Antmeister
05-09-2008, 10:11 AM
If American Idol was an Olympic sport would you watch it?
As if my active rooting against MichaelJohns and Carly Smithson weren’t enough of a hint…no, I would not watch Olympic Idol. I hear enough bad music on AI as it is; the last thing I want is to be subjected to a bunch of people competing on behalf of their countries performing regional music I REALLY don’t want to hear. I suspect that if I watched 10 minutes of this, I’d be screaming for AndrewLloydWebber-does-the-songs-of-Dolly-Parton night on AI.
How'd you get the name?
My last name is Karo. Like the syrup. Except I don’t pronounce it like the syrup, yet I’ve lived most of my life in the south, so I’m stuck with it. This is the only board where I go by Ksyrup.
How do you like being a lawyer? How did you get into it? Where did you attend school?
I enjoy what I do. I knew at an early age that I was going to be a lawyer – I basically decided by the time I was 12 or 13, despite the fact that I’ve never been the litigator type and knew I would never enjoy that kind of career. I knew I’d do some kind of transactional work, and that’s mainly what I do. I just had no clue what kind of transactional work until I fell into insurance while clerking during law school. I’ve often joked – and I feel this is true for me – that law school is for reasonably intelligent people who can write but can’t do anything else particularly well. I have some lawyer friends with real skills – pilot, actor, architect, etc. – but I couldn’t tell you what I’d be doing right now if I wasn’t a lawyer. Probably in upper management in some non-descript industry. If it wasn’t sports or music, it was law for me.
I went to FloridaState for law school. And this is probably a good point for me to say – FUCK YOU PRESTON PARKER.
I don’t feel any better, but it needed to be said.
What do you think of JulioFranco and Rickey Henderson?
At least one of them is a farging corksucker.
First question right off the bat: Can you recommend some heavy metal albums? I'm really stuck in all the 90's stuff.
My answer depends on whether you can handle growly vocals. It took me quite a while to get over the idea of music with bad vocals, but once I accepted the voice as another instrument and really focused on the music at the same time, it helped. Also, finding bands that alternate clean/growly vocals helped a lot, too.
Right now, there isn’t a better metal band on earth for me than Opeth. And their new album, which comes out in June but leaked last week, is phenomenal. It’s also got way more clean vocals then anything they’ve ever done (aside from Damnation, which isn’t a true metal album). It’s part death metal, part 70s acoustic folk/progressive rock. I just love that Akerfeldt has singlehandly re-defined and elevated a sub-genre of metal that very few people want to listen to. I jokingly refer to Opeth as Masterpiece Theatre Metal. The only problem for some people is that occasionally AlistairCookie sits in on vocals:
http://images.wikia.com/muppet/images/2/2a/Mpiece.alistair.jpg
Other metal bands I’m enjoying at the moment:
Between the Buried and Me (the new album Colors, especially; progressive metalcore)
To-Mera (goth metal meets Dream Theater)
Demiricous (Slayer-type thrash)
Throwdown (similar to Lamb of God/Pantera – not as good, but serviceable groove metal)
Witchcraft (late-60s Black Sabbath-type sound, both on style and production)
The Sword (another of the 70s-sounding indie/metal bands)
Protest the Hero (emo/thrash)
Nightwish/Within Temptation (2 of the best symphonic metal bands; there are probably a couple dozen symphmetal bands I like, but these are the best)
Old bands – Death Angel, Testament (back from the dead with new albums)
Ksyrup action figure - what is the signature move/special power it has?
Putting me and “action figure” in the same sentence is laughable. I’m going to go old school and say my action figure has one of those pull chords in the back that spits out a few snarky/critical comments on command. Basically, it functions like me watching Hell’s Kitchen and making fun of the contestants.
Can grunge kill the metal?
Grunge is dead. Metal is alive and well. But I’m probably biased, because my affair with grunge was fleeting. I think the only band/artist I still follow (somewhat) who is connected to that era is Travis Meeks from Days of the New, and that’s only because I really like what he did on his last couple albums, expanding his sound to bring in some electronica, symphony, chorus, etc. Of course, the dude’s been high on pretty much every drug you can imagine for the past 5+ years, so I’m not holding my breath for a new album any time soon.
Did you REALLY say that a child molester can be called hot?
Not really, but thanks to my actions in that thread, I don’t need to actually say anything. Except two words: Cameo Patch. Not that she was the hottest or anything, but by pic/name combo, she is at the top of the list.
How's the transition to the Lexington area been personally and professionally?
Great. It took getting out of Florida for me to realize how miserable I was there. Although I’ve lived most of my life in the south (Texas, Georgia, Florida), I’m originally from Michigan and have always loved cold weather. I’m much happier living where it gets cold, and where I can go outside and not automatically begin sweating 8 months of the year. Florida was awful – the humidity was stifling, and I just sat inside not wanting to go out and do things. And even when the weather would cool down a bit, the gnats and mosquitoes made it unbearable to be outside. My wife and kids have adjusted well, too. I think my wife is a little annoyed by how long winter lasts, but she’s like a schoolgirl when it snows.
Professionally, things are really taking off. The situation I went through at my old firm was a blessing in disguise – not only did I get out of a bad situation, but it really jump-started my practice, in terms of having my own client base and developing business.
Are you a big Reds and Bengals fan yet? How could you not be with all those players we have clogging up the bases, talk radio, and various jail cells throughout the area?
Not really, no. But I’ve never been one to root for the “home team,” aside from the Detroit teams. I’ve been a fan of the Broncos and Phillies for almost 30 years, and have visited Denver once and Philly twice in my life. We are trying to get into the spirit with UK, though. Before the 2007 college football season, my wife asked me what the chances of UK and FSU playing, since she wanted to root for UK. I told her they hadn’t played each other in decades, so it was unlikely. Needless to say, the bowl game this year was a bit of an odd experience.
Sweet! So, do you still do housework naked when your family is out of town?
I do all sorts of things naked, but my wife will tell you that I don’t do much housework, naked or otherwise.
My man Ksyrup! If you could dine with three people, living or dead, who would they be?
Judging on my past experience of essentially freezing or having little to say to famous people I meet, I’m going to go in the opposite direction and pick my grandmother on my mom’s side, my grandfather on my dad’s side, and my aunt. My grandmother died when I was 5 or 6 and I don’t remember her at all; my grandfather was straight off the boat from Greece and I’d like to know more about his life and the family I have back there; and my aunt died a few years back under some terrible circumstances, so it would be nice to see her again.
The Beatles or Elvis?
The Beatles, by a wide, wide, WIDE margin. Like, so wide you can’t even see Elvis from where the Beatles are. Although dude did die on my 6th birthday, so he’s got that going for him.
Know any musical instruments?
I’ve met JoeBugel. Ba-dum bump! Seriously, though, I played piano for about 15 years, until I left college, and played sax in middle school and high school. Tried picking up guitar on my own a few years back, but only got so far. I’m left-handed, and I tried it right-handed and I think that’s partially why I failed. Too many years of air guitar to overcome!
Are you a fan of art?
Music aside, no.
Mustard: The yellow stuff or the dark golden?
I like spicy mustard, but I can deal with the regular stuff, too.
Who had the best 7th round pick in this year's draft?
I didn’t pay much attention to the draft this year – I’m starting to lose some interest in pro football. Just looking at the 7th round right now, I’ll say Buffalo since they got StevieJohnson from UK and I hope he does well. He came up very big for UK last year despite playing second banana to KeenanBurton, so he’s definitely got some skills.
Do you have any incriminating evidence on anyone here at FOFC?
If I do, I don’t realize it.
Have any favorite non-US sports you like to follow?
No, although one of the associates I work with is originally from South Africa and has introduced me to rugby a bit. He’s trying to get me to play in a local league. I don’t follow it at all, but I’ve seen some highlights of games.
what was your dream job when you were a kid? When did you decide to become an attorney, and what was your second choice as far as a career goes?
Dream job was probably musician or athlete, but those dreams died early. I peaked sports-wise at around 7th grade; and musically, I was actually a pretty good pianist, but I hated the fact that I had no creative ability, and I wasn’t all that interested in just playing other people’s music, so I gave it up once college ended and never seriously pursued it again. This is why I am so critical and picky about the music I listen to - to the point where I don’t even want to listen to myself play if all I can do is copy someone else’s music. Also why I hate bands who do cover songs as singles.
As far as the other questions, I kinda answered those above. Always knew I’d be a lawyer (or at least go to law school), to the point where I didn’t even celebrate graduating college because I didn’t really consider it an accomplishment. I never had a realistic second choice.
are you known as "the metal guy" at the office, or are you "that Mario guy from 'Saved by the Bell'"?
I’m not really known for my music at the office. I AM trying to make partner, you know, and most of these people barely know me as it is, so I don’t need them associating me with what they probably view as some sociopathic disorder. The few people I work with know about it generally, but they really have no clue what I listen to. They have an idea of what “metal” is, I’m sure – Metallica, probably – but the truth is, it’s probably 100 times worse than they imagine, so I’m not in any rush to scare the living hell out of them.
And yeah, once I lost all that weight – which is when Mario was on Dancing with the Stars – I got that comment quite a bit. I’m Greek/Polish, but I look a bit Latino or even Asian to some people.
ever stalk anyone? Besides Farrah, I mean.
I’ve never been close enough to anyone I’d consider stalking to be able to do it properly. If you’re gonna stalk someone, screw letters or email. You gotta commit full time to it. And over the past decade or so, I’ve stopped watching movies and scripted fictional TV, so I don’t really have a good idea who any of the hottest actresses are any more. The celebs we discuss in a Jerry Springer-like manner are not worth stalking, obviously.
If I had to make a list of possible stalkees, past and present – hmmm….back in high school, I believe I would have stalked Carling Bassett if I had the chance. And now….probably Sharon den Adel, the singer of Within Temptation. She’s a true Metal Goddess.
Who's your favourite Saved by the Bell character?
Mr.Tuttle!
Ksyrup - What IS your favorite kind of syrup? Are you a regular maple guy, or a boysenberry fan?
Wow, this question reminds me that I haven’t had a proper pancake breakfast in years. Right now, my breakfast consists of oatmeal and a banana every morning. I like pretty much all syrups, though.
What is the future of metal?
Continuing to the extremes. There’s a bunch of stuff on both ends of the spectrum that admittedly I haven’t really gotten, but it’s popular among metal aficionados. Stuff like Pig Destroyer on the heavy side, and Boris/SunO)))/Agalloch, etc., which is considered “drone” metal – it contains elements of ambient/noise and black metal – on the other side. It’s not very metal, and it’s slow and boring as hell, IMO. Pig Destroyer and bands like that are just the opposite – extraordinarily heavy, fast, and noisy as hell to me. I can catch the rhythms at times, but it’s too much noise for me right now. I’m not at a point where I can get into it.
How did you become a FloridaState fan?
I moved to Florida in 1990 and ended up at FSU for law school. My first year was 1993. I wasn’t much into college football at all until I got to FSU. I followed Michigan because that’s where I was born, and I lived in College Station, TX for a couple of years, so I went to a few A&M games as a kid, but other than that, nothing.
What do you think of JimboFisher and the new offensive staff?
It can’t get much worse, can it? Wait, don’t answer that. I’m not a huge fan of bringing back former players (Dawsey and Carter) who have never coached just to have a tie to the past, but otherwise, I think we gotta give him 5 years to see what he can do. Especially since it looks like the next 3 will still be with Bobby in charge.
How do you feel about the future of the program?
No clue. It will never be what it was, but I’d like to think the ACC could be overtaken by another dominant team to some degree. Whether that’ll be us, who knows? I’m not encouraged by all of the negative info coming out the past few months – suspensions, crimes, guys being released from scholarships, etc. Doesn’t look too good from afar.
Favorite player?
WarrickDunn, both on and off the field. Good memories, and a great person.
Favorite moment?
Two – The comeback against UF (The Choke at Doak) where we tied them 31 all after trailing 31-3 going into the 4th quarter, and the Ward-to-Dunn TD pass up the sideline to beat UF.
Why all the dislike for Miami(the city)?
During the time I lived in South Florida, I was appalled at the quality of people living there. Some of the most disagreeable, slimy, unfriendly, mean, negative people I’ve ever met in my life. And that’s not even including the Fake Factor. Whenever I’d come down to visit my then-GF from school, I’d constantly complain about the people (driving is a nightmare down there, between the mean people who want to kill you, the people who can’t read the signs, and the Q-Tips who can barely see over the steering wheel and do 25 in the left lanes), and she’d always tell me to stop talking about it. And then we got married and she moved up to Tallahassee with me, and the first time she went back to visit, she sounded just like me. And sorry to paint a broad brush, but the NYers who live down there are the absolute worst. It’s like they’re all pissed about their lives, and their only goal is to make you as unhappy as they are. Screw that place. I don’t care if I never step foot there again. In fact, this would be a great idea, IMO:
NORTH LAUDERDALE, Fla. — One city commission wants to divide Florida into two states: North Florida and South Florida.
Sexual harassment at work-is it a problem for the self-employed?
I have to think that most people who harass themselves do it because no one else will, so they are surely not in a position to complain about it. It’s only a problem if it gets in the way of getting the job done, I guess.
What food do you never tire of?
Um…if I could limit this answer to one or two or even a short list, I might not have such a hard time with weight issues.
What do you value most in life?
Family relationships. And my music.
Do you believe that people are inherently good or bad?
Neither. At some base level, we all have the instinct to survive and please ourselves, just like an animal. But I don’t think “good” and “evil” are thing we are necessarily born with.
How do you deal with someone you don't like?
Usually avoid them, or if I can’t do that, I kill them with kindness. I’m a very laid back, go with the flow type of person, so rarely will someone do something I immediately feel the need to react to, even if I don’t like them. Except when I’m driving, of course.
What is your idea of fun?
Hanging out with the family, or watching sports, or listening to music. I’m a pretty boring person, and I have never enjoyed things that many people view as “fun” – partying, drinking, going out in large groups, etc. That’s one of the reasons my wife and I are so compatible. Our lives revolve around family and, for me, work.
How do you deal with stress?
As I said, I’m very laid back. I usually don’t get stressed out, or at least, I very rarely show outward signs of stress. The issue at my previous job and then the resulting move to Kentucky, new job, taking the Bar again, etc., was an incredibly stressful 18 months or so, but I think I came through it remarkably well. I think the most stressed I got was waiting for the Bar results, and I know I was short-tempered and moody for a couple of months. But overall, I think I handled it pretty well.
And usually, I listen to music to relieve stress. Heavy stuff works best, but occasionally the mellow stuff works, too. Not as well, though. But I’m constantly listening to music, so the stress rarely builds up.
What's your favorite tv show/movie depicting lawyers or the legal profession?
It’s been so long since I’ve seen a movie or watched a non-reality TV show that I’m blanking on even naming one right now, aside from L&O. In terms of favorite show, it has to be L&O, but the only other show I can think of that I watched was Ally McBeal, and that was absurd and not really about lawyers. Never saw LA Law, nor The Practice, nor the Shatner one that’s on (still? Not sure).
How did you meet your wife?
I met my wife when we were both cashiering at a grocery store during college, in Coral Springs, FL. She was working full-time to pay her way through school, and I was working during the summer when I was home from school. I think we briefly met during the summer of 1990, but it wasn’t until the summer of 1991 that we started dating. She had broken up with her high school boyfriend about a month or so earlier. I was pretty much oblivious, since I really was never out there looking for someone when I was unattached – although I thought she was good looking and all that. She made the first move on me. On her off day, she brought me a flower while I was working the register and asked me out. The rest of the afternoon was unbearable, with little old ladies commenting on how cute it was, etc. Working that job was bad enough, but that was excruciating. Not nearly as bad as working a 12 hour shift as Hurricane Andrew was about to hit, but close.
Anyway, we started dating toward the end of summer – our first date was, as I still call it now, “the day after I saw King’s X at Summers on the Beach.” For a couple of years, that’s honestly how I remembered the date. Now, I still bring that up just to piss her off!
If you could live anywhere in the continental US (assume you could get a good job there) where would it be and why?
I’m pretty happy in Kentucky right now, to tell you the truth. Putting aside issues with assimilating the family into a new place and the kids at school, etc., I’d probably pick somewhere out west, near the mountains. Love the mountains, love the cold. Beaches are definitely more fun when I see them once a year on vacation, if that. And a place with little or no humidity would be perfection.
Are you superstitious? Did you have a routine/talisman/lucky rabbit foot you were sure was going to help you pass the bar?
I’m not superstitious, but my life runs on routine. I get up at the same time every morning, do the exact same things in the same order, to the point where I get out of the shower at the exact same time every morning and leave for work within about the same 3 minute window. The only thing I did before the Bar was listen to Faith Hope Love by King’s X the night before. I’ve done that before every big moment in my life since that album was released in 1990.
How did you meet your wife?
Answered above.
How many kids do you have?
Two. Caitlin, 8, and Mackenzie, who will be 4 on Saturday (Backyardigans Live, here we come!). As much as I wanted a boy, I think that’s going to be it.
You're at a party and as it progresses, everyone strips naked and jumps in the pool; do you join 'em?
Truthfully, I’ve probably left the party about 2 hours before anyone gets drunk enough to do this. Yeah, I’m that kind of guy.
What would you do with a million bucks? 10 million? (both tax free)
A million – pay off the bills and set my kids up for the future. That’s not enough to really make major changes in my life.
Ten million - make sure my kids are taken care of, pay off all my bills, buy a vacation home in the mountains, take care of my parents and a couple of relatives in need, quit my job, and set up a record label dedicated to giving recording time to my favorite bands and reuniting some old favorites to record.
Do you need a silencer when you shoot a mime?
I don’t need one to do the job, but it would probably aid my getaway.
Why are both of Spongebob's parents round like sea sponges while he is square like a kitchen sponge?
I don’t watch that show. My wife won’t let me (us) for some reason.
Hannah Montana, hot or not?
She’s 15, so she’s not hot – at best, she’s cute. I found those pics to be inappropriate, btw.
Did you go to Prom or to the prom?
I went to proms – we had a Junior/Senior prom, so I went twice.
I referred to it as “the prom,” but I can understand people attaching such importance to it that it takes on a proper name-like quality. Prom or the prom, neither one bothers me.
Why King's X? Any special memories or relations to the band?
I DID NOT HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH THAT BAND.
Why King’s X? Probably because they are just about everything I’ve ever liked in music, wrapped up in one unique package. They’ve changed over the years in a variety of ways, but musically, they are somewhere between rock and metal in terms of heaviness, a lot of their stuff has a proggy feel to it (especially the old stuff, not so much now), their sound has always been unique (guitar tuning, chord and song structure, vocals), and vocally, they are a mixture of Beatles and Sly Stone, with a gospel feel. And to top it off, back in the day, their lyrics weren’t the typical sex, drugs, and rock and roll, but often very spiritual - but not in a preachy way. They came around at the right time for me (as I was outgrowing most of the 80s rock/metal), and I’ve essentially lived with their music (from about the age of 16 or 17) as a huge part of my life since then.
A lot has changed for them over the past 20 years. They all had backgrounds in Christian rock and could never quite shake that association, no matter how hard they tried. And then in the mid-late 90s, Dug came out of the closet, Ty and Jerry got divorces, and there was a lot of turmoil in their lives and with the way former fans treated them because of their personal lives (Dug’s outspoken about smoking weed, and has an “I fucked your boyfriend” sticker on his bass).
Musically, they’re not what they were back then, but I still love them. Dug is no longer spiritual, but still very positive about being your own person, etc. A lot more bitter in their lyrics, which is ironic because in the early days, they were accused of being too nice to be in rock. They’ve essentially turned into the Beatles without the animosity in terms of new stuff, with Dug and Ty bringing their own songs into the band, and Jerry playing GeorgeHarrison with a single contribution on a few albums. But the “cohesiveness” of the older stuff is missing, and you can tell what’s a Dug song and what’s a Ty song these days, unfortunately. No matter what they do, I’ll still enjoy it all. Dug’s approaching 60 (they got a late start to begin with), so they won’t be around forever. They still bring it live, though. I hope the rumored Extreme/Living Colour/KX tour materializes - I’m there! They’re doing a fantasy rock camp with Extreme in July and August, but I expect an expanded tour later this year in support of the new album coming out in a couple of weeks.
As far as special moments…there are many. As I mentioned elsewhere, I still recall my first date with my wife based on the fact that it was the day after I saw a KX concert. I’ve had the opportunity to meet them several times, including once in Tallahassee when an internet friend of mine drove up and stayed with me and brought them some, uh, “smokes,” and we hung out by their tour bus for an hour or so talking.
How good is ChrisDaughtry? Should I go out and buy his albums?
He’s good at what he does and it’s very popular, radio-friendly music right now. It’s the kind of music I wouldn’t buy and don’t go out of my way to listen to, but it doesn’t bother me if I hear it. There’s nothing wrong with it, it just doesn’t inspire me to want to listen. I think DavidCook will be the same way, whether or not he’s as good or better than Daughtry. It’s post-grunge music with a homogenous vocalist in the Stapp mold, and I’ve been over the whole grunge thing since before Cobain died, really. That sound has just become a bit more refined/watered-down and poppy, and they’ve dropped the flannel, but it’s all the same to me. If you like it, then of course you should buy it. I’ll stick with the heavy riffing, double bass metal stuff and the soaring harmonies of pop/rock bands who should be all over the radio, but can’t even get a US distribution deal.
How much weight did you lose and how did you do it?
I lost about 65 pounds at the peak, which was probably 5-10 too many. I’ve gained back like 20-25, which was my fear all along once I tried to incorporate regular food back into my diet. I’m back to trying to lose that weight. I can’t find the happy medium. The minute I eat something off of a strict diet, that does me in for the next week or longer. I’ve done this so many times, and tried so many diets/lifestyle changes, that know what my limitations and weaknesses are. I knew it when I was closing in on my goal the last time, and I was right. I either have to stay on a regimented diet, or suffer the consequences and be prepared to go back on a diet again. The diet has to become the way of life, but that’s hard because it disrupts what the family eats, too. I can’t really incorporate normal food into the diet, because that’s the gateway, so to speak, to eating tons of stuff I should be staying away from. It’s still a work in progress. I’m eating healthy again, but finding time to exercise is incredibly difficult.
All-time favorite band/s.
King’s X is at the top. Death Angel is one of my favorites, too, especially since they got back together a few years ago. Jellyfish changed my life in 1999 (6 years after they broke up), because they opened my eyes to the pop side of rock music. Hard to say looking back on so many years. It’s probably much easier to look at my favorite bands over time. I’d say by period in my life, it goes:
77 - 80: Beatles/Beach Boys
80 - 83: JohnWaite/Babys
83 - 86: Judas Priest & Led Zeppelin
86 - 89: Metallica
89 - 99: King's X
99 - 01: Jellyfish/Jason Falkner
01 - Present: Not sure I can come up with a "favorite artist." Like sports, I feel like I've kinda outgrown the idea of a "favorite" anything. I just don't view things in that way anymore. There's music I listen to, and then there's the rest. I’ve found myself listening to stuff on the extremes these days – metal on one side, and very glossy, pop-based (sometimes baroque-styled) rock on the other (Linus of Hollywood, Bryan Scary, Roger Manning, Chris Brown (the OTHER one), Paul Steel, and Jackdaw4, to name a few).
Death metal? Yikes, what do you like about it?
Well, I certainly listen to some stuff that’s classified as death or black metal, but most of it is fringy stuff that’s not the typical blood and guts/satanic crap that most people think of when they think of death metal. Bands like Opeth, Scar Symmetry, DimmuBorgir, Nile…those are some of the better ones I enjoy. And then there’s the whole symphonic metal genre, which has subgenres crossing into black/death metal, but with orchestral and opera flourishes to it. What do I like about it? It’s metal. And most of it is European, so it’s not some watered down or nu metal version of metal, but the real thing. The vocals are a case-by-case deal for me. Some of them I don’t like, others I think work with the music and aren’t too ridiculous or distracting. To some people, they probably can’t tell the difference and think it’s all crap. It’s just a matter of preference. And lyrically - if you can get that far with it – a lot of it is based on history, or fantasy, or some sort of story concept, which is cool. I stay away from the stupid ones, mostly.
In this genre, I find the light/dark feel of the music/vocals very compelling. Many of the death/black metal bands I listen to interplay the growly vocals with clean, harmonic vocals, or heavy music with symphonic/operatic or acoustic interludes. I find that I’m drawn to metal bands who know how to properly use dynamics to elevate their music above the typical stuff you hear.
Any advice for prepping for the LSAT?
LSAT? Hell boy, I barely remember law school, let alone the LSAT. I’m sure things have progressed to where you can spend hundreds of dollars on a prep course. What did I do? I bought a $15 book of prep questions, drove to Tampa the night before where the test was being given, and instead of doing any kind of prepping, I hit all my favorite CD stores that night and just showed up for the test the next morning.
How about dealing with law school?
Be prepared for a life-changing ordeal. First year is going to suck, and unfortunately, it is pretty much all that matters. Try learning as much as you can before you go to law school – familiarize yourself with reading cases, statutes, etc., maybe even read some brief outlines of course topics the summer before. I wish I had. Anything that gives you an edge for that first semester. First year is the difference between getting a signing bonus out of law school, and getting a state job like I did. I did OK my first year, but was astonishingly consistent at getting just above average grades. For the first 3 semesters, I never got less than an 80, or higher than an 85. Once I started clerking and saw the practical uses for what I was learning, I started kicking ass. Even got a 98 in evidence, which prompted me to visit the professor to make sure he didn’t make a mistake (he laughed pretty hard about that). But by then, it was too late in terms of getting noticed by recruiters.
I know being a lawyer can be tough but what is a rough estimate on the benefits if you can say without going to into monetary details? (Vacation, hours, etc)
There are very little “benefits” to being a lawyer, IMO. The money is good once you get into a good situation, no question about it, but lawyers have a high incidence of alcoholism and depression for a reason. It can be a tiring, stressful vocation. And I say that as an attorney with an atypical, fairly easy work schedule. I rarely have to work weekends if I don’t want, and I’m in at 7am and out by 5:30-6pm nearly every night (although I usually do some work late at night and/or on weekends to bill more hours). That’s not normal. I know people who treat Saturday like a regular work day, and who work 7 days a week, 12 hours a week. Depends on what type of law you practice and what the expectations and culture are of the firm you are with. My job is a low-key desk (transactional) job, and I can usually control the pace of the work I do, and only occasionally will an emergency require that I drop everything and work days on end without a break. I make sure I’m home to spend time with my kids, have dinner with the family, get to their games, etc.
Vacations, I usually take 2 weeks, but one of those is Thanksgiving so I minimize the number of days I’m off. Salary is good, but I’m not making a killing by any stretch. Hopefully that will come with partnership, and that whole thing got derailed a bit with the situation I had at my old firm. Things are going well here, though, and I hope to be at that stage within the next year or two, tops.
Do you pronounce it "kay sirrup" or "kay seerup"?
Kay-sirrup, but my wife is one of those people who pronounces syrup “seerup,” and it drives me crazy.
Is Noop gonna be a good lawyer?
I don’t know. I guess it partly depends on how well you can trust your judgment of someone over the internet. Some people are able to be one way in social situations, and another way in more formal situations. I doubt noop writes papers like he posts on message boards. But that’s just a guess. If he’s serious about going to law school and he can get into one, then I think he’ll be fine.
As they say, C = JD. You don’t have to be a superstar to be a lawyer, you just have to graduate and pass the Bar. And seeing as though Florida’s Governor failed it twice, you even get a mulligan or two on that!
Paper or plastic? Or do you bring your own reusable bag?
Plastic. We recycle, but I’m all for convenience at the grocery store. I’m not sure I’ve even seen a paper bag at a grocery store in years, other than at Whole Foods, now that I think about it. They probably hide them away until someone asks for it.
We talked about Lexington and the Bluegrass area after you moved there, what has been your experiences and likes/dislikes since then?
I haven’t really had any negative experiences, so far. The town we’re in is very small (7,500 people) and is made up of a large number of long-time residents, so from time to time I feel like an outsider to some extent. But we’ve made some friends, and I’m now on the elementary school PTO board, so it’s going fairly well. The kids have assimilated well, and they have many more kids to play with in the neighborhood than they did in Florida. Plus, the weather allows them to be outside more often.
As far as likes/dislikes…I definitely like the weather better. I love the cold, it’s nice to have a bit of snow and definitely the seasonal changes in Fall. I like being close to the mountains and the general landscape around here. Much nicer than Florida. I like being 10 minutes from the airport (the Tally airport was on the SW side, and we lived on the NE side – it was about a 45 minute drive). I like being so close to a few big cities (Cincy, Louisville, Nashville) – again, a big change from Tallahassee.
Dislikes…hmmm…I definitely wasn’t prepared for the severe weather. We’ve had some storms in the past 2 years that were much worse than anything we experienced in Florida, and that counts the numerous hurricanes/tropical storms. When a front blows through, it REALLY blows – anywhere from 30-70 MPH winds. We spent a few hours in the middle of the night in our basement shelter during an outbreak of tornadoes in February. Our 8 year old gets ridiculously scared when she hears wind and thunder since we had a hailstorm last spring.
The other thing about the weather is that once a cold front blows through, I’m still not used to the clouds hanging around. In Florida, once the cold front came through, it was followed by a few days of sunshine. Here, that’s not typically the case. Certainly not during the winter, anyway.
Not sure there’s anything particular related to the area or the people that I dislike about living here, though. In some ways, it’s very similar to Tallahassee. I guess I miss being in a state that always seems to be in the middle of something that attracts national attention (good and bad), and also from being where the action is with state/national politics. I doubt the election is going to come down to what happens in Kentucky, and I doubt I’ll be seeing Wolf Blitzer walk down the street anytime soon, either.
You're a metalhead and a devotee of King's X, how come you never looked the part?
Now? Because that just wouldn’t work in my line of business. Then? For two reasons: (1) I just never felt the need to change my appearance to express myself (although I’ll admit there are a few pics out there of me looking decidedly 80s rocker on concert nights); and (2) practically speaking, I could never grow my hair long, even if I wanted to. I’m Greek and have brillo pad/Chia Pet hair. My hair doesn’t grow long, it grows “out.” On the plus side, I just got my hair cut last week and the lady mentioned 3 times how nice and thick my hair is, so I’ll gladly accept the tradeoff now that I’m approaching 40.
What's your favorite episode of spongebob?
Answered above.
As someone with daughter's similarly aged to mine, what are your fears over the next decade.
The usual fears that everyone’s parents had at one time or another, I suspect – that they learn/experience too much, too fast; that they make bad decisions despite our advice otherwise (hopefully that end up being life lessons rather than life-changing events); that the harsh randomness of life doesn’t touch them, etc.
I think being unable to protect them from a wide variety of things is my biggest fear. Balancing the competing forces of shielding them from bad things versus giving them enough information to make informed (and hopefully wise) decisions is tough, no doubt about it.
I don’t get emotional all that often, but I think Will Hoge’s Baby Girl, which I discovered right before our second daughter was born, is an incredibly powerful song for fathers of little girls:
May the sunlight find your face
Even when the rain does fall
And get back on your feet again
Every time you slip and fall
Keep your heart wide open
And always taking in
And even when it's broken
Be strong enough to fix it up again
Oh little baby girl
Sweet little baby girl
I wish I could hold your hand in this great big world
Oh little baby girl
And I hope your hands are steady
And never need to make a fist
And I hope that when you're ready
You get one never ending kiss
And I hope that deep inside of you
There's a sweet eternal song
And I hope the words are pretty
And that you'll always sing along
And I hope your friends are many
And your laughter's always loud
To help you when you're lonely
And pick you up when you're down
I hope your eyes shine bright love
And learn to see the light
Take the time to listen
Decide yourself what's wrong or right
Oh little baby girl
Sweet little baby girl
Be strong in this great big world
Oh little baby girl
Which other message boards do you post on?
There’s a music board based out of Chicago that I post on for the music/political/off-topic discussions. The demographic leans heavily to the left and younger (20-somethings, mainly). I’m like one of the only conservatives to admit it over there, and I find it interesting to see how they react when, in the midst of a bunch of self-congratulatory posts, I throw in a different idea. I think I’ve earned a measure of respect over there for being willing to discuss sides to arguments no one else agrees with. But mainly I’m there for the music. There’s a bitchin’ metal thread lead by a guy who writes regularly for a number of mags. The board mainly discusses indie music, which I typically don’t like, but there’s a topic on pretty much every type of music you can think of. It’s also an interesting dynamic because a lot of the people know each other off the board. And there’s a little less, um, problem with trading music than there is other places.
There’s also a somewhat KX-related board I post at that is like being back in high school again. I’ve known some of the members for well over 10 years now, dating back to an email mailing list from the earliest days of the internet that I can remember. It’s not the official KX board, and it’s not the only KX board. In fact, it’s not really a KX board anymore. A couple years ago there was a dispute about over-moderation of an older board that sprung up after the board affiliated with KX’s official site died, which lead to a split into 2 main groups. I was kinda out of the loop on the argument, but it was like XM/Sirius – you basically chose one or the other based on which one was most compatible. Not the ideal situation, but it’s a good group of people, even if they throw around “fag” and “gay” so often that it would make John Galt’s head spin and fly right off. It’s an odd mix of left-leaning conspiracy theory wackos, right-wing Bible verse-quoting types (including a couple preachers), and everything in between.
And then there are a few band-specific boards I post at. Not often though, mainly to get info or bootlegs. I’m also on the Jelly-L mailing list, which is for fans of Jellyfish. Mostly, it’s for news about power pop bands now, since JF has been dead for 15 years.
Thanks for the questions, this was fun!
As if my active rooting against MichaelJohns and Carly Smithson weren’t enough of a hint…no, I would not watch Olympic Idol. I hear enough bad music on AI as it is; the last thing I want is to be subjected to a bunch of people competing on behalf of their countries performing regional music I REALLY don’t want to hear. I suspect that if I watched 10 minutes of this, I’d be screaming for AndrewLloydWebber-does-the-songs-of-Dolly-Parton night on AI.
How'd you get the name?
My last name is Karo. Like the syrup. Except I don’t pronounce it like the syrup, yet I’ve lived most of my life in the south, so I’m stuck with it. This is the only board where I go by Ksyrup.
How do you like being a lawyer? How did you get into it? Where did you attend school?
I enjoy what I do. I knew at an early age that I was going to be a lawyer – I basically decided by the time I was 12 or 13, despite the fact that I’ve never been the litigator type and knew I would never enjoy that kind of career. I knew I’d do some kind of transactional work, and that’s mainly what I do. I just had no clue what kind of transactional work until I fell into insurance while clerking during law school. I’ve often joked – and I feel this is true for me – that law school is for reasonably intelligent people who can write but can’t do anything else particularly well. I have some lawyer friends with real skills – pilot, actor, architect, etc. – but I couldn’t tell you what I’d be doing right now if I wasn’t a lawyer. Probably in upper management in some non-descript industry. If it wasn’t sports or music, it was law for me.
I went to FloridaState for law school. And this is probably a good point for me to say – FUCK YOU PRESTON PARKER.
I don’t feel any better, but it needed to be said.
What do you think of JulioFranco and Rickey Henderson?
At least one of them is a farging corksucker.
First question right off the bat: Can you recommend some heavy metal albums? I'm really stuck in all the 90's stuff.
My answer depends on whether you can handle growly vocals. It took me quite a while to get over the idea of music with bad vocals, but once I accepted the voice as another instrument and really focused on the music at the same time, it helped. Also, finding bands that alternate clean/growly vocals helped a lot, too.
Right now, there isn’t a better metal band on earth for me than Opeth. And their new album, which comes out in June but leaked last week, is phenomenal. It’s also got way more clean vocals then anything they’ve ever done (aside from Damnation, which isn’t a true metal album). It’s part death metal, part 70s acoustic folk/progressive rock. I just love that Akerfeldt has singlehandly re-defined and elevated a sub-genre of metal that very few people want to listen to. I jokingly refer to Opeth as Masterpiece Theatre Metal. The only problem for some people is that occasionally AlistairCookie sits in on vocals:
http://images.wikia.com/muppet/images/2/2a/Mpiece.alistair.jpg
Other metal bands I’m enjoying at the moment:
Between the Buried and Me (the new album Colors, especially; progressive metalcore)
To-Mera (goth metal meets Dream Theater)
Demiricous (Slayer-type thrash)
Throwdown (similar to Lamb of God/Pantera – not as good, but serviceable groove metal)
Witchcraft (late-60s Black Sabbath-type sound, both on style and production)
The Sword (another of the 70s-sounding indie/metal bands)
Protest the Hero (emo/thrash)
Nightwish/Within Temptation (2 of the best symphonic metal bands; there are probably a couple dozen symphmetal bands I like, but these are the best)
Old bands – Death Angel, Testament (back from the dead with new albums)
Ksyrup action figure - what is the signature move/special power it has?
Putting me and “action figure” in the same sentence is laughable. I’m going to go old school and say my action figure has one of those pull chords in the back that spits out a few snarky/critical comments on command. Basically, it functions like me watching Hell’s Kitchen and making fun of the contestants.
Can grunge kill the metal?
Grunge is dead. Metal is alive and well. But I’m probably biased, because my affair with grunge was fleeting. I think the only band/artist I still follow (somewhat) who is connected to that era is Travis Meeks from Days of the New, and that’s only because I really like what he did on his last couple albums, expanding his sound to bring in some electronica, symphony, chorus, etc. Of course, the dude’s been high on pretty much every drug you can imagine for the past 5+ years, so I’m not holding my breath for a new album any time soon.
Did you REALLY say that a child molester can be called hot?
Not really, but thanks to my actions in that thread, I don’t need to actually say anything. Except two words: Cameo Patch. Not that she was the hottest or anything, but by pic/name combo, she is at the top of the list.
How's the transition to the Lexington area been personally and professionally?
Great. It took getting out of Florida for me to realize how miserable I was there. Although I’ve lived most of my life in the south (Texas, Georgia, Florida), I’m originally from Michigan and have always loved cold weather. I’m much happier living where it gets cold, and where I can go outside and not automatically begin sweating 8 months of the year. Florida was awful – the humidity was stifling, and I just sat inside not wanting to go out and do things. And even when the weather would cool down a bit, the gnats and mosquitoes made it unbearable to be outside. My wife and kids have adjusted well, too. I think my wife is a little annoyed by how long winter lasts, but she’s like a schoolgirl when it snows.
Professionally, things are really taking off. The situation I went through at my old firm was a blessing in disguise – not only did I get out of a bad situation, but it really jump-started my practice, in terms of having my own client base and developing business.
Are you a big Reds and Bengals fan yet? How could you not be with all those players we have clogging up the bases, talk radio, and various jail cells throughout the area?
Not really, no. But I’ve never been one to root for the “home team,” aside from the Detroit teams. I’ve been a fan of the Broncos and Phillies for almost 30 years, and have visited Denver once and Philly twice in my life. We are trying to get into the spirit with UK, though. Before the 2007 college football season, my wife asked me what the chances of UK and FSU playing, since she wanted to root for UK. I told her they hadn’t played each other in decades, so it was unlikely. Needless to say, the bowl game this year was a bit of an odd experience.
Sweet! So, do you still do housework naked when your family is out of town?
I do all sorts of things naked, but my wife will tell you that I don’t do much housework, naked or otherwise.
My man Ksyrup! If you could dine with three people, living or dead, who would they be?
Judging on my past experience of essentially freezing or having little to say to famous people I meet, I’m going to go in the opposite direction and pick my grandmother on my mom’s side, my grandfather on my dad’s side, and my aunt. My grandmother died when I was 5 or 6 and I don’t remember her at all; my grandfather was straight off the boat from Greece and I’d like to know more about his life and the family I have back there; and my aunt died a few years back under some terrible circumstances, so it would be nice to see her again.
The Beatles or Elvis?
The Beatles, by a wide, wide, WIDE margin. Like, so wide you can’t even see Elvis from where the Beatles are. Although dude did die on my 6th birthday, so he’s got that going for him.
Know any musical instruments?
I’ve met JoeBugel. Ba-dum bump! Seriously, though, I played piano for about 15 years, until I left college, and played sax in middle school and high school. Tried picking up guitar on my own a few years back, but only got so far. I’m left-handed, and I tried it right-handed and I think that’s partially why I failed. Too many years of air guitar to overcome!
Are you a fan of art?
Music aside, no.
Mustard: The yellow stuff or the dark golden?
I like spicy mustard, but I can deal with the regular stuff, too.
Who had the best 7th round pick in this year's draft?
I didn’t pay much attention to the draft this year – I’m starting to lose some interest in pro football. Just looking at the 7th round right now, I’ll say Buffalo since they got StevieJohnson from UK and I hope he does well. He came up very big for UK last year despite playing second banana to KeenanBurton, so he’s definitely got some skills.
Do you have any incriminating evidence on anyone here at FOFC?
If I do, I don’t realize it.
Have any favorite non-US sports you like to follow?
No, although one of the associates I work with is originally from South Africa and has introduced me to rugby a bit. He’s trying to get me to play in a local league. I don’t follow it at all, but I’ve seen some highlights of games.
what was your dream job when you were a kid? When did you decide to become an attorney, and what was your second choice as far as a career goes?
Dream job was probably musician or athlete, but those dreams died early. I peaked sports-wise at around 7th grade; and musically, I was actually a pretty good pianist, but I hated the fact that I had no creative ability, and I wasn’t all that interested in just playing other people’s music, so I gave it up once college ended and never seriously pursued it again. This is why I am so critical and picky about the music I listen to - to the point where I don’t even want to listen to myself play if all I can do is copy someone else’s music. Also why I hate bands who do cover songs as singles.
As far as the other questions, I kinda answered those above. Always knew I’d be a lawyer (or at least go to law school), to the point where I didn’t even celebrate graduating college because I didn’t really consider it an accomplishment. I never had a realistic second choice.
are you known as "the metal guy" at the office, or are you "that Mario guy from 'Saved by the Bell'"?
I’m not really known for my music at the office. I AM trying to make partner, you know, and most of these people barely know me as it is, so I don’t need them associating me with what they probably view as some sociopathic disorder. The few people I work with know about it generally, but they really have no clue what I listen to. They have an idea of what “metal” is, I’m sure – Metallica, probably – but the truth is, it’s probably 100 times worse than they imagine, so I’m not in any rush to scare the living hell out of them.
And yeah, once I lost all that weight – which is when Mario was on Dancing with the Stars – I got that comment quite a bit. I’m Greek/Polish, but I look a bit Latino or even Asian to some people.
ever stalk anyone? Besides Farrah, I mean.
I’ve never been close enough to anyone I’d consider stalking to be able to do it properly. If you’re gonna stalk someone, screw letters or email. You gotta commit full time to it. And over the past decade or so, I’ve stopped watching movies and scripted fictional TV, so I don’t really have a good idea who any of the hottest actresses are any more. The celebs we discuss in a Jerry Springer-like manner are not worth stalking, obviously.
If I had to make a list of possible stalkees, past and present – hmmm….back in high school, I believe I would have stalked Carling Bassett if I had the chance. And now….probably Sharon den Adel, the singer of Within Temptation. She’s a true Metal Goddess.
Who's your favourite Saved by the Bell character?
Mr.Tuttle!
Ksyrup - What IS your favorite kind of syrup? Are you a regular maple guy, or a boysenberry fan?
Wow, this question reminds me that I haven’t had a proper pancake breakfast in years. Right now, my breakfast consists of oatmeal and a banana every morning. I like pretty much all syrups, though.
What is the future of metal?
Continuing to the extremes. There’s a bunch of stuff on both ends of the spectrum that admittedly I haven’t really gotten, but it’s popular among metal aficionados. Stuff like Pig Destroyer on the heavy side, and Boris/SunO)))/Agalloch, etc., which is considered “drone” metal – it contains elements of ambient/noise and black metal – on the other side. It’s not very metal, and it’s slow and boring as hell, IMO. Pig Destroyer and bands like that are just the opposite – extraordinarily heavy, fast, and noisy as hell to me. I can catch the rhythms at times, but it’s too much noise for me right now. I’m not at a point where I can get into it.
How did you become a FloridaState fan?
I moved to Florida in 1990 and ended up at FSU for law school. My first year was 1993. I wasn’t much into college football at all until I got to FSU. I followed Michigan because that’s where I was born, and I lived in College Station, TX for a couple of years, so I went to a few A&M games as a kid, but other than that, nothing.
What do you think of JimboFisher and the new offensive staff?
It can’t get much worse, can it? Wait, don’t answer that. I’m not a huge fan of bringing back former players (Dawsey and Carter) who have never coached just to have a tie to the past, but otherwise, I think we gotta give him 5 years to see what he can do. Especially since it looks like the next 3 will still be with Bobby in charge.
How do you feel about the future of the program?
No clue. It will never be what it was, but I’d like to think the ACC could be overtaken by another dominant team to some degree. Whether that’ll be us, who knows? I’m not encouraged by all of the negative info coming out the past few months – suspensions, crimes, guys being released from scholarships, etc. Doesn’t look too good from afar.
Favorite player?
WarrickDunn, both on and off the field. Good memories, and a great person.
Favorite moment?
Two – The comeback against UF (The Choke at Doak) where we tied them 31 all after trailing 31-3 going into the 4th quarter, and the Ward-to-Dunn TD pass up the sideline to beat UF.
Why all the dislike for Miami(the city)?
During the time I lived in South Florida, I was appalled at the quality of people living there. Some of the most disagreeable, slimy, unfriendly, mean, negative people I’ve ever met in my life. And that’s not even including the Fake Factor. Whenever I’d come down to visit my then-GF from school, I’d constantly complain about the people (driving is a nightmare down there, between the mean people who want to kill you, the people who can’t read the signs, and the Q-Tips who can barely see over the steering wheel and do 25 in the left lanes), and she’d always tell me to stop talking about it. And then we got married and she moved up to Tallahassee with me, and the first time she went back to visit, she sounded just like me. And sorry to paint a broad brush, but the NYers who live down there are the absolute worst. It’s like they’re all pissed about their lives, and their only goal is to make you as unhappy as they are. Screw that place. I don’t care if I never step foot there again. In fact, this would be a great idea, IMO:
NORTH LAUDERDALE, Fla. — One city commission wants to divide Florida into two states: North Florida and South Florida.
Sexual harassment at work-is it a problem for the self-employed?
I have to think that most people who harass themselves do it because no one else will, so they are surely not in a position to complain about it. It’s only a problem if it gets in the way of getting the job done, I guess.
What food do you never tire of?
Um…if I could limit this answer to one or two or even a short list, I might not have such a hard time with weight issues.
What do you value most in life?
Family relationships. And my music.
Do you believe that people are inherently good or bad?
Neither. At some base level, we all have the instinct to survive and please ourselves, just like an animal. But I don’t think “good” and “evil” are thing we are necessarily born with.
How do you deal with someone you don't like?
Usually avoid them, or if I can’t do that, I kill them with kindness. I’m a very laid back, go with the flow type of person, so rarely will someone do something I immediately feel the need to react to, even if I don’t like them. Except when I’m driving, of course.
What is your idea of fun?
Hanging out with the family, or watching sports, or listening to music. I’m a pretty boring person, and I have never enjoyed things that many people view as “fun” – partying, drinking, going out in large groups, etc. That’s one of the reasons my wife and I are so compatible. Our lives revolve around family and, for me, work.
How do you deal with stress?
As I said, I’m very laid back. I usually don’t get stressed out, or at least, I very rarely show outward signs of stress. The issue at my previous job and then the resulting move to Kentucky, new job, taking the Bar again, etc., was an incredibly stressful 18 months or so, but I think I came through it remarkably well. I think the most stressed I got was waiting for the Bar results, and I know I was short-tempered and moody for a couple of months. But overall, I think I handled it pretty well.
And usually, I listen to music to relieve stress. Heavy stuff works best, but occasionally the mellow stuff works, too. Not as well, though. But I’m constantly listening to music, so the stress rarely builds up.
What's your favorite tv show/movie depicting lawyers or the legal profession?
It’s been so long since I’ve seen a movie or watched a non-reality TV show that I’m blanking on even naming one right now, aside from L&O. In terms of favorite show, it has to be L&O, but the only other show I can think of that I watched was Ally McBeal, and that was absurd and not really about lawyers. Never saw LA Law, nor The Practice, nor the Shatner one that’s on (still? Not sure).
How did you meet your wife?
I met my wife when we were both cashiering at a grocery store during college, in Coral Springs, FL. She was working full-time to pay her way through school, and I was working during the summer when I was home from school. I think we briefly met during the summer of 1990, but it wasn’t until the summer of 1991 that we started dating. She had broken up with her high school boyfriend about a month or so earlier. I was pretty much oblivious, since I really was never out there looking for someone when I was unattached – although I thought she was good looking and all that. She made the first move on me. On her off day, she brought me a flower while I was working the register and asked me out. The rest of the afternoon was unbearable, with little old ladies commenting on how cute it was, etc. Working that job was bad enough, but that was excruciating. Not nearly as bad as working a 12 hour shift as Hurricane Andrew was about to hit, but close.
Anyway, we started dating toward the end of summer – our first date was, as I still call it now, “the day after I saw King’s X at Summers on the Beach.” For a couple of years, that’s honestly how I remembered the date. Now, I still bring that up just to piss her off!
If you could live anywhere in the continental US (assume you could get a good job there) where would it be and why?
I’m pretty happy in Kentucky right now, to tell you the truth. Putting aside issues with assimilating the family into a new place and the kids at school, etc., I’d probably pick somewhere out west, near the mountains. Love the mountains, love the cold. Beaches are definitely more fun when I see them once a year on vacation, if that. And a place with little or no humidity would be perfection.
Are you superstitious? Did you have a routine/talisman/lucky rabbit foot you were sure was going to help you pass the bar?
I’m not superstitious, but my life runs on routine. I get up at the same time every morning, do the exact same things in the same order, to the point where I get out of the shower at the exact same time every morning and leave for work within about the same 3 minute window. The only thing I did before the Bar was listen to Faith Hope Love by King’s X the night before. I’ve done that before every big moment in my life since that album was released in 1990.
How did you meet your wife?
Answered above.
How many kids do you have?
Two. Caitlin, 8, and Mackenzie, who will be 4 on Saturday (Backyardigans Live, here we come!). As much as I wanted a boy, I think that’s going to be it.
You're at a party and as it progresses, everyone strips naked and jumps in the pool; do you join 'em?
Truthfully, I’ve probably left the party about 2 hours before anyone gets drunk enough to do this. Yeah, I’m that kind of guy.
What would you do with a million bucks? 10 million? (both tax free)
A million – pay off the bills and set my kids up for the future. That’s not enough to really make major changes in my life.
Ten million - make sure my kids are taken care of, pay off all my bills, buy a vacation home in the mountains, take care of my parents and a couple of relatives in need, quit my job, and set up a record label dedicated to giving recording time to my favorite bands and reuniting some old favorites to record.
Do you need a silencer when you shoot a mime?
I don’t need one to do the job, but it would probably aid my getaway.
Why are both of Spongebob's parents round like sea sponges while he is square like a kitchen sponge?
I don’t watch that show. My wife won’t let me (us) for some reason.
Hannah Montana, hot or not?
She’s 15, so she’s not hot – at best, she’s cute. I found those pics to be inappropriate, btw.
Did you go to Prom or to the prom?
I went to proms – we had a Junior/Senior prom, so I went twice.
I referred to it as “the prom,” but I can understand people attaching such importance to it that it takes on a proper name-like quality. Prom or the prom, neither one bothers me.
Why King's X? Any special memories or relations to the band?
I DID NOT HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH THAT BAND.
Why King’s X? Probably because they are just about everything I’ve ever liked in music, wrapped up in one unique package. They’ve changed over the years in a variety of ways, but musically, they are somewhere between rock and metal in terms of heaviness, a lot of their stuff has a proggy feel to it (especially the old stuff, not so much now), their sound has always been unique (guitar tuning, chord and song structure, vocals), and vocally, they are a mixture of Beatles and Sly Stone, with a gospel feel. And to top it off, back in the day, their lyrics weren’t the typical sex, drugs, and rock and roll, but often very spiritual - but not in a preachy way. They came around at the right time for me (as I was outgrowing most of the 80s rock/metal), and I’ve essentially lived with their music (from about the age of 16 or 17) as a huge part of my life since then.
A lot has changed for them over the past 20 years. They all had backgrounds in Christian rock and could never quite shake that association, no matter how hard they tried. And then in the mid-late 90s, Dug came out of the closet, Ty and Jerry got divorces, and there was a lot of turmoil in their lives and with the way former fans treated them because of their personal lives (Dug’s outspoken about smoking weed, and has an “I fucked your boyfriend” sticker on his bass).
Musically, they’re not what they were back then, but I still love them. Dug is no longer spiritual, but still very positive about being your own person, etc. A lot more bitter in their lyrics, which is ironic because in the early days, they were accused of being too nice to be in rock. They’ve essentially turned into the Beatles without the animosity in terms of new stuff, with Dug and Ty bringing their own songs into the band, and Jerry playing GeorgeHarrison with a single contribution on a few albums. But the “cohesiveness” of the older stuff is missing, and you can tell what’s a Dug song and what’s a Ty song these days, unfortunately. No matter what they do, I’ll still enjoy it all. Dug’s approaching 60 (they got a late start to begin with), so they won’t be around forever. They still bring it live, though. I hope the rumored Extreme/Living Colour/KX tour materializes - I’m there! They’re doing a fantasy rock camp with Extreme in July and August, but I expect an expanded tour later this year in support of the new album coming out in a couple of weeks.
As far as special moments…there are many. As I mentioned elsewhere, I still recall my first date with my wife based on the fact that it was the day after I saw a KX concert. I’ve had the opportunity to meet them several times, including once in Tallahassee when an internet friend of mine drove up and stayed with me and brought them some, uh, “smokes,” and we hung out by their tour bus for an hour or so talking.
How good is ChrisDaughtry? Should I go out and buy his albums?
He’s good at what he does and it’s very popular, radio-friendly music right now. It’s the kind of music I wouldn’t buy and don’t go out of my way to listen to, but it doesn’t bother me if I hear it. There’s nothing wrong with it, it just doesn’t inspire me to want to listen. I think DavidCook will be the same way, whether or not he’s as good or better than Daughtry. It’s post-grunge music with a homogenous vocalist in the Stapp mold, and I’ve been over the whole grunge thing since before Cobain died, really. That sound has just become a bit more refined/watered-down and poppy, and they’ve dropped the flannel, but it’s all the same to me. If you like it, then of course you should buy it. I’ll stick with the heavy riffing, double bass metal stuff and the soaring harmonies of pop/rock bands who should be all over the radio, but can’t even get a US distribution deal.
How much weight did you lose and how did you do it?
I lost about 65 pounds at the peak, which was probably 5-10 too many. I’ve gained back like 20-25, which was my fear all along once I tried to incorporate regular food back into my diet. I’m back to trying to lose that weight. I can’t find the happy medium. The minute I eat something off of a strict diet, that does me in for the next week or longer. I’ve done this so many times, and tried so many diets/lifestyle changes, that know what my limitations and weaknesses are. I knew it when I was closing in on my goal the last time, and I was right. I either have to stay on a regimented diet, or suffer the consequences and be prepared to go back on a diet again. The diet has to become the way of life, but that’s hard because it disrupts what the family eats, too. I can’t really incorporate normal food into the diet, because that’s the gateway, so to speak, to eating tons of stuff I should be staying away from. It’s still a work in progress. I’m eating healthy again, but finding time to exercise is incredibly difficult.
All-time favorite band/s.
King’s X is at the top. Death Angel is one of my favorites, too, especially since they got back together a few years ago. Jellyfish changed my life in 1999 (6 years after they broke up), because they opened my eyes to the pop side of rock music. Hard to say looking back on so many years. It’s probably much easier to look at my favorite bands over time. I’d say by period in my life, it goes:
77 - 80: Beatles/Beach Boys
80 - 83: JohnWaite/Babys
83 - 86: Judas Priest & Led Zeppelin
86 - 89: Metallica
89 - 99: King's X
99 - 01: Jellyfish/Jason Falkner
01 - Present: Not sure I can come up with a "favorite artist." Like sports, I feel like I've kinda outgrown the idea of a "favorite" anything. I just don't view things in that way anymore. There's music I listen to, and then there's the rest. I’ve found myself listening to stuff on the extremes these days – metal on one side, and very glossy, pop-based (sometimes baroque-styled) rock on the other (Linus of Hollywood, Bryan Scary, Roger Manning, Chris Brown (the OTHER one), Paul Steel, and Jackdaw4, to name a few).
Death metal? Yikes, what do you like about it?
Well, I certainly listen to some stuff that’s classified as death or black metal, but most of it is fringy stuff that’s not the typical blood and guts/satanic crap that most people think of when they think of death metal. Bands like Opeth, Scar Symmetry, DimmuBorgir, Nile…those are some of the better ones I enjoy. And then there’s the whole symphonic metal genre, which has subgenres crossing into black/death metal, but with orchestral and opera flourishes to it. What do I like about it? It’s metal. And most of it is European, so it’s not some watered down or nu metal version of metal, but the real thing. The vocals are a case-by-case deal for me. Some of them I don’t like, others I think work with the music and aren’t too ridiculous or distracting. To some people, they probably can’t tell the difference and think it’s all crap. It’s just a matter of preference. And lyrically - if you can get that far with it – a lot of it is based on history, or fantasy, or some sort of story concept, which is cool. I stay away from the stupid ones, mostly.
In this genre, I find the light/dark feel of the music/vocals very compelling. Many of the death/black metal bands I listen to interplay the growly vocals with clean, harmonic vocals, or heavy music with symphonic/operatic or acoustic interludes. I find that I’m drawn to metal bands who know how to properly use dynamics to elevate their music above the typical stuff you hear.
Any advice for prepping for the LSAT?
LSAT? Hell boy, I barely remember law school, let alone the LSAT. I’m sure things have progressed to where you can spend hundreds of dollars on a prep course. What did I do? I bought a $15 book of prep questions, drove to Tampa the night before where the test was being given, and instead of doing any kind of prepping, I hit all my favorite CD stores that night and just showed up for the test the next morning.
How about dealing with law school?
Be prepared for a life-changing ordeal. First year is going to suck, and unfortunately, it is pretty much all that matters. Try learning as much as you can before you go to law school – familiarize yourself with reading cases, statutes, etc., maybe even read some brief outlines of course topics the summer before. I wish I had. Anything that gives you an edge for that first semester. First year is the difference between getting a signing bonus out of law school, and getting a state job like I did. I did OK my first year, but was astonishingly consistent at getting just above average grades. For the first 3 semesters, I never got less than an 80, or higher than an 85. Once I started clerking and saw the practical uses for what I was learning, I started kicking ass. Even got a 98 in evidence, which prompted me to visit the professor to make sure he didn’t make a mistake (he laughed pretty hard about that). But by then, it was too late in terms of getting noticed by recruiters.
I know being a lawyer can be tough but what is a rough estimate on the benefits if you can say without going to into monetary details? (Vacation, hours, etc)
There are very little “benefits” to being a lawyer, IMO. The money is good once you get into a good situation, no question about it, but lawyers have a high incidence of alcoholism and depression for a reason. It can be a tiring, stressful vocation. And I say that as an attorney with an atypical, fairly easy work schedule. I rarely have to work weekends if I don’t want, and I’m in at 7am and out by 5:30-6pm nearly every night (although I usually do some work late at night and/or on weekends to bill more hours). That’s not normal. I know people who treat Saturday like a regular work day, and who work 7 days a week, 12 hours a week. Depends on what type of law you practice and what the expectations and culture are of the firm you are with. My job is a low-key desk (transactional) job, and I can usually control the pace of the work I do, and only occasionally will an emergency require that I drop everything and work days on end without a break. I make sure I’m home to spend time with my kids, have dinner with the family, get to their games, etc.
Vacations, I usually take 2 weeks, but one of those is Thanksgiving so I minimize the number of days I’m off. Salary is good, but I’m not making a killing by any stretch. Hopefully that will come with partnership, and that whole thing got derailed a bit with the situation I had at my old firm. Things are going well here, though, and I hope to be at that stage within the next year or two, tops.
Do you pronounce it "kay sirrup" or "kay seerup"?
Kay-sirrup, but my wife is one of those people who pronounces syrup “seerup,” and it drives me crazy.
Is Noop gonna be a good lawyer?
I don’t know. I guess it partly depends on how well you can trust your judgment of someone over the internet. Some people are able to be one way in social situations, and another way in more formal situations. I doubt noop writes papers like he posts on message boards. But that’s just a guess. If he’s serious about going to law school and he can get into one, then I think he’ll be fine.
As they say, C = JD. You don’t have to be a superstar to be a lawyer, you just have to graduate and pass the Bar. And seeing as though Florida’s Governor failed it twice, you even get a mulligan or two on that!
Paper or plastic? Or do you bring your own reusable bag?
Plastic. We recycle, but I’m all for convenience at the grocery store. I’m not sure I’ve even seen a paper bag at a grocery store in years, other than at Whole Foods, now that I think about it. They probably hide them away until someone asks for it.
We talked about Lexington and the Bluegrass area after you moved there, what has been your experiences and likes/dislikes since then?
I haven’t really had any negative experiences, so far. The town we’re in is very small (7,500 people) and is made up of a large number of long-time residents, so from time to time I feel like an outsider to some extent. But we’ve made some friends, and I’m now on the elementary school PTO board, so it’s going fairly well. The kids have assimilated well, and they have many more kids to play with in the neighborhood than they did in Florida. Plus, the weather allows them to be outside more often.
As far as likes/dislikes…I definitely like the weather better. I love the cold, it’s nice to have a bit of snow and definitely the seasonal changes in Fall. I like being close to the mountains and the general landscape around here. Much nicer than Florida. I like being 10 minutes from the airport (the Tally airport was on the SW side, and we lived on the NE side – it was about a 45 minute drive). I like being so close to a few big cities (Cincy, Louisville, Nashville) – again, a big change from Tallahassee.
Dislikes…hmmm…I definitely wasn’t prepared for the severe weather. We’ve had some storms in the past 2 years that were much worse than anything we experienced in Florida, and that counts the numerous hurricanes/tropical storms. When a front blows through, it REALLY blows – anywhere from 30-70 MPH winds. We spent a few hours in the middle of the night in our basement shelter during an outbreak of tornadoes in February. Our 8 year old gets ridiculously scared when she hears wind and thunder since we had a hailstorm last spring.
The other thing about the weather is that once a cold front blows through, I’m still not used to the clouds hanging around. In Florida, once the cold front came through, it was followed by a few days of sunshine. Here, that’s not typically the case. Certainly not during the winter, anyway.
Not sure there’s anything particular related to the area or the people that I dislike about living here, though. In some ways, it’s very similar to Tallahassee. I guess I miss being in a state that always seems to be in the middle of something that attracts national attention (good and bad), and also from being where the action is with state/national politics. I doubt the election is going to come down to what happens in Kentucky, and I doubt I’ll be seeing Wolf Blitzer walk down the street anytime soon, either.
You're a metalhead and a devotee of King's X, how come you never looked the part?
Now? Because that just wouldn’t work in my line of business. Then? For two reasons: (1) I just never felt the need to change my appearance to express myself (although I’ll admit there are a few pics out there of me looking decidedly 80s rocker on concert nights); and (2) practically speaking, I could never grow my hair long, even if I wanted to. I’m Greek and have brillo pad/Chia Pet hair. My hair doesn’t grow long, it grows “out.” On the plus side, I just got my hair cut last week and the lady mentioned 3 times how nice and thick my hair is, so I’ll gladly accept the tradeoff now that I’m approaching 40.
What's your favorite episode of spongebob?
Answered above.
As someone with daughter's similarly aged to mine, what are your fears over the next decade.
The usual fears that everyone’s parents had at one time or another, I suspect – that they learn/experience too much, too fast; that they make bad decisions despite our advice otherwise (hopefully that end up being life lessons rather than life-changing events); that the harsh randomness of life doesn’t touch them, etc.
I think being unable to protect them from a wide variety of things is my biggest fear. Balancing the competing forces of shielding them from bad things versus giving them enough information to make informed (and hopefully wise) decisions is tough, no doubt about it.
I don’t get emotional all that often, but I think Will Hoge’s Baby Girl, which I discovered right before our second daughter was born, is an incredibly powerful song for fathers of little girls:
May the sunlight find your face
Even when the rain does fall
And get back on your feet again
Every time you slip and fall
Keep your heart wide open
And always taking in
And even when it's broken
Be strong enough to fix it up again
Oh little baby girl
Sweet little baby girl
I wish I could hold your hand in this great big world
Oh little baby girl
And I hope your hands are steady
And never need to make a fist
And I hope that when you're ready
You get one never ending kiss
And I hope that deep inside of you
There's a sweet eternal song
And I hope the words are pretty
And that you'll always sing along
And I hope your friends are many
And your laughter's always loud
To help you when you're lonely
And pick you up when you're down
I hope your eyes shine bright love
And learn to see the light
Take the time to listen
Decide yourself what's wrong or right
Oh little baby girl
Sweet little baby girl
Be strong in this great big world
Oh little baby girl
Which other message boards do you post on?
There’s a music board based out of Chicago that I post on for the music/political/off-topic discussions. The demographic leans heavily to the left and younger (20-somethings, mainly). I’m like one of the only conservatives to admit it over there, and I find it interesting to see how they react when, in the midst of a bunch of self-congratulatory posts, I throw in a different idea. I think I’ve earned a measure of respect over there for being willing to discuss sides to arguments no one else agrees with. But mainly I’m there for the music. There’s a bitchin’ metal thread lead by a guy who writes regularly for a number of mags. The board mainly discusses indie music, which I typically don’t like, but there’s a topic on pretty much every type of music you can think of. It’s also an interesting dynamic because a lot of the people know each other off the board. And there’s a little less, um, problem with trading music than there is other places.
There’s also a somewhat KX-related board I post at that is like being back in high school again. I’ve known some of the members for well over 10 years now, dating back to an email mailing list from the earliest days of the internet that I can remember. It’s not the official KX board, and it’s not the only KX board. In fact, it’s not really a KX board anymore. A couple years ago there was a dispute about over-moderation of an older board that sprung up after the board affiliated with KX’s official site died, which lead to a split into 2 main groups. I was kinda out of the loop on the argument, but it was like XM/Sirius – you basically chose one or the other based on which one was most compatible. Not the ideal situation, but it’s a good group of people, even if they throw around “fag” and “gay” so often that it would make John Galt’s head spin and fly right off. It’s an odd mix of left-leaning conspiracy theory wackos, right-wing Bible verse-quoting types (including a couple preachers), and everything in between.
And then there are a few band-specific boards I post at. Not often though, mainly to get info or bootlegs. I’m also on the Jelly-L mailing list, which is for fans of Jellyfish. Mostly, it’s for news about power pop bands now, since JF has been dead for 15 years.
Thanks for the questions, this was fun!