community spotlight (september 18 to september 24, 2016)


questions #1 through #25


1. Do you think any kind of afterlife exists?
I honestly don't know. Perhaps. I think people need to believe what they have to, to survive.

2. Would you kill an innocent person if you thought it might mean saving a dozen other people?
There is always an alternative to killing, and I would never take an innocent life. There is no way that killing is ever the final answer or only solution.

3. What's the most money you've ever given away?
I'd rather not disclose that, as I am not one to "humble brag".

4. What's the biggest personal change you've ever made?
The decision to stop worrying about what others think and to do things that made me happy.

5. What's the stupidest thing you've ever done?
I did a lot of stupid things in my youth, but nothing that I'd share in public.

6. What do you think would be one of the best steps we could take toward ending poverty around the world?
Stop asking and start acting. Get involved in organizations. Start helping those who need help. Get off the couch and into the world and start seeing where you can make a difference. One small step can change everything.

7. If ghosts can walk through walls and glide down stairs, why don't they fall through the floor?
Because Ghost Logic, that's why.

8. If you had three wishes from a non-tricky genie, what would you wish for?
To give the wishes to someone far more deserving than I.

9. What's the absolute best vacation you can imagine?
Every time I've been to Hawaii has been a good one, so I'll say that.

10. What's your earliest memory?
Learning how to fix a car engine with my Dad, which is odd considering the type of man that he was. He didn't usually like to do 'handyman work' as he called it, but said that I needed to learn how to 'be a man'. He was a bit of a contradiction at times.

11.Do you define yourself based mainly on your intentions, your actions, or something else?
Intentions are well and good, but actions will always speak louder than words. So my actions (and on the flip side, my inaction as well.)

12. What is the most commonly held belief that you personally find deeply offensive?
That people believe that their vote doesn't matter. Be it in a national election, or just a local one, your vote always matters.

13. what is your favorite episode of twin peaks?
Can I say all of them? Because I'm saying all of them.

14. what is the one burning question you want answered when twin peaks returns?
"Where's Annie", of course. Actually more of, has BOB been with Cooper this whole time and what has happened in the past 25 years.

15. what is your favorite memory from childhood?
Wednesday night dinners with my parents..

16. what is your favorite memory that involves me? (yeah i'm being selfish whatever)
Holding back anything 'not safe for work', I would say when we met as kids, and you pushed me off the playground slide as a way to get my attention. Which, well I guess it worked. (For those who couldn't tell, my wife asked this question.)

17. what's the craziest thing you have done in your life?
Marrying you. (Kidding.)

18. what do you regret most about your past?
There are some things that I wish I took a little more seriously when I was younger, before my parents passed away.

19. what is the one thing about yourself that you hate the most?
Sometimes, it's my workaholic tendencies, and when I get my mind on something work wise, I tend to block everything else out. I've missed important things that way.

20. who was your first crush?
farrah fawcett

21. have you ever said, "i love you" and not meant it?
Yes.

22. how many bad words go through your mind each day? how many do you actually say?
I usually speak my mind, so if I think it, I end up saying it.

23. do you believe in soul mates?
Yes.

24. what are you most thankful for?
The fact that after everything that I've been through, I'm somehow still standing.

25. is there any book that changed your life?
The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance .

questions #26 through #50


26. do you believe there is good in everyone?
It's there, somewhere.

27. who are three people in your life that you would risk dying for?
Veronica, Elena, Liam. Though, really, it's anyone that I consider to be family (be it my actual family, or my 'chosen' family of friends.)

28. if you could live in any era, which would it be and why?
1950s, because I've always loved that era.

29. what would you consider a perfect day?
I get this question a lot, and I don't think I'll ever really have the answer to this. If we're going technical, I would say my wedding day was a perfect day.

30. what do you value most in a friendship?
Honesty, trust, and the ability to forgive.

31. If you had to name the single most important component of human beauty, what would you say it is?
Oh jesus. I have no idea. Perhaps compassion, but I'm not sure that is what you're asking for.

32. How difficult is it for you to forgive someone who refuses to apologise?
I can see when things are out of stubbornness, I can see when things are out of embarrassment, and when things were done out of true malice. I think it depends on the situation.

33. If you could have overheard a specific conversation between any two people, which would it be?
Honestly, I just want to know what the Obamas talk about sometimes.

34. Have you ever violated a confidence? Describe what happened.
I have not, and would not. And if I had, I certainly would not 'describe what happened' and thus violate more of that person's confidence.

35. If you had to select the one thing in your life you feel most guilty about, what would it be?
Not something I would answer publically.

36. Is 'retirement' ever in your future?
Perhaps. Most likely not.

37. What projects have you taken on that you feel especially pleased with/of?
There is one I've been working on (yes, I'm being vague here), but I have to say I'm please with the outcome so far. Still need to do some more testing.

38. Is marriage better the second time around?
Yes, it was good the first time around too.

39. Favorite suit?
I have a black 3 piece suit from Emporio Armani that I am particularly fond of. I'm certain that is what this question was asking.

40. what is the best compliment you've ever received?
'You really helped me today'.

41. what question do you hate to answer?
Things that want to make a private thing public.

42. what is your favorite book?
The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

43. what makes you feel accomplished?
Knowing that I did well, or that I tried my best to succeed if I did not reach my goal.

44. excluding work achievements, what are you most proud of?
The group of friends that I have gathered around me.

45. what's an ideal weekend for you?
One where I can take a moment to breathe, maybe read a book, relax a little.

46. did you ever write in a journal?
No.

47. do you believe in second chances?
Most of the time, it depends on the situation.

48. if a genie granted you 3 wishes right now, what would you wish for?
As mentioned earlier, to give the wishes to someone far more deserving of them.

49. which is better to listen to -- your heart or your brain?
Depends on the situation, I usually am more calculated than most.

50. where is the most beautiful place on earth and why?
Home.

questions #51 through #75


51. what is the most important material possession you have and why?
A worn copy of my father's favorite book (and it is now mine) that has his writing in the margins. It's one of the only things that I have of his that meant a lot to him.

52. how would you describe yourself in 5 words?
Quiet, determined, honest, stubborn, workaholic.

53. what is the difference between living and existing?
Getting out and exploring the world, trying to make a difference, doing more than just sitting on your ass waiting for someone to change things for you.

54. what makes you smile?
Various things. At the moment, I would say looking back on happy memories.

55. what drives you to do better at something?
If I fail and know I need to do better, or if I know I can improve upon something.

56. what do you want most out of life?
I just want to enjoy it while I can.

57. if you could not work for a year, what would you do?
What? No work for a year? Does not compute.

58. what happy moment will you always remember?
When I succeeded in taking over the company and doing my father proud, getting married to Veronica (both times), there are a lot of memories that I look back on fondly.

59. what are some things that you are really scared of losing?
My life, my loves, my friends, my family.

60. in your life, what has been the biggest blessing in disguise?
Time.

61. if you could write a note to your younger self, what would you say in only three words?
Don't fade away.

62. what is the one thing that makes you feel alive?
I'd say living to see another day. Seeing the sun rise in the morning is just a good reminder of what I have here.

63. have they gone too far with flavored holiday m&ms and why do people continue to try to make candy corn a thing -- follow up, do the people who say they like candy corn secretly hate themselves and all of humanity?
I used to like candy corn as a kid, come on now, I don't hate myself or humanity, I think I'm quite the opposite. Though, yeah I don't understand the whole 'holiday M&M' thing. I don't need pumpkin spice candy. Or really pumpkin spiced anything.

64. what dracula is the best dracula?
Christopher Lee.

65. do you remember the time i threatened to dye your hair orange?
Yes and let's not relive that any time soon. Or I'm dying yours black.

66. if you were any shade of lipstick, what would it be and why?
None...? I don't understand lipstick.

67. the internet's ideas of interesting questions skew creepy 'if you had a brainwashing machine who would you use it on' -- no, no that's Wrong. alright so counterpoint to the internet, what's something that you hope you never ever forget? preferably a good thing, let's go with a good memory.
I've answered the good memory thing a few times, and instead I'm just wondering how the hell you're coming up with these questions.

68. if given the power to, in the middle of a very important performance, who would you turn the microphone off on? 'cause there's always one.
No, I don't think I would.

69. are you for or against meatloaf - i've never known.
Meatloaf the meal, I am against that. Meatloaf the person is awesome.

70. are you excited about me elbowing my way back into everything, yes is the only answer that is applicable here.
Well if you claim that yes is the only acceptable answer...

71. what kind of sugar do you take in your coffee because i've started using agave and i feel like entitled scum but it tastes better.
I'm too busy laughing at "entitled scum". But I also just take my coffee black, I don't add anything into it.

72. socks, yes, no, sometimes? only if it's over the knee?
I don't wear over the knee socks...? Unless you're talking about my wife and her choice of stockings...well then that changes the question a lot.

73. best movie somebody's made you sit through despite initial misgivings you might have had?
The Halloween remakes. I didn't think they'd be that good, but I really enjoyed them.

74. tell us about your first bike, i hope to god it's was a big wheel.
You know it was a big wheel, you had the same one.

75. if you were a guest spot on freakazoid, what would have been your gimmick?
I have not seen Freakazoid in years...or ever, I'm not honestly sure, so I don't really know how to answer this. Yet. Let me get back to you.

questions #76 through #100


76. what is the best breed of dog to mix with a corgi, and should there be a fleet of them for purposes, at the head office.
Why can't we just have corgis?

77. How many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
"A group of engineering students from Purdue University reported that its licking machine, modeled after a human tongue, took an average of 364 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. Twenty of the group's volunteers assumed the licking challenge-unassisted by machinery-and averaged 252 licks each to the center." I googled it for you.

78. What personality traits do you tend to admire in other people?
I like the determination people have.

79. What are the best and worst sounds in the world?
Nails on a chalkboard would be worst. Best...is something I'm keeping for myself.

80. How have you significantly honored another person?
I think marrying her was a pretty significant way to honor her.

81. How many times have you really been in love?
Once.

82. What in this world breaks your heart?
Lack of compassion and stupidity.

83. What is something most people would be surprised to know you enjoy?
Video games. Not a lot, but a few of them.

84. Do you have a favorite piece of artwork? What is it and why is it your favorite?
None that are jumping out at me at the moment.

85. Do you think angels or demons exist? Why or why not?
Sure. I think we believe what we want to believe. I think there is something more than just us out there.

86. What do you dream about most often?
I don't dream much these days.

87. when was the last time your facial muscles contorted into a smile or a laugh? sneezing doesn't count, by the way.
Oh fuck off. Yesterday.

88. what is the best meal you have had this month?
Oysters at Row 34.

89. do you actually sleep?
Yes.

90. when do you rise?
4 in the morning on weekdays, 8 on weekends.

91. has "na na na na na na na na na" ever been in a song that came on when you walked into a room?
No.

92. have you ever been referred to as a batass?
Not to my face.

93. how bad were these questions?
I mean...yours were pretty bad.

94. what is your favorite vacation spot? no caves allowed.
Hawaii. Which, also has some nice caves, so I'm counting it.

95. what is your process in making large decisions?
Try to think things through before making a rash decision. I try to see all sides -- if I feel I might regret going a certain way, I reevaluate.

96. what trait do you believe defines you most?
Determination.

97. how do you define family?
Those who you trust and would take a bullet for, above all else.

98. in what ways, if any, do you hold yourself back?
I do sometimes hold back things I want to say, or I carefully present myself to not fully give who I am away. You have to keep some things for you.

99. how would you like to be remembered?
As an honorable man, or at least someone who tried to make things better.

100. what influences you the most?
My drive to keep going and make things better, not only for me, but for others as well.