Full name: Andrew Jackson
Age: 25
Location: Bronx, New York
Occupation: Journalist
Hobbies: downloading music, rooting for the Mets, Knicks and Jets
Pets: 2 dogs, 1 cat, a fish and a grandmother

1: the heavy part
Update us on your situation in life.
Things are swell. I don't want for much more than what's already here.

So the Bronx, huh?
Huh, huh? The Bronx, it's got a tough sounding name. I read it's the only town in the U.S. where ‘the' is an official part of the name. I like the Bronx. It's beautiful all the time, but it's not always nice. The Bronx is full of natives. I'm one of the rare imports. Even more rare is an import from out of the tri-state area, which I am.

Ideally, what will your life look like on New Year's Day 2004?
I hesitate to project. What I usually want for isn't good for me. So ideally things will be put in place and I'll be nice and comfortable and enthusiastic about some stuff.

Have your early-to-mid ‘20s been like you imagined?
I don't think I ever really enjoyed imagining them in an ideal way before getting here because I probably, deep down, knew I was on a collision course with doom. Certainly when I was younger I expected to be in the major leagues. Damn, that didn't happen. So, no, I didn't make it to the majors and, through a series of other stumbling blocks, I felt quite doomed, so I guess I pictured two polarities, and one came true, the more accessible one.

Which was the best year, for you, of the aforementioned early-to-mid ‘20s?
The mid '20s are far and away better. Right now is the best so far, no contest. It's the best because…I can't really explain it nor do I care to even understand it…I'm just glad those early '20s are over and that I'm not all pissed off and full of self-pity. Furthermore, college is no place to feel useful and alive.

Which was the best year, you-wise, of your life?
The best year was 1986. I was in third grade. There was no pressure and the Mets won the World Series.

Compare those two years. How were they different? How were they the same?
I feel a resurgence of that third grade purity. And I'm less afraid to love. But contrary to popular belief, love is not this great pure thing. Faith is much greater and pure than love, faith is more reliable too. Faith and spirituality supersede emotional ups and downs. I think in '86 I had this cocksure faith in my own great destiny, and that faith got clouded by a glamour-seeking ego over the years. Where I'm at now is a place to work at preserving great humility as to feel more pure and fulfilled and simple, like I was in '86....

How do you like writing for a newspaper?
The work allows me to entertain myself with both important and silly issues. I get to meet a lot of nutcases, many of whom don't know they are annoying nutcases. I also get to meet a lot of very respectable and powerful people who, in turn, show me respect, and that's cool. I also like the independence of the job. I do my thing, make my calls, take my pictures, meet my people, and write my words.

What's this we hear about a face hickey?
I was with a beautiful young woman and I thought it would look cool if she sucked near my eye and it would look like a black-eye. At first it looked like a strip of eye-black that baseball players wear, so then we tried to make it bigger and … it just didn't look how I'd envisioned, but after a few days it looked a little more splotchy and, well, it looked pretty tough. And I was pleased.

2: the not-heavy part
Describe a good night out on the town...
A good night on the town would be short. It would entail eating out at a nice restaurant or maybe catching a good movie, or, if I'm well rested, maybe both. I also like to go to Barnes and Noble to read the music tabloids until I get a headache, which is usually after 10 minutes.

And a good night in the apartment, describe that, too.
A good night in the apartment would be napping until 9 p.m. I love to nap. Then I would watch a good basketball or baseball game on TV, preferably a playoff or championship game. And I would have lots of good cereal to eat: granola, great grains, and Rice Krispies.

What have you been listening to?
My Sonic Youth renaissance has been happening the past two weeks. Preston School of Industry is on now. Oh, and I can't forget Zwan

Was hast you been reading?
The Daily News, The New York Post and CNN.com.

What have you been watching on TV?
SportsCenter. Joe Millionaire was cool.

Seen any movies lately? What did you think?
I saw Old School the other day. It was pretty funny. Will Ferrell is a spazz, and Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Craig Kilborn are the coolest gen-X'ers around. It's a pleasure to watch them grow up just one generational level above me. Gen X'ers are like my big brothers. I'd like to hang out with those guys. And I saw Wall Street on video the day before that. Charlie Sheen was cool, and Michael Douglas was strong. That whole stockbroker culture and attitude is fun to watch. Fascinating. High stakes. Tough talk. Slick hair. Greed & emptiness. I get a kick out of powerful men in high places.

3: the cocktail, er, coffee party
So you're having a coffee party: list five A-list guests, other than Jesus, me and your friends...
I'm gonna stick to people who are still alive. And no women because then this would be just like who are the five hottest girls I want to have sex with. So the invites are: Al Sharpton, Thom Wolfe, Jay-Z, Chris Matthews and Billy Corgan.

What drinks will you serve?
Coffee, tea, apple juice, apple cider, plenty of diet coke.

What will be in the stereo?
Some jazz: Mingus, Ellington. Maybe Malkmus' solo album, along with Brighten the Corners …and just some mixes I've made from downloading …probably some Nick Drake, Cat Power and Elliot Smith …all mellow at my party.

Conversation topics will include...
Style. I want all their opinions on how they approach their respective wardrobes. I'd also like to hear about their childhood. What was Al Sharpton like in Second Grade? What was he like in sixth grade? What was Tom Wolfe like in high school? We will talk little of substance, mostly of style, save for the welcomed Bush-bashing.

How will the evening end?
We'll exchange e-mail addresses and promise to keep in touch. Hopefully I will have gotten some invites to their various functions.