Occupation and Kendo

[Sinta]

Okay, as I browsed through this place a bit, I've noticed a lot of Kendokas who are either full time students or are involved with IT like I am (Oracle Programmer/Business Management/IT in General).

I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post it, but I'm really curious just as to what your occupation is and how it affects your kendo, or how kendo affects your occupation.

I'm also curious as to see just how many IT-orientated people are into Kendo ;) Quite surprisingly we have a good few in here.

[qpuppy]

IT personal here.... but wanna head into a cooking industry... wanna be a chef.... :p .....FOOOOOOOOOOOD

[nodachi]

Currently eikaiwa teacher, previously and afterwards, high school mathematics teacher.

Kendo affects me by being fun, and I hope to create a club in the school I teach at with the help of the local dojos. Doing extracurricular activities tend to make you more of a person in a school and not just another "bastard" teacher that is out to make life difficult for the students. I makes the teaching easier because the kids don't just look at the negative aspects of you like your giving homework and grading them. Sometimes gets you a little more respect from some of the students.

:)

[alexpollijr]

I'm also part of an IT team (Network Security). I work at an University in Southern Brazil and practice kendo in the same University, so it comes quite handy I'd say. I just step out from work and step into the dojo which is just around the corner.

[burger boy]

I'm an IT guy too....mainframe programmer (no dinosaur jokes please!)

No real relationship between my occupation and kendo except that it pays a pretty good buck and allows me to buy all of my kendo toys!

burger boy

[emitbrownne]

Mainframe programmer also.......

I believe I am coming to the way of thinking expressed by Nishi when asked what he does for a living..
'Kendo! My work is a way of funding my obsession.'

Nishi: sorry if this isnt exactly right :p

[GMason]

EmmitBrownne.....

Mainframe Programmer ...... HA HA HA ....I suppose someone has to use the green screens .....:D :D

Netware/NT Support..... Down with NT long live Netware (I wish :( )

[sminki]

finance/investment banker.

kendo relieves stress, puts things in perspective. there are kendo concepts which are extremely useful in every day life such as fudoshin, shiki, zanshin, etc. which helps me mentally in living everyday life in the business world.

[emitbrownne]

GMason: In this fast paced whiz kid techno geek world.. I do not sit staring at a green screen..... grrrr

There are 6 colours on my mainframe session :D

:tired: Multicoloured text and black background does wonders for the eyes... thats why my men cuts are wonky :D

[Tato]

When occupied, IT, on sales and management, but I've done my bit of programing and a project manager.

I've relized that there's a lot of IT people here.

Rei

[Neil Gendzwill]

I'm also a software geek. I work for SED Systems here in Saskatoon. We do mostly ground systems to support the satellite industry, a lot of systems to monitor, test and control satellites and the associated networks. I'm currently working on the frequency management for Inmarsat's upcoming digital satellite network. Before this, I was working on the secure access control for XM Satellite Radio. We do our servers in C++ and our GUIs in Java.

[Sinta]

LOL wow, this is just the first few hours after I put this thread up, but it seems we do have a good bit of IT people here...

To specify my IT stuff, I specialize in Oracle Databanks ... and soon after a bit of training the coming months Java ^-^ *is still a beginner*

[GMason]

I have noticed a trend here.

All these people who are listed here, have quite high post rates, and work in IT. Does this mean we all do nothing apart from surf the web ???

:D :D :D

[Aaron]

Sorry, not an IT.
Elementary school teacher.

I quit my old Eikaiwa job because I wanted more time to
go to the dojo.

[Sinta]

Originally posted by GMason
I have noticed a trend here.

All these people who are listed here, have quite high post rates, and work in IT. Does this mean we all do nothing apart from surf the web ???

:D :D :D

.....na, not really.. ^-^ oops wait, boss's coming *switches to unix screen* dum dee dum dum dumm.... ^

Surfing Kendokas ^_^ What are we doing surfing?!? Back to training people *shinaii smacksmacksmack*

[Paburo]

aaah one more IT guy here. mostly Hardware/Network related. But i also do some Web Developing stuff.

how does my job affect Kendo and viceversa?

well, i'm the webmaster of our dojo's site (http://kenwakai.org/esp.htm). most likely the biggest page in spanish about kendo :D

we get a LOT(i mean a lot) of new people since i first put our page on the net and search engines. i'm glad i have the chance of helping promote the kendo around here in a way. all of you kenshi out there who want more students i suggest you build a page too!

also, i want to know from all the IT here, who else is webmaster of their dojo's page?? (i only know max is so far). we could create some sort of link exchange or IKSF(international kendo sites federation) and rule the world :D :D :D

[alexpollijr]

I happen to be

www.nanbukan.hpg.com.br

[Sinta]

Paburo - I visited your site ^-^ Wonderful! Simple yet effective layout and style. I enjoyed browsing through it. Especially looking through the picture gallery. I'm going to make a point of visiting your club if ever I find myself in Madrid ^-^.

I'm not webmaster of my dojo's page. I leave that to my sempai. But I help out in it. I'm also creating my own webpage for my interests (mainly kendo) but I still have to put it up *lazylazySinty* tsk tsk.

[Neil Gendzwill]

I'm webmaster of www.kendo-sask.com. But I don't put a ton of effort into it other than updating the news now and again.

[Old Warrior]

This is an interesting thread. I took up Karate in the 1960's and turned to European Fencing in the 1980's as my body aged. Only recently did I discover Kumdo.

I have been a practicing lawyer for 29 years and my life has been spent in the trenches of better controversies. The one terrific benefit of the study of combat type arts is the ability to maintain focus under great stress. All of my pursuits have enabled me to withstand tremendous amounts of pressure without coming unglued or getting rattled. Also, those people who enter my personal space for intimidation purposes - don't bother me at all. The reality is that if any of these types could read my mind (as I size up their weak pysical points, contemplate a crippling attack or prepare for the possibility of an uprovoked assault) they would wet their pants.

The second marvelous benefit is the ability to release tension and stress in a healthy environment. And, the pursuit makes for great cocktail party conversation. Given the choice of chatting with a golfer or a kenshi - most will choose the kenshi.

[KhawMengLee]

Currently, Accounts Management trainee at Frontline advertising.

At the moment its all good but I forsee lots of travelling in the future...this can be good or bad. Good because I get to visit dojos all over the globe, bad because training may not always be possible and quite irregular...:(

www.frontlinedisplay.com

[Raígma]

I have no job. Well I was delivering newspaper but I quit today.
Maybe I´ll get another job to have some money for the upcoming shinai.

I still go to school . I will be on this school for 2 more years and after... let´s see. I have no idea and no direction for any job.

[JSchmidt]

Creature Technical Director on some silly movie about a ring.

Jakob

[alch]

Creature Technical Director on some silly movie about a ring.

Gee, you're actually part of the Lord of the Rings crew? Now *that* sounds like a great job. :)

[Kenshi]

I hate IT and want to move out of it asap! Application/Web development.

These are mine:

http://www.kendo.org.uk/

and

http://www.edinburghkendo.co.uk/

Constructive comments welcomed!

[Tako-kun]

Hee Hee, manning the Hell-Desk here! And though I'm just beginning, I expect kendo to help me continue to avoid IT-induced butt accretion ^__^

Mike Geen

[mingshi]

The development of Martial Arts (especially minor ones outside Japan) relies heavily on the web. Ever notice how many beginners your club gets every year, comparing with those days without modems (at a decent speed)? Anyone who had stayed in the same dojo will see what I mean... It's all about publicity. Any dojo with a crappy site can get more new-comers than one without it, which sadly, also applies to certain McDojos.

Other than IT (which barely counts), there are limited jobs related to Kendo:-
Japanese Police
Japanese PE teacher
Researcher/ Professor
Bodogu-repairer/ maker


Originally posted by Raígma
I still go to school . I will be on this school for 2 more years and after... let´s see. I have no idea and no direction for any job.

Hey, I'm graduating from university in 3 months, so I should be the one worrying about getting a decent job... When I grow up I want to be in the police!!! :D

[Hyaku]

I work for a Buddhist University. I am a present based at the Kyushu Campus with a College, Junior/High School, Kindergarten.

About 2000 students altogether.

My work like the rest of the staff changes from year to year (two weeks left)

This year it involved Administration/Guidance, teaching Kendo, and a few complimentary English classes.

I hope to do the same next year and I expect I will. As you get older in the Japan the job gets easier and the salary rises.

I have a few websites and do some others in Japanese.

http://www.sword.shorturl.com/

http://www.moalboal.shorturl.com

http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/hibakusha/index.html

http://www.angelfire.com/blues2/abyss/

Hyaku

[kendokamax]

studying in IT.....

[Paburo]

whoa... never thought there would be so many webmasters here.

when you have time, please stop by to sign the brand new 'World Kendo Dojo Link Map'.

http://kenwakai.org/eng.htm

p.s. yeah i know it's a cheap bravenet service, but i'm too lazy now to make something decent

[nodachi]

Sounds like if you are looking to promote kendo, post an ad where the IT people will see it. There were what so far... maybe 4 people who aren't, and the rest of you are all IT people???

Wow!!!

[Karaken]

I don't think Kendo has to do anything with IT.. Kendo WEB, however, has something to do with IT.. Yes, I'm a EE, ex-system programmer doing an outsourcing management for the biggest IT company there is..

[kendomushi]

Previously (for 15 years) an USAF medic, the past 4 years working in IT (hardware maintenance, database design, user training, internal web page design, network troubleshooting for a company working on all the US bases outside the US - I'm responsible for all the sites we have in mainland Japan). Been doing kendo for 10 years. Originally kendo didn't have much effect on my job, but now sitting at a desk most of the time kendo is one of the few things that keep me from becomming a total couch potato.
Our club, the Yokota Air Base Kendo Club has just started a homepage, still very much a work in progress..........
http://www2.gol.com/users/kendomushi

[Henning]

I actually thought it was a coincident that almost half of the people in our dojo have it related jobs or are studying it at university level.
Now it looks like the trend is the same elsewhere. I wonder what the connection is....

[kendokamax]

Karaken raise a good point..
There is a higher chance that people going on forum etc have a job related to IT...

a bunch of kendo geeks,

maybe we will should order a pizza for the night.

[Marine_Boy]

I am currently working in an aeronautical / mechanical engineering firm and all computer network problems etc. are the evil brainchild of all you evil IT people and adminstrators!:D

ArrrrrrGggggggggg!

I can't really say how kendo has affected the way I work because I have not studied it for that long. But from a general MA point of view (of which I have been in slightly longer than kendo), I find that I am kind and pleasent to all those I meet and I carry out work with (well more or less) the same amount of determination as I have with my MA studies.

Stan

[Sinta]

Originally posted by Marine_Boy
..and all computer network problems etc. are the evil brainchild of all you evil IT people and adminstrators!:D

ArrrrrrGggggggggg!


OMG!! Someone has finally found us out.. Our objective has been lost! Retrieve retrieve!!


sinta7m101> cd /marine_boy/head/brain
sinta7m101> ll
sinta7m101> rm brain.log
sinta7m101> run brainwash.exe
sinta7m101> flag Have a nice day! :D

[sparc]

I gave up the IT scene after quite a few years as well as getting out of a dead end mainframe operations/systems administrator gig. Was getting a bit sick of repairing printers and working some nasty 16 hour+/day shifts.

Now I repair radio transceivers and work as an auto electrician. :)

Yep, I still get roped into fixing the occasional computer or doing a bit of consulting. :D

[Ostrak]

Prior military (Marine for 6 years) and current law student.
Unfortunately, I don't think I've been studying Kendo for long enough to say it has had an effect on me.

[stevemcgee99]

Kendo affect my work by wearing me out, so I on't get to the shop as early as I could.

Also, I just designed a bogu drying rack. Maybe I'll start to produce kendo accessories?

[Nishi]

I am a rehabilitation coach for people who have aquired a traumatic head/brain injury. I help re-introduce daily living skills back into the lives of people who have suffered ABI. I chose this work because it humbles me, and gives me a chance to put somthing back into society.
If i live a straight life, I will have a straight mind, i will cut straight. If i cut straight, i can live a straight life.

[lucian]

Jungle warfare instructor & Para for nearly 8yrs, now a techy mcse nt4 & 2k & studying for Novell & Cisco, I joined kendo to stop the rapid health decline that is achieved from sitting at a pc all day
I think kendo is a little different for me other people I talk to enjoy the thrill of fighting but shiai bores me (but its fun a lot more fun that sitting at a pc), I love the mental side of kendo & iai I love the control & discipline plus I missed weapons too much

L
�yEagles may soar, but weasels don�ft get sucked in to jet engines �z

[Karaken]

Nishi, have you ever seen people who have aquired a traumatic head/brain injury from Kendo? :-) Sorry I couldn't resist..

When I had dental surgery - I realized how powerful MEN can really be..

Center only..

[Critical_Bill]

hehe, dare i even say that i'm an IT guy too? hmm
how about just choosing one of these:
carpenter, mason, mover, soldier, cinema projectionist or surgeons aide.

all of which i've been at one time or another :) hehe
(mostly to put myself through studying IT)

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Another IT bod Im afraid. Im currently Businness Develeopment Manager for Oracle 9iAS in the UK but before that mainly OO technology consultant (Java and Smalltalk) and before that an Academic

I wonder if IT people are drawn to the 'violent' aspect of kendo because of the work or the people at work, or the technology or whether IT peole are just a bit peculiar full stop ;-)

My dojo has a couple of IT people, skilled manual workers, a teacher, a couple of project managers and a necromancer (no im not kidding but his day job is running a bar) so id say we are a pretty inclusive bunch

cheers
Phil..

[Sinta]

Originally posted by PhilMcLaughlin

I wonder if IT people are drawn to the 'violent' aspect of kendo because of the work or the people at work, or the technology or whether IT peole are just a bit peculiar full stop ;-)


peculiar *noddlesnoddles* ^_^ We have that certain Im-going-to-take-it-apart Gene. We're a special breed! Be proud :) LOl

Oracle 9i? We just had that installed onto our system (finally!) What does the AS stand for?

[Ares2907]

Necromancer eh?
sounds like a masochist to me - surely he'll never stop hearing the 'flogging a dead horse' jokes.

[nodachi]

Do tell me, what exactly does a necromancer do? Too many years of Dungeons and Dragons is making me falsely percieve what this might actually be... :)

[Tato]

Hmmm...

D&D? It can be worst! he can be a secret worshiper of the Chutlu! :cyclops:

Ok, we're a bunch of weird people, we work (mostly) in IT, we love manga (or French new BD in my case), SF, etc.

I understand why the rest of humankind regards us that way, we are hopeless.

:D :D

Rei

[kendokamax]

a bunch of geek

when i was younger i used to play magic the gathering with as much passion i'm playing kendo now.

hahahhaa

[PhilMcLaughlin]

For the benefit of ares2907 who probably ought to get out more ;-)

necromancer (noun) -
1. one who practices magic or sorcery
Synonyms: sorcerer, magician, wizard

[Neil Gendzwill]

Hi, Phil. Necromancy has a further connotation of involving magic related to raising or communicating with the dead, usually for nefarious purposes. In short, anyone who tells you he's a necromancer is either yanking your chain, waaaay too much into whatever roleplaying game or in serious need of therapy.

[nodachi]

I am not disrespecting the people who can actually talk to the dead or see the future. I know it sounds retarded, but I know of one person who was fairly accurate at foreseeing the future. Wasn't always perfect, but it was close enough to not be a coincidence. Sometimes these people are on the level.

However, yes, too many roleplaying games can rot the brain, and no disrespect intended, I was an RPG dork too.

[sjp]

What a serious bunch you (Neil & nodachi).

Simon (our wizard) does need therapy as do the rest of the dojo.
They are without doubt a bunch of nutters.

But they take the kendo seriously at the same time as retaining a sense of humour.

[Marine_Boy]

Hasn't anyone here played Diablo 2 on the PC? The necromancer raises the dead as his minions to create an army of dead!

But if it's role playing games we talking about, I'd rather be a barbarian and hack & slash my way through things!

Stan

[angryshinai]

lol.... I was studying IT but have changed...

Im going to be an accountant now : )

[titus]

As a career, will probably eventually go into investment banking or advertising/PR. Worked a summer job in Hong Kong at Morgan Stanley, and another one in Shanghai at China International Capital Corporation. Also got into a couple good law schools last year but turned them all down, realised I didn't want to be a lawyer when I actually met a whole bunch of law students (although, in contrast, I get along very well with practising lawyers around my parents age, they seem very different, might just be a generational thing).

sminki: Who do you work for, if you don't mind my asking? I'd be interested to know about your experiences.

KwahMeng: How do you like working at Frontline? Advertising is my other major career I'm thinking about, as an Account Executive and not a Creative.

[KhawMengLee]

Titus: I just sent you a PM discussing this.

[Stan]

Just to go on record and to prove that not all kendoka are IT people...I am a futures trader. Before the the Montreal Exchange went electronic I was a pit trader. Thats right, I would yell and scream all day buying and selling things in a "pit" with another 150 men. Now with electronic trading things are not quite as exciting....actually you IT folks kinda screwed it all up for me.:angry:

[LadyGinevra73]

I'm an IT too ;) : programmer in Javascript, HTML, Stweb and others for web-oriented work..
Kendo is my antistress medicine after 8 hours in front of a screen and with the phone ringing every minute !!! :dead:

[nollaig]

Currently a Mechanical Engineering Student (4th year)
so should be writing up my Final year report!!!

but as soon as I'm finished(2 months) I'm going back to working my first love

I'm a steel fabricator by trade and I love working with my hands

for all the IT people out there
I'm a cross between a blacksmith and a welder

But back to an old thread

Kendo and Uni students

would it have anything to do with higher IQ's and logical minds???

any one with an answer?

[Raiza]

Since I've seen some pretty stupid and/or illogical people at university, I'd have to say no to the argument that
university = logic = kendo-freak.
IMHO, it's more like
university = more recreational programs and facilities + lots o' stress to get rid of = kendo-freak

My university sensei encouraged us to use logical and rational thinking in our kendo, and I have to say we turned out pretty well. I heard someone say that Kyoto University is so successful for that reason.

If you got a whole bunch of young people together and the athletic department is supportive, you've got a really good beginner base. The sensei can just take it from there.

As for the non-IT people, you're not alone. I'm a toxicologist. IT people are more likely to use forums, that's all.

How has kendo affected my job?
1) I spend my breaks reading and posting on KWF.
2) I don't sweat the small stuff.
3) I act more decisively.
4) If asked to go to a conference out of town, I try to figure out if, when and where I can visit a dojo there.
5) People are less likely to try to boss me around when they find out what I do for fun. ;)

How has my job affected my kendo?
1) I try to use a rational approach with continuous refining.
2) I like the fact I'm a little blue after practise.
3) I can look up obscure kendo-related scientific research and understand what it means. What little there is in English...
4) I now have more time and money to do/get kendo stuff than I did at university. No more starving student lifestyle for me! Woohoo!

[Hai_hai]

I've been in IT for 5 years and kendo for less than a year.
Kendo doesn't affect my work. I sometimes limp around cubicle-land on the day after practice if a callous gets worn off. :(

[Confound]

Do I ever feel like a lamer. I'm in the profession that is too shameful to name (living off the avails of the Japanese government, eg: JET Programme). Really, I'll be honestly employed in the near future. Maybe.

I'm trained as a sociologist, but I'd wager that Alexwould argue that I'd make a better Nazi. Unfortunately, my career ambitions aren't in that direction. I'd like to work in correspondence journalism. Not exactly IT.

Raiza, you're absolutely right about university=logic=kendo-freak being a flawed argument. I blame it all on anime, manga and video games. It might make an interesting paper topic, however. Come to think of it, it would definately make an interesting paper topic.

c

[LNGUYEN]

Am I the only Civil Engineer here?

[Ares2907]

I thought the term was an oxymoron.
There's nothing civil about any of the engineers I associate with
;-)

[LNGUYEN]

Hi Ares, what did they do to you?
Without us Men, people are still primitive, not house, building, pyramid, road, bridge, sewer line, airport, harbor, golf course, tunnel, etc.
We serve the cilvilization!

[srt]

I'm not a civil engineer, but close - I'm a chemical engineer (by education and registration) working in the environmental field. After 15 years on the private industry side as a consultant, I changed sides and now work for the local government agency trying to clean up a hazardous waste site.

Haven't been doing kendo long enough to see any effect on my job yet - except that I make sure I get out of the office in plenty of time to get to the dojo, and surfing KWF a before and after work, and sometimes during lunch.

[Hongsermeier]

Looks like I'm the only one here. Working for the US Navy, civil service. I get the enjoyment of playing watch dog over our programmers. Making sure they follow all the rules. :cross_eye

[Ares2907]

Who was it that said God was a Civil Engineer?

(Human beings are proof - Only a civil engineer would put a waste outlet right next to a recreational facility)

[Hai_hai]

Originally posted by Hongsermeier
Looks like I'm the only one here. Working for the US Navy, civil service. I get the enjoyment of playing watch dog over our programmers. Making sure they follow all the rules. :cross_eye

Isn't working for the US Navy considered military service?

[LNGUYEN]

Hey Ares, what ever you said, proof it. Beside, what you mean by waste outlet? like raw sewers, you dumps, or what? There are no raw sewer outlet, they have to be treated at the plans.

[Hongsermeier]

Hai hai....active duty is considered military service. I finished that over 7 years ago. No more uniforms or BS. Still getting paid by the same people. :cross_eye

[hobbit]

Guess what? 22 years in Royal Navy, Medic and later IT systems, left and went into IT support, but now working for NHS (not in IT) as a Biomedical Scientist.:beard:

[LNGUYEN]

Hey Ares, reread your last post, it is funny.

I just remember a joke, sorry if any one offend.

Arthur Davidson, of the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Corporation, died and went to heaven.

At the gates, St. Peter told Arthur, "Since you've been such a good man and your motorcycles have changed the world, your reward is that you can hang out with anyone you want in Heaven."

Arthur thought about it for a minute and then said, "Well, shoot, I want to hang out with God!"

So St. Peter took Arthur to the Throne Room, and introduced him to God.

Arthur then asked God, "Hey, aren't you the inventor of the woman?"

God said, "Ah, yes."

"Well," said Arthur, "Professional to professional, you have some major design flaws in your invention:

1. There's too much inconsistency in the front-end protrusion.
2. It chatters constantly at high speeds.
3. Most of the rear ends are too soft and wobble too much.
4. The intake is placed way too close to the exhaust.
And finally,
5. The maintenance costs are outrageous."

"Hmmmm, you may have some good points there," replied God. "Hold on." God went over to his Celestial super computer, typed in a few words and waited for the results.

The computer printed out a slip of paper and God read it. "Well, it may be true that my invention is flawed," God said to Arthur, but according to these numbers, more men are riding my invention than yours.

[Kiki]

Hong - it’s always nice to know the people benefiting from my tax dollars :)

I am a Jack of many trades in motion picture advertising: print production coordinator, ad trafficking, design etc. Right now we are between films and I am probably spending too much time here but soon there will be no rest. In the old days I worked on a drafting table now I am on a MAC - which I love but it forces me to constantly fight the dreaded disease “Mac-Ass”.

Working for the studios can make you want to hit someone with a stick. Kendo is a great stress reliever. I am too tired to care about petty crap afterward keiko and can sleep well.
Besides all that, I really enjoy the new friends, the physical & mental challenge and the healthy competition. Kendo helps to keep my mind/body/spirit healthy in a very unhealthy biz.

My co-workers often spend hours matching PMS color chips to my bruises.

[samurai999]

Everybodys either a Mech, Civie or Elec engineer. Any Aerospace engineers like me out there? :)

Tim

[Goomba]

I work for the City of Los Angeles library department. I'm a lackey/part time IT kid. I just graduated from college with a degree in telecommunications. Unfortunatly I cannot be a full time student anymore, so I will be a full time IT kid in a few months.

And how does kendo influence my job? I spend a lot of time doing research at work using our computers. So naturally I end up surfing a fair amount of the day. But I get to find out alot interesting kendo info and movie clips.

[Inouye02]

i'm a Electrician/Contractor,

[IRJ]

Fulltime student.

School is the major thing that cuts into my kendo. I miss alot of practices because of papers and studying.

[aru-ma]

part student, part free-timer, all kendo-baka
:D

[Flashman]

Physician, endocrinologist and diabetes specialist. Like Old Warrior I come late to kendo from a European fencing background (foilist). Got tired of the politics of fencing in my division and several of my fencing friends were in the kendo club as well. Got drug over and here I am.

[junkyman]

I process home loans.

[Marine_Boy]

Hey samurai999, I trained as an aero engineer.

Stan

[D'Artagnan]

i am studying toward becoming a professional Photographer.

But in the meantime i'm a skivvy in a draughting office.

[KhawMengLee]

Oi! Stan! when are you gonna take us to the RPG test fire range? I wanna blow something up!

[Hongsermeier]

KML..now that sounds like fun!!! :cross_eye

[KhawMengLee]

Yeah...mmm...weapons of mass destruction....

[Hongsermeier]

I work with missles for the navy, but they won't let me shoot any. Something about the 1 million dollar price tag. :cross_eye

[LNGUYEN]

Can you attach a shinai to the missile to deliver a MEEEEEEEEEEEEEN?

[Hongsermeier]

Cool idea, but I don't think it would stay on for long. :cross_eye

[LNGUYEN]

Use Carbon shinai, it is virtually indestructable.

[Marine_Boy]

Meng,

I can take you along to a test firing, but I'd have to kill you...

You have a choice. Be blown to bits with a missile or a kendo death match.

Stan:D :D

[KhawMengLee]

haha...done deal...see ya at Wakaba on Saturday. I'll bring my special shinai(aka. The Guv'nor) just for you:D

[MadMartigan]

hmmm…I am a full time student, and err...have no idea what I am going to do with my life after I graduate, probably end up in some dark ally way and join the other bums like me. Ahhh…what I bright future I have.

[KhawMengLee]

Yes...left to rot in a hanging cage...then again, if you marry Sorsha and save the annoying baby you get to be King...:P

[lewis]

Several engineering degrees and a law degree. Since I write patents on software for a BIG software giant, you might consider me an IT guy. But I prefer writing patents on nanotechnology.

Like Old Warrior, the competition in Kendo and Brazilian Ju Jitsu allows me to keep tense legal moments in perspective. But I also used to design and run hazardous waste treatment systems and making sure everybody lived through the day was far more stressful than any legal situation I've ever been in.

[chidokan]

I'm an engineer who hates IT alleged 'help desk' people.... yes I CAN switch a computer on, no I wouldnt ring you if the computer was working properly, due to your inadequate programming skills its gone wrong again and Ive lost half an hours work, the server needs essential maintenance during office hours is not an acceptable excuse, etc etc.. rant rant...
If you guys were engineers you'd be sacked by the end of the week. Which other group of designers would dare put out products and then ask the customer to see if it went wrong and offer to repair it later? Would you accept that for your car's brakes? hmmmm....

On a serious note my plant manager now thinks it a challenge to try and intimidate me, like he bullies his staff ( he's a little man with a big chip on his shoulder)... for some reason he gets upset when I just take it in my stride. IPPON to me I think! Also I am the only person in my office with good posture at my desk, the rest all complain of back problems...

Tim 'I feel better for that' Hamilton