Living "in" a story, being part of a narrative, is much more satisfying than living without one. I don't always know what narrative it is, because I'm living my life and not always reflecting on it, but as I edit these pages I am aware that I have an urge to see my sometimes random wandering as having a plot, a purpose guided by some underlying story.

All you needed was a couple of instruments and a few chords and you could be on an indie label.

I didn't have any agenda or plan when I started writing stuff.

I resent the implication that I'm less of a musician and a worse person for not appreciating certain works.

I don't believe that crime, danger and poverty make for good art. That's bullshit.

My favorite term for a new kind of performance is "security theater." In this genre, we watch as ritualized inspections and patdowns create the illusion of security. It's a form that has become common since 9/11, and even the government agencies that participate in this activity acknowledge,off the record, that it is indeed a species of theater.

There are plenty of people who are, I think, completely racist who love hip-hop.