tellhimfred.com

For the first in what will become a series of ‘Interviews With Regular People,’ I was interviewed by Evan. He came up with the questions, and you can see his answers to the same questions here.

1. If you went to Northeastern for film and Sociology, why did you get into web design and programming?

Now that’s a helluva question, one which I ask myself every morning when I wake up, and again when I find myself looking at code saying “What am I doing?”

When I started at Northeastern, I was a marketing major. I was doing well, getting good grades, invited to the honors program, etc., but I just didn’t feel like I was learning anything. I don’t want to take anything away from business schools, or business as a major….it just wasn’t doing it for me. I was really looking for that “Aha!” moment, where you begin seeing things in a completely different light. And that just didn’t happen for me as a Marketing major.

But it sure did when I took my first sociology class. It was unbelievable. I can only describe it as being told the secret to a magic trick….once you know why the trick works, every time you see it thereafter, you “get it.” That’s what Sociology felt like to me.

After graduation, I planned to go to grad school, but it just didn’t work out that way. Throughout college, I had co-ops and side gigs designing and developing web sites. There weren’t a whole lot of Sociology side jobs unfortunately, and I’d picked up html and some design along the way, so it was a good (and marketable) skill. And it was challenging to me.

I’d never taken any kind of computer classes or anything dealing with programming, but I have always been good with languages. In junior high and high school (and a little in college), I took both French and Spanish, and just really “got it.” And I see language as similar to programming in a way. You’re translating meaning into words and letters.

2. What are a few of your favorite activities / things to do in Boston?

I really like playing darts, so that would definitely make the list. I like it when I have a free day and can wander around with my camera. I’d have to say that Boston is a great city for wandering and finding things you didn’t know about.

3. What is the best neighborhood and / or apartment that you’ve had in Boston?

That’s a tough one since I’ve lived in so many different apartments in the Boston area. I guess I’ll just list a few of them in no particular order.

a. First apartment on Columbus Ave in Boston- The first apartment was a lot of fun. I lived there my sophomore year in college with Brett, Ross, Scott, Jay, Logan, and a revolving cast of others. We painted the living room school bus yellow, and you could see it from across the street. It really was a great time.

b. Copenger Street in Mission Hill- I lived in two different apartments there in the same building for a few years. Though the neighborhood wasn’t the greatest, it still was great living with friends, and I definitely have lifelong memories and stories I cannot repeat here from Copenger Street.

c. Day Street in Jamaica Plain- Again, not the greatest neighborhood in the world, but living with friends was great.

d. Putnam Street in Somerville- This one would probably be my favorite neighborhood. I really liked the location in Somerville, and it was within walking distance to stores, bars, restaurants, etc. If I had to go back to one neighborhood I’ve lived in already, it would be that one.

4. You’re a fan of the new “Heros” television show. Pick a superpower, any superpower (doesn’t have to be from the show).

I’ve given this one a LOT of thought in the past. I thought about invisibility, and I thought about having the ability to walk through walls. But now I think that the mind-reading power would be nice.
Either that, or the ability to freeze time/time travel. Being able to read minds would have a lot of practical benefits, but one big drawback: you know when people think you’re an idiot. That is
something I’d rather not know. And if you can just stop time, you can change reality. I like that. So I’m going with Hiro’s power. And yes, I have tried to do it multiple times with no luck.

5. If you could go to grad school for anything at all, full boat, what would it be and why?

I’m not sure. My first thought would be something to do with Psychology. I’ve never taken a psych course, and think I’d really like it. Aside from that, maybe some kind of writing course. As you can see
with my blogs, I try to get ideas out as quickly as possible rather than really working on the language and polishing what I say. I know I wouldn’t go for any kind of computer science or marketing programs.

6. I’ve heard that your HS football skills were pretty good. Why didn’t you play football in college?

You’ve heard that my HS football skills were pretty good because I’ve told you that. Not because it has any basis in reality!

What’s the saying? “The older I get the better I was?” Well, I think that’s true for me. I think I was decent, but make no mistake: I could have never been good enough to play college ball. No chance.
I think it really comes down to ability vs. dedication. I had a lot of dedication, very little natural ability. And sometimes being dedicated to something can overcome a lack of ability. I think that was true at the high school level, but once you get past that, you need both.

7. Why don’t you ever use the terms “schizzle,” or “wizzle?” Don’t you like Snoop?

I have no idea where this question came from, and I don’t know how to answer it. You stumped me here.

8. List the 3 top concerts you’ve been to and why.

Another tough one, but here’s what I’m thinking:
1. Marilyn Manson at the Worcester Centrum- One of my best friends from home in New York is a HUGE Marilyn Manson fan. I never got it. I had heard a lot about Marilyn Manson, but never really listened to the music, and just kind of took for granted that he was a gimmick for “goth” kids. But when my friend called to say he was coming out to Boston to see the concert, and that I was going too (it was a statement, not a question), I said “sure, why not.”
And I’m really glad I did. It really was an eye-opening experience, and one of the many times in life when I’ve realized that having an open mind can result in some real surprises. First, the guy can sing, and he plays with some excellent musicians. But when it comes to the stage show, you will find no one that can entertain a stadium like he does. How one little skinny guy with makeup on can completely captivate tens of thousands of people…it’s just amazing. And instead of a concert, it really feels like a play of some sort. Dozens of set changes. It’s just completely surreal, and
every time I’ve seen a Manson show, I leave shaking my head in disbelief.
The other thing I like about Manson is what he’s all about: making people think. You can love him or you can hate him; that’s not the point. The point is that you should listen to what he’s saying, what
his songs are about, and formulate your own opinions. The lesson to be learned is to make up your own mind. Don’t just accept what other people tell you.

2. Slipknot at the first annual Aggressive Music Festival in Glens Falls New York- When the same friend from New York called me to come see Slipknot, I had the same feeling I did about Manson- not my kind of music, but I’ll give it a shot. I did, and I loved it. The thing I liked about Slipknot is that their shows have so much energy. That, and their drummer is just plain inhuman.

3. Radiohead at the Tweeter Center- I’ve seen Radiohead twice, but the Tweeter Center Show was amazing. I don’t know what else to say. They’re Radiohead.

9. Who is the most degenerate, festering, sack of monkey shit in politics today?

Wow, that’s a tough one.
First you have to come up with some qualifications. Since politics are so heavily based on trust, you’d have to be dishonest and fraudulent to fit in this category. You’d have to present yourself one way, and behind the scenes, be completely different. You’d have to say you’re looking out for the interests of the people, yet only work to satisfy your own interests. You’d have to know that you’re misrepresenting yourself and not care. You’d have to justify your actions by telling yourself you’re better than the idiots that vote for you.

Then, out of all the people that fit the descriptions above, I’d have to pick one person? I’m not sure where to start.

10. Would you skydive? Or, would you ever jump out of a perfectly good airplane, pay for it, and hope to Christ that you’re backpack full of parachute opens, just for a thrill?

Well, I’ve bungee jumped a few times and that was a lot of fun, so sure. I’d try skydiving. Why not?