TRENT vs. MIKE SMACKDOWN

5:41:21 PM twolbe: Mike, thanks for taking the time to speak with me
today. How are you? Thanks for giving me that bite of rice with a green
bean in it!
5:43:00 PM michaelbmarcelle: no problem, there's more where that
came from
5:43:26 PM twolbe: Really? That was the last of it, on the plate at least.
5:43:42 PM michaelbmarcelle: well i mean, from the restaurant where i
got it from
5:43:55 PM twolbe: Oh, I get it. So what have you been up to today?
5:45:02 PM michaelbmarcelle: 1. woke up 2. got a bagel 3. hung out
with roomies 4. went for a run
5:45:08 PM michaelbmarcelle: 5. ate that stuff we just ate
5:45:15 PM twolbe: How was the run?
5:45:48 PM michaelbmarcelle: it was good. ryan actually came with me,
even though he never runs and i usually run alone. it was awesome for
everyone. lucy and izzy also showed up
5:45:53 PM michaelbmarcelle: too bad you weren't there !
5:46:39 PM twolbe: That's great! I like all of those people. I'm glad it
went so well. A very well-balanced run, gender-wise
5:46:48 PM twolbe: OK, enough with the pleasantries, let's get down to
business.
5:46:56 PM twolbe: What's the WORST part about living with me, Trent?
5:47:28 PM michaelbmarcelle: good first "tough question": probably the
are narcoleptic
5:47:42 PM michaelbmarcelle: you are
5:47:43 PM michaelbmarcelle: sorry
5:47:46 PM twolbe: That sentence doesn't make much sense. What
does that mean in English?
5:48:03 PM twolbe: OK, so you're saying the worst part about living with
me is that I fall asleep with my clothes on and the lights on?
5:48:13 PM michaelbmarcelle: yes, and very very quickly
5:48:19 PM michaelbmarcelle: and we are usually really pumped to
hang out
5:48:22 PM michaelbmarcelle: and then you're out !
5:48:35 PM michaelbmarcelle: and id say it happens 80% of the time
5:48:43 PM michaelbmarcelle: although, last night you were the last
one up
5:48:47 PM michaelbmarcelle: which is crazy and never happens
5:48:50 PM twolbe: OK, well I'd like to say I'm sorry that I do that and
thank you for turning out the lights when that happens. Do you think I'm
making an effort to decrease that percentage? Cuz I am.
5:48:51 PM michaelbmarcelle: but you had also taken a nap
5:49:03 PM michaelbmarcelle: like last night ! good job
5:49:12 PM michaelbmarcelle: are you going to edit this interview for
the public ?
5:49:15 PM twolbe: No
5:49:28 PM michaelbmarcelle: i mean i dont know how strict the nytimes
is, but they'd probably want something concise for this piece right ?
5:49:33 PM twolbe: Unless you tell everyone about...THAT
5:49:41 PM michaelbmarcelle: ok next question
5:49:53 PM twolbe: OK, what is this song we're listening to? I think I
know...
5:50:34 PM michaelbmarcelle: its this band called "bonde do role." all i
know about them is that they are friends with diplo, wear a bunch of
neon, and that i downloaded this because you like the cover
5:50:42 PM michaelbmarcelle: and by download i mean "legally
purchase"
5:50:49 PM twolbe: OK, good reason. Good ethics too.
5:50:54 PM twolbe: OK, next question, ready?
5:50:59 PM michaelbmarcelle: oh and this band is from south america
5:51:14 PM twolbe: What is the first thing you remember about
me....ever?
5:51:37 PM michaelbmarcelle: well its funny i dont remember the first
time we met very well, but i remember thinking you were a dick, or
hearing you were a dick
5:51:52 PM michaelbmarcelle: but the first thing i actually remember
about you is you peeking through my window at my old house at like
930 am
5:52:03 PM michaelbmarcelle: and then you're tiny car
5:52:18 PM michaelbmarcelle: this music is fucking annoying
5:52:20 PM twolbe: Oh, that's kind of cute! Well most people think that
first, and then maybe I peek through their windows and they see my car
and they're like...maybe?
5:52:26 PM twolbe: You can change it if you want
5:52:38 PM twolbe: OK, next question
5:52:47 PM twolbe: What do you think the first type of food I saw you
making was?
5:53:03 PM michaelbmarcelle: a VERY healthy burrito
5:53:15 PM michaelbmarcelle: i remember you saying something about
my old house about me cooking healthy burritos
5:53:15 PM twolbe: DINGDINGDING very good guess, it's correct
5:53:23 PM michaelbmarcelle: i dont eat burritos at all anymore
5:53:27 PM michaelbmarcelle: unless they are in "bols"
5:53:30 PM twolbe: ;)
5:53:33 PM twolbe: OK, next question
5:53:40 PM twolbe: What is the thing you are MOST scared of?
5:54:26 PM michaelbmarcelle: not being successful, and bedbugs
5:54:38 PM twolbe: Wow, that's not what I would have expected!
5:54:50 PM twolbe: What about global warming? Or "climate change"
5:55:39 PM michaelbmarcelle: that is something i am very afraid of but
in a larger, out of my hands kind of way. those fears that i mentioned
are more directly related to me. however, you've also kind of taught me
to "roll with it" as far as climate change is concerned
5:55:58 PM twolbe: I get it, well that's good kind of I guess
5:56:21 PM michaelbmarcelle: i mean its pretty exciting to think of polar
bears in little bathing suits just hanging out by a pool
5:56:25 PM twolbe: What are your top 3 favorite things?
5:56:47 PM michaelbmarcelle: photography, running, netflix ?
5:56:54 PM twolbe: Seriously?
5:56:56 PM michaelbmarcelle: nah
5:57:03 PM twolbe: OK, now tell me the real answers
5:57:17 PM michaelbmarcelle: thats very tough
5:57:23 PM twolbe: Well, this is a tough interview
5:57:47 PM twolbe: And journalists think that "tough" interviews are
good ones so...
5:57:49 PM michaelbmarcelle: photography and then a revolving door
of things
5:58:00 PM twolbe: So photography is your favorite #1 thing, definitely?
5:58:35 PM michaelbmarcelle: in terms of like gay expressing myself to
everybody else yes
5:58:44 PM twolbe: OK, great
5:59:14 PM twolbe: Here's another question. Do you think that what
we're be doing right now could ever be called "work?"
5:59:23 PM michaelbmarcelle: in what sense ?
5:59:30 PM twolbe: Well, any sense, really
5:59:45 PM michaelbmarcelle: i mean, i think, on a larger scale, the
blog that we made last night is a fun and real project
5:59:53 PM michaelbmarcelle: and its work to make it, and im excited
about it
5:59:59 PM michaelbmarcelle: and it might garner some attention
6:00:08 PM michaelbmarcelle: so yes, this is work in a way, but the most
fun kind of work
6:00:12 PM twolbe: But we didn't work too hard to make it...just a few
keystrokes
6:00:38 PM michaelbmarcelle: yeah but i mean that muffins video on
youtube was just a couple of baked goods and we LOL about it all the
time
6:00:46 PM twolbe: Good answer.
6:00:53 PM michaelbmarcelle: rome wasn't built in a day, but maybe an
afternoon ?
6:01:00 PM twolbe: OK, what do you think about the future? You can
use three adjectives
6:01:49 PM michaelbmarcelle: mid-20's, late 20's, exciting
6:02:01 PM twolbe: Great, very optimistic response
6:02:16 PM twolbe: Want to do more 3 adjectives questions?
6:02:21 PM michaelbmarcelle: sure
6:02:28 PM michaelbmarcelle: whatever you want, YOU'RE the
journalist
6:02:33 PM twolbe: BRIAN
6:02:36 PM twolbe: i mean BRAIN
6:02:47 PM michaelbmarcelle: fun, helpful, sometimes hulk
6:02:52 PM twolbe: JULIE
6:03:18 PM michaelbmarcelle: i just put INXS on
6:03:32 PM michaelbmarcelle: we were listening to grouper, which was
awesome but maybe a little too serious for right now
6:03:53 PM michaelbmarcelle: this will really lubricate the interview
6:04:09 PM twolbe: Please answer the last question, JULIE
6:04:35 PM michaelbmarcelle: mindy, funny talker, running around
6:04:39 PM twolbe: MINDY
6:04:55 PM michaelbmarcelle: cute, stupid, but kind of smart
6:05:01 PM twolbe: MERRIL
6:05:12 PM michaelbmarcelle: cute, really smart, smelly
6:05:19 PM twolbe: What is your favorite website?
6:05:28 PM michaelbmarcelle: wikipedia.org, have you ever been there
?
6:05:41 PM twolbe: Definitely! Great answer, it can lead you to other
answers
6:06:00 PM michaelbmarcelle: which is a problem sometimes....i get
totally wrapped up in that site and waste time
6:06:09 PM michaelbmarcelle: but its not really wasting time because
im learning new things
6:06:18 PM twolbe: That's a really great way to look at it
6:06:20 PM michaelbmarcelle: but, it's like, do i really want to know
about the vampire chronicles ?
6:06:24 PM michaelbmarcelle: or need to
6:06:27 PM michaelbmarcelle: probably not !
6:06:47 PM twolbe: But, do you think "want" and "need" are kind of hard
to separate sometimes?
6:07:02 PM michaelbmarcelle: yes definitely
6:07:21 PM michaelbmarcelle: because i want to read about x-men on
wikipedia, but i need to go to the lab and print a new portfolio
6:07:38 PM twolbe: Well that's not really what I meant, but OK.
6:07:49 PM michaelbmarcelle: what did you mean
6:08:15 PM twolbe: I meant like, you know you need to go to the lab, but
do you really need to go to the lab more than you "need" to read about
X-men?
6:08:18 PM michaelbmarcelle: what song is this, by the way ?
6:08:24 PM michaelbmarcelle: oh i see
6:08:33 PM twolbe: Josie & The Pussycats - 3 Small Words
6:08:43 PM michaelbmarcelle: well in terms of my goals, and i guess of
society's ideas of goal and well used time
6:08:49 PM twolbe: OK
6:08:53 PM twolbe: What's your favorite song?
6:08:56 PM michaelbmarcelle: ever ?
6:09:02 PM twolbe: Yes
6:11:06 PM michaelbmarcelle: thats really tough, some favorites include
"soon to be innocent fun" by arthur russell, "an ending" by brian eno,
and probably "damage
6:11:09 PM michaelbmarcelle: by yo la tengo
6:11:21 PM twolbe: You have to choose 1
6:11:24 PM michaelbmarcelle: a lot of ambient stuff tends to be long
time favorites
6:11:35 PM michaelbmarcelle: thats impossible ! what is your favorite
song ?
6:11:44 PM twolbe: Ummmm....
6:12:00 PM michaelbmarcelle: exactly !
6:12:41 PM twolbe: "Kein Trink Wasser" by Orbital
6:12:55 PM twolbe: OK, ready for the next question?
6:12:58 PM michaelbmarcelle: i dont think i know that, will you play it
now
6:13:01 PM michaelbmarcelle: yes next question
6:13:12 PM michaelbmarcelle: just so you know, im writing a question
sheet for you as we are doing this
6:13:18 PM twolbe: It's on my external hard drive, I'll give it to you later
6:13:21 PM michaelbmarcelle: oh ok
6:13:24 PM michaelbmarcelle: is it from insides ?
6:13:31 PM twolbe: No, it's from "snivilisation"
6:13:38 PM michaelbmarcelle: good title. next question.
6:13:47 PM twolbe: Do you think technology has made our lives better
or worse?
6:14:44 PM michaelbmarcelle: worse in the long run. i think it has
certainly extended culture, intelligence, and our scope as a species a
million billion times, but ultimately its going to totally fuck everything up.
its like it was never meant to be like this you know ?
6:14:55 PM twolbe: Yes, great answer
6:14:58 PM michaelbmarcelle: like we're on borrowed time
6:15:12 PM twolbe: So do you feel like we're at the peak of culture?
6:16:00 PM michaelbmarcelle: no i think it will keep going forever
because people are never going to stop if weve had a taste of how far
we can go, but i think the cost is going to become greater and greated
6:16:03 PM michaelbmarcelle: greater
6:16:16 PM michaelbmarcelle: i feel like we havent felt any of
ramifications yet
6:16:43 PM twolbe: Well, is it worth it to be able to sit here and do "work"
like this even if other people have nothing or are being killed, probably
because of the level of culture we've attained as young white
Americans?
6:17:54 PM michaelbmarcelle: well thats the ultimate question i guess,
is is it worth it that some level of culture has reached amazing height
both intellectually and culturally, and that arguably that knowledge is
available to everyone, but its really only for a small part of society and
the rest is fucked by it
6:18:14 PM twolbe: So, like any great answer, that is not really an
answer but a question
6:18:38 PM michaelbmarcelle: yes, because its too complicated to
really answer, better to just expound on
6:18:43 PM michaelbmarcelle: and ask more questions
6:18:48 PM michaelbmarcelle: but
6:18:50 PM twolbe: OK, last question, we have gone over our time limit,
ready?
6:18:58 PM michaelbmarcelle: ok
6:18:59 PM michaelbmarcelle: go
6:19:11 PM twolbe: Do you think that new Avey Tare record is dumb or
cool?
6:19:24 PM michaelbmarcelle: another complex question !
6:19:27 PM twolbe: ;)
6:19:53 PM michaelbmarcelle: i dont like it as its been released, and
ultimately i believe that what an artist releases is what should be judged
6:19:57 PM michaelbmarcelle: so no i think it sucks
6:20:05 PM michaelbmarcelle: BUT ive heard the songs all normal and
they are pretty cool
6:20:27 PM michaelbmarcelle: but they are really just very simple songs
with his wife and maybe shouldnt be analyzed too hard
6:21:00 PM michaelbmarcelle: but its hard not to when his bandmates
are releasing fucking amazing solo records that have a lot of depth,
precision, and innovative things going on
6:21:18 PM michaelbmarcelle: but its important to remember that
sometimes people just want to release nice little things
6:21:21 PM michaelbmarcelle: not albums of the year
6:21:23 PM twolbe: OK, sorry, one last question
6:21:44 PM twolbe: When do you think the next Knife album will come
out, and do you think it will be better or worse than "Silent Shout?"
6:22:05 PM michaelbmarcelle: i think it won't come out for a long time,
and i think it will probably be better. more minimal and dark
6:22:23 PM twolbe: OK, again, thanks for taking time out of your busy
schedule to talk to me today!
6:22:38 PM michaelbmarcelle: no problem, i'm excited to interview YOU
next time
6:22:40 PM twolbe: ;)
6:22:41 PM twolbe: ttyl
6:22:43 PM michaelbmarcelle: bye