Full Name: Ian Joseph B.
Age: 25
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Technical Support Specialist for the Pittsburgh Public School District
Hobbies: Listening to music, Beer tasting, Hockey
Pets: None

1: the heavy part
So you've been living on the South Side for a while now. How do you like it there?
I’ve been in the South Side for approximately 2 years now (I think…). It’s the kind of place that helps me enjoy city life. It’s safe, bustling, and lots of dirty scum all over the place so it doesn’t get too boring. (Let’s not forget tall Yeunglings are 2 bucks at Dee’s.) Plus I have a cool place that's near work.

Do you look back fondly on Pleasant Hills [Editor’s note: where both Ian and I are from].
I look back fondly on Pleasant Hills because it was a good place for me to in a sense realize myself. It’s the place where I met my closest friends and it’s quaint naivety brought us together.

Ideally, what will your life look like on New Year’s Day 2004?
Ideally? Who knows? If right now was New Year’s Day 2004, I would be happy with just a beer in my hand hanging with my buddies ripping on the stupidity of reality.

Have your early-to-mid ‘20s been like you imagined?
My early to mid 20s have been surprisingly cool. Though I don’t know if it’s what I imagined because I generally don’t think that far ahead. Were my early 20s fun? Absolutely. I’ve heard there were some great times in the bowels of South Oakland. I wish I could remember them.

Which was the best year, for you, of the aforementioned early-to-mid ‘20s?
I’d estimate that my 21st or 22nd year… Basically because it was the time right before the working life began and I knew it. I lived a very full and foolish life then and it was a great time. It was the time right before I admitted to myself that I would work a 40 hour a week job and that ignorance was great.

Which was the best year, you-wise, of your life?
Around the age of 23 when I realized that it was possible to be successful and party without risking that success was probably the best year of my life. It’s kind of like figuring out how to not grow up.

Say I was rich (ha!)and could give you round-trip plane tickets to anywhere in the world. Where would you go??
It’s hard to choose so how about a list of places I want to go:

The California Desert
South American Aztec and Mayan ruins
The Pyramids at Giza
Easter Island
Stonehenge
The Australian Outback

2: the not-heavy part
Describe a good night out on the town...
A good night out on the town: Head out just as spring starts and it’s just warm enough to leave the coat at home. No rain in sight, go somewhere where sitting outside is an option grab a pitcher and laugh and drink your free time away.

And a good night in the apartment, describe that, too.
Of course a good night in the apartment involves spinning a good fresh disc in the old Aiwa player, hanging back and just falling into the CD.

What have you been listening to?
Purchased today (2/24/03): Disengage – Obsessions Become Phobias (used bin); Black Nasa – S/T (used bin).

Recent Musical Obsessions:
Suplecs; Colour Haze; Smoke; Rebreather; Acrimony; On; Year of the Rabbit; Captain Beyond.

Was hast you been reading?
I should read more, but generally I find myself interested in Computer Related books, online tutorials etc. I read music reviews anywhere I can find them online, and usually check The Onion weekly.

What have you been watching on TV?
The Simpsons is the only show I never miss. I watched the last two episodes of Joe Millionaire and have been following Pitt Basketball and Penguin Hockey. I share a Mr. Show obsession with Robb at this point but that is only on DVD.

Seen any movies lately? What did you think?
Recently I saw Requiem for a Dream. I liked it. (Jordan Catalano is in it.) It’s a scary view of addiction.

3: the cocktail party
So you’re having a cocktail party: list five A-list guests, other than Jesus, me and your friends...

1. The Kids in the Hall
2. Bob and David from Mr. Show
3. Josh Homme
4. Indrid Cold
5. Bill Hicks

What will be in the stereo?
I’d have to go with a crowd pleasing Stones CD of some sort. I don’t want to be a stereo Nazi. Anything that the majority of the guests would like.

Conversation topics will include...
Religion & Politics (it always happens).

How will the evening end?
Right before the sun comes up when the birds know it’s coming and start chirping. (70s motel style.)