This week in the Blogerati Files, A Funkaoshi Production

Describe your blog in 10 words or less.
"An impersonal personal web site." Or perhaps, "A whole lot of orange."

Why did you start your blog? Blogiversary?
My blog's birthday is November 20th, 2003. So it will be 3 years old in a few weeks. (I count from the day I registered my domain. The site is actually a few months older, but it was even more boring then than it is now, so I don't count that chunk of time.)

How long have you lived in Toronto?
I moved here from London (England) when I was 10, so going on 16 years now. Most of those years were spent in Scarborough -- the most awesome suburb ever. I've lived downtown for the past 2 years and change now. It is great also.

What's the funniest/strangest thing that has happened to you in Toronto?
Meeting M.I.A., and the events around her last concert in Toronto, probably is the strangest thing I've been witness too. I usually blog about anything particularly strange or out of the ordinary that happens in my life, assuming it isn't too private or scandalous. (For example, I stole/found an umbrella once. Note: stealing is wrong, even if you steal from people who live in Yorkville.)

What are some of the changes in Toronto that you have seen in your lifetime?
There has been a lot of new development in Scarborough, mostly in the last 5-6 years. The area around the towncentre in particular has changed so much. Downtown the change is even more dramatic. Yonge St isn't all dollar stores and sex shops, as it was back when I was a teenager. East of Yonge isn't as run-down as it once was. (You'll find condos on Jarvis and Parliment now.) My cousin used to bitch-and-moan about his flat in Queen St. Way West. When I was with him in the area last, he couldn't believe how much it has changed in the past few years. I can't wait to see what the city looks like in 10 years time.

What era, day or event in Toronto's history would you like to re-live and why?
I'm in love with now. There is so much cool stuff happening in the city. There are so many people moving back downtown. All these neighbourhoods are getting revitalized. It's an interesting time for the city. I think if we get a good city council this coming election, there could be all sorts of great things to look forward to in the coming years.

Who's your favourite Torontonian?
Shima Mirkarimi.

Can we believe everything you post on your blog?
Pretty much. Life is strange enough, so there is no need to make stuff up. I do have a habit of declaring movies that I like (or look cool) "the best thing ever" or "the greatest achievement of man kind". That's probably an exaggeration on my part.

Fav post from your blog?
I like this post on engagement rings because the discussion got so heated.

Has blogging changed you or enhanced a personality trait?
No not really. I try not to take blogging too seriously. I probably surf the Internet way more than I used to, but that's not really a personality trait.

Ever met a stranger who already knew you through your blog? How was that?
The first person I've met in real life that also reads my blog is Ward 19 candidate Himy Syed. I met him a few weeks back. He was really nice.

Lose any friends or muck something up because of a post?
No. None yet, but i'm working on it!

Fav bloggers?
Jason Kottke (of kottke.org), Andy Biao (of waxy.org) and John Gruber (of daringfireball.net).

What's happening in Toronto right now that the rest of us should be watching?
The election! Make sure to vote.

You have the opportunity to gather with 5 of your regular readers - who are they, where do you meet and what do you talk about?
Any five of my friends, at the Tap, talking about stupid shit.

If your blog were a food, what food would it be?
One of those mix bags of chips and pretzels and cheetos: random, and somewhat unsatisfying.

If you could gather all of the bloggers of the world together into one room and tell them one thing, what would it be?
Take a chill-pill.