The Pakistani Spectator

    Would you please tell us something about you and your site?
I am relatively new to blogging but certainly not new to the idea of internet marketing. In business I am a marketing consultant and in my private life I am a fine artist. I have been in the advertising and marketing field for longer than I care to remember. I have mostly worked as a TV commercial producer and director, writer and art director. I consider my blog an extension of myself that allows me to communicate to people all over the world on the subjects that are important to me.

    Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?
Blogging has changed my writing style and given me greater creative freedom. I am used to writing within prescribed limitations. Blogging allows me to     run free with my thoughts and that freedom translates to a free-flowing stream of consciousness style that better expresses my approach to my subjects.

    I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?
Just hearing back from people I would never have connected with befor.

    What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?
I read a few blogs regularly, mostly on art. My political thoughts are my own.

    What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?
Well you just cannot depend on the main stream media. Ironically, traditional media is now beginning to immitate

    Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?
Definitely!

    What do you think sets Your site apart from others?
Me! That’s what makes every blog unique and sepcial - the individual or individuals who hoose to express themselves  and put themselves out to the global community.

    If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?
I would like to say many things have propelled me to success but the truth is that I’ve been a very lucky guy. As my good friend Roy Gerber likes to say “Better Lucky Than Good!”

 What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
Happiest - The day my x-wife moved back in with me
Gloomiest - 9-11

  If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?
Hawaii’s Big Island, Kathmandu, The Wine Country of Argentina’s Mendoza Valley

    What is your favorite book and why?
I have several favorites, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Razors Edge by Sommerset Maughm, Siddartha by Hermann Hesse and Magister Ludi by Hermann Hesse. All these were read when I was a younger, impressionable boy (I read To Kill A Mockingbird for the first time when I was about 13 years old). I read Hesse and Maughm in college. Along with the Novels of Kurt Vonnegut these were very important in my life. I also read books on Zen Buddhism by Alan Watts and Suzuki that helped shape my thinking and beliefs. More recently I love the wrks of T.C. Boyle.

   What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
When I meet sommeone in person for the first time I always try to look in their eyes.

    Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?
My ex partner who was also a writer!

    How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
Probably not very much right now. The more successful blogs like the Huffington Post will make money on advertising but for most of us it will be a work of passion.

    Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
Maybe but more likely a successful blogger has a passion about what they do and therefore it is never a waste of time.

    What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?
Just what they are doing now - communicating honestly and openly.

    Who are your top five favourite bloggers?
I don’t have 1 favorite

    Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?
Blood Rubies on June 2, 2008

    What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?
Never having been to Pakistan I would be reluctant to catagorize an entire people by the few contacts I have had or anything I read or watch on the mainstream news. I do believe that Pakistan is a difficult place to be right now do to the difficulties with Islamic Fundamentalism and activity on the Afghan boarder and the continuing problems with India. I would hope that the vast majority of Pakistanis hope for the same things that I do - peace, prosperity and a world their grandchildren can live in without fear.

    Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?
Not yet.

    What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?
2 things: 1.Abundance. In America, Europe of other developed countries we have the priviledge of having alot. 2. A free Press.

   What is the future of blogging?
I look forward to finding out. I believe that blogging will be the main voice of the people and will become more interactive.

    You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
Not much.

    What are your future plans?
Keep blogging, communicating my ideas and maybe writing an ebook.

    Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
Please understand that ther are many of us who wish you health, wealth and wisdom and hope that the turmoil we see in the world today will eventually make us all closer.