The Syndicate

Omg, I swear I spent 8 hours on this thing yesterday between work and play. I spend way more time on it now than before lockdown.

What restaurant are you looking forward to eating at when the stay at home orders are lifted and you feel safe enough to go out?

There's a Japanese restaurant in the next town over that does hibachi. We're big fans and we were thinking of doing hibachi not long before everything shut down. Hopefully they re-open.

How long after things open up again will it take for you to feel comfortable going to a movie theater?

Comfort was never an issue for me. I prefer to avoid movie theaters for a host of reasons (overpriced tickets, overpriced snacks, people are disruptive, can't pause, etc). Rather stay home. Only time we go is during the summer when there's cheap matinees for children flicks as a treat for the kids.

What are you reading these days?

the man who spoke snakish by andrus kivirähk. very good so far.

whats the worst disruption to your daily life from this coronavirus?

No sports = No $$$. Baseball is my bread and butter.

Well, not my bread. Just my butter.

What's your favorite Bible story?

I love the Book of Revelation, but right now I’m reading/studying the Book of Job. I’ve watched some videos from various perspectives (conservative, mainstream, Jewish) and it’s interesting what people think the book means. Wisdom literature is a tricky genre, but I love wrapping my head around Job as a kind of ancient thought experiment.

What recent TV/Netflix bandwagons have you resisted hopping onto?

Resisted hopping onto? Why resist when there's so much time lol! Actually I have so far resisted that Tiger King (is that what it's called?) thing though I might start watching it today. Not much on TV anymore.

Do you think schools should open in the fall?

Selfishly, I hope that they do, because that means my life will slow down some and I’ll have more free time at night. I’ve been working past midnight for almost a week straight now. Realistically, I think it’s possible.

Favorite jazz vocalist?

Astrud Gilberto.

Favorite guitar solo?

Tough... maybe Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam.

Favourite Dominion card?

Soooo hard to pick just one, I have many favorites. Gonna give Crossroads a shoutout, it's not big and flashy but it can be incredible in some combos.


What's the coolest wall decoration in your home?

I'm gonna have to give it to my painting:



It's an experimental piece that I had intended as a trial, not as a keeper... but it became this tropical-flower, angled-view, waterfall piece that I love more every time I look at it. I don't know if I could ever duplicate it.

What's your favourite thing you have ever made?

My children.

What is the least favorite thing you have ever made?

Can I just pause the game and say that [mention]Long Con[/mention] your picture is awesome. I love it and wish it were hanging in my home. I keep coming back to it and looking at it. Also, I am not drunk or high, I just love it.

Ok, game resumes.

G-Man had the last question and it was:

What is the least favorite thing you have ever made?

Thank you, [mention]juliets[/mention] ... I love it more every time I look at it as well. And it's completely divorced from pride, because I didn't really mean to make it (because it was a straight-up paint experiment rather than an intentional image), and I don't know if I could do it again. Trying to duplicate it would almost surely take on some intentionality baggage, some glaringly obvious artist's hand.

As for the least favourite thing... well, I do have criticisms of most of my artwork, but each of them at least has some redeeming quality. Except this one. This one is a 1/4 finished, badly conceptualized, aimless piece of crap that I made almost two decades ago, and it's still hanging around. A little bit broken now, which only improves it.



What is your favourite historical artwork?

At first glance I thought that was cake.

I don't know that I have a favorite, but "Galatea of the Spheres" comes close:



What's your favorite Dali piece?

I can't resist answering [mention]Long Con[/mention] 's question, my favorite historical work:

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ ... ne-1622-25

And now for Epi's question, my favorite Dali is The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory:



Whew that is big!

What is your favorite work of American art?

Tough call... let's go Pollock or Rockwell:



What's the best dream you've ever had?

elvis costello naked in a big wooden wine barrel. love it. will never forget it. the only artist ive ever dreamed of naked too.

how many glasses of water do you drink every day?

Probably 15 to 20. I'm constantly drinking water

Who knows you better than you know yourself?

My parents.

Do you prefer pretzels or potato chips?

Chips, pretzels are not great.

Favourite Marvel movie?

I’ve only seen the Iron Man movies from the MCU, so I’ll say X2: X-Men United.

Favorite DC Comics-based film?

Batman Begins, I actually enjoy it more than The Dark Knight, though they are both basically perfect.

Favorite movie or TV show as a kid?

Rugrats. I wanted to not grow up and be Tommy Pickles.

What was the most influential song/album in the development of your musical taste?

"Miracles Out of Nowhere" by Kansas.

What's for supper?

We had pizza.

What's your favorite kind of berry?

Strawberries are king.

If you had one wish granted, what would it be?

World peace.

Jelly beans or gummy bears?

vegan gummy bears.

how often do u use instagram?

Maybe once a month, I post some artwork I made.

What do you and your friends generally do when you get together?

Play mafia, ask each other random questions, listen to each others music submissions. Oh- you meant friends that I hang out with in-person? I don't really have any of those...


Red or black licorice?

Red for sure. Black is the evil. Except for some reason I can relish Sambuca.

Favourite alcohol?

Whatever is within reach?

Fine. Bourbon.

You come to my house. I cook for you. What am I cooking for you?

your signature dish, so you tell me!

what's your go-to news source?

I don’t trust any one source. I have two local news stations that I frequent online. It used to be three but the regional newspaper’s website now hides behind a paywall. As for National news, I like to balance things out between CNN and FoxNews. That gives me a good taste of what both sides of the political aisle are thinking. MSNBC lost credibility for me years ago and a lot of their stories are video based, which annoys me. When I want to go further to the right for their paranoia and conspiracy theories, I will check The Blaze. I find that the BBC does a great job covering international news that doesn’t get reported on in America.

Pepsi or Coca-Cola?

Neither.

What was the last thing you Googled out of curiosity? Be honest.

The butcher baker candlestick maker home lol

Where do u want to travel to after lockdown?

Easter Island (I mean, someday. It's on my bucket list. I proably won't be able to save enough for the trip until after the kids are out of the house.) Immediately after lockdown? We hope to go to the beach in late-July.

What major tourist destination do you have little interest in seeing?

Wendy's in Atlanta.

You get to fill up a five gallon bucket with any liquid and take it home. What do you fill yours up with?

Liquid gold. Don't know how I'll move it though.

What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a child?

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKIE Crisp.

But man, hard choice between that and Lucky Charms.

If you had to lose left arm, right arm, left leg, or right leg, which would you choose and why?

Left arm. I'm right handed. And I need legs to travel and move and go take a piss. I can live without my left arm without needing to rely on another human I guess.

What's your fav cartoon?

The Simpsons.

I love He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, but I'm grown now.

Sort of.

You have to fight in UFC for $1000 per minute against someone the same weight as you. But you get nothing if you get knocked out. How many minutes do you go?

One, if I’m lucky.

Do you prefer eating popcorn or candy during a movie?

Popcorn.

You have the rights to name a building at a local college after someone other than yourself. What's the name and why?

The Bill Rice Basketball Arena- Bill was my freshman and junior year roommate in college. He loves basketball, knows basket, and can shoot very well unguarded. But he stands a mere 5’5” tall. Dude deserves some credit for sticking it out as a short-guy baller.

What should Seattle’s new hockey team use as their nickname?

The Seattle Puckboys

Why has it been so hot in Eastern Canada lately?

Because the border is closed, so none of the hot air is allowed to cycle through to America.

How’s your summer going?

Best summer ever. Off work since March, government is giving me money to stay home. It's like a fantastic vacation. My productivity around here has been maximized, and I've been able to get to many art and woodworking projects as well.

How can I find a drive belt for my bandsaw when the company has discontinued its production?