Simple questions often prompt interesting answers, so with this in mind I created a list of thirteen questions for a new interview series. Some of the questions I borrowed from the Proust and Pivot questionnaires, and others are my own. The questions are meant to be fun—for the interviewee and the reader—so I cut out the ones regarding calculus. Maybe next time.
In today's iteration of "13 Questions," blogger/novelist Bryan Acker talks about mice, men and goat rodeos. Bryan (aka, Ack) is half of the team behind the well-written music blog Herohill—the other half being Shane Nadeau (aka, Naedoo). Bryan is also the author of Cupid Only Misses Sometimes, a novel that has nothing to do with goat rodeos.
What is your favorite book?
Overall, I'd have to say my favorite books are The Catcher in the Rye and Of Mice and Men. While those are horribly generic, they are classics for a reason. Steinbeck's use of language is great, and Salinger was the author that really got me into reading books outside of school assignments. As far as books that have influenced my writing style, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius made me want to be a writer, and Lester Bang's Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung helped me find my reviewing voice.
What is your favorite album?
Asking a blogger their favorite album is asking the impossible. If you asked my iTunes most played, it would be either Oh, Inverted World by the Shins, Alligator by the National, or The Velvet Underground & Nico.
What is your favorite film?
This is a split decision. I'd love to have more credible selections, but my two favorite films are Rushmore and Six-String Samurai. One puts me in a category with every other music nerd, and the other means I have terrible taste in movies. Which is which? You decide.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
This answer could be a book. Jam bands and hippies who drive their parents SUVs. People who talk over other people. People who drive around our neighborhood on motorbikes at 3AM. SportsCenter hosts who try to be funny and talk in slang. People who wear those really tight jeans and the low-neck American Apparel t-shirts. Anyone who rocks those emo/hipster haircuts. People who like Cincinnati's Bengals. People who correct your grammar. Oh, and I kind of don't like anyone who watches and quotes Entourage. People who wear Pork Pie hats. People who go to see any movie starring Vin Diesel or Ice Cube. People who go skins in games of two-on-two or people who draw charges in pickup hoops. I should just stop now.
What is your favorite place?
Favorite place. In Canada, I'd have to say Revelstoke, BC. When I drove across the country a few years ago I stopped in the town for one night, and we ended up staying three days. At the time (as it has been built up a lot in the last couple of years), it was a quiet town that made you feel like you were trapped in a classic TV show.
In the world, I'd say Hoi An, Vietnam. My wife and I went there on our Honeymoon and were completely swept up in the city. The hustle and bustle of the markets, the amazing food you eat while looking over the water and the fun stores made this the highlight of our trip.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Well, since I work at a computer company, I could basically choose any other profession, but full time author would be the dream job. We always talk about running a book store in Nerja, Spain. Siestas and the simple life would be okay as well.
What is your biggest indulgence?
Music. Probably obvious, but when you burn through 10 or 15 albums a week other vices don't really stack up. Other than that, wine, cooking and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What is your favorite food?
Fish and eggplant steamed in banana leaves. It's cooked with lemongrass, ginger, garlic, brown sugar and soy sauce and not much else. It's probably the best thing I've ever tasted.
What is your favorite word?
Goat rodeo. Sure it's two words, so maybe toss in a hyphen to try to trick some people? Basically, this evolved from terms like gong show and train wreck. If there is something more chaotic than a goat rodeo, I don't know what it is. Plus it's really funny to try to picture a goat rodeo.
I guess if I had to follow grammatical rules and pick a single word, it would be debacle. It sums up so many things in a perfect way. What did you think of Kanye West freaking out again? Oh man, what a debacle that guy is. Look at that dude's mullet. It's a debacle.
I asked Shane (the other half of the Herohill equation) and he suggested mandals. Mandals (man-sandals) is pretty spectacular. Jay-Z got dissed for wearing them, and it's just a funny expression. Herohill also really enjoys the term bon-kares.
What is your least favorite word?
There are too many to give one word that honor. Yeasty comes to mind, and I really hate when people describe their significant other as their "partner."
Who do you least respect?
I'm going to avoid trying to pick some monumental villains and answer with people I just can't stand that are really pretty irrelevant. So using that criteria I'd go with two people.
First: Perez Hilton. He pretty well sums up exactly what is wrong with our society today. Making huge amounts of cash bashing celebs and appealing to the lowest common denominator. Plus he rocks that horrible mustache.
Second: the lead singer of Nickleback. Why? Not sure, but I get angry every time I see him or hear any of their music. Aside from the band being a goat rodeo, his mullet and goatee combo bugs me. I actually was gleeful when he got his DUI.
Who do you most respect?
Probably my Dad or anyone who is determined enough to be creative that they will live a life that will more than likely end up with them being 35 or 40 and still struggling to get by.
From a Herohill perspective, I think both Shane and I would agree on Darryl Hall from Hall and Oates. Not only did he almost die from lime disease, he had the best interview on Pitchfork perhaps ever. He called out Oates for being only 10% of the equation and said he understands racism because he was the victim of racism for being a white soul singer. From his mouth to Thicke's heart I guess.
When and where did you answer these questions?
At work today.
In today's iteration of "13 Questions," blogger/novelist Bryan Acker talks about mice, men and goat rodeos. Bryan (aka, Ack) is half of the team behind the well-written music blog Herohill—the other half being Shane Nadeau (aka, Naedoo). Bryan is also the author of Cupid Only Misses Sometimes, a novel that has nothing to do with goat rodeos.
What is your favorite book?
Overall, I'd have to say my favorite books are The Catcher in the Rye and Of Mice and Men. While those are horribly generic, they are classics for a reason. Steinbeck's use of language is great, and Salinger was the author that really got me into reading books outside of school assignments. As far as books that have influenced my writing style, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius made me want to be a writer, and Lester Bang's Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung helped me find my reviewing voice.
What is your favorite album?
Asking a blogger their favorite album is asking the impossible. If you asked my iTunes most played, it would be either Oh, Inverted World by the Shins, Alligator by the National, or The Velvet Underground & Nico.
What is your favorite film?
This is a split decision. I'd love to have more credible selections, but my two favorite films are Rushmore and Six-String Samurai. One puts me in a category with every other music nerd, and the other means I have terrible taste in movies. Which is which? You decide.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
This answer could be a book. Jam bands and hippies who drive their parents SUVs. People who talk over other people. People who drive around our neighborhood on motorbikes at 3AM. SportsCenter hosts who try to be funny and talk in slang. People who wear those really tight jeans and the low-neck American Apparel t-shirts. Anyone who rocks those emo/hipster haircuts. People who like Cincinnati's Bengals. People who correct your grammar. Oh, and I kind of don't like anyone who watches and quotes Entourage. People who wear Pork Pie hats. People who go to see any movie starring Vin Diesel or Ice Cube. People who go skins in games of two-on-two or people who draw charges in pickup hoops. I should just stop now.
What is your favorite place?
Favorite place. In Canada, I'd have to say Revelstoke, BC. When I drove across the country a few years ago I stopped in the town for one night, and we ended up staying three days. At the time (as it has been built up a lot in the last couple of years), it was a quiet town that made you feel like you were trapped in a classic TV show.
In the world, I'd say Hoi An, Vietnam. My wife and I went there on our Honeymoon and were completely swept up in the city. The hustle and bustle of the markets, the amazing food you eat while looking over the water and the fun stores made this the highlight of our trip.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Well, since I work at a computer company, I could basically choose any other profession, but full time author would be the dream job. We always talk about running a book store in Nerja, Spain. Siestas and the simple life would be okay as well.
What is your biggest indulgence?
Music. Probably obvious, but when you burn through 10 or 15 albums a week other vices don't really stack up. Other than that, wine, cooking and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What is your favorite food?
Fish and eggplant steamed in banana leaves. It's cooked with lemongrass, ginger, garlic, brown sugar and soy sauce and not much else. It's probably the best thing I've ever tasted.
What is your favorite word?
Goat rodeo. Sure it's two words, so maybe toss in a hyphen to try to trick some people? Basically, this evolved from terms like gong show and train wreck. If there is something more chaotic than a goat rodeo, I don't know what it is. Plus it's really funny to try to picture a goat rodeo.
I guess if I had to follow grammatical rules and pick a single word, it would be debacle. It sums up so many things in a perfect way. What did you think of Kanye West freaking out again? Oh man, what a debacle that guy is. Look at that dude's mullet. It's a debacle.
I asked Shane (the other half of the Herohill equation) and he suggested mandals. Mandals (man-sandals) is pretty spectacular. Jay-Z got dissed for wearing them, and it's just a funny expression. Herohill also really enjoys the term bon-kares.
What is your least favorite word?
There are too many to give one word that honor. Yeasty comes to mind, and I really hate when people describe their significant other as their "partner."
Who do you least respect?
I'm going to avoid trying to pick some monumental villains and answer with people I just can't stand that are really pretty irrelevant. So using that criteria I'd go with two people.
First: Perez Hilton. He pretty well sums up exactly what is wrong with our society today. Making huge amounts of cash bashing celebs and appealing to the lowest common denominator. Plus he rocks that horrible mustache.
Second: the lead singer of Nickleback. Why? Not sure, but I get angry every time I see him or hear any of their music. Aside from the band being a goat rodeo, his mullet and goatee combo bugs me. I actually was gleeful when he got his DUI.
Who do you most respect?
Probably my Dad or anyone who is determined enough to be creative that they will live a life that will more than likely end up with them being 35 or 40 and still struggling to get by.
From a Herohill perspective, I think both Shane and I would agree on Darryl Hall from Hall and Oates. Not only did he almost die from lime disease, he had the best interview on Pitchfork perhaps ever. He called out Oates for being only 10% of the equation and said he understands racism because he was the victim of racism for being a white soul singer. From his mouth to Thicke's heart I guess.
When and where did you answer these questions?
At work today.
