douglas made me do it too

As per Wolk and Matos, here is some q&a when I should be doing something...else?

What is the oldest article of clothing still in active use in your wardrobe?

T-shirt from Cape Hatteras, NC. I have a photo of myself in it when the thing came down to my knees. Now it is an adorable mostly see through shirt-like rag with a dop of orange paint from when I painted my Ten Eyck apartment. It's okay though because the sun is orange. It's like a scratch on your favorite record - it's part of the shirt now.

If you were to pass along to a child (offspring, godchild, favorite young person you hope to influence for the better) a lifelong passion for one thing, what would it be?

Living in truth, like Vaclav Havel said.

What's the one website or periodical that you read which nobody would expect you to?

Well, I used to have a subscription to Old News, which was this paper that just printed old headline stories from history. I'd get a copy and it would say, "Titanic sunk!" but if you know me well, you would know this sort of thing amuses me.

Does there ever come a point when [insert interviewee's occupation] becomes kind of arbitrary to you?

I had to reread this question, and look at Matos and Douglas' responses to get it. So, re Douglas' response: I mostly interview musicians, and that makes that part of their life sort of an even playing field. Since I believe that the act of creating is beautiful and worthy of thought (the anthro side to my critical product mind), I am endlessly fascinated with motivations, which are the hardest thing to be honest and thoughtful about, I think.

Re: Matos' answer. I went through a big 'wtf rock criticism' phase a few years ago, known as THE DARK YEAR of living in Philadelphia. Grad school, great jobs and being around good people has changed that. I love what I do, mostly, and want to go forth and prosper. And I'm good at it, mostly, which makes it not so arbitrary. I once served Polish Water Ice on the Jersey boardwalk, now that was a random job (but hey, I can make a perfect swirl on top of an ice cream cone, so...)

What is one album/book/movie you have not heard/read/seen but which you really should to be doing what you do, and how do you work around that?

Craig Marks once publically shamed me for not having seen Heathers. Honestly, there are so many things I haven't seen/read/listened to - it makes it hard to sleep in. and Yes, I did go rent Heathers.

What superstitions do you follow or have you made up for yourself?

This was my question. I have so many I've thought about making a handbook to being my friend, with lists of bizarre things to expect. Have to eat the left half of the fortune cookie, read the fortune and swallow, then eat the rest of the cookie. No one has noticed before, that it's a system.

What happened the first time you danced?

Who knows? I'm sure I was too little. I remember two early dancing things. Jazz lessons, step ball change to Janet Jackson. Wouldn't go to the recital because I looked scrawny in tights. Also, seventh grade mixed middle school dance, wearing a purple button down long sleeve shirt and ruffle skirt I bought at FASHION BUG, looking very Amy Grant and wanting to dance with somebody to End of the Road, when my arch enemy got up and lip-synched "Welcome to the Jungle" and the whole gym applauded his performance - being like wtf, he's so punk rock. He died in a car accident in high school, leaving me on a quest for worthy enemies ever since.

What was the first piece of art (book, song, film, painting, building, etc.) that changed your life? What happened? How do you regard that work now?

Soluble Fish. ha ha ha. Language is arbitrary, words have meaning that involves context, but they also have sounds and feelings. Holy shit! I haven't read that stuff in years, but maybe I'll take it to Prague.

If you could choose to understand one thing in much greater depth than the other, what would it be -- your roots or your current surroundings, and why?

Oh, current surroundings. Who cares about 'my roots'? This is an unbalanced question, and I believe history is in the present, so the present no doubt.

How do you like your eggs?

I just started eating eggs when I lived in Providence, so I haven't had all the ways in a toque. I'm being scientific about it, but for now I'll just say a veggie garbage omelet.