I tend to collect hobbies. I've alway been into weapons in general, whether they be guns and knives, or more exotic stuff like sjamboks and saps. I don't have quite as much martial arts experience as I'd like to, but I'm working on it. I also love to cook, but I haven't been doing as much of it since I've been single. It gets sort of depressing cooking for one all the time. In the same vein I enjoy tending bar and keep a well stocked liquor cabinet in my room. Of course being me, I prefer the more obsolete and esoteric drinks and the classical technique, not the modern slap something together and stick -tini on the end school. I got into hats for a bit, but that's sort of cooled off for the moment. I suffer from periodic World of Warcraft addiction, but I manage to keep it pretty well under control. I guess the fact that I read voraciously should be obvious by now as well, it's not unusual for me to go through a book a day or more. I'm the only person I know who routinely spend more on books than food, and that's shopping at the used stores...
Music
Anything but Smooth Jazz/Soft Rock and Folk music. I grew up on oldies, but have come to like a lot of rap and hip hop, as well as various types of rock. I'm not so hot on country, but there is some of it I like. I've been listening to a lot of techno lately, some Oakenfold, that sort of thing, as well as some trance and dance music, which is my secret addiction. I recently raided my roommate and his friend's massive cd collections, so I'm now in possession of a huge quantity of hip hop. I'm slowly working my way through it, though I'm really focusing on the Wu-Tang Clan and the various related side projects at the moment. I'm also really into Rakim, Nas, Jay-Z, and just about any old school hip hop.
Movies
Current Favorites: Collateral, Zatoichi, In Good Company, Wallace and Grommit, Face/Off, Hero, Layer Cake, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Terminator 2, Grosse Point Blank, The Professional, Kill Bill 1&2, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, The Big Lebowski, Super Troopers, The Bourne Identity and Supremacy. Recently, I've also seen Thank You for Smoking, which was awesome, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which I also highly recommend. Not so recommended is the Davinci Code, which aside from simply sucking, made multiple senseless changes to books plot, for no discernible reason.
Television
Lost, Futurama, The Sopranos, The Wire, Arrested Development, Chappelle's Show, older episodes of The Simpsons, Family Guy, Daria, anything on The History Channel. I've been particularly enjoying the Wire lately. Aside from being the most realistic cop show on TV, it treats both sides of the law with the same attention to detail and respect, so you have characters on either side of the law to respect or despise. I feel I should add that I refuse to actually watch these shows on TV, I'm exclusively a DVD man. I can't stand to schedule my life around the damn tube. Lately I've gotten into Seinfeld, which is sort of embarrassing. People my own age tend to despise this show for some reason, but it's actually really funny if you pay attention, it doesn't feel as old as it is. Lately I've also gotten into Curb Your Enthusiasm and 24.
Books
Anything by Stephen King (except the crap he wrote as "Richard Bachman"), Anything by Tom Clancy, especially "Without Remorse", All the Harry Potter books, Michael Crichton, back in the day, Thomas Harris, Too much non-fiction to list, but especially military history, and the gun writer Massad Ayoob. Lately, I've been reading a lot of Barry Eisler novels, on the recommendation of the EW book critic. I must say, these are the most well researched thrillers I've ever read, with the reference section listing MDs for obscure killing methods, gun guys like Mas Ayoob for there perspective on shooting, to "street fighters" like Mark "Animal" MacYoung, for their perspective of violence and it's aftermath. Despite his cheesy titles (all plays on "Rain", the name of his main character), these are my new favorite series of thrillers, even beating out Tom Clancy in the level of detail, no easy feat. I also have to add Lee Child and Lawrence Block to the list. I'm really enjoying Block's Keller series, though I still need to pick up "Hit Parade". I like the psychosis of his main character, and his own morality on killing. Child's Reacher series are pretty cool too, though I think the Rain books are a better. Jack Reacher is pretty bad ass, but I think John Rain could take him... I also have to take Child to task over realism, as he doesn't really know his guns. The last few months I've been reading a lot of old detective fiction, Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, that sort of thing. Chandler in particular feel almost modern in his prose, it's hard to believe how old his work is. I love some of the "hardboiled" dialogue in his work, some of it is so over the top he has to have written it at least partially tongue in cheek. He does have some really classic lines in there too, like comparing drinking to kissing a girl in "The Long Goodbye" "The first kiss is magical, the second routine, the third time you take the girl's cloths off". Nasty, nasty plots but entertaining as hell. I also just finished the book version of "No Country for Old Men", quite possibly the nastiest piece of work I've read in a while. It doesn't have the sense of doom hovering over it that some other works do, but the way the story ends is both amazing and terrible. Anton Chiguhr is an amazing character, totally ruthless and without mercy, but most striking to me, with no charisma. Authors and filmmakers tend to romanticize killers in there work, even Hannibal Lecter was extremely charismatic, but this guy is just a killer, nothing more nothing less. No emotion, no feeling, more like a Terminator than a human. I think I liked the book, now I got to see the movie.
Heroes
Teddy Roosevelt, George Patton, Gust Avrakotos, those are the first that come to mind, I'll list some more when I have time to really think.
I met Barry Eisler the other day, he was really cool. We talked about how he researches the technical aspects of his books, and he seemed really down to earth and grounded. I'd like to try to see him again next time he's in town, see if I can pick his brain about Scotch whisky.
Who I'd like to meet: People with similar interests, new friends, that sort of thing. I't hard to find people like me in Seattle, who are into guns and weapons, but don't drag their knuckles, if you know what I mean. I don't care what people are into really, as long as they're interesting and tolerant of my interests. I actually find it very ironic that people that fight so hard for freedom of speech and the like, can be so intolerant of speech they disagree with. After going to an "alternative" high school (which probably wants to deny I ever went there), and a gunsmithing school, I've been put in the odd position of having lived among both sides of the political spectrum (left wing in high school, right wing in college), and not really caring much for either. I tend to skew a little more to the right on purpose though, as it pisses off Seattleites. Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I want to meet people who aren't going to freak out when they find out that I like to shoot things on the one hand, or that I have gay friends on the other.
Hey!! i updated my profile this morning and finally added some videos and pics from this crazy ass party i went to on christmas eve, check it out you wont believe who got all wild when they were drunk LMAO!!!!
Hi Case, of course I remember you from the Seattle signing -- good to hear from you, and thanks for passing along that info. Right up my (or rather, John Rain's alley)... I'll check it out further and who knows? It might make an appearance in a future book...
Good to meet you, Case; sounds like we have a lot in common politically... plus you have great taste in books. ;-) Seriously, thanks for the kind mention of mine and I'm glad you're enjoying them.
BTW, with the Requiem tour about to start, I'm not going to be around MySpace very often. But you can find me on my website discussion board. It's a fun forum with a lot of interesting people talking about the Rain books, politics, self defense, and anything else that strikes people's fancy, so why don't you stop by and say hello? It would be good to see you there.
why do you want to visit Israel? The optimistic side of me hopes that its because there are incredibly beautiful beaches made entirely out of worn down shells that glisten in the sun. There are also ruins being uncovered every day, and walking among them is like stepping backward 2000 years in time.
The pessimist thinks its because its the birthplace of the Uzi, and youre allowed (required?) to drive like a maniac.
Muhhaha! Now that I am your Myspace friend my plans for world domination are complete!
Or not.
Perhaps I shall content myself with unraveling my 'extended network', sewing the seeds of dissent for my eventual DOMINATION OF THE WORLD! Yes, that's better. Oh yeah, and I need your e-mail addy again. Muhahaha!
