Phil of Shades of Gray (Umbrae Canarum) has asked to be my third interview subject. I’ve had a very difficult time coming up with questions for Phil but have enjoyed reading through his archives while pondering this interview. I find the difficulty surprising as I’ve been reading Shades of Gray for quite some time now. These may not be the greatest of questions but I do hope Phil finds some enjoyment in answering them.
The rules are here. I’ll ask him six questions, even though he only has to answer five and can opt not to answer any one of them:
1. You’re a grad student at my alma mater Texas A&M. What area are you studying and what degree level will do you hope to reach? Will you finish up your graduate work at A&M? What do you hope to do after school, teach or use your studies in another way?
2. A&M has a reputation as one of the more conservative universities in the nation. As a conservative yourself, do you feel that this was part of the attraction for you? Do you feel the reputation is deserved, and have you found that there is any variance in the general political leanings of the undergraduate student body, your fellow grad students and the faculty?
3. “Bleem” is a word you seem to enjoy using on Shades of Gray. Please explain the term, it’s origins and why it has stuck with you.
4. How would you describe your current political beliefs? From your studies, name a political philosopher you feel is close to your beliefs and why? Has any other philosopher over the years caused you to alter your beliefs and, if so, who and how?
5. Name a place any where in the world you haven’t been to that you would want to visit. What would your ideal trip there entail?
6. (Blatantly lifting from my interview by TexasBestGrok) What got you into blogging? If you had to write a mission statement for your blog, what would it be? Do you have any conscious role models for or influences in your blogging?
I will link link to the answers when posted.