Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
OMG! THIS IS WIN x20!
So Garth told me last week that he was going to get to interview Dan Savage via email and asked me to think of some questions to ask...so I fired off some questions off the top of my head that I thought would be interesting and entertaining. Today, Garth posted the interview on his blog, and he totally answered my questions! YAYZ. Also he answered the questions Garth asked, obviously. It's a quick and entertaining read, and Dan rules so hard for being willing to do it. I'm cross-posting the interview here, or follow the link above to read it at Garth's blog, babyfight.com
Babyfight: Where did you grow up? (Wikipedia has you moving from Madison to Seattle to start "Hey Faggot!", but doesn't go into a lot of detail about your childhood) What kind of surroundings did you live in (small town, big city, backwoods shack, etc)? Where did you go to school?
Dan Savage: I grew up on the northside of Chicago, in a neighborhood called Rogers Park (There's no apostrophe). I grew up in a two-flat that my great-grandfather owned, where my grandmother and mother grew up before me. It was a very Irish, very traditional childhood. Lots of aunts and uncles around, grandparents right downstairs, a big Catholic Church at one end of our block, a funeral home at the other, a bakery and a bar between. Everything we needed. I attended Catholic grade schools, two Catholic high schools, one public high school (I moved around a bit), then went to the U of I in downstate Illinois for college. After college I moved to Europe for a couple of years, then Madison, then Seattle....
What's it like being a dad?
It's like having a heroin problem. When it's good, man, it's total bliss. The best drug EVER. When it's bad, man, it's miserable -- you don't think it's possible to be more miserable, and you wonder why you ever picked up that needle.
Some people call you a polarizing figure, especially in Seattle and the Northwest. What would you say to that?
Some people are dumbfucks. Or is that too polarizing?
[Ed. Note: Not at all. ]
A while ago, you gained some considerable press coverage for the "santorum" campaign. What was the experience like? Are you still getting comment/media attention on that? Anyone else you can think of in the bully pulpit that deserves the treatment?
The santorum thing was poetry -- and it was as much my readers' doing as mine. A "Savage Love" reader suggested coming up with an new definition for santorum, and I was smart enough to recognize a good idea when I saw one and ran the letter. Then I sorted through suggestions from readers and ran their best suggested definitions and let the readers pick the winner. My readers decided on the winning definition -- "the frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex." It was a collective effort. I get all the credit, but all I did was facilitate -- and then promote the hell out of it, of course.
I get letters every day pointing me to stories about politicians or preachers that have said something stupid, and folks are always suggesting that I give these guys the "santorum" treatment too. I don't think lightening will strike twice, though. Maybe sometime -- maybe if Huckabee is the GOP nominee.
The Seattle P-I has an article about a modeling gig at the Gage Academy which you claimed "I'm coming starkers or I'm not coming at all." Did you model in the buff, or did you keep the duds on? What was the experience like?
Oh, no. I stayed dressed. I don't like being naked in front of my boyfriend, for crying out loud. I just wanted them to think I was going to show up naked. I'd sooner lick the inside of #7 bus clean than stand before a room full of art students bare-ass naked.
Teen 'zine type fluff questions: Favorite music? Movies? TV? Comedians? Anything that comes to mind.
Love musicals, pop music that includes piano -- Elton John, Billy Joel, Scissor Sisters. Don't get to see many movies, being a parent. Loves me my John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Bill Maher.
Any new projects or exciting goings-on coming up?
Just focused on the Stranger right now -- the blog, the column, the three-picture deal.
[Meta-questions from Marie]
Have you ever answered a question in your column you were pretty certain was fake, just because it was funny/entertaining?
Oh, sure. A question just has to be plausible. I mean, every question is, for all readers save one, a hypothetical. I don't run bullshit for the hell of it, but if it's a really good, compelling question and yet I have my doubts... well, sometimes I run it anyway. Readers have to remember, though, that I see the entire letter, they see edited versions. Lots of corroborating detail is omitted due to space limitations. And since the mail all comes via email I can get in touch with people who email me very easily. Sometimes a letter seems incredible but after an email exchange and perhaps a phone call, I'm convinced and I run with it.
What surprises you most about the positive/negative reactions you get? (I don't know whether the positive reaction angle or the negative reaction angle would be more interesting..haha)
What surprises me most is that people seem to think that sending me a nasty email is going to make me cry. Uh... gee. I've been at this a while, and whatever you through at me, well, I've probably heard worse by now, you know? Don't like my advice? Think I'm a jerk? Well, fine. Read someone else, or get your own advice column. No one has to read, no one has to ask for my advice.
Is there one thing you wish you never had to say in an answer again?
"Please stop having unprotected anal sex with strangers."
Babyfight: Where did you grow up? (Wikipedia has you moving from Madison to Seattle to start "Hey Faggot!", but doesn't go into a lot of detail about your childhood) What kind of surroundings did you live in (small town, big city, backwoods shack, etc)? Where did you go to school?
Dan Savage: I grew up on the northside of Chicago, in a neighborhood called Rogers Park (There's no apostrophe). I grew up in a two-flat that my great-grandfather owned, where my grandmother and mother grew up before me. It was a very Irish, very traditional childhood. Lots of aunts and uncles around, grandparents right downstairs, a big Catholic Church at one end of our block, a funeral home at the other, a bakery and a bar between. Everything we needed. I attended Catholic grade schools, two Catholic high schools, one public high school (I moved around a bit), then went to the U of I in downstate Illinois for college. After college I moved to Europe for a couple of years, then Madison, then Seattle....
What's it like being a dad?
It's like having a heroin problem. When it's good, man, it's total bliss. The best drug EVER. When it's bad, man, it's miserable -- you don't think it's possible to be more miserable, and you wonder why you ever picked up that needle.
Some people call you a polarizing figure, especially in Seattle and the Northwest. What would you say to that?
Some people are dumbfucks. Or is that too polarizing?
[Ed. Note: Not at all. ]
A while ago, you gained some considerable press coverage for the "santorum" campaign. What was the experience like? Are you still getting comment/media attention on that? Anyone else you can think of in the bully pulpit that deserves the treatment?
The santorum thing was poetry -- and it was as much my readers' doing as mine. A "Savage Love" reader suggested coming up with an new definition for santorum, and I was smart enough to recognize a good idea when I saw one and ran the letter. Then I sorted through suggestions from readers and ran their best suggested definitions and let the readers pick the winner. My readers decided on the winning definition -- "the frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex." It was a collective effort. I get all the credit, but all I did was facilitate -- and then promote the hell out of it, of course.
I get letters every day pointing me to stories about politicians or preachers that have said something stupid, and folks are always suggesting that I give these guys the "santorum" treatment too. I don't think lightening will strike twice, though. Maybe sometime -- maybe if Huckabee is the GOP nominee.
The Seattle P-I has an article about a modeling gig at the Gage Academy which you claimed "I'm coming starkers or I'm not coming at all." Did you model in the buff, or did you keep the duds on? What was the experience like?
Oh, no. I stayed dressed. I don't like being naked in front of my boyfriend, for crying out loud. I just wanted them to think I was going to show up naked. I'd sooner lick the inside of #7 bus clean than stand before a room full of art students bare-ass naked.
Teen 'zine type fluff questions: Favorite music? Movies? TV? Comedians? Anything that comes to mind.
Love musicals, pop music that includes piano -- Elton John, Billy Joel, Scissor Sisters. Don't get to see many movies, being a parent. Loves me my John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Bill Maher.
Any new projects or exciting goings-on coming up?
Just focused on the Stranger right now -- the blog, the column, the three-picture deal.
[Meta-questions from Marie]
Have you ever answered a question in your column you were pretty certain was fake, just because it was funny/entertaining?
Oh, sure. A question just has to be plausible. I mean, every question is, for all readers save one, a hypothetical. I don't run bullshit for the hell of it, but if it's a really good, compelling question and yet I have my doubts... well, sometimes I run it anyway. Readers have to remember, though, that I see the entire letter, they see edited versions. Lots of corroborating detail is omitted due to space limitations. And since the mail all comes via email I can get in touch with people who email me very easily. Sometimes a letter seems incredible but after an email exchange and perhaps a phone call, I'm convinced and I run with it.
What surprises you most about the positive/negative reactions you get? (I don't know whether the positive reaction angle or the negative reaction angle would be more interesting..haha)
What surprises me most is that people seem to think that sending me a nasty email is going to make me cry. Uh... gee. I've been at this a while, and whatever you through at me, well, I've probably heard worse by now, you know? Don't like my advice? Think I'm a jerk? Well, fine. Read someone else, or get your own advice column. No one has to read, no one has to ask for my advice.
Is there one thing you wish you never had to say in an answer again?
"Please stop having unprotected anal sex with strangers."
This is my song for today:
Ryan Adams - Wish You Were Here (mp3 link)
Cotton candy and a rotten mouth
You know you're so fucked up
You know I couldn't help but have it for you
And everybody knows the way I walk
And knows the way I talk
And knows the way I feel about you
It's all a bunch of shit
And there's nothing to do around here
It's totally fucked up
I'm totally fucked up
Wish you were here
And streets that only turn to boulevards
And houses with back yards
and it's raining like hell on the cars
And everybody knows the way I walk
And knows the way I talk
Knows the way I feel about you
It's all a bunch of shit
And there's nothing to do around here
It's totally fucked
I'm totally fucked
Wish you were here
And if I could have my way
We'd take some drugs
And we'd smile
We'd smile
We'd smile
But not tonight, my dear
Wish you were here
Wish you were here
Wish you were here
Wish you were here
Ryan Adams should really look into marrying me. Stat.
Cotton candy and a rotten mouth
You know you're so fucked up
You know I couldn't help but have it for you
And everybody knows the way I walk
And knows the way I talk
And knows the way I feel about you
It's all a bunch of shit
And there's nothing to do around here
It's totally fucked up
I'm totally fucked up
Wish you were here
And streets that only turn to boulevards
And houses with back yards
and it's raining like hell on the cars
And everybody knows the way I walk
And knows the way I talk
Knows the way I feel about you
It's all a bunch of shit
And there's nothing to do around here
It's totally fucked
I'm totally fucked
Wish you were here
And if I could have my way
We'd take some drugs
And we'd smile
We'd smile
We'd smile
But not tonight, my dear
Wish you were here
Wish you were here
Wish you were here
Wish you were here
Ryan Adams should really look into marrying me. Stat.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Links for 2008-01-13 [del.icio.us]
- Anti-Castro terror in South Florida | Salon News
"Anti-Castro Cuban exiles who have been linked to bombings and assassinations are living free in Miami. Does the U.S. government have a double standard when it comes to terror?"
Saturday, January 12, 2008
HA
[14:19] primaluxsum: i just printed out tickets for a ronald paul
[14:19] Chris: ahahaha
[14:19] Chris: he's going to pay you with gold coins with his own face on them
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Links for 2008-01-09 [del.icio.us]
- Anthony Bourdain | The A.V. Club
Really great interview. - SuicideGirls > News > Politics > Fuck Ron Paul
Hear Hear. - Serious Eats: Recipes: Cook the Book: Portobello Panini with Gorgonzola and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Ohm nom nom. Jesus this sounds good. - VeganYumYum » Slow Rise Pizza Dough
POW.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Monday, January 07, 2008
Neuro from the nerves, the silver paths. Romancer. Necromancer. I call up the dead. But no, my friend, I am the dead, and their land
I just heard they're making a Neuromancer movie. Staring Hayden Fucking Christensen. And directed by the dude who directed the Britney Spears video "Toxic". And the movie "Torque". I wanna vomit a little. And maybe cry.
In much cooler news, David Fincher is making a film of the Fitzgerald story "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Yayz. IMDB page is here. I don't know how I feel about Brad Pitt playing the title role. But it's sure as shit better than Hayden Fucking Christensen.
In much cooler news, David Fincher is making a film of the Fitzgerald story "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Yayz. IMDB page is here. I don't know how I feel about Brad Pitt playing the title role. But it's sure as shit better than Hayden Fucking Christensen.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Thursday, January 03, 2008
New Year's Eve Fantastical Karaoke Adventure Party
See the rest of the pictures here.
2008 so far has rocked. I've got high hopes and big plans. And I will leave you with this gem:
Sam Adams Honey Porter tastes delicious. The End.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Links for 2007-12-30 [del.icio.us]
- Brake job - Instructables - DIY, How To, ride, diy
I'm learning how to do my brakes. POW!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
A few quick updates:
First, pictures!
We went down to the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights a couple of weeks ago. The theme was pirates! Pictures I took from Tuna Harbor are here. (I put them and the Xmas pics in my other picasa gallery, the "family-safe" one. Ha.)
I took a few pics on Xmas with the family, they're here.
And finally, I made zucchini-chocolate biscotti for my mom and Scott for Xmas, and it turned out amazingly good, even though I was totally winging it, recipe-wise. The recipe is over at Cooking in Esco.
We went down to the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights a couple of weeks ago. The theme was pirates! Pictures I took from Tuna Harbor are here. (I put them and the Xmas pics in my other picasa gallery, the "family-safe" one. Ha.)
I took a few pics on Xmas with the family, they're here.
And finally, I made zucchini-chocolate biscotti for my mom and Scott for Xmas, and it turned out amazingly good, even though I was totally winging it, recipe-wise. The recipe is over at Cooking in Esco.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Links for 2007-12-26 [del.icio.us]
- Cool Stuff: Batcave Home Theater | /Film
I am soooo jealous of whoever has this in their house.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Vandals Winter Formal
It ruled. They covered "America. Fuck Yeah!" from Team America and for the last encore, Warren did a mash-up of "The First Noel" and Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" and it was amazing. I paid 6 bucks for Bud Light in a can. Oh LA. Then we met up with Aaron and his brother and went to Mel's and had beers and food and laughed at people, because there was some seriously funny shit. Oh also, as we were walking to the House of Blues, some dudes were apparently trying to rob that Pink Dot liquor store on Sunset and so we got to stand at the light there, waiting to cross, while the cops had like 8 dudes on the ground with guns out and all that shit. Hilarity.
Friday, December 21, 2007
They're demolishing..
the Antiques Mall at 3rd and Escondido Blvd, which is right behind my apartments. They've been doing it for about a week now. This is what I get to wake up to every morning. And then I get to listen to it for 4 hours until I go to work. I think it's making me slightly batty.
Also, I'm really sick of the reoccurring dreams. And I will be happy when this Xmas thing is over. And so concludes my bitching.
Also, I'm really sick of the reoccurring dreams. And I will be happy when this Xmas thing is over. And so concludes my bitching.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Tis the season...
for fucking weirdness. Thursday, while at work, I had these three things happen to me:
1. Ran into the uncle of a friend I had when I was 12, he recognized me even though he hadn't seen me in like 14 years, and put me back in touch with that friend.
2. Thuggish boy who looked about 18 but said he was 21 spent about 20 minutes at my window hitting on me and harassing me while I was trying to work. Eventually he began to walk away and then two seconds later he and his friends were in some sort of fight with a kid who works with me in front of my window. No idea how it started. Then they tried to fight with security. Then they ran. Cops were called, I had to give a statement, etc..
3. Was helping a woman order tickets for a show on the phone, totally normal call, then at the end she says "Oh while I have you on the phone....oregano is good for the common cold if you make a tea with it"
"Oh ok, good to know, thanks."
Then she proceeds to basically read a list of herbs and their medicinal uses for about 10 minutes, while I keep trying to get off the phone, but I can't really be rude, so I'm basically stuck listening to her. Finally, when she got to the part about about yeast infections and douching, I was like "Woah thar! OK gotta go!" and just hung up.
I'm glad I'm off for three days. Billy Ray Cyrus is playing a show there today, some benefit for Make a Wish, and it's sold out, so I'm really happy in particular that I'm not working today. Also I was fine last night and then woke up this morning with a full blown cold. Que. La. Fuck.
Today is my last day on the mountain, but now I have to drive down to my apartment to get my DayQuil. Then I have to drive down to the airport to pick up my mom and Scott at 9. Today is dumb, I'm already done with it...haha.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
