1. What’s my favorite band? Rush
Anyone who knows me well knows this one. The first record I ever bought was All the World’s a Stage. Neil Peart inspired me to play drums, to write poetry, to read something other than fantasy and science fiction. Their new album, Rush in Rio, is amazing. So’s Vapor Trails. You should check out both of them.
2. Who’s my favorite singer? Tom Waits
Another dead give-away for those who know me. Although, I have to admit, the Jimmy Buffett answer threw a lot of people off. Yeah, Jimmy’s a damn close second. That’s why you got 7 points for that answer — but 10 for the Raindog.
3. Who’s my favorite author? Chuck Palahniuk
Anyone who answered Tolkein got NO POINTS. Everybody else got 7, and Chuckie P got 10. I had to stop reading Diary because I was crying at the end of each chapter.
4. What’s my favorite movie? Big Trouble in Little China
L5R fans all over the world can only suspect how much influence this movie had on the Clan War storyline. Watch it again, and think of Egg as Shinsei and Lo Pan as Fu Leng.
5. What have I NOT been? Short order cook
I was a shantyman, a counselor, all those other things. But, I’ve never been a short order cook.
6. Which girl is NOT my type? The Blonde Bombshell
Never again. Never ever ever ever. The rest are worth equal points. That is, zero.
7. What concert have I NOT seen? Johnny Cash
Never got to see the Man in Black, and I’m poorer for it.
8. What company have I NOT worked for? Lucas Arts
And I’m pretty sure I don’t want to.
9. What Path am I on? Path of Lilith
In college, I wrote a philosophy paper about luxury, making the allusion of the Quest for the Grail as a spiritual quest for pain and adversity. Luxury brings us nothing. It is when we are faced with ruin that our true natures emerge, when our souls and convictions are truly tested. Our culture wants us to be luxurious. To sit down, watch the tube, and admire the accomplishments of others. (There are entire books devoted to studying the works of Tolkein; imagine if all that energy went into an original creative effort. Just imagine.) We are not creatures of luxury. Our souls do not shine when we are at rest. Only when we are in motion. Only when we are challenged. Be careful what Grail you seek. Some are filled with wine. Others are filled with shit.
10. What’s my favorite Clan? Scorpion
This was the gimme.
Thanks to everyone who played along! And remember:
Just between us
I think it’s time for us to recognize
The differences we sometimes fear to show
Just between us
I think it’s time for us to realize
The spaces in between
Leave room for you and I to grow
— Rush, Entre Nous (lyrics by Neil Peart)