Mike Doughty Interview

The Mike Doughty interview is up and available for reading at the WickedInfo site. It was a challenge. As I said, it was my first time doing anything like this. I was nervous about it. Then my recording turned out like crap. I had to dump it onto the computer and then listen to parts of it over and over using I don't know how many different sound tools to tweak things to where I could hear exactly what was being said: noise reduction, normalization, compression, speed adjustments, high pass filters, low pass filters, even distortion in a few places. In the end I have a good representation of the interview and I am confident there are no misquotes. Granted, I edited out a whole lot of verbal hedges and pauses, etc., but the phrasing and content are accurate.

If you're not familiar with Mike Doughty check him out. He was the front man for the band Soul Coughing but his solo stuff is quite a bit different than Soul Coughing considering it's the same singer and guitar player! Anyway, check out the interview:

Mike Doughty Interview on WickedInfo.com

Day 01, 12/13/2009 (Asthma SUCKS!)

I have asthma. Fortunately, for me it's not debilitating. I don't end up in bed with a breathing machine attached to my face and steroids dripping into my system. No, I just have a hard time breathing and get very tired very easily. My asthma is triggered, generally, by three things: Cats, always; Cold air, often; Exercise, sometimes. When I am bothered with asthma during exercise I am sometimes able to work through it by slowing down and walking slowly or riding my bike at a very light pace. If I can get through it, coming out of the other side can be really good--I often feel like I could go forever after a recovery like that. But, on days like today, I can't get passed it. Those days the exercise is much harder because I'm not getting the oxygen I need for exercise and it really slows me down (and I'm slow to start with!).

Today was one of those days when the elephant sat down on my chest pretty much right from the start and just wouldn't budge. I tried the walk/run/walk thing and it worked a bit. Mostly I walked. But I did manage to get in seven miles averaging just over four miles per hour. Not stellar by any means, but it definitely counts as exercise even if I did walk most of it! I mean, maybe the lungs weren't filling up and increasing their capacity the way truly vigorous cardio-vascular exercise does, but when I have one of these sessions my asthma puts my heart rate through the roof. If nothing else the old heart muscle must be getting a good workout.

So this week I ended up with a whopping eleven miles. Now, I know I can walk a half marathon within the time limit. I've done it. But I would really like to have a good day that day and come in at or under the three hour mark. That's going to require some more miles during the week between now and then, no two ways about it.

Day 07, 12/13/2009 (Taken after my run and after eating and drinking, etc. That's my excuse anyway.):

Weight: 209.8

BMI: 29.7

RM: 1919

SM: 32.4

BF: 29.6

VF: 13

Training, Days 05 and 06

I didn't really do anything these two days, so I guess I'll post the numbers just so I can say I did that at least!

Day 05, 12/11/2009

Weight: 206.4

BMI: 29.2

RM: 1888

SM: 31.3

BF: 31.4

VF: 13

Day 06, 12/12/2009:

Weight: 210.8

BMI: 29.8

RM: 1920

SM: 31.8

BF: 30.7

VF: 14

Mike Doughty Interview

I am nervous, nervous, nervous. Not only am I doing my first ever celebrity interview, but it's an interview with Mike Doughty, a guy I suspect is a whole lot smarter, a whole lot quicker, and a whole lot more ready for this interview than I am.

Wait. You're interviewing Mike Doughty? To quote my friend Dan, "WTF?! How'd you land that gig?"

My friend slash ex-student Steve Angell runs a really fun and eclectic website called WickedInfo. They interview a lot of comedians, musicians, actors, etc. One day Steve asked me if I'd like to do an interview for them. My initial reaction was a terrified hell no. I told Steve I'm pretty phonophobic and nervous about that sort of thing so unless it was an email interview, I'd probably pass. He wanted to know if there is anyone I would be interested in interviewing and the only person I could think of interesting enough to risk night sweats and panic attacks would be Mike Doughty.

So what does Steve do? He contacts Mike's publicist and scores a chance to interview Mike. Unfortunately, Mike doesn't want to do an email interview but will do a telephone interview. So tomorrow I have to pick up my phone and my archaic microcasette recorder and give Mike Doughty a call. We'll be going old school on this one--analog tape equipment and speaker phone. Fortunately, Doughty has embraced a lot of lo-fi equipment so I'm hoping he won't be too put out by my methods.

I hope I don't screw this up. I hope it goes well. Whatever happens I will let you know when my interview is posted at the site. With any luck it will go well enough that I won't be too embarrassed to attend his show in Cave Creek at the end of February!

Training, Day 04

I just got back from doing four miles with Julian in the stroller. I have not run in weeks. Literally. I think Joan and I have gone on a couple of walks, but no runs. Certainly none that would qualify as "training." I think I did okay. I did four miles in fifty-three minutes. I walked almost a half, ran a little over 2.5, ran/walked a little over a half, and walked the rest of the way home. I think that works out to about 13.25 minutes per mile. Not stellar, but if I can get myself to actually train to where I maintain that same pace over the half marathon I can squeak in at three hours and beat last year's time. Considering I walked all but a mile last year, I should be able to do it, right?

Today's numbers (11:34 a.m.):

Weight: 209.4

BMI: 29.6

RM: 192

SM: 32

BF: 30.3

VF: 13

An Open Letter to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid

I have finally lost what little faith I had left in the Democrats in office. By continuing to bow down to and roll over like whipped dogs in the face of Republican criticism all of you have become nothing more than tools of the status quo. There can be no hope for our nation if our representatives fail to serve the needs of the people and continue to simply cater to the wealthy and powerful.

I realize our government was designed to serve the powerful interests of the few. Not everyone realizes this. However, because the majority of the people of this great nation believe "by the people, for the people" to mean the Government is there to serve us, why can't our representatives do something to make it so?

My disappointment in this Congress (and increasingly in our President) knows no bounds.

I'm so sorry the lot of you have decided to turn your backs on America. What happens in next year's elections should come as no surprise to any of you. No, it won't be a vast Republican uprising--though they will play it that way. What will happen is most of the Democrats will stay home and fail to vote. The tea baggers will hit the polls and their minuscule voice of dissent and anti-Americanism will be hailed as the new majority. Thanks a lot.

Training, Day 03

Today's numbers:

Weight: 208.2

BMI: 29.4

RM: 1903

SM: 31.9

BF: 30.3

VF: 13