What’s the biggest lie the internet has created?
That being a journalist is easy. Anyone can do it. Every asshat with an internet connection thinks they are the next Woodward & Bernstein. Myself included.
Thanks to Craiglist, newspapers are disappearing. With them goes the art of real storytelling, and editing. Editing is everything! I write at last 3 times as much as I publish. Everything comes out at once in a barf like stream of consciousness. Generally, this is after a piece has been gestating in my head for a few months (or even years). Then, I start to knock it down. I am always too wordy. Is every line necessary? After a few days of this, I often just abandon the piece as not being as clever or interesting as I thought it was.
This is where I need and editor. An outside voice to focus and direct me. I haven’t one, because I am a lone wolf. From what very, very, very little I know of the craft of writing… its 10% inspiration and the other half is perspiration (with all regards to Yogi Berra).
What free things online should everyone take advantage of?
Geography. Sure, you know there is porn and free music. Those are fine things, indeed. What about places you want to go? Cruise the streets of Rome on your own time. With all this google street stuff, you can walk down the thousand year old alleys of Dublin with a drink by your laptop and imagine this is where all the greats came to throw up after their 18th rendition of ‘Danny Boy’. Haven’t you wanted to go to Spain? Look at these buildings! These are not photoshopped, and were designed long before LSD was stumbled upon.
Learning music is also super awesome with the internet. I learned to play guitar long before the internet. If I wanted to learn a long, I would have to rewind the cassette tape and listen to it over and over and over and over again. Maybe 50 or a 100 times to figure out how they played something. Now, I can go online and be playing the song within 5 minutes. It isn’t just a cheat. To me, it makes great art and great creative minds accessible
What is a hobby you can get into for almost no money?
arsonMylar balloon launching!
What is something that you used to be a cheap ass on, until you tried the high-quality version, and now you can’t go back?
There is one thing I say that is so true it hurts. I find myself repeating it almost daily in conversation – you get what you pay for. Clothes, I guess. Let’s start there. All of my undershirts are polo. I love them. They are crazy soft, and cost about $10 each when you catch them on sale. I won’t wear anything else, and they last for years and years. Also, pans.
What do your friends or coworkers love, and you don’t give a fuck about?
Game of Thrones
I am Correct 