The crazy-assed cowboy who makes this website possible, talks with his far more urban roomate from Brooklyn. Our differences on politics and morality couldn't be different, but it's great fun interacting and seeing how one upstater sees the world and one downstarter see it from very different ideas.

Roomate: You seem so obessed by the nature and being outside. I'm all for the ladies and making money.

You know I couldn't disagree furuther. We are all ultimately creatures of the natural world as created by a greater power. The view beautiful from this room, and not to enjoy it is to be illerate and blind to the world around us. In those hills and valleys that you see down there, there are people doing great things from farming to designing the great structures and ideas of tommorow.

We need to spend more money to protect these resources, and we all need to get out and try to understand how we fit in to such a world. Look out the window. You see the Green Mountains rolling along for miles and miles, the clouds, trees, and a few houses. As humans we are a pretty small part of the world, even if we are the god chosen ones to lead it to a greater future.

Roomate: You obviously like country music.

How did you guess that? My cowboy hat. Honestly, it's all in the folk-rock-country tradition that I like, that brings music back to it's roots, dealing with the individual. Somehow country music is more pratical, more connected to my culture then that hip-hop crap they play on the radio. No, you can't get your NYC radio station up in these parts.

Roomate: The bible says that homosexuality is a sin. How can you be a Christian, yet be tolerant towards homosexuals?

I tend to see the bible not as law, but as a book that helps provide moral guidence towards a better and more moral lifes. Ulimately the book should guide our public lives and how we interact with other people: in ways that tolerate all people, no matter their creed. The bible tells us to forgive those who tresspass against us and others, and try to guide them towards a more moral life.

It is true that sections of the old testiment condemn those who choose to have sexual relations with other men or animals. Yet, that should be held in the context of other sections that suggest that there is a time for everything under heaven. Some people may have different beliefs, and as a good Christian we should respect whatever their choice may be.

Ultimately, religion is about the individual. It is about making our own choices. I tend to discount things on homosexuality compared to making moral choices as individuals, and instilling those values in the people I work with. Being anti-consumerism is far more important then your sexuality, and consumerism has a direct effect on god's world.

Roomate: You do not read your bible everyday.

I do not read the bible everyday, but I do try to seek it's wisdom everyday. I try to act in ways that are consistant with a higher purpose, and I ultimately believe that politics must be the embodiment of god's work. I believe that fighting suburban sprawl and working to keep our world beautiful, is part of the work of god.

On the other hand, I do try to attend a liberal methodist or reformed religous service every Sunday. Maybe I should spend more time studying the word of God, but I think it needs to be balanced with worldly concerns, and making our country a better place for all of us to live.

Roomate: Why do you like cows so much?

You know, I've never owned a cow or even worked with one in my life. Yet, these animals represent a great deal of beauty in our society. Farming is a life of rugged individualism, of working with your hands and building something actually tangetable. Cows are the workhorse of New York Agriculture and few farms in our area don't have milk or beef cattle.

Moreover, wearing a cowboy hat doesn't really make me one, but it does show my sympathizes towards farming and rural life. Likewise, the same can be said about my farm bureau poster.

Roomate: Why do you have such an old laptop?

I have an old PowerBook Duo 230, as that is what my Aunt gave me several years ago. I do not particularly want to spend money on a more expensive computer, as this one works fine for basic word processing and other tasks in my dorm room. For the Internet, I just prefer to go to computer lab and use a newer computer.

I also don't like to waste resources. Computers contain a number of heavy metals that are pretty toxic to the environment, regardless of how you dispose of them. Bury them in a mound of trash, or take a match to it, the chemicals will eventually leach on out.

Roomate: Do you have cable at home?

No I do not, nor do I want to have it in the future. There is too much television lately that is increadibly violent and distasteful. I much prefer to get my news from the paper or on the internet. For environmental reasons, I tend to think that getting news from the internet is the most environmentally friendly thing to do, as it doesn't involve the energy of creating a paper, and hauling it back for recycling. Indeed, newspaper is a big part of solid waste.

Roomate: I can understand your dislike for violent television, but can't you just use parental control at least for your kids?

Yes and no. Parental control filters out some graphic sexuality and violence, but often the standard is way too high for pratical use.Kids don't need to see even the violence on many kids programs. Moreover, no software filters out commericals that promote crass commericalism such as those trying to sell the latest make-up or hair styling gel. Kids shouldn't be obessing that much over having the latest Silverado pickup truck (even though we all want that inspired by the crass comericalism).