Monday, April 30, 2007

Joe Blog's Interview #109 Does Insanity float your boat?

Name : Bruce Napier
Age : Old enough to know better
Location : The Inland Waterways of the UK
Vocation : Psychologist
Philosophy : Carpe Diem

Sum up what your blog is about.
The experience of living on board a narrow boat, cruising the waterways of England, the challenges and philosophical insights of doing that.

Why are you doing your blog?
Originally keeping the family informed, and to have a record of our cruising out there.

What’s the funniest entry on your site?
Not for me to judge - what do you think?

What is your writing style?
Based on Sir Ernest Gowers' Complete Plain Words.

What do people commonly say about your site?
Don't stop (reminds me of my dream last night...)

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing your blog?
Polishing brass, probably

Why should someone visit your site?
To find out what it's like living on board - lots of people ask about it, and you can't tell them in a few words.

What did you learn from your first love?
Carpe puellam (I should've asked her faster...)

Are there any blogs, you enjoy reading?
Yours, of course.

If you could invite anyone to a dinner party who would it be and why?
Albert Einstein, and Sarah Michelle Gellar, the former for his wit and looks, and the latter for her intelligent conversation, (true)

Tell us about a good deed you have done recently.
These Americans on a hire boat had tried to run a 2 kWatt hairdrier on the inverter, and blown it. I switched it back on for them.

Tell us a random funny story that comes to mind.
This guy's walking along a beach and finds an old bottle. He rubs it clean, and out pops the genie to give him three wishes. 1) Give me the body of a footballer - flash, bang! and he looks like David Beckham. 2) Make me a millionaire - flash bang! and the genie hands him the number of his Swiss bank account. 3) Make me irresistible to women - flash, bang! and he turns into a box of Belgian chocolate.

What advice would you have given yourself 5 years ago?
Give up work, buy a boat.

Any interesting travel stories?
The whole damn blog!

What experience did you take from being a clinical psychologist?
1) Everyone's a hero in their own story - there are no spear carriers and 2) the route to happiness is using your skills to help others.

Do you have any strong opinions you would like to debate with me?
How come, in the 21st century, two of the longest established democracies in the world couldn't stop their leaders making the mistakes they've made in Iraq?

Joe Blogs : Firstly war is a failiure of democracy. The actions of Bush and Blair were the actions of two colonial powers, who thought they were still in the early 20th century. They didn't realise the voracity of 24 hour media, and strong public opinion.

Politicians can talk a good talk when campaigning for election, but when it comes to governing a country there are other issues. Globalisation, national security, and resources are key here.

Scaremongering over WMD and Saddam, made the public go along with the government. They say power corrupts. No one knew for sure what would happen when the coalition entered Iraq, but few could have expected the clashes we have seen. Politicians are elected as the peoples representatives. There is some apathy toward the political process, so some people have gotten used to bad government, and their issues being unheard.

What’s the most incredible thing that ever happened to you?
My marriage to a woman who still puts up with me after 30+ years.

Now it’s your turn! Ask me one question, anything you like.
Should we send colony ships to these extra-solar planets, and who should we send?

Joe Blogs : Although the explorer in me says yes, billions of dollars would be better spent helping people on planet Earth in poverty. Although you have to weigh that up with the chance to send Posh Spice and her singing to a galaxy far far away...

Your Site Address : Living In Sanity