013: Keshigirl

This week we are joined by the ever-elegant and gorgeous Keshi from KeshiGirl. Her dulcet tones and sweet stories of boys, friends, family and food create a wonderful and admirable picture of a strong woman who values the good and simple things in life.

Her blog is a colourful diatribe of her life in Sydney, Australia and feels more like you're catching up with your best friends for a great all-night chat than reading a blog.

BV: Keshi, thanks so much for taking the time to have a talk with me. It's great to have you here at BloggerView. I love the style of your posts when you get on a roll. It seems you cover many topics in the one post and aren't afraid to talk your mind however long it may take to get there. Do you think about the structure of your posts before you write or are you more of a 'go with the flow’ girl?

Thanks Pete, it’s my pleasure to be here. I don’t really think about the structure of a post. I just write whatever comes to my mind. Often I write about something that took place recently in my life or a topic that I’d love to get feedback on.

But generally it’s my conversations with the walls so, I’m pretty unstructured and because of that I can sound quite wayward sometimes… he he. To me blogging isn’t about being ‘nice’ or seeking ‘popularity’. It’s about giving a voice to my heart so Keshi tells it like it is. :)


BV: It seems like you have built a very strong community around your blog. Can you tell us how important it is to have people around you (be it online or close in a geographic sense) that support you and keep coming back to your blog?

I have a pretty busy blog I know! I value people and their opinion a lot. I like feedback because I believe it teaches you new things and makes you think in a different angle – it sets you free from your comfort zone. All in all, there’s power in knowledge and that knowledge comes from connections. I value people online or not, for without people you’d be nothing, no matter how great a person you are.


BV: Being the very attractive girl that you are, no doubt you get your fair share of attention from the opposite sex. In fact, I've read a few posts where you tell some great stories about the dumb shit us blokes can do in the face of a pretty girl. What makes boys do dumb shit?

Haha… thanks for the compliments Pete! I think boys are generally more impulsive than girls are. It’s good in a way because it really may get them what they want. Blokes take action spontaneously when they see something they like. In that process they can make a fool of themselves, depending on the individual, that is. But as long as it isn’t a tasteless act, it’s OK. I love witnessing blokes in LOVE :). Sometimes dumb can be beautiful.


BV: Music plays a very big part in your life. You talk frequently about your love of music in your posts. Can you share a time where music has inspired you so much you posted about it?

Yes, you’re absolutely right there! MUSIC is what’s running through my veins and keeping me alive. If not for music, I seriously believe I wouldn’t be here today. Music has retained my sanity on many occasions and it is the only unconditional friend I have ever known. Therefore I dedicated this post to music a long time go:
http://keshigirl.blogspot.com/2005/09/introducing-my-best-friend.html

That post explains how I feel about music and how my life has a deeper meaning because of it.


BV: You say in your blog that the walls can sometimes have better listening powers than anyone else. Why is that?

Simply because the walls aren’t human. Humans tend to judge you even before you have finished telling them your story. They question you, belittle your conscience, sometimes they just hear; not really listen, and they misunderstand you half the time. Don’t get me wrong, I aint saying all humans are like that, but most are. However, the walls; they just listen… and after you have told them your story, they are still neutral towards you and I like that quality in them. I then leave them with a feeling of being understood and a weight lifted off my chest... not with an additional load.


BV: I love your rantings about the, as you say, I-think-it's-cool-to-be-an-empty-head trend that is all over the media with the likes of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan etc. If these girls shouldn't be in the limelight, who do you think should be? What would they wear? How would they act? What would they look like?

Well, first of all they are in the limelight for a reason. People who become stars for all the wrong reasons are a scary thought but unfortunately that’s the way show business works these days. These girls are bad role models to younger women of today but then again, it all depends on the individual, doesn’t it. There’s the sane girl who knows what she’s doing and then there’s the insane girl who has no clue. So in the end you shouldn’t really blame the stars for your actions but yourself.

Who do I think should be in the limelight if not for Paris Hilton kinds? Well how about Audrey Hepburn? Because she was truly beautiful on the inside as well as outside. That’s what women need to realise… that your beauty doesn’t come from the clothes you wear or the cars you drive or the number of men you sleep with or the bone-protruding body you aim to get... true beauty comes from within your soul and then the rest shall follow.


BV: I've asked this of a few people here at BloggerView and I always enjoy hearing their answers. What's the thing you love most about the people that comment on your blog?

I like the diversity of their roots which in return contributes to the diversity of the thoughts on a topic. I have a huge number of commentors from all over the world, and that results in a very sacred knowledge/values repository. And of course I get to make friends with all kinds of people from around the globe, without having to travel… that’s the ultimate gift I can ever receive right? :) I realise that there are so many beautiful hearts in this world… that gives me hope and has retained my faith in humanity amidst the chaos that this world is in today.


BV: Well, that's it. Keshi, thanks again for taking the time to answer some of my questions.

Thanks Peter, it’s been a pleasure talking to you!

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If you liked this interview BloggerView also recommends:-
Steph from Much Ado About Sumthin!
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Coming up this week: Boys, friends, family and food… it’s KeshiGirl

You may have noticed the BloggerView office fell a little quiet for a couple of weeks. There is a good reason for this and that reason is called everyone-in-the-house-sick-for-fucking-weeks-itis.

Yep, the dreaded lergie hit our house with a vengeance. This was an angry lergie. It was like our lergie hadn’t been fed for months - years even, and came to our house in a whirlwind of snot, phlegm, sneezing, coughing and all the other wonderful things that come with the ‘flu.

Now that we’re all on the mend, we are starting to see the sunshine again. I can’t think of a better girl to lead us into the warmth of the midday bloggy sun than KeshiGirl. Swing by later this week when I talk to KeshiGirl about her life and her blog.

012: Dave - UK Copper

It's refreshing to read a blog that gives real-life accounts of the world the author lives in. There are many blogs on the net today that fluff about and create stories and embellish the truth to get readers, hits or publicity. David from UK Copper is not one of these authors.

His blog is a strikingly accurate and stinging account of the modern police force in the UK. His dry wit and humour has many people following his blog and his book Wasting Police Time has been released to rave reviews.

BV: Firstly Dave, thanks for joining me on BloggerView to answer a few of my questions. My brother used to be a copper here in Australia, and he told me part of the reason he left the force was that "I'm sick of dealing with the dregs of society". I've heard a few of his stories over a few beers and some of them make your hair curl.
Before you joined the force, were you aware the depths of degeneracy the human race can go to?

I wouldn’t like to say that I see degeneracy on a wide scale every time I go to work, it's more mundane than that. I suppose that before I joined the police, I thought that people called the police for more significant matters than they actually do. I certainly didn't think I'd be dealing with a bank robbery every day, I just thought I would be dealing with criminality, as opposed to stupidity. That said, I do see drug addicts and their way of life; the intravenous injection, the blagging, the begging and the thievery sickens me, as does the benign neglect of children whose parents are either too stupid or lazy to do their parental duty.

BV: As I mentioned earlier my brother joined the force. The reason he did was, he used to work at a petrol station and was held up at gunpoint during a graveyard shift. This obviously scared the shit out of him and he vowed to stop the types of people who did this. What was the conduit for you joining the force?

I wish I could say it was something dramatic. Sadly it wasn't. I worked in a big auto plant for many years and before that was at university. I had always been interested in crime and justice and the police were recruiting at that time, so I applied. I've always favoured an interesting job rather than a well-paid one (good job too).

BV: Your blog focuses on highlighting the sometimes-farcical red tape and rigmarole that the average UK copper has to go through in his line of duty. I'm sure most of my readers don't know what it's like to have your hands tied like this. What's it feel like to not be able to do your job properly because of this admin nightmare?

It's a massive shock when you join up, but I found a way round it - to actually embrace it and laugh about it. Seriously though, if I ever thought about it I would shudder, especially as up to 80% of my time is spent doing it. In the end you're a professional, so you do what's expected of you, even though you know it's a waste of time.

BV: For all the bad points about being a UK copper, there must be something that you love about the job? Can you share with me what that is?

Yesterday I had a fight with a drug dealer, found some drugs on him and sent him straight to jail. A few weeks ago I chased and caught someone stealing scrap metal from a workshop. I've successfully investigated frauds worth tens of thousands of pounds. I've helped people drive to locations by using my local knowledge. These are all things I enjoy doing and things that make the job worthwhile. It comes down to catching crooks and helping people - that's what is worthwhile. It doesn't have to be the crime of the century either.

BV: I have recently interviewed Stephen J. Dubner from Freakonomics and he said to me that the point in his book that created a lot of controversy was the correlation between the legalisation of abortions and a drop in crime rate. Do you think he may have a point here?

I haven't read the book, so I can't comment specifically on the theory, although the crime rate correlates to lots of things. My experience is that criminals commit crime for two reasons: 1- It's easier than working for a living and 2- You're unlikely to get caught and punished. So, if you're bone idle and have little regard for authority then I suppose you're more likely to break the law. Sadly, all of these theories about crime have little impact, I suppose you could say that the crime rate has risen along with the number of excuses experts dream up for those who commit it.

BV: If you could create a system to deal with crime quickly and efficiently, how do you imagine this working? Eye for an eye, bring back public floggings perhaps?

There are no easy answers unfortunately. We cannot deal with crime and simultaneously address the conflicting demands of on the one hand liberals who want fewer and easier punishments and most of the public who want criminals in jail more often and for longer. One thing's for sure though: you will not deter criminals by being easier on them.

BV: Between all the paperwork, enquiries and mundane daily grind of being a UK copper, there has to be a few thrills and spills. Has there ever been a point in your job where your adrenalin is running 110%... tell us about this day?

I caught a sex-offender once. Sadly, I can't go into too many details, but involved a foot chase and of all the people out and about looking for this guy, it was me who found him. There's nothing like the chase to make things all worthwhile. I also remember on one occasion running after a guy who had stolen a CD; we must have gone a mile or so before he gave up and when he did, I said, "Bloody hell mate, I hope you're tired 'cos I'm f***ing knackered."

BV: The police are here to stop crime; we know this, it’s part of our lives. The age-old question of how do we prevent crime comes up again and again by governments, family groups and other organisations. As someone who deals with crime and the people who perpetrate these crimes on a daily basis, what's one thing you think we as parents, bloggers and general punters could do to help you prevent crime or do your job better?

1. Your kids don't need expensive toys or holidays. They only need one thing: YOUR TIME.
2. Get married, buy your own house and don't get drunk too much.
3. Buy a gun.
4. Don't believe the government.

Thanks so much for joining us this week Dave, you’ve provided a fascinating insight into being a cop in the UK.

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If you liked this interview BloggerView also recommends:-
Steve Lacey - Random Thoughts
Stephen J. Dubner - Freakonomics
Drew - The Crochet Dude

Coming up this week; The fuzz, coppers and the boys in blue – it's UK Copper.

You know when someone tells you about their job they usually talkabout all the good bits? "Yeah, I'm travelling to Spain at the end of the year and pick up my new company car tomorrow" - you know those types!

Even the best jobs have a component that sucks. The paperwork, picking up coffee for the boss or that dickhead security guy that touches you in places that he shouldn't... erm... enough about my work. This week we welcome UK Copper. This blogger gives light to the interesting and sometimes dreary life of a British police officer.

UK Copper has set out to make people aware of the amount of red tape and rigmarole the average UK copper has to go through every day. This greatly reduces their capacity to fight crime and bust heads. Don't miss this week's interview with UK Copper.

011: Stephen J. Dubner - Freakonomics

Today we welcome Stephen J. Dubner, award-winning New York-based journo and co-writer of the pop culture phenomenon Freakonomics. Stephen grew up in Duanesburg, once home of the largest coaling station in the world. Studying at the Appalachian State University he graduated in 1984. Shortly afterwards he discovered playing in a rock band wasn't his life's path, so he decided to focus on his writing which has led him to cross paths with Steven D. Levitt, his left-of-centre cohort in the production of the book Freakonomics.

Freakonomics takes a slightly skewed look at the art and science of economics. When most people think of economists, many think of slight, suit wearing nerdy types that hang out with actuaries and finance analysts. Freakonomics turns this projection on its head, looking at the intriguing side of life, answering questions like "If drug dealers make so much money, why do they still live with their mums?" and "What do school teachers and sumo wrestlers have in common?"

BV: Please give Stephen a very warm welcome. Stephen, thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer some of my questions. Freakonomics has been out for almost a year now, does it seem like a lifetime ago that this came out, or does it feel like just yesterday?

Believe it or not, it was published two years ago, at least in the U.S. And yes, time has flown. In some ways, the book still feels new - mostly because we try to keep the dialog going on our blog. That's been one of the best surprises of this whole venture: being able to push the ideas forward with an online community.

BV: For those of us who have no idea about economics (um… yeah… that's me!!), can you explain what's at the core of economic studies and how Freakonomics is different to this?

Most people think of economics as a subject matter, one that primarily includes "the economy", the stock market, interest rates, etc. That's all hugely important, obviously. But the field of economics is in fact much broader than that, or can be broader at least. Think of it as a toolkit - a lot of mathematical tools, yes, but also a way of looking at the world and examining human behavior. To be really reductive, you could call it the science of decision-making, which obviously each of us is involved in many times each day. So really, if you think of it like that, no subject is off-limits.

BV: You have chosen to set up a blog to help with the marketing of this book. How do you think this medium has helped in the promotion?

It's hard to measure but my impression is that the blog is one reason the book continues to live on. We've got about 60,000 daily readers, which isn't much compared to a Yahoo!, but for a couple of authors who like to chat up their ideas, it's a lot.

BV: With all the blogs and social media sites that are growing in size and popularity, the web is becoming an ever more complex and intertwined place. Places like Second Life offer people the opportunity to start virtual worlds and economies. It's new and a little scary to some. Do you think this is a trend we will see more and more, and what impact do you think it will have on 'old world economies'?

That's a really interesting question. Just the other day on our blog, in fact, our new web editor Melissa Lafsky blogged about a controversy brewing in Second Life over a "virtual rape." You can see from the comments on the post that people are deeply, deeply divided about the transplantation of real-world issues like justice and incentives onto a virtual world. But, as others point out, the virtual world can be an excellent laboratory to try out potential real-world solutions.

BV: Has anyone ever told Steve Levitt, your ‘partner in crime’ for the book Freakonomics that he looks like Alan Ruck from 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off '?

Hmm. I don't know. But I have to say, I don't see the resemblance.

BV: Out of all the examples in the book (of which there are many), which one do you feel really puts the freak in Freakonomics?

The correlation between the legalization of abortion and a drop in crime was certainly a provocative issue, which made people think about the world differently. I'd say that was the single most powerful idea. But a lot of people prefer the stuff we wrote about how baby names are connected to socioeconomic status. Hey, it takes all kinds...

BV: Well mate, you’ve definitely put an interesting slant on the world of economics for us all. Thanks for a very enlightening chat and good luck with the book!

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Coming up this week: Yeah, yeah... I know I stuffed up!

OK, so firstly I need to apologise for last week’s mix-up with BloggerViews. You see, here at the BloggerView office I’m usually working on the site after a rather large glass of Johnny Walker on the rocks. Actually, I’m surprised there aren’t more mistakes given this is the case!!

So last week we had Drew from The Crochet Dude and this week I will be posting my interview with Stephen J. Dubner from Freakonomics. Make sure you check back later in the week as it’s an incredibly interesting conversation I had with him. You could make it easier on yourself by subscribing to our RSS feed or via email.

Also, I need to congratulate Drew as he has bumped off Steve Lacey, our friendly Google engineer, to get a spot in the top three most popular BloggerViews since the site’s been live.

Well done Drew… sorry Steve!!

010: Drew - The Crochet Dude

Special Announcement: The Freakonomics interview will be posted next week.

This week we have Drew from The Crochet Dude. Drew will be appearing on HGTV Monday 11th June at 7am ET/PT. For those of you outside the US, an outline of the projects Drew will be going through can be found here.

Today we go a little crafty and to help me on this journey is Drew Emborsky from The Crochet Dude. Drew is a fine artist from Houston, Texas and whilst he enjoys cooking up a great feed, getting out in his wonderful garden and painting up a storm with his favourite oils and canvas, his blog primarily focuses on his love of fiber arts.

Invented in the 1800s, crochet quickly took off in Europe as a means to supplement family incomes from war-ravished territories. Today, crochet has a healthy and lively following of which Drew is an integral part.

BV: Drew, thanks so much for taking the time to talk to me about your passion… crochet. It seems you’re pretty damn fanatical about fiber arts and in particular crochet. Can you tell me, where did this passion stem from?

Hey dude! Thanks for inviting me!

I come from a large family and we all crochet. When I was a kid I watched my dad crocheted area rugs out of old fabric, and my mom crochet doilies out of thread. One of my sisters took to knitting and made us all sweaters one year, and one of my brothers crocheted an afghan for Mom while he was in the army! I guess it must be in our DNA because by the time I was five I was crocheting right along with everyone else.

I studied fine art in college and I love that I am able to combine this long family tradition of working with fiber and my training as an artist.

BV: When you’re at a dinner party and you tell people that you love crochet, I imagine there is usually one guy that’s pretty insecure about his own personality and would be the type to make fun of a man who crochets. How do you respond to this type of guy and still keep him on your side?

Besides kick his ass? Hmm, that usually does the trick. But if I want to keep him on my side I will tell how crochet and knit are practiced by men all over the world and have been for a long time, and that in America it has been a relatively short period of time where men haven’t felt comfortable with the fiber arts, at least that has how it has seemed. In reality men have been knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, etc, all along, but nowadays we can be seen crocheting on the subway or knitting at the coffee shop.

And if that doesn’t work…. I kick his ass.

BV: When I think of crochet, I think of doilies and bed socks. Can you tell me some of the other useful things you can create using crochet?

One of the most exciting developments is that we are seeing crochet on the runways in Paris/Milan/NYC. Designers are using crochet to create some pretty incredible garments. And now that natural fibers are becoming much more accessible, you can find crochetiers working with silk, cashmere, angora, alpaca, wool, etc and creating what many call “wearable art”.

Crochet is also great for creating baby blankets (it’s fast!) and accessories (it’s sturdy enough to make a laptop case!) and intricate wall hangings/curtains (google “filet crochet”!) . I even found myself in a hotel a few months ago and realizing that I had forgotten my cufflinks, I whipped out my wool and hooks and crocheted a pair to wear to my meeting.

Pretty much you name it, you can do a crocheted version of it.

BV: It seems to me that inventing crochet designs is like any other artistic talent. Can you run me through the skills you need to come up with an original crochet design and can anyone do it?

I certainly think that anyone can try to do it and based on their experience and skill level they will be as successful as they want to be. That being said, a basic knowledge of garment construction, a strong command of the stitch combinations, and the ability to visualize how it will turn out (and how to get from point A to point B) help tremendously.

The absolutely most important skill though is the ability to mentally handle ripping out what you’ve done as many times as necessary in order to finally achieve the design as you have imagined it. The technical term in the industry is “frogging” because you have to “rip it rip it rip it”.

BV: Men who knit and the dogs who love them. So is this a book about men, or dogs?).

Men Who Knit and the Dogs Who Love Them came about because my co-author Annie Modesitt and I wanted to create a set of men’s sweater designs that men would actually want to knit and wear. Sometimes when one looks at a man’s sweater pattern it becomes very obvious that the designer had the dude’s lady in mind, mainly because she would most likely be knitting it, so it has pretty features that a dude wouldn’t necessarily want to wear.

What we did was look at each design from a dude’s point of view (that’s me!) and consider “what would a man like to knit, and when he is finished what would he actually want to wear”. So this book contains men’s sweaters that are tailored, classic, a bit trendy in a few cases, but always keeping the dude in mind.

That being said, the fun part of the book is that all the men’s sweaters also have matching dog sweaters. Not all the designs fit all dogs, but there are designs for every size from Chihuahua to Great Dane. There are dog accessories too like beds, leashes, saddlebags, etc. The hardest part though is getting your dog to knit.

BV: You’ve had your blog up for a while now; can you tell me a story about how your blog has made a difference to either your life or someone else’s?

The amazing part of having a blog for the last two years is that I have communication with thousands of people that love the fiber arts too. The feedback that I gain from their emails and comments would be unobtainable any other way. And the blog helps filter and pinpoint with whom my designs are compatible. If they like my designs they read my blog and many of the long time readers have become very good friends of mine.

I could give you many examples of how The Crochet Dude has made a difference in other’s lives, but these are the most common stories I hear. Little “Bobby” wants to crochet but his dad doesn’t think a boy should. So Grandma/Mom/Aunty sit down to the computer with Bobby and Dad and they look at my blog and website and see that it’s okay for dudes to crochet and knit. I have received so many emails from kids and moms saying ‘thank you for being a great role model for Bobby’. That really makes me feel good.

The other scenario is similar but usually includes a wife that wants to get her husband crocheting so they can go yarn shopping together. The success rate isn’t quite as high, but I do get thankyous from them too.

BV: And lastly, if you could crochet one item to stop terrorism, what would that be?

I don’t like to try and stop anything because I feel that it creates more of it.
However, if I could crochet one item to promote peace it would be an electric car.

Related links:
Site http://www.thecrochetdude.com
Blog http://blog.thecrochetdude.com
Patterns http://www.lulu.com/thecrochetdude
Gear http://www.cafepress.com/thecrochetdude

BV: Well Drew, you've certainly opened my eyes to the world of crochet. Thank you.

Did you enjoy this post? Make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed or subscribe via email.

If you liked this interview BloggerView also recommends:-
Steph from Much Ado About Sumthin!
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Morphing into Mama

Coming up this week: Economics, drug dealers and sumo wrestlers. It’s Stephen J. Dubner from Freakonomics.

Don’t miss this week’s interview with Stephen J. Dubner from Freakonomics. It’s a real eye-opener. With questions like ‘Which is more dangerous - a gun or a swimming pool?’, ‘What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common?’ and ‘Why do drug dealers still live with their mums?’, Freakanomics is sure to put an interesting slant on how you look at economists.

Join me later this week when I talk to Stephen about his book and his blog. Until then, happy blogging!

009: Morphing into Mama

The mummy blogging world is filled with loving mums that talk about their kids. Thousands of mummy blogs fill up the internet with wonderful photos, stories and recollections of kids, families, happiness and fear.

Morphing Into Mama is a standout amongst many; her honesty captures the heart and minds of her readers as she sometimes reflects with openness on the darker, more realistic and funnier side of being a parent in today’s world. Please welcome Laura – the creator of Morphing Into Mama.


BV: Laura, thanks so much for being with us today. I appreciate you spending the time to answer some of my questions. Morphing into Mama… that's a great name – I guess it was an interesting experience for you to go from footloose and fancy-free upwardly mobile woman to, as you say "someone who hasn't slept in a month, whose nipples are constantly leaking, is never left alone – even for a minute and just really wants to go to Starbucks for a coffee and some time alone with a good book". What was it about the motherhood experience that took you by surprise?


Ummmmm… let's see… the whole experience. You simply can't know how you will respond to motherhood… parenthood… until you actually become a parent. Expectations are one thing, but the real deal is another. And it was a harsh reality to find out my real experience didn't match up with my expectations. I wasn't radiating joy. I was tired. I was overwhelmed. I was tired.


And there was no relief in sight. Did I mention how tired I was? Fortunately, I did begin to radiate joy after the first year. But it took a YEAR.


BV: You mention on your 'why you blog' page that your planned baby traumatised you and your husband, can you tell me about that?


Well… it is traumatizing to realize you won't be using the bathroom alone for a very, very long time. See, Husband and I are kinda loners. We really enjoy being together, but we also enjoy our alone time. Alone time is almost non-existent when you have a new baby.


BV: I know you have had many, many moments where your kids give you joy, wonder and a good old belly laugh that only a parent can know. Can you tell me what that feels like?


It's those moments when you and your spouse are lying in bed at night and one of you starts laughing out of nowhere because you're reminded of something cute the kids said or you're just remembering a little face one of them made earlier that day. And the two of you laugh hysterically and you both feel all warm and fuzzy inside, so warm and fuzzy, in fact, that you're almost willing to go wake them up so you can give them a big smooch and squeeze, but, of course, you don't because it would be totally insane to wake sleeping toddlers.


My absolute favorite moments, however, are when the kids are alone in another room, and I can hear them playing together. Tod-lar will tell Bah-bie he's going to share with her, or if she falls and bonks her head, he'll kiss her and try to make her laugh so she'll feel better.


The other day, the kids were watching "Nemo" while I was taking a shower, and Tod-lar turned off the movie because Bah-bie started to get scared. When I got out of the shower, Bah-bie came and told me, "Mama, I got scared. Tod-lar turned off the movie. For ME." Nothing warms my heart more than that.


BV: I want to take you back to almost a year ago in March 2006, when you wrote a post about false advertising. This post caused quite a stir around the blogsphere and many people didn't agree with what you said. My understanding is that you were attacked in your comments quite viciously and personally. Others also posted about this post all over the blogsphere, attacking you and your opinions. Can you paint a picture of what that experience was like to go through and how you have changed as a blogger because of it?


Picture an angry mob of five thousand people with torches banging on your front door threatening to burn down your house with you and your family in it.


And that's all I have to say on that topic.


BV: You’ve been studying psychology for the past few years. Can you tell us a little about how you got your passion for this subject?


I'm just about to graduate with my masters in psychology, focusing on Marriage and Family Therapy. An MFT program seemed like a natural choice for me because a) I find people's behaviors, cognitions, and feelings fascinating, b) when I meet new people, many often tell me very private things about themselves and then say "I don't know why I just told you all that! I just met you!", and c) I come from a horribly dysfunctional family, so I had to find some way to learn how healthy families function. Turns out, healthy families function nothing like the family I came from.


BV: I know lots of people get enjoyment from your blog. What do you learn from your readers’ comments?


I learn how very different people's perceptions are. I can write something and have 15 completely different takes on it. For me, this serves as further confirmation that perception is reality. It's fascinating. Really.


BV: Laura, thanks very much for being part of BloggerView and providing a very insightful interview.

Did you enjoy this post? Make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed or subscribe via email.

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• Chris - Rude Cactus
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• Steph from Much Ado About Sumthin!

BloggerView has a new feature… plus coming up this week: parenting and being a mother in the blogosphere…it’s Morphing into Mama.

This week we have implemented a new feature on BloggerView. You might notice that at the end of our interviews we have started to add “If you liked this interview, BloggerView also recommends…” followed by links. These will be links to related interviews that you may find interesting. You can see an example of these recommended links in this post

We get a lot of new visitors here at BloggerView, so if you’re a first time visitor you might not be aware of the range of wonderful bloggers we have allready interviewed. We’re trying to make your job a little easier by making some recommendations.

If this is your first time here… welcome, and be sure to come back later this week when I post my BloggerView with Morphing into Mama. MIM has a razor-sharp wit and her blog is a colourful montage of the highs and lows of being a modern day mum.

008: Allan - Are You My Wife?

Today we are joined by Allan Wills from Are You My Wife? Allan decided to take a year off from corporate slavery to travel around the world giving women over the globe this challenge:-

"My name is Allan Wills and I will go anywhere in the world for the right date. I will leave no stone unturned and no avenue unexplored. You can play by: (1) Inviting me on a date, (2) Ask me to do something for you or (3) Help from the outside; suggest, advise or contribute. WE are making the rules up as we go, so feel free to contact me... whoever you are, wherever you be. But know this: I'm in no rush... "

Allan has travelled to over six different countries and is up to date number 37. I caught up with Allan when he was in Australia relaxing in the wonderfully tropical Cairns, a city in North Queensland.

BV: Allan, I appreciate you taking the time in between lying on tropical beaches and meeting gorgeous Australian women to have a chat with me.

So let me get this straight, you will travel anywhere in the world for the right date (which you have done) and you have met 37 women so far in the attempt to ask the question "are you my wife?". How do you think you will know when you have met ‘the one’?

No idea. Because my brother started working for an airline and gave me cheap flight options, I started this blog as a lark, expecting nothing more than a few bites and maybe some creative dates.

I don’t know how, but the media found out about me and next thing I knew my quest was being published in many languages in places I didn’t know had places. Slowly the website became a full time commitment (pun intended). So I took a month off work to go to the US on some dates.

Flash forward to January – six months after I started the blog. I have three choices in front of me as I fly back to London.

1) Get another job in London (remember that I’m still paying rent, even though I’ve been absent)
2) Accept a job in Dubai, UAE
3) Continue AreYouMyWife and my pledge to go anywhere, do anything, follow the story wherever it leads, but set some form of deadline.

I chose option#3. As for how to know who is the one? Still no idea. But I have no problem staying happily single. The greatest part of a blog is that I’m under no obligation; I just go with the flow.

BV: Can I take you back to when you were living in London coming to the realisation that when you live your life in a blur, one week blends into the next and before you know it you’ve wasted your life and you’re dust. You mention that you walked by the pub one day and your friends were in there complaining about the same things they always compained about and you kept walking, giving you the start of the areyoumywife journey. What made you keep walking that day?

Probably my one biggest fear: to live with regret.

BV: Travelling over the world doing challenges that women set for you obviously means you put a lot of trust in the fairer species. Has this trust been broken for you along your journey?

Before anything I had to trust myself and my instincts. So despite piles of offers (some humorous, others serious, some psycho) I had to operate within my parameters: limited time and money.

All I would guarantee anyone is my friendship, which – in my opinion – is the keystone of any higher form of relationship. Out of all my dates, 99% are now my friends or potential business contacts. Only one woman has asked me never to speak to her again, after she apparently fell in love with someone two weeks after our second date.

So far my trust hasn’t let me down. So far…

BV: You have been given many gifts over the span of your 37 dates. A kilt, a scarf, a digital camera and even a theme song from Israel. What’s the present that means the most to you and why?

I started a new section on my blog called Grains of Sand, as a result of my decision to adopt the Ultimate Date angle (a form of deadline). I figure that all the gifts I receive along the way can play a role – like grains of sand in making a castle.

Many gifts are non-tangible ie. advice, a place to stay, a lift, etc. but as for the tangibles I want to make them public so people can share in my treasures.

How all the Grains of Sand add up (or don’t add up) remains to be seen, but as for a favourite one, that also remains to be seen.

BV: You have had some pretty crazy offers. For example, a Muslim woman in full hijab and veil sent you a photo of herself lying on a satin bed. She was covered head to toe but two things were showing; her eyes, and she was flashing her breasts. Her message read: “If things were different in my country, I’d invite you over." Another woman contacted you and asked for a photo of your "undraped showing endowment". How do you filter out the whackos from the legit offers you get?

Some are more obvious than others. I have no hard and fast rule for sorting, or a system like the CIA that scans for keywords. Usually I have a few exchanges, most by email, potentially a few by phone, and then see where I’m at, how I can get out there and if the date is feasible. The rest plays out.

BV: You have met many different women from many different countries. Have you noticed any difference in the unwritten ‘dating rules’ of different places?

Yes I have. For example, I received a stack of emails from third world countries applying to be my wife, as if I were holding job interviews. Passport photos were attached to most of those emails.

Many emails from certain parts of the world had detailed outlines of religious protocol for getting married. I thought that funny, because they sent it without asking if I even practice a religion. I suppose some assume I would convert or adopt.

But then again I can’t pigeon-hole nations because of the people I meet. Generally speaking, each date has been different; no two alike, and they’ve brought different things out of me.

BV: You have a fairly loose idea of what you would call the ultimate date. Here’s an example of what you would consider an Ultimate Date according to your site:

"In 1971, in Montreal, my parents bought a Volkswagon Westfalia and drove for 16 months over 20,000kms (12,428 miles) through 20 countries: Canada, USA, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia.

Granted, they had already been married several years when they set out – so it wasn’t really a date – but you catch my drift. They are still married now. I don’t have a campervan (yet.) Here are my present tools:

• One 4.1 Megapixel crappy digital camera, USB
• One 12" laptop with a full hard drive
• One Book O’ Dreams
• One yarn of string to make Gift Knots with
• One fertile imagination

Let’s see what I (we?) can pull off by July 2007."

Now that you have been on this journey for a while, has your idea of the ultimate date changed?

It is constantly changing all the time. Bear in mind that the Ultimate Date is democratic – the sum of what someone else and I come up with, so there might well be a compromise in what I want to do, but the idea is fluid for that reason. Then again, after it is all said and done, there is a chance I’ll have no one to ask. So I’ll have to see.

BV: Allan, it's been really great chatting with you. I wish you all the best on your dating adventures.

OK ... so now that you've read Allan's BloggerView, let us know about your worst date experience. Did she turn out to be a man, did you spill coffee all over yourself, or worse yet him/her?

Did you enjoy this post? Make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed or subscribe via email.

If you liked this interview BloggerView also recommends

• Kyle - One Red Paperclip
• Steph from Much Ado About Sumthin!
• Chris - Rude Cactus
  

Coming up this week: Dating, meeting women, finding that one true love and asking "Are you my Wife?"

Coming up later this week we’ll be joined by Allan from Are You My Wife? Allan’s a typical guy who leads a fairly normal life… most of the time.

Did I happen to mention he is travelling all over the world going on a dating marathon? Six countries and 38 dates since he started last year! I managed to catch up with Allan while he was in Australia and I asked him a few questions about his adventure.

Make sure you tune in later this week to find out what it’s like to be footloose, fancy-free and to go where the dates lead you.

007: Timbo - DarkGate

This week we are joined by Timbo, the creator and writer for DarkGate, the web's premier comic slurper site. What's a comic slurper? I hear you ask… keep reading and all shall be revealed.

Timbo is a typical Aussie bloke. He loves his cricket, a laugh with his mates and in-between all this, finds the time to post at his site and maintain hundreds of comics (459 in fact) - all available at his blog www.darkgate.net.

BV: Timbo, thanks for taking the time to talk about your site and the comics you have available on it.

My pleasure.

BV: You currently have 459 comics on your site and thousands of visitors each month gracing your pages; did you always enjoy comics as a kid?

Absolutely. My first comic book was a "Hagar the Horrible" collection. I must have read that thing about 50 times. Then I was introduced to "Footrot Flats" and "The Far Side" and a whole new world opened up. After that it wasn't long before I discovered "Calvin and Hobbes" and that was it for me... I was hooked.

BV: OK… comic slurper. Please explain?

It started in 2000. I used to read two webcomics during my lunch break ("Dilbert" and "User Friendly" I believe) and I found visiting two websites every day was a real chore. :)

So I "slurped" them both onto the one page. This made me happy enough until my flatmate found it and asked me to add "Garfield" (her favourite comic). Then other people on the net found it, and they began emailing me asking me to add their favourite comics.

As it grew bigger I re-wrote the front-end, and added a web-based backend to make configuration easier. Then I added RSS feeds, and that’s when it really took off.

But at the end of the day, if I could do it all again... I'd probably have thought of a better name. :)

BV: You obviously love pop culture and great comics. You feature Simpsons quotes throughout your site extensively. Where I work, we often recite the Simpsons. My favourite Simpsons moment is when Homer goes to the post office after accidentally mailing a nasty letter to Mr Burns:-
Homer: "Hello, my name is Mr Burns. I believe you have a letter for me."
Mail Clerk: "OK, Mr Burns… what's your first name?"
Homer: "Um…I don't know."
Do you have a favourite Simpsons moment?

Hmm... that’s a tough one. My favourite moments are the "Homer being stupid moments" – that guy still cracks me up and the show's been running how long now, 20 years?

I like when Homer talks to his brain, possibly because I have the same problem. I have this conversation with my brain almost daily before I start work: "All right, brain, I don't like you and you don't like me - so let's just do this so I can get back to killing you with beer."

BV: When I was a kid I loved comics (and still do). If you had to explain the pleasure you get from reading a comic to a die-hard bookworm, what would you say?

Good question.

Don't get me wrong, I like a decent book too. But I'd say to someone who loves a good "story" novel to give comics a chance. Especially today when they are so accessible, you don't need to go to the comic book store anymore. There are thousands of web comics available at the click of a button, and some of them are truly amazing. Some will make you laugh out loud; others will rip your heart out.

Comics have over-arcing and compelling storylines just like novels and (recently) TV. And there's just something about seeing the action or the emotion on a character's face that hits you that little bit harder than just reading about it.

Take for example when Spiderman's first girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, died. Imagine reading that in a book rather than actually seeing him holding her in his arms, neck broken, while she gasped her last breath. Meanwhile the Green Goblin flies high above taunting him about his dead lover, and all he can do is hold her.

You couldn't describe that scene with just words and have it hit you the same way as reading that comic does.

BV: You have a new design coming, what can we expect from the new and improved DarkGate?

Heh, not much the way I'm going. I'm working on a new design, mainly because a refit is well overdue. These days everything is CSS and AJAX and gradients and curvy borders and "aqua"-style graphics and well, I'm a bit embarrassed by my old design. As much as I despise this term... I need to "Web 2.0" my website.

There's also a list of features I'd like to add to the comic slurper too one day, it just takes time and that’s something I don't have a lot of. But all these things will happen, they just happen slowly.

BV: You are on a plane flying Kazakistan airlines, sitting next to a fat man with three goats and BO. You had only a fleeting chance to grab three comics from the news-stand at the airport before your flight (keeping in mind this Kazakistani newsagent has an incredibly well-stocked comic supply). Which comics do you grab, and what do you love about them?

Spiderman: What's not to love about this guy? At school he was a geek, but then he was given a powerful gift and instead of using it to get revenge against the bullies, he dedicated his life to protecting those who can't protect themselves. And his sense of humor... always cracking jokes while he's cracking bad guys’ heads! My hero.

Penny Arcade Collection: OK, I love Tycho. There I said it.

Calvin and Hobbes: 'Nuff said really. Probably the greatest strip-comic there ever was and (dare I say it), ever will be.

BV: What's the weirdest thing that has happened to you through your blog?

Probably the Wenatex incident. My Dad got some junk mail from a company selling mattresses and I was in a bad mood that day so I looked into how they got his address. I called the company and they palmed me off to a marketing company. That company ended up telling me the (Aussie) government sold them the electoral role so in my usual style I rant-blogged it immediately. :)

Nothing much happened after that until other people started getting these invites and Google led them to my site, so a zillion hits later I had to shut down comments for that article because Wenatex employees were leaving comments masquerading as other users.... it was out of control. This was by far the most popular blog entry EVER and it had nothing at all to do with comics, or cricket, or footy or anything I care about.

The blogosphere is a crazy place. :)

BV: It certainly is a crazy and wonderful place Timbo – thanks for joining us this week.

OK guys... now it's time for you to share which comics you enjoy reading. What's your favourite comic, and why? Let us know by leaving a comment... will be great to hear from you.

Did you enjoy this post? Make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed or subscribe via email.

Coming up this week: Comic books, superheroes, Spiderman, Calvin & Hobbes and wearing your budgie smugglers on the outside - it’s Timbo from DarkGate

Wow guys… what a busy week we’ve had here at BloggerView. Firstly I just wanted to thank everyone who has submitted a suggested site for a BloggerView. I really love all of your suggestions and I promise to follow up everyone that has been added to the Suggest a BloggerView section of this site.

This week we introduce a new way for you to suggest bloggers you would like to see BloggerViewed. You can make a suggestion by emailing me on pete@bloggerview.net.

Now it’s time to tell you about who’s coming up this week at BloggerView. I talked with Timbo from DarkGate a while ago. I found his site while looking for comic blogs and found that he is the number one comic slurper on the net. What’s a comic slurper I hear you ask? Well you’ll just have to tune in this Thursday to find out!

006: Kelly - The Lesbian Lifestyle

Today we are joined by Kelly from The Lesbian Lifestyle – a blog that is written by women, for women, and about women. This site gives insights into the real-life stories of lesbians around the world, and offers readers the opportunity to see just how alike and sometimes different they are to each other.

TLL focuses on many issues, from burning topics of the day to the innermost fears and feelings of its writers. One thing is for sure, TLL is bringing female same-sex love and attraction to the digital world and many people like to read and participate.

BV: Kelly, thanks for spending some time with me to answer a few questions for my readers. I'm sure everyone is interested in hearing your take on being a lesbian in the digital world. You are in charge of the admin for TLL… I imagine you must get a lot of mail from women explaining how your site has helped them (be it helping them work through feelings they may be unsure about or other pressing issues). How does it feel to know that you are helping women discover themselves, thereby empowering them to be confident about their sexuality?

We all strive for self-discovery at some point in our lives. I think it's most important for people who question their sexuality to have as many outlets as possible. Especially in a world where they will hear it's wrong or immoral on TV, at their church, and many times from their family. The internet brought me together with other lesbians in my area and I wanted to give back.

TLL is a blog that can be visited by anyone from anywhere. It's a place where a teenage girl who has a crush on her best friend can read the posts and learn she's not alone. It's a place where a middle-aged woman who has always struggled with her sexuality can see that there are other women out there, just like her. TLL is a place where I hope many come to find out, and take comfort in the fact, that they are not alone.

BV: TLL deals with many issues lesbians face today. Self-injury, same-sex marriage, assholes (erm… that's people who aren't nice and who you should avoid) and many others. Is there a common struggle that lesbians around the world face, and if there were, what would you like to see done about it?

I think the struggle for acceptance is a stuggle for everyone. You don't have to like me, you don't have to agree with me, but don't think that you are better or deserve more than me. I fear that the issue with acceptance will be around for a long time. One of the initial goals when I created TLL was to show people that lesbians are just like anyone else. There are several stereotypes in the GLBT world. I challenge your readers to take a look at a few posts on TLL and see if they can find a little piece of themselves in the sentiments. Love is love, pain is pain, and loss is loss.

BV: It's unfortunate, but people who live their lives in an 'alternative lifestyle', particularly in western culture, can sometimes be ousted or marginalised. Do you find the same type of prejudice in the blogging world, or are bloggers a completely different kettle of fish?

TLL has been happy to live in its own little bubble. Those who want to read the blog know where to find it. Those who aren't into lesbian-themed blogs know how to avoid us. As the admin of the blog, I have experienced nothing but support from fellow bloggers and hope it continues.

BV: Last year you ran The Best Lesbian Blog of 2006 Awards. Do you plan to hold these again this year and if you are, what can you tell me about the importance of holding these types of awards?

Yes, I have decided to make the award an annual event. There are lots of weblog awards out there. They have gotten huge with vast voting pools and dozens of categories. There's nothing wrong with this, but there’s something to be said for getting an award from a blog that is authored and read by mainly lesbians, when you yourself consider your blog to be a mainly lesbian blog. We'll keep on keepin' on with the award just like we have with the blog. "If you create an award icon people will vote." Feel free to quote me on that one!

BV: You must read loads of blogs, websites and other online media about sexuality and lifestyles, so if someone is struggling with their sexuality – particularly women, what advice would you give them and are there any websites or blogs that you would recommend?

The greatest advice that I could ever give anyone is that their heart will never lie. If you feel love for someone, whether it's a man or woman, it is a gift. Don't ever let someone make you feel bad for listening to your heart and not wanting to give back your gift.

I think online communities and message boards are the best way to meet people online. Most major cities have GLBT newspapers that are in print and/or online. Newspapers are a great resource to find out about events in one's local area. TLL is a great place to start. The blog has a substantial amount of links to other blogs written by lesbians. I would also recommend HRC.com, Planetout.com, and lesbianation.com.

BV: Kelly, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions... I'm sure your BloggerView has given many people an eye-opening insight into the power of blogs.

Did you enjoy this post? Make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed or subscribe via email.

Coming up this week: Kelly from The Lesbian Lifestyle

This week I’ll be chatting with Kelly, who along with several other women, contribute regularly to The Lesbian Lifestyle. Here they share stories on a vast range of topics, from everyday situations with lovers to the burning topic of being a lesbian in our society.

During my chat, Kelly gave me an insight on what it’s like to be a lesbian in today’s world, and how blogging has helped not only her, but her readers.

Make sure you drop by to read this week’s BloggerView, subscribe to our RSS feed or subscribe via email. – I’m sure you will all enjoy hearing what Kelly has to say.

005: Kyle - One Red Paperclip

Today we welcome Kyle MacDonald to BloggerView… yes, that's right - the ‘One Red Paperclip’ guy.

If you haven't heard Kyle's story, then here’s a quick breakdown: an average guy with a little luck, smarts and persistence manages to trade one red paperclip for a house. Taking one year, Kyle made fourteen trades, including a fish pen, a red generator, a skidoo, a recording contract and a snow globe and managed to barter his way from a red paperclip to a house.

BV: Kyle, I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with me – your story really is remarkable. Can I ask, why the paperclip and not say, a highlighter or a replacement nozzle for a water cooler?

Good point. I think if I'd started with a replacement nozzle for a water cooler I'd have instigated much more water cooler talk! But alas, I didn't have a replacement nozzle for a water cooler in our apartment that fine day I decide to trade up. The red paperclip was the first thing I saw when I thought of the idea. To be totally honest, I don't think I even said the word 'alas' that day either.

BV: You say in your entry about the skidoo when Michel Barrette, well-known Montreal TV personality and radio host came to your place and recognised you that "It's a funny feeling when somebody recognizes you from a picture on your website that you set up in your bedroom while eating toast in your underwear." Now I've read your blogs and followed other projects you are involved in and you seem amazingly well-rounded and humble for someone who has been on such a wild and crazy ride. Surely something about you must have changed 'post-paperclip'. What do you think that is?

Well, I still eat a LOT of toast and wear a LOT of underwear these days, and honestly, I can't really say much in my life has really changed. Sure, I've traded up from a red paperclip to a fine house located at 503 Main Street in Kipling, Saskatchewan, but it still doesn't change the fact that I have no idea who these guys are.

BV: It seems like the snow globe was a big risk in the whole trading escapade of yours, can you tell us a little about this trade and how important it was for you to pull it off properly?

Well, the bottom line is I knew about the trade with Corbin Bernsen for the movie role beforehand, so you could say I "duped" people into thinking I'd blown it with that trade. I just wanted to see what people would say when I traded down so obviously and disastrously. That, and I really didn't want Corbin to die while I still had the snow globe.

BV: You must have doubted yourself and your ability to see this project through to completion on more than a few occasions, what got you through the times when you felt this was all a big waste of time?

Just the time when the FDNY confiscated the generator and I thought I'd lost it all!

BV: Can you describe to me the feeling you had when you first walked into that house in Kipling Saskatchewan that you traded for a paperclip?

Not with words. It's definitely one of those "words can't describe" sort of things.

BV: Your latest project I have to admit is a bloody great idea. How's that all panning out for you and has Dylan tried hunting you down for borrowing his idea?

Well, I hope he hunts us down...that's kinda the plan. Um, yeah it's going great. It takes a lot to pull off a Superbowl ad from scratch, so we're busy as beavers making moves to make it happen!

BV: You're in the process of bringing out One Red Paperclip the book. How has the journey of writing about your efforts been different to actually living through it?

Well, it's a lot tougher to write about things months after the fact, especially when you were drunk at the time! (Not all the time... but some of it!) I'm enjoying writing the book, but I have to say I enjoy doing things much more than writing about things!

BV: Your family features extensively in your posts, how important is family to you AND does your mum think you're the flukiest bastard on the planet or is she down with the whole paperclip-house thing?

Well I call her "Mom" but she's pretty much the most down person with this whole paperclip thing. I'd say she'd be my number one fan and supporter, through and through!

BV: You must have met some pretty cool people on your journey and no doubt have discovered heaps of great websites and blogs that you read regularly. Are there a few sites or blogs that you would recommend that people go and check out?

Sure!

http://www.jodygnant.com
http://www.hitch50.com/
http://www.areyoumywife.com/
http://www.mybowlad.com/
http://www.welcometoamerica.us/
http://www.coreyhartdrivesafiero.blogspot.com/
http://www.retiredmoviestardaveleroux.com/
http://www.oneweekjob.com/

BV: Kyle, thanks so much for taking part in BloggerView – I’ll be keeping up with your future projects.

Did you enjoy this post? Make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed or subscribe via email.

Coming up this week: Barter, exchange, bargain or haggle. Which ever way you look at it, Kyle from One Red Paperclip is king of trading stuff.

Wow, thanks to everyone who subscribed to BloggerView this week and thanks to everyone who came to the site. We’ve had over 1,000 people visit the site since we launched a little over a week ago, so thanks if you’ve dropped by and made a comment.

Coming up this week we have Kyle from One Red Paperclip. If you haven’t already heard his story WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!!!

He managed to barter his way from a paperclip to a house in exactly one year. If you believe one man's trash is another man's treasure, then you won’t want to miss this Thursday’s interview with Kyle from One Red Paperclip.

004: Steph from Much Ado About Sumthin!

Today we welcome Steph from Much Ado About Sumthin. This is a girl that will tell you what she thinks and isn't worried about what people think of her. A self-confessed attention-seeking famewhore, her blog is a diatribe of her colourful and entertaining life at home and work.
She swears, she farts and she falls down a lot. To her mother’s dismay, a lady she is not. This genuinely funny and honest girl talks about her life with brashness and sincerity that instantly warms readers to her vocal gymnastics about love, life, sex and fun.

BV: Steph, welcome to BloggerView and thanks for taking the time to answer some of my questions. I've really been looking forward to this interview as you seem tobe the type of girl that says what she thinks. I suppose one could say you're not backwards about coming forwards; where do you think this character trait came from?

I've always been outspoken and I've always had lots to say. Whether anyone listened to me or not never concerned me, I think I just like the sound of my own voice, and now with the blog, I like the fact that my ramblings reach so many people.

Famewhore! Yes I am. My parents both encouraged me to stand up and speak up for myself. The best thing they ever did for me was to LISTEN to me, and encourage me to have an opinion on everything, regardless if I knew what I was talking about or not.

Haha! I also have to credit my older brother who taunted me mercilessly when I was a kid. I had to be loud to be heard above him, and I often got him in trouble because I could talk my way out of almost any situation, and talk him INTO it. The gift of the gab – I never shut up.

BV: It seems like every other day life throws something at you that is just dying to be put in your blog. From bogan weddings to bin juice, home-made porn and the ongoing battle with the PA from hell, Moronica; do you think these things happen to you for a reason?

That's the thing. I don't think extraordinary things happen to me. These things happen to everybody; they just don't write about it or see the humour in it to even want to write about it. I see things through bloggy eyes. Every situation I find myself in, I assess for blog fodder. Quite sad really, but it's something that's just happened to me since my blog addiction. I wear blog-coloured glasses! I do have a few weird and wonderful things happen to me, but I go looking for that. Like the bus story. I saw an opportunity to annoy some people who liked to sit in the same seats every day, and it just escalated from there.

The bin juice thing… if I hadn't gone to that meeting and deliberately voted against popular consensus, none of that crap that followed would have happened. The bogan wedding… well I just KNEW that would be funny. I was looking for the humour/bizarre in it. I'm also very klutzy, I DO fall down and do stupid/thoughtless things every day. Luckily I love to laugh at myself and I don't mind if others do too.I also have insane friends and a slightly wacky family, so there is always SOMETHING going on. I believe there is a story in every situation. It's just the way you look at it, and put your own interpretations on it. Tilt it to see the funny.

BV: If your blog was a night out on the town, what would happen? How manypeople would there be? Would there be booze, drugs and a blow-up kangaroo?

There would be crap-loads of people! We'd start at the local RSL to get pissed on cheap drinks and laugh at the bogans, then we'd move on to the latest/hottest club so we could be refused entry and yell at some bouncers, then we'd probably find some tiny pub and totally over-run the place. The night wouldn't be complete without sleeping it off in the local police cells, and then staggering into McDonalds for a hangover cure wondering where our underwear went and how we got lipstick on our ankles. Blow up kangaroo is optional. I'd prefer a donkey.

BV: It seems you have quite the following and community buzzing around your comments box. What's the thing you love most about the people who comment on your blog?

They are the funniest bunch of fuckers on the net. I read my comments and laugh till I cry most days. They're amazing and it still freaks me out that people actually read me and then bother to leave a comment at all, let alone a well-considered, often thoughtful, and mostly hilarious reply. Someone recently referred to my comments box as like the office water-cooler, and it's so true. Sometimes the commenters have little discussions amongst themselves and I love that. I have a cool bunch of 'regulars' that I know would help me hide a body if I asked them to. I've met some amazingly talented, kind and crazy people on my blog, and that alone has made writing my dribble worth it. They've become as much a part of my blog as I am.

BV: You talk a lot about your friends on your blog. In fact you have been, as youput it, "in the shit" for using your friends as blog fodder. If you didn't have your friends to blog about, what would you write?

I really don't use my friends as blog fodder all that much. I'd probably keep writing about tripping over and debauched behaviour I guess. They're all pretty cool about it though. At first they were like, 'What's a blog?" and then seeing themselves mentioned once or twice – especially Kylie who is a bigger famewhore than I – they loved it. Often we'll be having a chat and they'll actually suggest things to write about. They'll say, "Remember that time when... you should blog about that". One or two have had an issue with stuff I've written in the past, but mostly they're OK about it.

BV: No doubt you’ve had some pretty funny stories to tell as a direct result of your blog. It would be great if you could share one of these with us.

The funniest would have to be the guy at the airport who recognised me just from the things I was saying! I did blog about it and he emailed me after I mentioned it on my blog. He's a blogger too, and seeing a loud-mouthed, blonde chick getting harassed by security… I guess it wasn't too hard to figure out.

The other funny thing that took me by surprise was all the weird emails I get. Especially from foot fetish guys. I used to have pics of my shoes as my profile pic and I'd get so many horny feet fetish freaks asking me about my shoes and even wanting to buy them, or do untold things to my sweaty toes. The fact that my mother occasionally reads me is funny too. She picks out all the spelling and grammatical errors and asks me to cut down on the swearing and calling my readers "mofo's" and "bitches". Bahahahaha!

She knows more about me than any mother should know about their daughter! She stopped reading for a while because she was getting all upset about some negative attention I was getting, and then all my bodily functions and vibrator posts put her off, but I see her lurking sometimes and I'd love her to do a post or two for me. THAT would be funny.

BV: Me thinks you might insult, annoy or disgust some people with your writing style. If you were locked in a cage for a fight to the death with these people, would you choose the chainsaw, the mace or your bare hands to destroy them?

Funny you should ask that. I was just in my very first catfight (since high school anyway) last night and I'd have to say nothing beats bare hands! There are definitely some people in the blogosphere that could use a bitch slappin', and I'd love to be the one to give it.

BV: And I’d love to see that! Steph, thanks for joining us today – it’s been a fantastic interview.

Coming up this week: Vapid, attention-seeking, famewhore alert… it’s Steph from Much Ado About Sumthin!

Firstly, a big thanks to everyone who visited BloggerView during our first week - I hope you enjoyed the first three interviews. Also, to everyone who subscribed to our RSS feed and for those of you who subscribed via email, thanks for getting on board with BloggerView.

Remember guys… if you like what you read, let me and the BloggerViewees know by dropping a line in the comments box. We would love to know your thoughts, so don’t be shy - drop in and say hi.

This week I’ll be posting my interview with Steph from Much Ado About Sumthin! If you haven’t met Steph yet, she’s the girl in the corner laughing way too much and having a fucking great time. She is wicked and sweet, powerful and pretty, but most of all her blog is piss-your-pants funny. If you haven’t already dropped by her blog, do yourself a favour - read her posts and leave a comment. You won’t be disappointed.

During my chat with Steph we talked about all sorts of crazy stuff, from bin juice to bogan weddings, blow up donkeys and more!

Be sure to tune in this Thursday to read all about the exploits and mayhem she calls Much Ado About Sumthin!

003: Chris - Rude Cactus

Today we are joined by Chris from Rude Cactus.

Chris is a music, book and cat loving IT security geek that writes one of the most eloquent and popular blogs on the net today.

He is husband to the fish and father to Mia Bean, and he’s a self-proclaimed wannabe rock star. His blog is funny, sad and provocative. He even finds the time to throw in the odd Haiku every now and then. His wonderful photographs, honesty, integrity and regular posts have gathered him a loyal following.

BV: Chris, thanks very much for spending the time to answer some questions for my readers. It's always great to hear everyone's story and you definitely have a few to tell. Can I ask, what made you start your blog in the first place?

I have not the slightest clue…well, okay, maybe one or two. Back in 2003, I was bored, surfing, and stumbled on a blog. It was honestly the first time I'd seen such a thing. I'd never really imagined there were people out here in the blogosphere writing about every aspect of their lives. I was hooked. As I stumbled through other people's blogrolls, I found more and more interesting people who I felt compelled to keep following. Eventually, I figured “what the hell”, and started my own. I have will-power and motivation for certain things in my life but writing tends not to be one of them. I figured it would last a week. That was nearly four years ago.

BV: You tell a story in your About Me page where as a child, you woke up one morning, rolled over in your bed, looked out the window and saw a hundred hot air balloons. This stuck in your mind. So much so, you recounted it to your wife the first night you talked. What was it about this sight that made you remember so vividly?

As a kid, I had my bed pushed right up to one of the two windows in my room. I'd gaze out at the neighborhood in the middle of the night. The sky would inevitably be my first sight of the day. I always slept with the stereo on, a mixed tape on an endless loop. I'm sure my parents loved it. One morning, I woke up facing an open window on a cool spring morning. The bright blue sky was filled with hot air balloons. Yes' Yours Is No Disgrace (because I listened almost exclusively to progressive rock at that stage) was playing. I'm not sure why it was so memorable. It was just one of those perfect moments, the ones that just happen, out of some confluence of sights, sounds and feelings. The ones that stick in your mind the rest of your life. It's a little like magic.

BV: You write Haiku's often in your posts. Is this something you intentionally set out to do or did you stumble across this type of poetry by accident?

Haikus have always played some minor role on the site since its inception. At least once as a restless teenager I'm sure I fancied myself as a poet and wrote angst-ridden crap that would embarrass the hell out of me now. I also have a rather inappropriate sense of humor. There's something very funny to me about taking a soothing, calm form of poetry and using that form to write about something crass or impertinent. Haikus always seem pretty random to me. And I'm kinda random.

BV: OK… Genesis, you admit loving them. Are they on your iPod at the moment? C'mon Chris, be truthful with me. As a side note, we all have one shameful band we like, is this one of yours? (I know for me, when all my friends were listening to Black Sabbath and Guns N’ Roses, I liked Frente… oh, the shame of it all!)

Genesis. Yes, they're all over my iPod, from the early days with lead vocalist Peter Gabriel right through the syrupy Phil Collins Top-40 era. They were the band that got me into music which has long been an important part of my life. I have a 3500-album strong collection of music, so of course I have more than my fair share of crap. I went through a rather lengthy and unfortunate hair-metal phase. During my progressive rock phase, I managed to pick up some really crappy stuff as well. Then there's the fact that I own the original 1960's albums recorded by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. I have no excuse for those. I was curious.

BV: You often take photos of yourself, your family and other things that happen throughout your life. What's the appeal of photography to you?

There was no appeal until a few years ago. I bought a cheap digital camera and got a copy of Photoshop. I found it to be a previously untapped creative outlet I didn't really know existed for me. So, the first appeal really is the fact that it's a way for me to channel some creativity using images instead of words. The second is more obvious – I've got a family and I want to document that family. Before my daughter was born, I'd overhear parents telling others how quickly children grow up. You never fully understand how accurate that statement is, how fast kids do indeed grow up, until you have one yourself. My daughter has to be the most photographed kid in history. But that's fine. I want to remember every minute.

BV: You mention in your blog that you read roughly 100 books a year. What is it about reading that inspires you?

I've always read. Reading was important in my house growing up. My parents read constantly and read to me when I was little. As soon as I was able, I started reading everything in sight. In high school and college, that trailed off a little. I eventually hit the books again. After reading Iain Bank's The Bridge back in 1997 or 1998, I was totally energized about reading again. I started keeping a diary of what I'd read and vowed to read at least six books a month. I've managed to keep that deal with myself with only a few exceptions.

We're all limited by lots of things in life – not many of us have a ton of spare cash handy, a private jet waiting at the airport. We're tied down by jobs, we have responsibilities. We can't, in short, take off at a moment's notice and travel the world. Nor can we experience life as other people. Reading lets you do that from the comfort of your favorite chair.

BV: In one of your posts you mentioned seeing a sign that read ‘Be Silly, Be Honest, Be Kind’. How do you think people can improve themselves using this advice?

The world – all of us in it – works because of trust and compassion. If you don't have those two things, you might as well call it a day. All you have to do is turn on the news and you're given a lot of reasons to be hopeless. Yet, we somehow pull through. The problem is that too many people take themselves too seriously. What fun is that? So, yes, be honest and kind because those are important but also remember to be silly.

BV: You manage to get loads of people giving their opinions and comments on many of your posts. What is it about getting comments from your readers that gives you a buzz?

Two things… the most obvious? People are reading me. My site stats prove it. For some strange reason, hundreds of thousands of people read me every month. I'm at a loss to understand or explain why. I'm just a guy who writes stuff about his life. No biggie. Don't get me wrong – I appreciate it more than anyone can imagine. It's just a mystery to me. The other reason is validation. Here I am, sitting in one little corner of the world, writing about the things that are happening to me, and there's always someone (if not many someones) out there who understand. There's something nice about that.

BV: There is a photo in your blog banner, fourth in from the right. It's a field with white crosses spanning its width, trees in the background and clouds in the sky. Is this just a random photo or is there more to it than that?

The picture was taken at the American cemetery in Normandy. When Beth and I went to France a couple of years ago, we visited Normandy, walked down to the beach that was stormed, where thousands of men lost their lives. It was surreal. You stand there, on the desolate beach and look up at the hills that immediately rise from the sand and you wonder how anyone thought it was a good idea to storm that particular beach on that particular day. Whoever made the call was either delusional or insanely optimistic. Yet, it worked. There's no personal connection for me. My grandfathers both served in the Pacific theater. But it's impossible to be there, to stand on the beach or walk through the field of white crosses and not be somehow moved.

BV: Chris, thanks very much for taking part in BloggerView and giving us an insight into your life.


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002: John Best - Hating Autism

Today we welcome John Best from Hating Autism. John is a dedicated campaigner to the cure, or eradication of autism in our society. Through his blog, he is spreading the word about autism and how it can be avoided for us and our children.

Mercury is a very harmful substance that shouldn't really be in our bodies, but John has discovered a disturbing fact that many of us simply don't know, or choose to ignore. This has led to the creation of his blog Hating Autism. His son has been touched by autism, making his campaign to wipe out this man-made disease even stronger.

BV: John, thanks so much for taking the time to talk to me about your mission to wipe out autism. Through your blog you are letting many people know of the horrors of autism and how this can be avoided. I don't know much about autism and I'm sure some of my readers will be the same; can you tell us a little about how autism affects the body and the brain of a human being?

Mercury kills brain cells. More importantly, it prevents methylation, which means the body cannot convert B-12 into methyl B-12. Without methyl B-12 it is impossible for anyone to pay attention to anything. That is what autism is, an inability to pay attention. It's important to remove the mercury while the child is young and still producing new brain cells. Autism can be avoided by avoiding vaccines that still contain thimerosal like the flu shot.

BV: You claim that Mercury use in vaccines is a major cause for autism. Can you tell us how you came to this conclusion and what research you did to find out about this?

Thomas Verstraeten, a CDC employee, reached this conclusion in 1999. It was confirmed by Mark Geier in 2003. Subsequently, Richard Deth of Northeastern University wrote a report describing how mercury prevented methylation.

Mercury was first used in vaccines in 1931 and the first cases of autism were found in 1943 in children who were under 12 years of age. Some claim that autism has always been here and is genetic. However, the fact that there are no autistics older than 76 confirms that something happened to cause this nightmarish condition. What we've learned in the last few years confirms that it was mercury from thimerosal.

BV: You write extensively on your blog about the medical profession and drug companies and what they are doing by covering up their incompetence or non-caring attitudes about the use of mercury in vaccines, which you believe is the main cause of autism. If you had an opportunity to address skeptical medical practitioners with the chance that they may come around to your way of thinking, what would you say to them?

They don't need any convincing. Doctors already know the truth. They will never admit it because it would disgrace their profession. Drug companies will never admit it because they would lose everything they have in lawsuits. That's why they bribe politicians to make laws that protect them from lawsuits.

BV: You get a lot of flak on your site about your opinions and subject matter; I can tell you are incredibly passionate about this subject. If you were speaking at a conference for parents with kids who have autism, what would your speech be about?

Autism is curable.

BV: Can you tell us a little bit about other ways you are trying to get the word out about this subject other than your blog, and if people wish to contribute, what can they do?

Send money to Generation Rescue or the National Autism Association.

BV: I'm sure after reading this interview there’ll be many parents that will now be thinking about their children and the possibility that they may be afflicted with autism. What signs should people be looking out for in their kids and what can they do if they see signs of autism in their children?

Autistic children could never be missed. Parents will know. Asperger's is more difficult to diagnose but I don't care about that so I won't get into it.

Are there any websites or blogs you would like to tell people about if they are interested in finding out more about autism?

The Yahoo group Autism-Mercury can teach you how to cure autism. http://www.generationrescue.org/ can tell you anything you'd want to know about the causes and cures for autism.

BV: John, it's been a pleasure interviewing you - I wish you all the best for the future.

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001: Steve Lacey - Random Thoughts

This week we are joined by Steve Lacey - software engineer extraordinaire. Steve is a pommie (that's an English person), a father to two wonderful kids and he's worked on some pretty amazing projects.

Graduating from the Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine in London, he came away with a Masters of Engineering in Software Engineering and has worked on projects like XBox games, Direct X 5, flight simulators and more.

A co-founder of SwitchGear, Steve has also spent considerable time at Microsoft and is currently employed at Google in their Kirkland office.

BV: Steve, firstly a big thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for my readers. I'm very grateful you have taken the time out of your busy schedule to chat.

No problems - I feel honoured that someone from Down Under has the least bit of interest in what a pomme is up to in the USA :-) Oh, and by the way, I'm definitely not speaking for any current or former employers here :-)

BV: It seems like you have spent a large proportion of your life developing software or games and even some other interesting projects that we will get into a little later. Can you tell us a little about the type of kid you were and where the drive for this area of your particular passion came from?

I was the typical geek kid at school - generally ignored by all; especially by members of the fairer sex. I couldn't kick a football for toffee, so I generally just did well at the academic stuff. My parents were pretty encouraging and I guess I got into it all through a friend whose dad bought him all the computer toys. We're talking KIM-1, PET, Apple IIe, etc... Then my dad bought me a ZX81 and a Spectrum and I was hooked. I learnt Z80 assembly 'cos BASIC was boring, and then helped out a computer science teacher of mine with a book of computer games he was writing. This was at the time when you could buy magazines and books with printed listings of games in them that you'd type in.

He'd written a sort of graphical adventure game for the Spectrum, but the display code was just incredibly slow. I rewrote it in self-modifying assembly code and sped it up by a few thousand percent. He was horrified - not that it was faster than his code, but that I'd done the unspeakable act of writing self-modifying code. Nonetheless, the book was printed that way.

Anyhow, I just ended up loving the low-level - eek out all the performance possible code, which led to working at a games company whilst at college, then eventually joining Microsoft to work on games technology.

BV: Please be patient with me as I'm not that technical. In your five things meme you mentioned that in the early nineties you wrote an application for the official scorers at TCCB cricket matches that replaced the traditional, centuries-old scorebooks. You even got to sit in the scorers box at the 1993 Ashes series. Can I ask, were you gutted when the Aussies kicked your arse? : )

No comment. We was robbed. But at least I had the best seat in the house!

BV: Seriously though… to me, that's a pretty big achievement in itself. Was it a real buzz to get, as you put it, '70 year old cricket geezers' to use a system like this that you had developed? What did they say?

They loved it! It really surprised me. I was expecting them all to go on strike and refuse to use the machines. These were 386 Dell laptops running BSDi UNIX and X-windows. So far away from Microsoft Windows... anyhow, they took to it like a duck to water.

BV: You have worked on some pretty damn cool projects in your time at Microsoft, what stood out for you as your most important work and what made you so passionate about it?

Two projects really - DirectX and Flight Simulator. DirectX really changed the game (pun intended) with gaming on the PC. Windows as a gaming platform was a joke before DirectX game along and we turned it into the premiere platform - I'm really proud of that. Plus the technical challenges were out of this world and a lot of fun (and late nights) to solve.

I spent the last nine years of my career at Microsoft (with some side diversions into other gaming things) working on Flight Simulator - I worked mostly on the graphics engine and completely rewrote its underlying architecture for the latest version. If I do say so myself, it's a beautiful thing to behold. I also love the fact that it's a universal game - people from eight to eighty (and beyond) play it and explore the world flying aircraft as diverse as the Piper Cub to the Boeing 747. And it's just so damn technically correct.

BV: In 2006, you moved to Google in their Kirkland office. Working at Google has obvious advantages, but what was it that drew you to this company?

After Switchgear, I was looking around and thinking about what to do next when I had lunch with a friend and ex-colleague of mine who I have the utmost respect for. He's a former long-time employee at Microsoft and now at Google Kirkland. He convinced me to check out Google and the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Google is so developer-centric... it really is all about the code. In most other companies the developers are second class to other roles such as management, marketing, sales, etc. At Google, the individual developer is king. After all, that's where the product comes from, isn't it?

Oh, and the fact that the office is about three minutes from my house didn't hurt either...

BV: Google seems to be a pretty forward-thinking company, always thinking about it's users and the experience they have through their products and services. In your time at Google, what have you learned about the way software and the online medium (blogs, podcasts, search engines etc.) can change people’s lives?

Man, it didn't take working at Google to convince me of that! How about this: my best friend had been estranged from his mother and brother for quite a large number of years and they'd lost touch. She Google'd for his name, found my blog where I'd written up a post about his wedding and then she emailed me. I sent him some email saying something like - do you know this person? To which he replied "Man THAT'S MY MOTHER!!". I do believe capital letters and volumes of exclamation points were involved. Anyhow, they're now back in touch and a grandmother now knows a granddaughter she never knew she had.

BV: You're stranded on an island with a laptop and an endless battery supply. You can take one game, one piece of software and a book. What would they be?

Do I have a satellite uplink? I guess not. Game? Wil Wright's Spore - I'm hoping I don't get stranded before it's released. Software? A C++ compiler so I can write more software. A book? Robert A. Heinlein's Time Enough For Love.

BV: I'm guessing you must have some amazing stories from your time at Microsoft and Google. If you ever make your way Down Under, I will be sure to shout you a pint and get a few of these stories out of you! For the time being, what's one of the funniest stories in your time at these companies?

So far it's probably regarding some of the outrageous developer events we threw for developers during the early DirectX times.

From hiring out the San Jose State University arena where we threw a toga party complete with playboy "stars" being auctioned off in a slave auction and live lions (that ended up getting loose); to closing down Microsoft's RedWest parking garage to host the launch party for DirectX 1 (which the VP running some division there claimed would cost them money and apparently we managed to convince Gates that closing down the campus for a few days would actually save MS some money - anecdotally of course...); to a Vampires and Witches party in the French Quarter of New Orleans at Siggraph in '97.

Man, you just can't do that kind of stuff anymore. At least you can't at Microsoft...

BV: OK, last question… out of all the blogs in your feed-reader, which are the ones that you just can't live without?

OK, I'm culling from a couple of hundred here! In no particular order:

Lifehacker http://www.lifehacker.com/
ParentHacks http://www.parenthacks.com/
BoingBoing http://www.boingboing.net/
TechCrunch http://www.techcrunch.com/
Scripting News http://www.scripting.com/
Joel On Software http://www.joelonsoftware.com/
Coincidental Floss http://halbryan.spaces.live.com/
Robert Scoble http://scobleizer.com/
Random Acts of Reality http://randomreality.blogware.com/blog/
GapingVoid http://www.gapingvoid.com/
Old New Thing http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/default.aspx
The Post Money Value http://ricksegal.typepad.com/pmv/
Feld Thoughts http://www.feld.com/blog/

BV: Steve, it’s been great chatting with you – I look forward to that pint whenever you eventually make it Down Under.

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