Sally Shlaer

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Sally Shlaer was a renowned co-author of the Shlaer-Mellor object oriented analysis and design method. Sally proved once and for all that a woman geek is more than just great looks and high glamour...

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• What is your programming language of choice?

  Don't we all have a special place in our hearts for the first language we learned? In my case, it is assemblique.

• What is your favorite operating system?

  Anything other than Windows.

• Do you have a hero or role model?

  Stephen Hawking: for stamina and for having/developing the ability to work deep problems without the assistance of pencil, paper, etc.

• What is your favorite kind of music?

  For most situations and states of mind, any classical music from Bach to Howard Hanson. For melancholy moments, songs by Gordon Lightfoot.

• What is your favorite news group?

  ca.earthquakes. I enjoy the rational discourse, principled arguments, and clear distinction between opinion and verifiable fact. And I like that (1) the participants are willing to stick to a single definition of a term throughout a thread, rather than changing the definition with every article or paragraph and (2) flame any kooks who wander by.

  Alas, I read comp.object for comedic relief.

• What is your favorite web page (besides geekchic!)?

  www.projtech.com. Then Car Talk (http://cartalk.com/).

• What sports do you enjoy?

  Currently there are two favorites. The first is Treasure Hunt. The game is announced by "Sally, have you seen my [ car keys | sun glasses | homework | office keys | radio | shaver | blue disk | car keys | to-do list | book that I was using an hour ago | slippers | watch | wallet, etc. ].

  The other one is Potholder Pounce. Here my dog pounces on a potholder (or pencil or homework or car keys or . . .) and shows his prize to the other participants. The winner is the person who (a) retrieves the item while (b) it is still sufficiently intact to be useful.

• What kind of car do you drive?

  A blue one.

• What hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?

  Playing with my puppy (9 months old, 100 lbs., and still growing), cooking, and raising vegetables.

• What is your favorite book (or author)?

  Most non-fiction -- facts, reasoning, explication, philosophy. For example:

  • Assembling California (popular geology)
  • Mahda Jaffrey's Indian Cooking
  • Thailand, the Beautiful Cookbook
  • Non-fiction articles from the New Yorker before the tenure of the present editor.
  • Sue Bender's Plain and Simple

• What is your favorite movie?

  Tampopo, The Funeral, and anything else starring Nobuko Miyamoto and directed by Juzo Itami. Also, The Wedding Banquet.

• What sort of clothing do you usually wear to work?

  Have you ever heard of anyone doing great geek work wearing panty hose and heels? When I'm really working, I wear sweat pants, an old sweatshirt, and worn-out running shoes. Tres Californique, n'est-ce pas?

• What is your favorite food?

  Tonight, rogan josh with spinach/lentil dal. Yesterday, a clam pasta. Tomorrow, probably something Thai. I rotate mostly between Indian, Thai, Tuscan, and Californian food. Accompany with an appropriate wine and serve to articulate, informed geeks for a yummy evening.