little was a legend, his name whispered in awe in alleys... Lucky you!

user-inactivated  ·  3638 days ago  ·  link  ·  
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