Oh, we have a daily newspaper (which we think is one of the only quality papers in Austria), then I have a mag called "Read on" with texts on recent events in easy English which I use on my students. Then "Der Skeptiker" a mag for Critical Thinking (with lots of debunking of pseudo-scientific bullshit). That's about it, I guess.

Favourite non-fictional book?

"Die Landschnecken Nord- und Mitteleuropas", which is a very extensive field guide to the land snails of Europe and the best book to classify any snails you might stumble upon.

Have you ever won a competition?

Not really won, but when I was about 16, they had a competition on the radio called: "Sommerbeschäftigung 1992" where they wanted people to send in the best things to do in the summer. So I sent in some facts about rpg (and even made up a sample game dialogue), and I won the third prize, two tickets for the theater. Just when they announced the winners, I was not at home (they would have called me) and so I was not on air. They actually acted out the dialogue in the radio... So roleplaying was the third best summer pastime in 1992 in Switzerland (I lived there then).

Your favourite pastime (besides rpgs of any kind)?

I spent a lot of time on my pets. Besides that, video games, and making costumes and props for Larp or just for fun.

Same question!

Right now my favorite pastime is working on our house and yard. It is very therapeutic, and we are finally making some really noticeable progress. After Thanksgiving we'll be ready to drop some more money and have the rest of the construction work done in the basement. Then some painting, some finishing, and a little decorating and the basement will be ready to rent.

Anyone need a place to stay. We're cheap.

Same question!

Looking after the kids as well as reading philosophy. I also really enjoy watching DVDs with my wife. Since we have the kids, going to the movies is almost nonexistant, so we kind of enjoy watching DVDs (no babysitter, no expensive snacks, no driving around in the car...)

What kind of house/apartment do you live in? Do you own it or rent it? Do you like it?

It's a rented apartment under the roof, so it has a lot of slanting ceiling, which is slightly annoying if you have lots of high bookshelves. It's pretty spacious - 4 rooms, a big balcony and a part of the garden. The rent is low, but that's because it is in a very small village in the middle of nowhere. Which really is its biggest disadvantage.

Same question

We live in a big old house that we bought this year. It has taken a lot of time and money to get it to this point, but it's been worth it. We have more time and a lot more money to go before we're done, but once the basement apartment is rented that should speed things along.





Same question.

We bought a small semi-detached house in the middle of nowhere in Austria, near Linz.
maps.google.at/maps?f=...235229&z=8
We bought it newly built (and could put in our ideas in designing it) though it mostly belongs to our bank at the moment. It is a semi-detached house with three floors and a cellar (about 150 sq m).

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Why?

Grimbold wrote:

though it mostly belongs to our bank at the moment

Boy do I know that feeling.

If I could live anywhere, without any other considerations other than want (like taxes, work opportunities, cost of living, etc.), I'd probably live in one of the more remote towns in Hawaii off the big, touristy islands. I love the tropical environment, but I'd hate to be in the middle of a tourist town.

Come to think of it, I'm pretty happy right here in the woods.

Same question.

I guess I would live in the SF bay area, or in Fribourg, a small town in Switzerland (where I grew up).

Same question (again).

Practicable option: The city where I went to university, Jena. Still have a lot of friends there.
Otherwise: Somewhere at the seaside. In Brittany, perhaps, or Scandinavia.

What is your favorite ocean/sea?

The Pacific. Though it has been some time since I last were there. Close second is the Mediterranean at the Pelloponnes in Greece or perhaps Crete.

Favourite river/lake?

My current favorite lake is the little lake behind my house that has no name. It is so quaint.

Same question.

The Amazon River, because of the amazing wildlife and the rain-forest.

Which piece of software do you dislike most?