Seven answers on 7Q (also known as the FAQs of life.)				Interviewed by Tom Mangan David Moll, possibly the coolest guy in Peoria, Illinois. Some of his columns for the local paper are here.		AUTHORS Michael Fuchs Elizabeth Hilts Paul Riddell Gary Rivlin Jim Motavalli Barbara Shafferman Jules Siegel Keith Snyder ARTISTS/POETS/ PHILOSOPHERS Jon C. Allen Will Baker Mike Leung Jon Sarkin COOL SITE KEEPERS Mike Cash Scott O'Neal Colf Godfrey Daniels Cliff Davis, DDS Tammy Hocking Wes Modes Frank Rogan DIARISTS Ralph Becker J. D. Bruns Linda DeVault Mike Reed Moira Richardson Jessamyn West FILMMAKERS Ben Kufrin Dean Mermell JOURNALISTS Bernie Mary Cooley-Jones Lindsay Crysler Jamie Dupree M.O.A.T.M.A.I. David Moll Robert Niles John Orr Steven Ovadia Pierce Presley Mack Reed Rip Rense Curtis Ross Neal Ross John Scalzi Catherine Seipp David Sheets Dwight Silverman Matt Welch MOVIE MAVENS MaryAnn Johanson Brian Koller HUMORISTS Debbie Farmer Mike Jasper Madeleine Begun Kane Patrick Keller Bob Sassone Valerie Sprague Ken Swarmer Ian Wolff SOLDIERS Maj. Jon Anderson, USAF TEACHERS John Warner TECHIES Chris Adamson Mike Gunderloy Michael Ivey Greg Knauss Floyd Maxwell Ellen McDonough Mike Pingleton Wayne Thume John Worth TEENS Gary Baum Marty Beckerman UNDECLARED Bev Gibbs Beth Reid WEBLOGGERS Jason Kottke Jish Mukerji
ONE				Tell us about a show you've seen recently which seemed to good to be in Central Illinois. Nothing’s too good for central Illinois. We’re the great American baseline. We bland down the national character and temper the effect of all you go-go coast people, and if it weren’t for our influence the whole country would be like “Caligula.” That said, the last great show I saw was Lyle Lovett, which was eight months ago. Roger Whittaker was here. I’m drawing a blank.
TWO				You always struck me as a sort of big-city guy. What am I missing, because I can't figure out why you've stayed in Peoria all these years? You’re assuming anybody else wants me. Also, I’ve gotten used to the parking.
THREE				Tell me again, what are the redeeming characteristics of Karaoke? We all secretly believe we could sing those songs as well as the person on the radio. So when we take turns on the microphone in a supportive atmosphere, we’re trusting other people with our closely-guarded fantasies, which makes it the same thing as group therapy except you can get loaded. The best place to go for karaoke in Peoria is the Basket Case, where they serve excellent kamikazes and the bartender sings in a Metallica tribute band and there’s a year-round Christmas tree.
FOUR				What's emerged of late that made you rue the day you decided to become an entertainment editor? I’m sure you remember half the town calling for my head last winter after I wrote some slighting things about an Elton John concert. There were so many calls that my voicemail overloaded. Apparently one woman made a voodoo doll in my image from a Beanie Baby, which supports a theory of mine that Elton fanatics and Beanie Baby collectors are the same people -- cuddly, nonthreatening love object, misdirected maternal instinct, etc. More recently, I had to talk to an MTV flack. You can do years and years of good deeds and not work off that kind of karma.
FIVE				What does your authorship of the cult fave "Scaly Otis, The Christmas Rat,'' say about your character? What are you implying?
SIX				What's one Seventies band that most people hate but actually deserves veneration on authentic musical merit? It depends on what the definition of “authentic” is. The most authentic Seventies music is the most inauthentic, because if you were being authentic in the Seventies you were sort of missing the whole point. So I’d say the Hues Corporation.
SEVEN				You've got a whole wall of books at your apartment. What's the best one you've never read? “A Spy in the House of Love” by Anais Nin. The reason to have books is to impress extremely intelligent women, and Anais can do wonders. The biography “Anais” by Noel Riley Fitch, which I also haven’t read, is an even better book because it’s got the word “Anais” in big conspicuous letters on the spine.
				THE BIG INDEX... Who they are, what they do, how they think. Go there now. A TO Z ARCHIVE... Everybody here, with quickie bios. Go there now. Return to the main Seven Questions page See the original Newsies 7Q project Contact info@sevenquestions.com Copyright 1999-2002, Thomas L. Mangan