Reading: "Will of the Whisps" and "Tribute" by... me! (in editing mode)
Music: Holstz
TV/Movie: Instinct
Link o' the Day: Shanties and Sailor Songs / Shantys und Seemannslieder

Regular readers of Journalscape will recognize the format of today's entry. I took on the interview challenge--receiving questions from Jason Erik Lundberg.

So without further ado...

5 Questions for John:

1. If you could be any fictional character, who would you be (name the book/movie/media please) and why?

Good question. I suppose the answer would be Lazarus Long from Robert A. Heinlein's various Future History books. So me and Laz don't quite match up politically--or even philosophically--but is there a single fiction character who has lived as long (what were we up to at last count? 3,000+ years?) _and_ who has so much adventure? While I devoured Heinlein as a kid, I grew less enamoured of him as I got older (and more crotchity)--but there is still an appeal to those space operatic settings and characters.

2. You did a great job typesetting Intracities; what about design and formatting drew you to it in the first place?

Thanks for the Intracities praise. It was a fun project and I'd leap at the chance to work on other SpecFic projects.

As for what drew me into the business of typesetting--it was purely unplanned. It started as a parttime job in the 80s which became fulltime in the 90s. I'm entirely self-taught and the closest thing to a design class I've ever had was a figure drawing class in college. (I majored in English and Medeival/Renaissance Studies.)

One benefit from getting into the field the way I did is the practical experience I've picked up working for printing companies. I've seen design majors from college try to do this work without any knowledge of how printing works, and it's always a heartbreaker. Sure, they can design stunning pieces, but they bring along all sorts of problems when it's time for actual production.

Still, this is merely a job--not a career. It's something to pay the bills with while I hone my writing skills in the hopes of making a living off that one day. But while typesetting and layout isn't my main passion in life, I do believe strongly in a job well done.

3. What is your single happiest experience?

Tough question. I've had a lot of happy experiences. But I'm going to go with the time when Pretty Maggie and I went from a casual relationship to the relationship where we knew that each other was The One. Happy experiences are lifechanging, and this certainly qualifies. I've never been happier.

4. Transformers or Go-Bots?

Oh Transformers--definitely! My favorite episode being the one w/ the GI Joe crossover where an aging Cobra Commander advises the bad guys. Cooooobraaaaa!

5. What is your absolute favorite sandwich?

Steamed New York pastrami and swiss on rye with a _good_ mustard.

Now... as per the rules regarding the interview game, I supply the following information:

RULES:
1.Leave a comment, saying you want to be interviewed
2.I will respond; I'll ask you five questions (responses will be in the comment section - JT)
3.You'll update your journal with my five questions, and your five answers
4.You'll include this explanation
5.You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed

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Productive evening last night. Putting stuff in the mail today. Woohoo!

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Today's link is for lovers of sea chanties. It's the English and German page: Shanties and Sailor Songs / Shantys und Seemannslieder. I love old sailing ship folklore, and the songs of the era loom large in that. Check out the lyrics to "Barrett's Privateers" and "Greenland Whale Fisheries."

Cheers!