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Pop Quiz by Bobby Mitchell |
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1. What is your name?
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Bobby Mitchell
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2. How old are you?
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Is that in dog years? As old as the hills and twice as mouldy -
or 48 for short.
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3. Where do you live?
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Mostly in the fantasy-ridden synaptic canals of my own
imagination, and in Lost Crutches/Lost Causes/Lost Crunchies, New Mexico
at other times.
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4. What do you do for a living?
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Dream. And write poetry. But other than that, as little as I
possibly can!!
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5. Do you drive?
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Better than Ti Jean!!
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6. What do you do for joy?
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Everything!!! Dance, sing, shout poetry, play, laugh, play with
my children, play with my wife, Annie, play, play, play!!
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7. What is your pet peeve? And how much does it weigh? Does it
sleep by the door? Is it housebroken?
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My "pet" peeve ... ?? My own shortcomings - not trying as hard
as I should when I know I could try harder. It's very heavy, and I can
never get it outta the house!!
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8. Do you write, paint or play? All at the same time? (While
juggling a dozen eggs and riding a unicycle?)
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Write, write, write!! I useta paint - but that was a lo-o-ong
time ago.
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9. Who is the most impressive character you've ever met?
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Everybody I meet impresses me to a certain degree (I'm not
trying to be evasive, either). All people fascinate me, and have so
much to offer - I'm in love with everyone!! Kissy, kissy, kissy!!!
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10. Have you ever read, acted, performed, thrown up, etc. in public?
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I hate to think of all the times I've thrown up in public!!
And as far as performances - yes. But not in 4 or 5 years.
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11. What piece of literature or art moved your soul to ecstatic waves
of bliss?
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I love Picasso - especially the Matador series. They're so
simple and elemental, and so wonderful!! Plus that nude by Picasso
that's no more than 6 or 7 very simple lines. He demonstrates what a
master he is with that one drawing!! And of course, Jackson Pollock,
Motherwell, Rothko, and on n on n on. I love rock n roll: Dylan, the
Stones, the 'Mats. Motown: Marvin, the Tempts, Smokey, and all those
old Chuck Jackson numbers. James Brown, Solomon Burke, Percy Sledge,
Aretha, Doris Troy, etc., etc., etc. Gary Stewart and Guy Clark, David
Alan Coe, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Steve Earle, Kelly Willis, Lucinda
Williams, Ernest Tubb, Miles, Miles, Miles! And 'Trane!! Art Blakey,
Dave Brubeck, the Marsalis Bros., Elvis - there's gotta be Elvis!! And
Wanda Jackson, and "Little" Peggy March, Van Morrison, Al Green, Diz and
Bird. Hendricks, Lambert and Ross, and Jimi Hendrix, T. Rex. Movies
like *Double Indemnity* and *Treasure of Sierra Madre*. Monet, Manet,
Van Gogh, Degas, Renoir, Stuart Davis, *Invasion of the Body Snatchers*
by Don Siegel, Chuck Berry, Andy Warhol, Patti Smith, the Velvet
Underground, "96 Tears" by ? & the Mysterians. Baseball, basketball.
The 1992 Bulls!! *Basquiat*. The 4 Seasons by Vivalde, Little
Richard. "Desolation Row," "Highway 61." And whatever happened to the
old Tony off the SUBs list who was always so pithy and so great to have
around??
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12. What was the first thing you ever encountered that made you realise
that art is important?
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I honestly can't remember when I didn't think art was the
absolutely most important thing in the world other than God!!
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13. Would you consider yourself an artist? A good one? Why or why
not?
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I could pretend to be modest and say I'm "not" an artist - but
that would be dishonest and disingenuous. I am an artist because it is
what I *do*. In fact, it's the only thing I know how to do. I'm a
poet. I'm not ever sure if I'm "good" at what I do - that's why I keep
working at it alla time.
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14. What are your favorite things that have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do
with anything else?
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Sitting on the porch at sunset with a hot cup of coffee.
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15. What are your favorite things that have ABSOLUTELY everything to do
with everything else?
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Making love, loving, writing, reading and arithmetic. but not
really, 'cos I don't like arithmetic. Playing with my kids. Reading
some more. Making love, watching basketball, eating pizza. Etc.
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16. What's the meaning of life?
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God loves laughter.
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17. Why?
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Why not?
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18. True or false: the Three Stooges represent the apex of American
cultural achievement.
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Nah!! Jackson Pollock represents the apex of American cultural
achievement. Followed by John Steinbeck, Philip K. Dick, Jack Kerouac,
Arthur Steiglitz, Isadora Duncan, Andy Warhol, Patti Smith, the Velvet
Underground, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Magic Johnson and Michael
Jordan, Bob Dylan, Frank Kapra, the Marx Bros - especially in Duck Soup
- Hail Freedonia!!, Tim Buckley, Allen Ginsberg's "Howl," Lenny Bruce,
William Burroughs, David Cronenberg (even tho he's Canadian - Canada is
in No' America, y'know), John Coltrane, etc.
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19. True or False: Shemp was funnier than the original Curly.
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What? Are ya kiddin or what?? Nyuk, nyuk!!
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20. Who's da man?
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Mirza Husayn Ali!!
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(Bobby Mitchell died on September 11, 2007. He is dearly missed by his Nonelist friends.)
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