i thought i’d try one of these blog-in-a-can muses and see what comes of it.. so without further ado, monday’s mission:

1. have you ever had, or known someone who has had, a “mid-life crisis?” what happened? is there such a thing or is it just an excuse?

– i remeber when i was in grade 8, a teacher in my school, mrs somethingorother’s husband left her, and bought a porsche. at the time i didn’t know it, but that figures out to be a mlc. my opinion is that it’s just an excuse, someone gets bored with their life and decides to change radically, and in the end doesn’t get any better (and often worse) in their situation.

2. have you ever had a dream so vivid, that you woke up with certain emotions towards a person for what happened in your dream, even though they didn’t do a thing to deserve it in real life? what did you feel and and what was the dream?

– i don’t remember my dreams very often, and when i do, i forget them within a few minutes of awakening. although in college, a friend of mine once walked in and slugged me in the shoulder for something i had done in *his* dream.

3. i think everyone is creative in some way or other. some people draw, some play music, some write, some cook, some build or sew. how do you express your creativity? have you ever made money from it?

– i try to write, but don’t succeed very well. i also play guitar and do that passingly well, i’ve been playing professionally (well – bar bands and busking) since i was around 17 or so.

4. speaking of creativity, i display some of my artwork on my website. it is there for everyone to view, but if i learned it was stolen and used commercially without my permission or being paid, i would be furious. has anything you created ever been stolen? how did you handle it?

– i haven’t ever had that happen, but i think i’d be angry a bit at first, then shrug it off as a cool thing. anytime i did something that was good enough for someone else to steal, that would be really cool. also, i really believe that information (art & music included) should be free. if we had the choice, i’d pay for things that i really use and want to, not have to.

5. i imagine the question above is similar to what the music industry is going through with file sharing. do you think downloading music via file sharing is “stealing?” is taking songs without paying for them any different than someone taking your work without your permission?

– no, it’s not any different, but that’s the thing.. i’d probably be ok with it in the long run, as long as it was reciprocated. if someone wants my stuff, they can have it for free, just give me credit for it.

6. how do you feel about the riaa targeting everyone (parents, teenagers, grandparents) who share songs over the internet with expensive lawsuits? should they be selective in who they subpoena, or should all who violate copyrights be treated equally? or are they going too far? should the music be free?

– since i don’t want to swear too much, i won’t get started on the riaa and how imbecilic, insipid and idiotic their whole approach is. in the long run, all they are going to do is piss off a ton of people.

7. on the same thought, what do you think pay-per-song concepts such as imusic and buymusic.com? will they succeed? is this the solution? if not, what is?

– i think they are fantastic. if i have the choice to buy only what i want, then i will. they will succeed, and metamorph. i don’t know if it’s *the* solution necessarily, but they are a step in the right direction. now if we can get around the limitations that even they have…..

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