What do you draw inspiration from that your peers might scoff at?
Too much History.
How can one lose your friendship?
Not too sure. Last person I cut ties with was obsessively into those Myers Briggs personality tests, to the point where they would say things like “I won’t get along with John Doe, he’s too much of an ABCD”. Made me angry inside.
If we made you emperor/empress of your country of origin what are the two things you would implement/change first?
I’d mandate teachers to learn the etymology of the word “school”.
I’d also create Doowylloh Season, where six months of the year the US couldn’t export any news, movies, music, media, etc, and instead would only import things from the outside as a lesson that there is more than one lens. I’ve seen people talking about how Avengers and Thanos are philosophical works. Is this an out of season April Fool’s joke?
Most expensive vice?
Casal Santa Maria DOC White. Really love the wine, but my wallet doesn’t as I will buy quantity if there’s some around, so I refrain from indulging.
What 3 people would you bring back from beyond the grave to conversate with. Why?
King Solomon, Federico da Montefeltro and Malik Ambar.
1st because he was wise, would love to hear the story of the Shulamite Woman in person and then understand his view on his own downfall.
2nd because the man is the stuff of legend. Mercenary who was the only one that honored contracts so Italians states would pay him a lot cause they knew he wouldn’t flip. The man had scars, fought with his men, made one of the most important libraries in Italy, walked in the streets of his domain and talked to his subjects like they were of the same rank, and so on. And all that wealth because he saw that integrity in a land of crooks can be profitable.
3rd because of the guts on the guy. Ethiopian Muslim who went from slave to King of an Indian nation out of wit, courage and determination. He even died of old age. The most “No regrets” character I can think of.
If you were made homeless and were not allowed to get a job what would you do for money?
Live ASMR to interested bystanders. Until I could afford a mic, I would go up to people’s ears (with two masks) and totally deliver a soothing experience for the trying times we are in. I think I’m onto something.
A book you regret reading, why?
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. It was very dark when I first read it, although I didn’t think too much of it then. But sometimes it crept up on my mind when I would feel down or when given the opportunity to be destructive. Very unpleasant feeling to remember the book’s message in such scenarios. But perhaps it’s for the best.
An idea you believed for a long time that turned out to not be true to you now?
Until some time ago, I believed I couldn’t find joy in writing.
What are you reading at the moment?
Recently reread “Frei Luís de Sousa” by Almeida Garrett.
How can one do a better job of knowing oneself?
Not sure too. One thing I like to do is play the devil’s advocate when someone is snarky or very sure of a given opinion, until they can no longer deny emotion. If they are snarky capitalists, I play a communist and vice versa. If they are snarky globalists, I play a populist and vice versa. I admit I derive some pleasure from this, but in the end we go to the privacy of our homes and understand these labels don’t mean much after all.
What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Percebes (neck barnacles) are delicious.
Describe your favorite aspect of your ancestral lineage’s history/culture
My grandparents had a rough youth. Although not suffering from hunger, most times they still had to eat what was available for poor folks. No kid would like some of those dishes, but decades later and poverty lifted, they grew to eat those foods out of pleasure, and ironically some of those dishes are considered delicacies today. Old habits die hard, I suppose.
Four Fourths 