Friday, July 25, 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BLOG!
My blog turned five years old this week. To commemorate the occasion, I decided to sit down and interview myself.
So, why do you have this blog?
I'm doing this blog solely as a creative outlet for myself and myself only. I could write stuff down in a journal, but it looks better on a webpage, my hands get tired easily when I write with pens or pencils, and a blog takes up no extra space in my home, or even in the universe, really. I like writing and putting my opinions down on paper (so to speak). If others want to read my blog, great. Come on in and take a look. And if you are entertained by it, even better. I find it silly, actually, that people have visited my blog 171,406 times (as of this interview) since I started it. Like I said in my first post back in July of 2003, this blog's existence is not intended to be an endorsement of the idea that I have anything important to say or that people need to read it.
Why do you think people visit your blog?
Couldn't tell you. I try to be entertaining when I write, if only for my own pleasure when I go back years from now to revisit some of the things I wrote. And maybe they read my blog because they think it's entertaining as well. Maybe they saw my blog's address in the Quick Takes column in the Chicago Sun-Times. Maybe there are still links to this blog on San Francisco Giants blogs and people want to hear what a Giants fan has to say. Again, it's ridiculous that all those people who increase the traffic counter by one even know my blog even exists.
You don't write much about the Giants anymore.
No. Like many things, this blog has evolved. I started it as a Giants fan blog, and originally called it E.K. Sports, but soon I discovered that I wasn't going to be able to keep opinions about other things off of it, and at some point it became E.K. Nation. For few weeks recently it was all American Idol, all the time. It all just depends now on what's going on and what has my interest. I still love baseball, I still love the Giants, but I'm afraid I don't have a lot to say about them that would be worth the effort. That could all change tomorrow. You never know.
Do you have a MySpace page?
Nope. This blog is pretty much my MySpace, except I don't identify who I am and don't put pictures of me and my buddies drinking on it. I did refer to my last name once a couple years back, but that's all. MySpace is -- mostly, anyway -- for people who have a need to be known and seen. Quite a few MySpace people have huge egos. Why else would there be a "You have this many friends" counter on those pages? I don't know. Maybe there's someone out there who reads this who really wants to know what I look like, and maybe I'll tell them. But nobody's e-mailed me for pix yet and I don't mind at all.
So has the Internet been good or bad in that regard? Meaning, is it cool that everyone can do something on the Internet and get noticed?
If people have something important or intelligent to say, I think it's good. I certainly don't think that most blogs are interesting. Most of them are just piffle, if I may use that word for the first time in my life. And you could certainly argue that this blog isn't worth anything either. My blog has been quoted in the Sun-Times on more than one occasion, but I wouldn't expect that means anyone should think that my site is important. Blogs like the ones that consist solely of what people ate are not interesting to me at all, but maybe they're doing that kind of thing because they want to keep track of their diet. One thing is for sure: The Internet is a great place to experience people you otherwise never would. While searching for a clip of Bobby Orr's Stanley-Cup-winning goal from 1970, I stumbled upon this clip made by two kids who sort of re-enacted the goal out in front of their house. It was just them doing six seconds of street hockey, and one kid flopping on the ground, and then a quick celebration, and that was it. I guess what I liked about the clip was that it showed me that there are kids out there who know who Bobby Orr is and know the 1970 moment, and it established in my mind that not all kids have short term memories.
What blogs do you read?
Firejoemorgan.com is one of my favorites. If you can call it a blog. I guess you can. I used to read a lot of Giants blogs but I fell out of that habit recently. As for columnists, I'll read Bill Simmons or Gregg Easterbrook or John Buccigross on espn.com and Quick Takes, Roger Ebert, Jim Emerson and Richard Roeper at suntimes.com.
What do you watch on TV?
Not much, really. Arrested Development was amazing. The Office is probably the best show on, now that AD is gone. But I usually wait for the DVDs to come out after the season ends before I'll watch. I have to be able to watch as many in a row as possible. It's not good enough that NBC will sometimes put four episodes on in one night. I never miss Survivor. I am hooked on Jeopardy! And when Deal Or No Deal is on, I have to watch.
What is the deal with Deal Or No Deal anyway?
I have no idea. Hot chicks and money? It's a silly show, it has nothing to do with skill, and only when the cases are almost all opened does anyone's financial wisdom and sanity come into play.
Do you have a favorite Deal Or No Deal girl?
Number 14. Pilar is her name. She is an angel on Earth. She's half the reason I watch, actually. Those few seconds when she's on camera opening her case are breathtaking. I never see what's in her case.
What other women are you a fan of?
Jenna Fischer is a goddess. If you're that cute and you're also a good comedic actor, you have my vote. That's also why I find myself drawn to Kristen Wiig also. Kate Winslet is stunning, and if you saw her on Extras, you know that she too has good comedy skills.
What men are you a fan of?
Seriously: Is there any guy on Earth who would not want to be George Clooney? Not be with him, be him. The guys on The Office are all genuises, particularly Rainn Wilson. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert: Mind-blowing. Bob Costas is also a genius. Brian Regan is my favorite comedian. Mitch Hedberg was a god, as was Bill Hicks. The late George Carlin had probably the finest career of any comedian I've paid attention to. I've had huge respect for Kevin Bacon ever since The Big Picture. The best actor working today is Paul Giamatti. Without question the best. He'll win an Oscar within five years. I haven't mentioned any politicians, because I pretty much can't stand any of them.
So who would you most like to see be the president?
I certainly don't think we have the best two candidates in Obama and McCain. I'd really like to see someone with rationality take office. Someone who doesn't pander or bullshit. Someone who sees the worthlessness of drug laws. I suppose I wish the Libertarian party were bigger, so that it would be more than just the Republicrats and the Demolicans wasting time and space. Someone who -- and pardon me for going all cliche right now, but... -- can really make a difference, for the good of all people. We don't have anyone who seems to be able to do that. But whoever it is, it can't be any worse than the dolt we have now. And that's all the political I wish to be.
Wanna stop this?
For now, sure. Happy birthday, my blog.
So, why do you have this blog?
I'm doing this blog solely as a creative outlet for myself and myself only. I could write stuff down in a journal, but it looks better on a webpage, my hands get tired easily when I write with pens or pencils, and a blog takes up no extra space in my home, or even in the universe, really. I like writing and putting my opinions down on paper (so to speak). If others want to read my blog, great. Come on in and take a look. And if you are entertained by it, even better. I find it silly, actually, that people have visited my blog 171,406 times (as of this interview) since I started it. Like I said in my first post back in July of 2003, this blog's existence is not intended to be an endorsement of the idea that I have anything important to say or that people need to read it.
Why do you think people visit your blog?
Couldn't tell you. I try to be entertaining when I write, if only for my own pleasure when I go back years from now to revisit some of the things I wrote. And maybe they read my blog because they think it's entertaining as well. Maybe they saw my blog's address in the Quick Takes column in the Chicago Sun-Times. Maybe there are still links to this blog on San Francisco Giants blogs and people want to hear what a Giants fan has to say. Again, it's ridiculous that all those people who increase the traffic counter by one even know my blog even exists.
You don't write much about the Giants anymore.
No. Like many things, this blog has evolved. I started it as a Giants fan blog, and originally called it E.K. Sports, but soon I discovered that I wasn't going to be able to keep opinions about other things off of it, and at some point it became E.K. Nation. For few weeks recently it was all American Idol, all the time. It all just depends now on what's going on and what has my interest. I still love baseball, I still love the Giants, but I'm afraid I don't have a lot to say about them that would be worth the effort. That could all change tomorrow. You never know.
Do you have a MySpace page?
Nope. This blog is pretty much my MySpace, except I don't identify who I am and don't put pictures of me and my buddies drinking on it. I did refer to my last name once a couple years back, but that's all. MySpace is -- mostly, anyway -- for people who have a need to be known and seen. Quite a few MySpace people have huge egos. Why else would there be a "You have this many friends" counter on those pages? I don't know. Maybe there's someone out there who reads this who really wants to know what I look like, and maybe I'll tell them. But nobody's e-mailed me for pix yet and I don't mind at all.
So has the Internet been good or bad in that regard? Meaning, is it cool that everyone can do something on the Internet and get noticed?
If people have something important or intelligent to say, I think it's good. I certainly don't think that most blogs are interesting. Most of them are just piffle, if I may use that word for the first time in my life. And you could certainly argue that this blog isn't worth anything either. My blog has been quoted in the Sun-Times on more than one occasion, but I wouldn't expect that means anyone should think that my site is important. Blogs like the ones that consist solely of what people ate are not interesting to me at all, but maybe they're doing that kind of thing because they want to keep track of their diet. One thing is for sure: The Internet is a great place to experience people you otherwise never would. While searching for a clip of Bobby Orr's Stanley-Cup-winning goal from 1970, I stumbled upon this clip made by two kids who sort of re-enacted the goal out in front of their house. It was just them doing six seconds of street hockey, and one kid flopping on the ground, and then a quick celebration, and that was it. I guess what I liked about the clip was that it showed me that there are kids out there who know who Bobby Orr is and know the 1970 moment, and it established in my mind that not all kids have short term memories.
What blogs do you read?
Firejoemorgan.com is one of my favorites. If you can call it a blog. I guess you can. I used to read a lot of Giants blogs but I fell out of that habit recently. As for columnists, I'll read Bill Simmons or Gregg Easterbrook or John Buccigross on espn.com and Quick Takes, Roger Ebert, Jim Emerson and Richard Roeper at suntimes.com.
What do you watch on TV?
Not much, really. Arrested Development was amazing. The Office is probably the best show on, now that AD is gone. But I usually wait for the DVDs to come out after the season ends before I'll watch. I have to be able to watch as many in a row as possible. It's not good enough that NBC will sometimes put four episodes on in one night. I never miss Survivor. I am hooked on Jeopardy! And when Deal Or No Deal is on, I have to watch.
What is the deal with Deal Or No Deal anyway?
I have no idea. Hot chicks and money? It's a silly show, it has nothing to do with skill, and only when the cases are almost all opened does anyone's financial wisdom and sanity come into play.
Do you have a favorite Deal Or No Deal girl?
Number 14. Pilar is her name. She is an angel on Earth. She's half the reason I watch, actually. Those few seconds when she's on camera opening her case are breathtaking. I never see what's in her case.
What other women are you a fan of?
Jenna Fischer is a goddess. If you're that cute and you're also a good comedic actor, you have my vote. That's also why I find myself drawn to Kristen Wiig also. Kate Winslet is stunning, and if you saw her on Extras, you know that she too has good comedy skills.
What men are you a fan of?
Seriously: Is there any guy on Earth who would not want to be George Clooney? Not be with him, be him. The guys on The Office are all genuises, particularly Rainn Wilson. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert: Mind-blowing. Bob Costas is also a genius. Brian Regan is my favorite comedian. Mitch Hedberg was a god, as was Bill Hicks. The late George Carlin had probably the finest career of any comedian I've paid attention to. I've had huge respect for Kevin Bacon ever since The Big Picture. The best actor working today is Paul Giamatti. Without question the best. He'll win an Oscar within five years. I haven't mentioned any politicians, because I pretty much can't stand any of them.
So who would you most like to see be the president?
I certainly don't think we have the best two candidates in Obama and McCain. I'd really like to see someone with rationality take office. Someone who doesn't pander or bullshit. Someone who sees the worthlessness of drug laws. I suppose I wish the Libertarian party were bigger, so that it would be more than just the Republicrats and the Demolicans wasting time and space. Someone who -- and pardon me for going all cliche right now, but... -- can really make a difference, for the good of all people. We don't have anyone who seems to be able to do that. But whoever it is, it can't be any worse than the dolt we have now. And that's all the political I wish to be.
Wanna stop this?
For now, sure. Happy birthday, my blog.
