B22 Interview of the Week - Hello Wil
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Hello Wil!
How does it feel to be a new addition to the blogstars? 
HONESTLY, I'M HONORED. THE B22 BLOGSTAR SITE HAS LONG BEEN A PLACE I GO IN SEARCH OF COMFORT AND COMEDY DURING THOSE LONG TEDIOUS HOURS SEARCHING FOR INFO ONLINE.
What sort of info online?
OH, YOU KNOW. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, THE NAMES OF BIRDS, STORIES ABOUT BIRDS, ECO-PROJECTS, AND LATELY, CAN I CONFESS SOMETHING HERE? ('razbeerasay,' I say) LATELY, I'VE BECOME SOMETHING OF A POLITICAL NEWS JUNKIE. GROWING UP, I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHAT MY FRIENDS FOUND SO FASCINATING IN THE SPORTS SECTION OF THE PAPER. NOW I THINK I KNOW. DAILY I NEED ANALYSIS OF THE STATE OF THE PRIMARY RACE IN THE STATES.
Wil, that's no way to live.
I KNOW. I AGREE. AND THIS ADMISSION BRINGS US BACK TO THE FIRST QUESTION YOU ASKED ME ABOUT BLOGSTARRING. I'M THE SORT OF MAN WHO NEEDS TO SMELL THE FOOD BURNING IN THE OVEN TO REMEMBER TO PULL IT OUT. I LIKE MY LIFE TO HAVE SOME STRUCTURE. I WAS EXCITED TO JOIN BLOGSTARS BECAUSE I HOPED BEING A PART OF THIS GROUP WOULD HELP ME QUIT THE DESTRUCTIVE HABITS I HAVE FALLEN INTO AND FULFILL ALL THE OTHER
DREAMS I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. FOR EXAMPLE, STARTING MY OWN BLOG, WRITING A NOVEL, OR AT LEAST A FEW SHORT STORIES, SINGING A SONG, LEARNING HOW TO MAKE PASTA, ETC.
You are a man with high expectations.
I'VE NOTICED IN MY LIFE THAT I AM MOST PRODUCTIVE WHEN I AM WORKING ON MANY THINGS AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN I DON'T HAVE MUCH GOING ON, I DON'T SEEM TO DO ANYTHING.
I'm not sure if that's wisdom I just heard or a parallelism poem. Well, certainly it seems that there is a lot going on in your head about what being a blogstar means to you. Can we talk about what it means to be a peace corps volunteer in Bulgaria?
OF COURSE! I WORK WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL NGO CALLED THE BULGARIAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. MOST OF MY WORK SO FAR HAS BEEN TYPICAL OFFICE HELP AND OCCASIONALLY I HAVE ACCOMPANIED THEM ON THEIR WINTER BIRD COUNTS. WE COUNT THE BIRDS IN THE SURROUNDING LAKES AND SEND THE INFORMATION TO BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL, WHO KEEP A GIANT GLOBAL DATABASE. THIS INFORMATION CAN BE USED TO DETERMINE THE HEALTH OF A PARTICULAR SPECIES, LARGER ENVIRONMENTS, AND ULTIMATELY, THE ENTIRE GLOBE. THE IDEA IS IF THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO LOVES BIRDS ALREADY, WHY NOT USE THEIR LOVE AND HOBBY TO GATHER QUANTIFIABLE HARD DATA, WHICH CAN BE USED FOR A MULTITUDE OF PURPOSES, ONE IN PARTICULAR IN BULGARIA WAS DETERMINING WHAT PARTS OF LANDS HAD HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF BIO-DIVERSITY, AND THEREFORE, WHAT PARTS OF LANDS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE NATURA 2000 LEGISLATIONS.
Who knew that bird watching could be so powerful?
WELL, THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS ACTUALLY. BIRD WATCHING IS A VERY POPULAR HOBBY. THE NATURE CENTER I WILL WORK AT IN THE SUMMER WILL BE VISITED BY MANY BRITISH, GERMAN, AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL VISITORS. IN FACT, I HAVE BEEN TOLD I WILL BE VERY BUSY VERY SOON AND AM CURRENTLY PRACTICING THE BIRD HABITAT BIO-DIVERSITY TOUR LECTURE I WILL BE GIVING WHEN THESE ENGLISH SPEAKING TOURISTS ARRIVE.
Sounds like you are doing great work. You must get hungry often. What is your favorite Bulgarian food?
I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF MY WIFE'S SHOPSKA. IT'S A RECIPE SHE GOT FROM HER HOST MOM (AND PERFECTED!)
What food do you miss the most?
I CONTINUALLY FANTASIZE ABOUT EATING AN ASIAGO-CHEESE BAGEL AND STARBUCKS VENTI MOCHA FRAPPACHINO.
What do you do in your spare time?
LATELY, I HAVE BEEN WATCHING AN AMERICAN TV SHOW CALLED SUPERNATURAL ABOUT TWO BROTHERS, WHO REMIND ME OF THE HARDY BOYS WITH SALT SHOTGUNS, ON A CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP HUNTING DEMONS AND OTHER SPOOKY CREATURES. MY COUNTERPARTS INTRODUCED ME TO IT AND I CAN'T WATCH IT WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT HOW IT IS INFLUENCING THEIR PERCEPTION OF AMERICA. AND SOMETIMES I READ.
What do you read?
SPIDER-MAN COMICS MOSTLY. THAT, AND I'M A FAN OF CLASSIC LITERATURE; I WAS AN ENGLISH MAJOR IN COLLEGE, SO I CAN BE PRETTY ELITIST WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT I WANT TO READ.
I once heard that regarding criticism, the best test of the quality of a book is if it is one you would want to re-read or not.
HMM. I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
Have you traveled much in Bulgaria?
WE JUST GOT OUT OF WINTER, SO NO, NOT A LOT. BUT A LITTLE. AND I HOPE TO TRAVEL A LOT MORE. JESS AND I WENT SKIING AT PAMPOROVO AND REALLY ENJOYED SEEING THE KUKERI FESTIVAL IN SHIROKA LUKA. AND I LIKED THE ANCIENT ROMAN RUINS IN HISSAR; I LIKE TO PUT MY HAND ON THE RUINS AND THINK - DID AN ANCIENT ROMAN PERHAPS LEAN AGAINST THIS WALL, DID HE SPIT, PEE, OR DIE AGAINST IT? WAS THIS ONCE THE SITE OF REBELLIOUS GRAFFITI OR SHADOW PUPPET SHOWS? I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY LIKE ABOUT BULGARIA IS THE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF HISTORY. IT'S SORT OF TAKEN FOR GRANTED, I THINK; BUT IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO ME TO SEE THE REMAINS OF THESE ANCIENT EMPIRES AND TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL THE OLD HOLIDAY TRADITIONS.
Well, thank you good sir, any closing thoughts? Share your greatest strengths or weaknesses? Tell us your favorite bird? Your favorite season?
IT'S DIFFICULT TO BE THANKFUL SOMETIMES. IMAGINATION IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, I THINK, THAT CAN BE A REAL BLESSING IN SOME SITUATIONS AND A REAL CURSE IN SOME SITUATIONS. I THINK MY BIGGEST STRUGGLE, AND PROBABLY MOST PCVS STRUGGLE IS TO NOT NEGLECT THE LIFE THEY ARE LIVING FOR THE ONE THEY CAN IMAGINE. I FIND MYSELF, YOU KNOW, A STRANGER BECAUSE OF THE LIMITATIONS TO WHAT CAN BE DONE, THE LANGUAGE BARRIER, THE UNCERTAINTY, THE NEWNESS OF EVERYTHING... AND IT'S EASY TO PREFER OBSERVING OVER PARTICIPATING. AND THAT CAN LEAD TO REFLECTING ABOUT WHAT I'M NOT DOING THAN WHAT I AM. SO THAT'S MY STRUGGLE. TO BE THANKFUL ALL THE TIME.
Well, thank you for your time. I hope you have a marvelous week and a fantastic two years.
MERCI, PODOVNO.
HONESTLY, I'M HONORED. THE B22 BLOGSTAR SITE HAS LONG BEEN A PLACE I GO IN SEARCH OF COMFORT AND COMEDY DURING THOSE LONG TEDIOUS HOURS SEARCHING FOR INFO ONLINE.
What sort of info online?
OH, YOU KNOW. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, THE NAMES OF BIRDS, STORIES ABOUT BIRDS, ECO-PROJECTS, AND LATELY, CAN I CONFESS SOMETHING HERE? ('razbeerasay,' I say) LATELY, I'VE BECOME SOMETHING OF A POLITICAL NEWS JUNKIE. GROWING UP, I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHAT MY FRIENDS FOUND SO FASCINATING IN THE SPORTS SECTION OF THE PAPER. NOW I THINK I KNOW. DAILY I NEED ANALYSIS OF THE STATE OF THE PRIMARY RACE IN THE STATES.
Wil, that's no way to live.
I KNOW. I AGREE. AND THIS ADMISSION BRINGS US BACK TO THE FIRST QUESTION YOU ASKED ME ABOUT BLOGSTARRING. I'M THE SORT OF MAN WHO NEEDS TO SMELL THE FOOD BURNING IN THE OVEN TO REMEMBER TO PULL IT OUT. I LIKE MY LIFE TO HAVE SOME STRUCTURE. I WAS EXCITED TO JOIN BLOGSTARS BECAUSE I HOPED BEING A PART OF THIS GROUP WOULD HELP ME QUIT THE DESTRUCTIVE HABITS I HAVE FALLEN INTO AND FULFILL ALL THE OTHER
DREAMS I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. FOR EXAMPLE, STARTING MY OWN BLOG, WRITING A NOVEL, OR AT LEAST A FEW SHORT STORIES, SINGING A SONG, LEARNING HOW TO MAKE PASTA, ETC.You are a man with high expectations.
I'VE NOTICED IN MY LIFE THAT I AM MOST PRODUCTIVE WHEN I AM WORKING ON MANY THINGS AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN I DON'T HAVE MUCH GOING ON, I DON'T SEEM TO DO ANYTHING.
I'm not sure if that's wisdom I just heard or a parallelism poem. Well, certainly it seems that there is a lot going on in your head about what being a blogstar means to you. Can we talk about what it means to be a peace corps volunteer in Bulgaria?
OF COURSE! I WORK WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL NGO CALLED THE BULGARIAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. MOST OF MY WORK SO FAR HAS BEEN TYPICAL OFFICE HELP AND OCCASIONALLY I HAVE ACCOMPANIED THEM ON THEIR WINTER BIRD COUNTS. WE COUNT THE BIRDS IN THE SURROUNDING LAKES AND SEND THE INFORMATION TO BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL, WHO KEEP A GIANT GLOBAL DATABASE. THIS INFORMATION CAN BE USED TO DETERMINE THE HEALTH OF A PARTICULAR SPECIES, LARGER ENVIRONMENTS, AND ULTIMATELY, THE ENTIRE GLOBE. THE IDEA IS IF THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO LOVES BIRDS ALREADY, WHY NOT USE THEIR LOVE AND HOBBY TO GATHER QUANTIFIABLE HARD DATA, WHICH CAN BE USED FOR A MULTITUDE OF PURPOSES, ONE IN PARTICULAR IN BULGARIA WAS DETERMINING WHAT PARTS OF LANDS HAD HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF BIO-DIVERSITY, AND THEREFORE, WHAT PARTS OF LANDS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE NATURA 2000 LEGISLATIONS.
Who knew that bird watching could be so powerful?
WELL, THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS ACTUALLY. BIRD WATCHING IS A VERY POPULAR HOBBY. THE NATURE CENTER I WILL WORK AT IN THE SUMMER WILL BE VISITED BY MANY BRITISH, GERMAN, AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL VISITORS. IN FACT, I HAVE BEEN TOLD I WILL BE VERY BUSY VERY SOON AND AM CURRENTLY PRACTICING THE BIRD HABITAT BIO-DIVERSITY TOUR LECTURE I WILL BE GIVING WHEN THESE ENGLISH SPEAKING TOURISTS ARRIVE.
Sounds like you are doing great work. You must get hungry often. What is your favorite Bulgarian food?
I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF MY WIFE'S SHOPSKA. IT'S A RECIPE SHE GOT FROM HER HOST MOM (AND PERFECTED!)
What food do you miss the most?
I CONTINUALLY FANTASIZE ABOUT EATING AN ASIAGO-CHEESE BAGEL AND STARBUCKS VENTI MOCHA FRAPPACHINO.
What do you do in your spare time?
LATELY, I HAVE BEEN WATCHING AN AMERICAN TV SHOW CALLED SUPERNATURAL ABOUT TWO BROTHERS, WHO REMIND ME OF THE HARDY BOYS WITH SALT SHOTGUNS, ON A CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP HUNTING DEMONS AND OTHER SPOOKY CREATURES. MY COUNTERPARTS INTRODUCED ME TO IT AND I CAN'T WATCH IT WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT HOW IT IS INFLUENCING THEIR PERCEPTION OF AMERICA. AND SOMETIMES I READ.
What do you read?
SPIDER-MAN COMICS MOSTLY. THAT, AND I'M A FAN OF CLASSIC LITERATURE; I WAS AN ENGLISH MAJOR IN COLLEGE, SO I CAN BE PRETTY ELITIST WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT I WANT TO READ.
I once heard that regarding criticism, the best test of the quality of a book is if it is one you would want to re-read or not.
HMM. I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
Have you traveled much in Bulgaria?
WE JUST GOT OUT OF WINTER, SO NO, NOT A LOT. BUT A LITTLE. AND I HOPE TO TRAVEL A LOT MORE. JESS AND I WENT SKIING AT PAMPOROVO AND REALLY ENJOYED SEEING THE KUKERI FESTIVAL IN SHIROKA LUKA. AND I LIKED THE ANCIENT ROMAN RUINS IN HISSAR; I LIKE TO PUT MY HAND ON THE RUINS AND THINK - DID AN ANCIENT ROMAN PERHAPS LEAN AGAINST THIS WALL, DID HE SPIT, PEE, OR DIE AGAINST IT? WAS THIS ONCE THE SITE OF REBELLIOUS GRAFFITI OR SHADOW PUPPET SHOWS? I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY LIKE ABOUT BULGARIA IS THE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF HISTORY. IT'S SORT OF TAKEN FOR GRANTED, I THINK; BUT IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO ME TO SEE THE REMAINS OF THESE ANCIENT EMPIRES AND TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL THE OLD HOLIDAY TRADITIONS.
Well, thank you good sir, any closing thoughts? Share your greatest strengths or weaknesses? Tell us your favorite bird? Your favorite season?
IT'S DIFFICULT TO BE THANKFUL SOMETIMES. IMAGINATION IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, I THINK, THAT CAN BE A REAL BLESSING IN SOME SITUATIONS AND A REAL CURSE IN SOME SITUATIONS. I THINK MY BIGGEST STRUGGLE, AND PROBABLY MOST PCVS STRUGGLE IS TO NOT NEGLECT THE LIFE THEY ARE LIVING FOR THE ONE THEY CAN IMAGINE. I FIND MYSELF, YOU KNOW, A STRANGER BECAUSE OF THE LIMITATIONS TO WHAT CAN BE DONE, THE LANGUAGE BARRIER, THE UNCERTAINTY, THE NEWNESS OF EVERYTHING... AND IT'S EASY TO PREFER OBSERVING OVER PARTICIPATING. AND THAT CAN LEAD TO REFLECTING ABOUT WHAT I'M NOT DOING THAN WHAT I AM. SO THAT'S MY STRUGGLE. TO BE THANKFUL ALL THE TIME.
Well, thank you for your time. I hope you have a marvelous week and a fantastic two years.
MERCI, PODOVNO.
Posted byWil Dalton at 12:59 PM
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Hypothetical for the PCV of the week...How would Wil, as a lover of birds, feel if Spiderman were to have to fight the Penguin? Maybe a little conflicted...