talking with spook..

Session Start: Sat Nov 15 10:58:03 1997

*** Now talking in #spo0k

Dangermouse:
First question, and one I always ask: What's yer full name, age, sex, appearance, sex, hobbies, etc..

Spo0k:
Ok. Mike Burnes, 17, male (obviously). I'm like 5'5" with dark short hair..

uh 33" 22" 36" :)

Dangermouse:
Heh.. oooh!

Spo0k:
Hobbies.. Well i like to play roller hockey when i can. I'm starting to get into playing the bass, my friends want me to play with their band.. Obviously computers would be a hobby.. as i'm not persueing a career with it.

ok thats it :) (boring life) :)

Dangermouse:
So, how did you first get involved with the underground art scene?

Spo0k:
Wow.. it seems like it was a long time ago.. I got into computers because my grandma got ALS and couldn't talk w/o one.. so i got her computer when she died... I started messing around with that and got on to the bbs at my high school.. I was so amazed that i worked as quick as i could to set one up. I was really frustrated at all the shareware bullshit that i broke down and bought wildcat (don't laugh :) )

* dngrmouse is holding back is laughter -- just barely

Spo0k:
So i ran that for a little while, and ewheat (then crease at&tack) got on as well as cypher hex (then balthazar) chex made me an ansi (he actually did ansi here and there back then) for my logon screen could to set one up obv/2 as a door from my shareware board (wildcat) and that's pretty much where it started..

I started drawing ascii because it seemed like it woul dbe easier than ansi.. and i started a group called KaRMa with chex and ewheat, but of course it quickly died.. Then i came accross an asia pack.. and asked airborn to be in.. and he excepted me, but i think i'm getting ahead of the question :)

Dangermouse:
While were on the subject, hehe, what groups were your first, and where did you go from there?

Spo0k:
Airborn gave me asia as he was sick of running it, and i never actually released a pack as the president.. Then i went to wicked for a few packs, then i was in a few of those little groups that white trash made up..

I was in iesus for a day or so :).. and hmm.. I think that's it for art groups..

Dangermouse:
So, what have you done since then? I know you've been involved with Acrylic Weekly along the way?

Spo0k:
I quit drawing about a year ago because i wasn't getting better and got sick of trying.. Fongu and acrylic stick out mainly. Well fongu was quite sperratic and in between issues, acrylic was introduced..

Acrylic was kind of a good/bad experience for me, it started out great.. I was in charge of the "rumors" section and basically i was making up funny stories about people in the scene.. That lasted about two weeks, then sodium decided that he didn't like the rumors section anymore.. So he kinda shitcanned me..

I tried working it out and released once or twice more, but then i finally quit and acrylic died a few weeks later (unrelated to me). Fongu came out once more after that and i released with that too..

Dangermouse:
So, you're a fireman then?

Spo0k:
Well, I'm in fire school.. I'm in a two year vocational program for firefighting/ems. When I graduate i will be fully certified as a firefighter and an emt-basic.

Dangermouse:
Are there like Fire Principals and Fire Teachers, etc.. and a Fire Playground?

Spo0k:
Hahaha, there's two fire instructers.. one for the juniors and one for the seniors..

Dangermouse:
Men? (no chickies?)

Spo0k:
We all are issued full turnout gear which we use on our fire truck in our lab consisting of a tower, a burn van, and a smoke trailer..

Yes they are men :)

Dangermouse:
So, what do you'se actually do? Go to real fires and shit?

Spo0k:
Well, at school we learn all the principles of firefighting and basic emergency medicine.. but at the end of the senior year we all go on placement with a department in the area.. where.. yes we fight real fires :)

We have fires in our pit and in our burn van as well.

Dangermouse:
Heya, cool shit..

Spo0k:
It's by far a better experience than regular high school..

Dangermouse:
So, what is spook doing these days within the scene, anything besides stuffing around and doing nothing?

Spo0k:
Well, that's basically it :) Actually, I'm starting to consider starting ansi again and reopening my board.. I will only reopen my board if i get a cable modem though, because i will make it a telnet board.. Telnet boards on 28.8 just don't work

I also hang in #ansi and beg for masters :) Oh wait, oops :)

Dangermouse:
Something I ask all my victims.. What do you think of the scene today? Much different from the scene of old? (woops, did I say 'victims'?)

Spo0k:
Well.. I must say that the scene today is much different for the simple reason that i always remembered the scene to revolve around bbses.. I really loved the board scene.. there was so much more skill involved in writing a post rather than just writing some lines on irc.. and the attitutude was so different..

It could very well just be that i've matured and don't enjoy the pizzazz of computers as much as i did back then but it was definatly more fun then..

I've also considered starting a web bbs for this reason, because i don't have to be online so my 28.8 connection doesn't matter. But who knows, I'm too lazy to ever make one :)

Dangermouse:
Hah, oh well, then.. it's been great talking to yer man..

Spo0k:
Sure, fun interview :)

Mad props to ewheat, whodini, uh, theclone, chexbitz. Everyone who i don't see on a daily basis, and of course.. those who i do :) Which i'm not gunna name cuz there's too many of ya..

Session Close: Sat Nov 15 11:25:48 1997