Heinlein

[chuckro]

Robert Heinlein: "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

Of those, I am very certain I can (because I have already done): Write a sonnet, balance accounts, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, and cook a tasty meal.

I am moderately certain that, if called upon, I could: Build a wall, comfort the dying, pitch manure, and die gallantly.

With a little training (as I have the basic required skills), I could probably manage: Change a diaper, butcher a hog, and program a computer.

I would need extensive training/practice to: Plan an invasion, conn a ship, design a building, or fight efficiently.

What about you?

Comments

[cubby-t-bear.livejournal.com]

I have already:

Balanced accounts, built a wall (a most messed up crooked wall, but a wall nonetheless), taken orders, given orders, cooperated, acted alone, solved equations, analyzed problems, pitched manure (my parents generally did not give us chores. However, when they felt remorse about this, they tended to go overboard), programmed a computer.

I'm fairly sure that with just a bit of work (no more than 1 year of lifespan of training and practice), I could learn to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog (most messily), conn a ship, design a building, set a bone, comfort the dying, fight efficiently, and perhaps die gallantly (one can never know about this last til it's put to the test, something I desire to delay).

I'm sure that it would take a minor act of God for me to write a sonnet or cook a tasty meal.

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

Ok, I can teach you to diaper a baby in 15 minutes, max. It's not actually hard. Maybe a little yucky, but not difficult.

They never said that the tasty meal had to be elaborate, or even that it had to be dinner. Or from scratch. Can you make scrambled eggs? Pancakes-from-a-box? Noodles and sauce? Grill hot dogs? Make sandwiches?

[chuckro.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking some cooking lessons are in order the next time you're in NJ for an extended period. I want to be responsible for a minor act of God.

[maydove.livejournal.com]

If writing sonnets you find much too hard,
then think of them as mathematical,
and rather than a minor act of God,
a patterned string of rhythmic syllables!

[cubby-t-bear.livejournal.com]

:-P Full points, Winter!

[maydove.livejournal.com]

Yay! I can use those points for, uh, things! Things that are good!
(Minor technicality: I'm Autumn until December 21. :P)