Friend of the WeeK

Friend of the Week is back, so meet Jake King, a buddy I met in NYC the last time I was out there. Jake is intensely intellectual (you can see for yourself as he types in ALL CAPS), a talented musician (myspace.com/jakekingmusic), and an all round cool guy. His answers below only reinforce why I consider him one of the most interesting and unique people I have ever met.

Your life motto:

THERE ARE WORSE THINGS THAN BEING RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT YOU ARE.

A monument you would like to have a view of from your bedroom:

I'D RATHER HAVE A VIEW OF THE OCEAN. NOTHING ELSE ELICITS SUCH A RELIABLE COMBINATION OF CALM AND LONGING IN ME.

An artist you highly respect:

ANY ARTIST WHO'S STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN THEIR IDENTITY AS AN ARTIST DESERVES RESPECT FOR IT.

Singer/Band you are currently listening to the most:

THE STONES ALWAYS DO IT FOR ME BEST.

Quote from your favorite novel:

THIS ISN'T FROM MY FAVORITE NOVEL, BUT IT'S A GOOD QUOTE ANYWAYS: "YOU WAIT FOR FATE TO BRING ABOUT THE CHANGES IN LIFE WHICH YOU SHOULD BE BRINGING ABOUT YOURSELF." - DOUGLAS COUPLAND (SHAMPOO PLANET)

If you could punch someone in the face:

MYSELF, FOR ALL THE TIMES I THOUGHT PUNCHING SOMEONE IN THE FACE WOULD MAKE ANYTHING BETTER.

If you could makeout with someone (in the face):

THIS GUY I SAW ON THE SUBWAY YESTERDAY. WOW, THEY DON'T MAKE 'EM LIKE THAT TOO OFTEN... STUPID ME FOR NOT SAYING HI.

If your house was burning and you could only rescue three things:

IF I HAD AN ENGLISH BULLDOG, HIM OR HER, THEN MY GUITAR. EVERYTHING ELSE CAN BE REPLACED.

Guiliani is a....

MAN WHO HELPED MAKE NEW YORK SAFE AND BORING.

3 words how you think describe what other people think of you:

INTENSE, AMBITIOUS, OBSESSED (WITH ENGLISH BULLDOGS)

A place you haven't had sex, but want to?

ANYWHERE WITH SOMEONE I LOVE.

How do you envision yourself at age 75?:

THE SAME AS I SEE MYSELF NOW, ONLY WITH WHITE HAIR AND HOPEFULLY WISER.

If you had to be stuck in an elevator with either George Bush or
Dick Cheney, who would it be? And what would be the first thing you
said to them.

GEORGE BUSH - "WOW, WE MIGHT BE IN HERE AWHILE. GOT ANY COKE?"

Scientology is...

A GREAT MONEY-MAKING SCHEME.

A moment you achieved absolute happiness:

I'M SURE I'VE DROPPED ACID AND GOTTEN HIGH ENOUGH TO TRICK MYSELF INTO BELIEVING IN ABSOLUTE HAPPINESS.

Would you rather be blind or deaf?

I'D RATHER BE NEITHER, BUT I'D BE A PRETTY USELESS MUSICIAN IF I WAS DEAF.

If you could have a superpower it would be....

I THINK THAT WE HAVE ALOT MORE POWER THAN WE GIVE OURSELVES CREDIT FOR. WE ARE CAPABLE OF MAKING ALL OF OUR LIVES SO MUCH BETTER THAN THEY ARE NOW. I GUESS IT WOULD BE SUPER IF WE ACTUALLY DID IT.

If you could solve one world problem, what would it be?

POVERTY. THE DISPARITY OF WEALTH ON THIS PLANET IS THE ROOT OF ALMOST EVERY OTHER HUMAN PROBLEM. IF WEALTH WERE MORE EQUALLY DIVIDED, WE'D BE MORE CAPABLE OF SEEING EACH OTHER AS EQUALS. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, WE MIGHT TREAT EACH OTHER ACCORDINGLY.

Would you rather have many nights of hot sex with different people
and never settle or find one person and have mediocre sex for the rest
of your life, but life companionship?

I FAIL TO SEE WHY LIFE COMPANIONSHIP WITH ONE PERSON AND HOT SEX WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. I DON'T BELIEVE IN TREATING PEOPLE LIKE PROPERTY.

Heaven or hell?

THEY BOTH EXIST... RIGHT HERE ON EARTH. I'M PRETTY SURE I'VE EXPERIENCED BOTH.