As the Cassun Goes Rolling Along... The Complete Parka Collection
[IMG]http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net/community/image.php?u=4737&dateline=1087686022[/IMG]
[URL=http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net/community/member.php?u=4737]Alex Cassun's Profile[/URL]
With his red shock of Hapsburgian bed head and his van living lifestyle, you might expect Alex Cassun to be riding the highways of America solving mysteries, or, possibly, being the villain that scares “those damn kids”. Either way he’s likely to appear standing outside you window, in the rain, looking for a place to sleep.
Recently, our young protagonist took himself southwards to the wild environs of L.A.—swimming pools, movie stars—where he was gifted with a job making Project Greenlight come and dirty your niche market cinema just that much sooner. But hey, it’s one step closer to Alex’s dream of being a music producing, screenwriting, novelist drifter.
He certainly has the mug for at least two of the above.
Alex grew up on the [URL=https://www.dugway.army.mil/default.htm]Dugway[/URL] proving grounds; it’s a creepy biochemical place with some disturbing mottos. You’ll find them peppered throughout the interview Fight Club style.
I met Alex online, on what they call AIM. (That’s AOL Instant Messenger to you and me Russ.) Neither of us were at the top of our game and neither of had been drinking.
I can only assume a corollary between the two but my Price Waterhouse people haven’t gotten back to me.
It’s really long, people, but it’s broken down into parts for your viewing pleasure.
So, Alex, somewhere in a van down by the reservoirs…. [IMG] http://home.comcast.net/~dlites/Farley.jpg[/IMG]
This is for you.
Parkaboy: You said this in your original interview: “I go through a lot of ups and downs, and right now I’m down. What is that, a slope? A troph?” You’ve also stated recently, “right now, I’ve gotta say, I’m feeling really good. im leaving tomorrow for la, im starting a new job at a major production and I’ve no idea what my job entails, I don't have anywhere to live or any money, and I don’t have AC in my car. But lemme tell you, I’d rather be living like this than like I’ve been living the last few weeks/months/years/whatever.”
That seems like a very good example of your "ups and downs" in the space of 24 hours no less. Why don't you tell us a little bit about your ups and downs and how this new "up" is treating you?
Alex: you're researching. im nervous.
Parkaboy: Don't be nervous, it's prom night...everybody does it.
Alex: you say the sweetest things....anyways, as far as my ups and downs go, im not sure how to describe it. I spend the majority of my time waiting around until something good happens. not that I wait around for handouts or anything, but like, ill set things up and wait for them to fall into place. its that waiting period that I hate. The longer I wait, the more bored I get, the more I start to analyze things, and question myself, and that's when I get into down periods, I think. Then, all the sudden, the next minute I can get good news, and that critical part of me disappears.
Parkaboy: This "setting things up", how do you go about that? You make it sound casual, which is your charm, but I suspect some foresight has to go into it
.
Alex: not really. I’ve always had a broad-stroke kinda outlook towards the future, but I don’t sit around and meticulously plan anything. I’m really, really fly by the seat of my pants, in almost all aspects of my life. but im never, I don’t know a good word, dangerous maybe? I kinda always trust that I know what im doing.
Parkaboy: You're Indiana Jonesing it, making it up as you go along?
Alex: sorta. I don’t have a lot of street-smarts. I couldn't survive on my wits alone. I couldn't learn to shack up with rich older women in order to accomplish my tasks. I know what my strengths and weaknesses are, though, and one of those is knowing when a good opportunity presents itself. but a lot of times, I miss these opportunities because I lack something, money, time, transportation, whatever.
Parkaboy: You said in the previous interview: “I'm stuck on whether I want to rise to be the leader of a glorious social revolution or continue to sit on my ass and waste away. Either way, I’m kinda hoping one of those Hollywood post-apocalyptic futures comes down soon.” Is Alex Cassun our new Auntie Entity? [IMG] http://home.comcast.net/~dlites/Max12.jpg[/IMG]
Alex: I think I’d survive in that sorta setting. steal myself a gun, steal myself a big truck, raise an army, that sorta stuff I think I could handle.
Parkaboy: You seem to have a political bent though, at times...
“im also reading a lot of political books, mostly Howard Zinn stuff, but some other things like Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen and Addicted to War, by Joel Andreas.”
Alex: eh, im not smart enough to keep up with a lot of this shit. I don’t remember names well or nothing, I just know what I hate, and I hate most politicians. I like to be informed. I hate being in the dark. I don’t like lies and secrets.
Parkaboy: You're on the wrong board, Alex
Alex: probably.
Parkaboy: Howard Zinn, People's History of the United States, seemed to influence some of Thumbing.
Alex: actually, I hear a lot of people claiming a lot of things influenced thumbing. but seriously, that story was written 4 or 5 years ago. I only just heard of howard zinn like 2 months ago, first week of the last semester in government class.
Parkaboy: “the only difference I can see is that democrats honestly believe they know what the average American needs, but are in truth completely misguided, whereas the republicans say they know what the average American needs but in truth couldn't give a shit.” This seemed pithy and simultaneously true to me. Yet you've also said you are an American and therefore like to bitch more than actually do anything. You wait for opportunities to come to you?
Alex: yes. if im forced to make a decision, i'll make one and I won't (usually) regret it. however, if left alone to my own devices, I’m usually secluded and in no position to affect anything, and therefore in no position to make decisions. im lazy by nature. but if I see an opportunity, ill take it. or try, at least.
Parkaboy: Yet, writing, by its nature, requires self impetus...and certainly a lot of motivation to be successful. How does that fit in?
Alex: I dont know. I write when im left alone with no distractions. or I write when I’m forced to. im really good at writing with a deadline, although I usually wait until the 25th hour.
Parkaboy: Waiting for an Edward Norton movie is an odd writing tic.
Alex: my brain used to never stop moving, but lately it takes a lot to kickstart it.
Parkaboy: Is writing what you ultimately want to do?
Alex: no, not really. I dont have an ultimate goal. theres a lot I want to do, and writing is a part of it. I want to direct, I want to have my own magazine, I want to run my music company with my brother, and make music, and sell t-shirts. its all in thumbing.
Parkaboy: Something like this?: “It seemed like you....they were: Reed and Diamond Jim, walking cross-country to write a book, a screenplay, poetry. To snap photos and create music. To make bumper stickers with catchy slogans like Girls Make Things Hard or Only Death Kills.”
Alex: yes, exactly. that was a helluva rant for me. a huge release. its gotten more diluted with every rewrite, though. and that story is almost the truth. it almost happened. I didnt end up walking (my plan was from Salt Lake City to New Orleans), but I drove in the end. good times, in retrospect. anything that'll leave a scar is good enough for me.
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
DAYS OF OUR CULT BOARDS
Teamwork
We value working cooperatively with others, focusing on “What is needed to get the job done for our customers and DPG?” and not on “What is my job?”
Parkaboy: Let's talk about the rash of bannings. there seem to be a lot of bannings, there is a kind of Germany circa 1938 air going on as interpreted by Mel Brooks. Your thoughts?
Alex: I think it died down. I think people are reacting to the mods having a zero-tolerance rule, and an absolute authority.
Parkaboy: But what do think is the motive?
Alex: for the bannings? it's to make this place new-user friendly, I suppose.
Parkaboy: I haven't payed much attention, but it seems like they cracked down out of nowhere, for some reason.
Alex: I mentioned this before, but who do the mods think they're attracting here? yeah, it came out of nowhere, thats true. personally, in my case, I definitely had it coming. I provoke pretty well.
Parkaboy: what did you do?
Alex: I was a mod for a couple months,(Authors note: What were you people thinking?!?!?) and got demodded for posting a joke thread, posting pretend PMs. it was even declared to be a joke from the get go. the problem was that wesley and I were fueding, and he was a mod and friends with everyone, and I got demodded for setting a bad example. fine, I thought that was fine. but then I got banned for 2 weeks for posting a picture in a thread that in no way demeaning to the mods. mirkah wrote that she doesn't want to hear anyone saying 'this place sucks'
Alex: so, what do I do? I googled 'this place sucks', found an amusing picture, and posted it. it was erased, but no one notified me as to why this broke the rules enough to be erased, so I reposted it. this was during the whole reputations fiasco, and I wasn't aware that when I reposted it, they'd docked my rep points. so after they erased it a second time, I wrote a post basically telling the mods to go fuck themselves. I was banned for two week.s
Alex: the thing is, I didnt feel it was fair, so I came back under my old user name and intentionally provoked them to permaban me, because i'd rather be permabanned for breaking the rules than be 2 week banned for not doing anything wrong.
Alex: anyways, its got cleared up. I think the slew of bannings is behind us now, for the most part.
Parkaboy: See, I haven't ever seen a board this tightly regulated., not this kind of board anyway. I don't get around much on the mesage circuit, but this seems a bit odd to me. Especially given the nature of the writer's work in question
.
Alex: thats what im saying. the percentage of stay-at-home christian mothers we attract to the cult is far outnumbered by the young alienated anarchist wannabes.
Parkaboy: yes, but one has to crack the new demographic to stay on top
Alex: (true)
The Man, The Myth, The Legend
Parkaboy: Speaking of Chuck, what are your thoughts on him?
Alex: eh, he's losing his luster. I loved Fight Club the movie. its one of the only films ive ever seen that was superior to the book. Survivor and Choke are amazing. Diary is good. Invisible Monsters was good, but not my thing. And Lullaby was a steaming pile of dogshit, in my humble opinion. (note: the opinions of the interviewee do reflect those of Chuck.net, or their dogs) But that doesn't mean it wouldn't have a decent movie, though.
Parkaboy: I feel he's pandering to his perceived audience and minamalism more than his own voice these days. He is very market conscious, and thinning himself out. A copy of a copy of a copy....
Alex: ha, yeah. I hated Guts. that was probably the worst 'story' i've ever read. ever. I still think he's got greatness in him, potential for good stories and all, I just think he needs to slow down and stop putting books out every 12 months. I mean, i'd read his shit, i'd probably buy it because I’m that much of a fanboy, but jesus, not everything you write is publishable.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
To recognize, trust, empower, and develop a work force team dedicated to mission accomplishment.
Parkaboy: You said you were going to fade off after 10,000 or so posts, when do you start weaning yourself off the Cult?
Alex: well, it started with that phone call yesterday. I think i've posted maaaaaybe 30 times since then? (note: He can quit anytime he wants to) ive busted out 100+ days regularly, when I have nothing better to do.
Parkaboy: that's good, baby steps
Alex: well, i'll stop posting altogether tomorrow night, unless circumstances allow me freetime and the internet. i've no problem with walking away, poking my head in the door every coupla months or whatever to say hello.
(or maybe standing outside you window?)
Parkaboy: Tell us who your secret Cult crush is. [IMG] http://home.comcast.net/~dlites/kit5.gif[/IMG]
Alex: I dont have one. there's people i'd like to meet more than others, but remember, its Teh Internet. it's not like real life. i'd like to meet 6 on the dot, but i've got to wait about 10 years to make that legal. ArcherDylan rocked, and i'd like to have lunch with her. Lofi fascinates me in an off-hand way. kit!(see how he casually puts her at the bottom?) and the rest of the aussies really seem like they'd be fun to spend a couple days with. I was serious when I said i'd open my doors to prensa if she needed me to.
there's so many more.
[IMG] http://home.comcast.net/~dlites/kit5.gif[/IMG]
oh, shout out to FullMetalBrak.
(hear that Brak? Alex gave you word up!)
Alex: now if she'd just pm me her address I can mail her her cd.
(tease)
THEOLOGY
“Protect America's war fighters, citizens and allies against present and emerging threats.”
Parkaboy: Do you believe in God and/or an afterlife?
Alex: eh, I’m skeptical. I dont want to not believe, just, you know, in case.
Parkaboy: You're covering your theological ass
Alex: yeah. but it doesnt make sense. I think I lean towards the Marxist approach, that its all fabricated by the people with power and money, to keep the lower people in line.
Parkaboy: So, if, most likely, their is no God or afterlife for Alex Cassun, what does that mean for your being in the world?
Alex: it means we lucked out. personally, if I die tomorrow, i've got no problem with anyone taking my organs then throwing my body in a dumpster. my body's not a temple. if it were, I wouldn't eat del taco as much as I do.it'd be different if I had a wife and kids, maybe. who knows. I dont. ive got a dog and a brother. ive got my books and my poetry to protect me....I am a rock. I am an island.
[IMG] http://home.comcast.net/~dlites/castaway.jpg[/IMG]
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
Parkaboy: I mentioned Howard Zinn earlier, who was referenced in Good Will Hunting, which makes me think of what you just said.
(note clever segway)
“ Sean: You think I know the first thing about how hard your life has been, how you feel, who you are, because I read Oliver Twist? Does that encapsulate you? Personally... I don't give a shit about all that, because you know what, I can't learn anything from you, I can't read in some fuckin' book. Unless you want to talk about you, who you are. Then I'm fascinated. I'm in. But you don't want to do that do you sport? You're terrified of what you might say. Your move, chief.”
Do you think that books can protect one enough? You mentioned you can go months without human contact... Are they enough? Was Joseph Campbell right?
Alex: no, not really. honestly, I dont even read that much. but i've always been more antisocial than social, though I do go through my part-fazes. I dont know how it is to be any one else. I dont know how lonely people feel on an average day. I know that one day I can be completely alone and not feel lonely, and the next be comepletely surrounded by people and feel completely isolated.
Parkaboy: what's your educational background? You mentioned a government class.
Alex: I grew up on a military base. I graduated with 23 people in my class. I didn't do homework or research or anything, I hardly crammed. I ended up with like a 3.2 average or so. I went to community college for two semesters, then dropped out to move to california. i've been taking about a class per semester while ive been down here. I moved here with 43ish credits, but they only took 3, so you know how seriously I’m taking school... and when I was going to college back in utah, I worked 90 hours a week, and attempted a full 20 hours worth of classes. I burned out quickly. and finally, i'd like to state that I dont have a specific goal. I like school, its social, its educational, I like to learn. I’m definitely not going to make it in porn, though. I’m so out of shape its scary. literally*
(note: stills from Alex Gone Wild! Were deemed inappropriate by the admins and hazardous by at least two opthomologists)
Parkaboy: Show the world your shame, Alex!
Alex: I have no shame.
Parkaboy: We'll loan you some
Alex: I was just being honest.
Parkaboy: Honesty is good, but has no place on the internet.
Alex: I know. same goes with politics. but I do decently with both. its nice when people dont know if you're kidding or absolutely serious.
Parkaboy: Yes, it throws them, they're off balance.
Alex: I like it that way.
Parkaboy: You're a fine specimen of military bratdom.
Alex: well, technically I’m not a military brat. I lived on the same base for years, and neither of my parents were in the military. but yeah, its the same thing, only we didnt jump base to base. my dad was in the airforce, way back in the day. he got out, then got a job as the telecommunication's specialist out at this base. I lived there for a year or two when I was young, then moved away for five years after the parents divorced, then moved back for 12 years. it was definitely not your normal school. it wasn't a backasswards small town hick school, but we had only 177 kids from 7th grade through 12th grade my senior year.
Parkaboy: Lots of traded social diseases.... collect all 12!
Alex: not for me.
Parkaboy: No? Poor, Alex didn't get to play in any Reindeer Games?
Alex: im a writer, which means socially akward, which means not a lot of action. well, I did alright, but all my friends we kinda the heads of their own social clubs,
[IMG] http://home.comcast.net/~dlites/judd.jpg[/IMG]
“Demented and sad, but social.”
so I was always in the middle of everything. but somehow I always stayed ahead of the pack when it came to sexual activites. not that many people in my school were actually humping. it was odd. like maybe a handful of people were humping between themselves.
Parkaboy: sounds like watching mice....
Alex: its interesting. I wouldnt' be surprised if it was some government experiment. the place is called Dugway. you should google it. e burned chemical weapons, blew up shit in my back yard. emember the Stand? we were in that. nd Andromina strain, and species, and so many more.
Alex: remember the anthrax scare a coupla years back? there were 2 possible places the strains came from: that base in Maryland, or Dugway.
Parkaboy: you're fallback plan should be a call to Erin Brokovitch and a class action lawsuit.
Alex: interesting you should mention her.
Alex: my friend matt, well, not really a friend, an ex-roommate, ex-friend, ex-business partner. he was the guy who convinced me to pack up everything and move to california. anyways, his mom was one of the major litigants in that case.
Alex: she's a millionaire, but half her brain is gone.
(some days, in Cali, that could seem like a fair trade)
[IMG] http://home.comcast.net/~dlites/angels07.jpg[/IMG]
Parkaboy: the government is a frightening thing
Alex: it is. its the focus of a lot of my stories. the thing is, if I were in control, i'd be (yeah) for bigger government, not smaller
Parkaboy: Bigger Government? Describe that vision for us....
Alex: I’m for more social programs. I think education and health are things everyone should have, regardless of how much money you have in the bank. i'd hike up gas prices and with the extra money i'd fun free (and good) public transportation for everyone. i'd legalize prostitution, gambling and drug use, and use the tax revenue from that to send people to school. and i'd outlaw republicans. all this has been outlined in a thread in the government forum.
Parkaboy: do you have a link?
Alex: one minute…huh. its not there. inneresting...two of my threads (at least) are gone. my conspiracy one, and my 'what would you do differently?' one.
(it was clear that the NSA was on to Mr. Cassun and his Commie Amateur Porn Ring…)
Writer’s on Writer’s
(literary porn)
Accountability
We take responsibility for our own assigned tasks and the performance of our workgroup, WDTC, and DPG. We focus on ownership, versus blaming when encountering setbacks. We demonstrate a can-do attitude by taking initiative.
Parkaboy: Tell us about the Writer's Workshop? You have said, “ the problem is when it becomes an addiction. im constantly telling newbies in the writer's workshop to stay the hell out of the general discussion forum. that was my downfall. I know the blame lays on me and not the cult, but I haven't written a single thing since my addiction began.”
Alex: yeah. well, the workshop was great. not at first, when it was all chaotic and backlogged. but afterwards, when Vigorous Puppy, myself and a handful of others kinda whipped it into shape. Vig. rocked it, though. But if you look at my reviews compared to the type of reviews I get, its disgusting. I gave up, mostly. I hate spending sometimes two or three hours giving as honest and straightforward and helpful critique I could, and in return get 'wow, this was good!!' or 'dude, this sucked. I dont get it. you're totally ripping off fight club!'another problem is that a lot of people have no idea what they're talking about. they have no idea of 'real' literature.
Parkaboy: yes
Alex: if its not an action piece, then its boring.
Parkaboy: yes
Alex: if theres more than 10 words in a sentence, its slow and difficult to read.
Parkaboy: I thought that your Thumbing got screwed at three stars
Parkaboy: oh, tell me about it
Alex: the funny thing was, it was on there a long time ago and got nothing but 4s and 5s. I took it down and reworked it, and now its getting 3s? its basically the same story, though, so I dont get it. but thanks for that, I happen to agree with you.
Alex: and the poems that I think are totally shitty are actually the best reviewed things i've got up there. the problem is that people have been doing less poetry lately and more novels and novel samples. I dont review either one of those. I dont think novels should be allowed, actually.
Parkaboy: I read some of the novel samples
Alex: they clog the system.
Alex: ive read one or two, and admittingly i've got one up there (I think you reviewed it). I just dont think they're very helpful reviews, because you dont know what the author is setting up for. Alex: short stories, essays, poems, these are great.
Parkaboy: Yes, those you can critique fully and readily.
Alex: lyrics, not so much.
Parkaboy: It’s too bad they don't allow scripts, those are a quick read.
(allow scripts, they are much better than Cats, you’d want to read them again and again…)
Alex: I know. ive got a couple i'd like to be read, but its a format issue. dennis wants to get scripts up, last thing I heard (which was like 8 months ago).
(this was during Dennis’ legendary psychotic break when he briefly thought he was a North Vietnamese soldier in the tunnels of Chu Chi. He said a lot of stuff….)
Alex: I had a whole slew of ideas that would've helped the workshop out so much, but I think people put the workshop on the back shelf.
Parkaboy: Once Chuck's started…
Alex: yeah, I think that's the big thing.
Parkaboy: At the end of the day, I keep saying, this place is an extension of ChuckyP. Inc.
Alex: but even then, a lot of things would be easy, like linking your search-reviewer page to your cult bio, things like that, just like they do for your stories. easier for people to find stuff.
Parkaboy: It’s a guerilla ad for his work
Alex: I know, and its true, but its definitely losing something. I dont think it has to do with the amount of newbies so much as, I dont know, the quality of them? thats not right. and I think reviews need to be ranked 1-5, just like the stories.
Parkaboy: that would help, but really, I think they both need a teacher, hands on
Alex: absolutely.
Parkaboy: or at least a guide, because people are all over the fucking place with reviews… and in Chuckshop they are all over with tryinh to figure out the assignment
Alex: I think vig's done a great job, but I think there's just so much apathy going on, from the top on down. I dont mind varied reviews, im just naive, looking for quality.
i've done 110 reviews, and 90% of them rank in the top reviews on the site. I’m not trying to blow my own horn, I’m just pointing out the facts. like I said, I dont do the chuckshop, so ive no idea. I feel checking it out now would be like coming in the final scene of a movie or something.
Well that's the end of the interview.... Alex drove his beat up van into the sunset anwasn't heard from again for several years until his name appeared along with two others in a Thai porn for Greenlight Tapes scandal in early 2009.
After posting bail he dissapeared into the great American interior and was never heard from again...
[IMG]http://home.comcast.net/~dlites/2the_end.jpg[/IMG]
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
Really good interview. Long...but Cassun seems like an interesting guy.
One of the most thorough interviews that have been done.
Great job!
.JPE "owenwarland's picture")
Where's Episode 4: A New Hope?
[QUOTE=owenwarland]Where's Episode 4: A New Hope?[/QUOTE]
Cassun accidentally killed Luke in rehersals... things went downhill from there.
We won't talk about what we had to do with R2 after the cast party when the port-o-potty broke....
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
i hope kathleen doesnt read this...
[QUOTE=alex cassun]i hope kathleen doesnt read this...[/QUOTE]
who?
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
irish floosy.
i never realized how cool i was until you guys started interviewing me.
Gotcha. I'll be sure to PM her so she knows to read it.
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
we're friends.
[QUOTE=alex cassun]i never realized how cool i was until you guys started interviewing me.[/QUOTE]
Who said anything about cool?
i did.
Very cool. Now I see the political interest/connection. . .growing up on a military base. I guess the question that I would've wanted to ask Alex was why he wants to be a writer/musician since it seems like he grew up in an isolated environment? In other words, why does he want to write? Also, who are the people who influenced his free-spiritedness?
i dont know, you either want to write or you dont, i suppose.
[QUOTE=Lisa]Very cool. Now I see the political interest/connection. . .growing up on a military base. I guess the question that I would've wanted to ask Alex was why he wants to be a writer/musician since it seems like he grew up in an isolated environment? In other words, why does he want to write? Also, who are the people who influenced his free-spiritedness?[/QUOTE]
I know that the "who are your influences" question was covered in the first Cassun interview, with Atomos I believe.
I didn't think about the other one. As a writer it just seems like an imperative I guess.
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
[QUOTE=alex cassun]i did.[/QUOTE]
If you're so cool, how come more people aren't reading this interview?
It's been up for hours!
This interview fad has milked itself to death!
Fad I say!
Fad!
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
its not a fad, its, uh, its gonna take some time. its sunday. Sunday I say!
[QUOTE=alex cassun]its not a fad, its, uh, its gonna take some time. its sunday. Sunday I say![/QUOTE]
Oh, Alex! They just don't care!
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
i think they're on cassun-overload right now.
[QUOTE=alex cassun]i think they're on cassun-overload right now.[/QUOTE]
Is that Chernobyl-level dangerous?
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
only after Del Taco and a 42 oz. Mt. Dew.
[QUOTE=alex cassun]only after Del Taco and a 42 oz. Mt. Dew.[/QUOTE]
I'd post a funny image here, but they seem to be broken right now....
So, just [I]imagine[/I] something funny and Soviet era meltdown relateed.
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
[QUOTE=alex cassun]i think they're on cassun-overload right now.[/QUOTE]
Well jeez, a 4-part interview will do this to anyone!
yeah. i had to cancel my interview with Snuffy for that very reason. I mean, i know I'm worth 6 interviews, but are you guys ready for this much cassun?
[QUOTE=alex cassun]... are you guys ready for this much cassun?[/QUOTE]
No, I don't think I'm that cool.
[QUOTE=alex cassun]i hope kathleen doesnt read this...[/QUOTE]
why?
cause you got fucked in atlanta and video taped it....
i knew that without you telling me...
the video? thats something i didnt know....
you need to remember something alex....
i KNOW you...
and were still friends...
Cead Mile Failte
"A Hundred Thousand Welcomes"
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/irishfloosy/mermaid31.jpg[/IMG]
Ha, I should have thought of stringing them together like this.
This is what sleep-dep gets you kids....
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
[QUOTE=owenwarland]No, I don't think I'm that cool.[/QUOTE]
you're not.
cause you got fucked in atlanta and video taped it....
i knew that without you telling me...
the video? thats something i didnt know....
you need to remember something alex....
i KNOW you...
and were still friends...
[QUOTE=Parkaboy]Ha, I should have thought of stringing them together like this.
This is what sleep-dep gets you kids....[/QUOTE]
Gotcha, brother. 
[QUOTE=owenwarland]Gotcha, brother. ;)[/QUOTE]
Gracias.
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
By far the best interview I've read so far. Covered alot and still had personality. It didn't drag on. It was so good that it seems shorter than some of the one post interviews. Good job, parka, really.
[QUOTE=NightMonkie]By far the best interview I've read so far. Covered alot and still had personality. It didn't drag on. It was so good that it seems shorter than some of the one post interviews. Good job, parka, really.[/QUOTE]
Thanks. I try.
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
*LURKER BUMP*
Probably Parka. I miss him. I think the interview turned out well.
wow
first time i even seen this
its a good un huh
Parkaboy: Is this you as well?
I promise you this: by the time I'm finished I will be famous or infamous, because those are my only options if I want to make an impact. I know I'm meant for something more than the wasted life and quiet death that everyone's content with. I need something more to feel fulfilled.
Alex: yeah, ive been saying that for a while. I mean, I used to, I dont have that sort of youthful conviction anymore. 90% of that story is stuff i'd said, or wanted to say but held back.
Parkaboy: That's a rather Nietzschean statement, or, Tyler-esque if you will.
Alex: thats the reason I related to fight club as well as I did. for tyler mentally, for jack physically. it reaffirmed all these ideas I had in my head growing up. I didnt see that movie till I was maybe 19, the same year I wrote thumbing.
Parkaboy: It seems unlikely that you would stumble, or "thumb" your way into that kind of existence though. It's a grand vision, or it seems so. Perhaps I'm misreading it?
Alex: id like you to clarify, actually. I don't get your question.
Parkaboy: OK, if you want to lead a life that makes an impact, that is meant for something more. If you desire to be famous or infamous, like a Tyler for instance,
it seems to me, that randomly arriving at that is highly unlikely. Unless you believe in fate. You said you don't like to plan, you just take opportunities as they present themselves, but that often when they do circumstances prevent you from acting on them.
Alex: oh, I gotcha. ok, I misspoke. I plan to an extent, but I’m not big on planning. I like to be as loose and free as possible. a little planning is great, no planning is iffy, but too much planning can ruin things, in my opinion. so yeah, I try and turn fortune a bit, i'd like to put myself in the best possible position to have opportunity knock, but you can't really predict when its going to occur.
Parkaboy: You have been quoted as saying: “I know, but I doubt i'll go much further than that. I’m trying really hard to get out of where I’m living, and get done with my life stuff that I feel I need to do. but while im in palm springs, with no money and nothing to do but work a boring job that provides me with internet and time, and living in a house with no a/c where I can't really do anything without getting exhausted, there's not a lot of options besides sitting at the computer typing. and i've never been able to write where there's no seasons, where there's no trees or rivers, so that basically leaves me with the cult.” Do you think that you have resolved some of this since the news on the job? And will that make you less active on The Cult?
Alex: ill definitely be less active at the cult, until I get my feet set with this LA thing. but I think I use the cult as a way to waste time. I mean, I know I use the cult to waste time. but there's more than that. the people rock, mostly. but I think its been sort of a safety net for me. like any addiction, im sure. because then I can say, well, I failed at life because I was addicted to the cult. rather than say, I failed because I didn't try hard enough.
Parkaboy: Sure, transfer blame.
Alex: its easier to blame your problems on something else, yes.
Accountability
We take responsibility for our own assigned tasks and the performance of our workgroup, WDTC, and DPG. We focus on ownership, versus blaming when encountering setbacks. We demonstrate a can-do attitude by taking initiative.
Parkaboy: This is for all the ladies.... [IMG] http://home.comcast.net/~dlites/austinsride.jpg[/IMG]What does Alex Cassun's love life look like?
Alex: its pretty stark. the last time I was laid was back in april. I was on spring break with my friend donnie and some classmate of his at the University of Pixburgh. we were in savannah, and I got in an argument with the other dude, we were drunk as fuck, and both he and donnie ended up going to bed early.
Alex: I went outside with a notebook (I just read Catcher in the Rye for the first time, and the roadtrip was providing me with ample idears), and I met this chick and her friend.
Alex: and I shared some vodka and we ended up going and filming some porn on my little digital camera. it wasn't a threesome. the one chick filmed.
(I feel like I should shower…)
Parkaboy: Alex Gone Wild! Buy yours today ladies!
Alex: since then, ive pretty much been asexual. I can go months at a time without much human contact.
Parkaboy: I say you slip that into the Greenlight stack.
Alex was this close to being in The Brown Bunny.
[IMG]http://home.comcast.net/~dlites/Gallo.jpg[/IMG]
Who would rather see get oral favors on the big screen?
Alex: I think I might.
Parkaboy: Howard Zinn was referenced in Good Will Hunting, are you the sort of guy who would pick up and leave for a girl? Or for Ben Affleck?
Alex: absolutely. ben's hot...honestly, I always thought that when I do get married, it'll be a whirlwind. i'll meet the chick, meat the chick, and be married within like 3 weeks or so.
Parkaboy: VIVA! LAS VEGAS!
Alex: id have to rewatch the movie for the zinn reference. I didnt know who he was the last time I saw the film.
Alex: yeah, but i'd most likely get divorced the same way.
Parkaboy: VIVA! TIAJUANA!
Alex: it takes a lot of strength to stomach me, I think.
Alex: VIVA SCOTT PETERSON!
Alex: (I kid, of course..)
Parkaboy: kid him dead…
Alex: of course.
Parkaboy: Do you plan on having little Cassuns?[IMG] http://home.comcast.net/~dlites/m_dollredpair.jpg[/IMG]
Alex: I think so. i'd like to pass the name on, mostly. i'd definitely have kids if I didnt think they'd come out little fuckers, you know? 98% of the kids I know, I hate.
Parkaboy: How do you pronounce so all the honeys in the audience can practice saying it with their Christian name attached?
Alex: ask Alene. (*congrats to Alene for being name-dropped first) its CASS-un.
Parkaboy: Got that girls?
Parkaboy: Speaking of name dropping, let's talk about Kit! She is your not-so-secret nemesis. why?
Alex: its no secret that we're nemisi, of course. what happened, was someone made an antiamerican comment once, and, being me, I ran with the gung-ho amerikan attitude, the whole 'don't mess with texas!' thing, and started firing back. I said something very anti-australian. wesley took offense, and we've argued before in the past, and although it was so obviously a joke, he kept getting more and more heated. kit! was angry as well, at first. then caught on to the joke.
Parkaboy: you were being ironic?
Alex: (yes, irony and sarcasm are my favorites) wesley didnt, at least not for a long time. but kit! and I continued to joking.
she's really a nice person. don't tell her I said that.
(your secret’s safe with us, Alex)
i'd love to vacate to australia and just kick it with the boomarang bunch and have some fosters.
Alex:.He (Wesley) took it personally, for a long time. and I wasn't playing off that I was just playing, you know? I was all pro-stooopid amerikan for a couple days, I never let up.
Parkaboy: you baited him
Alex: I do that.
Parkaboy: Alex, for shame!
Alex: people who take the internet seriously need to get frustrated enough that they walk away. I can only think of one time in my entire life that i've ever got even slightly moved by anything anyone's written.
Integrity
We value actions that are equitable, responsible, and proper above all else. We conduct all activities according to the highest ethical standards and measures of social responsibility.
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.