Intelligence, history, religion, philosophy, epic movies, mocking sensitivities, helping people view themselves better, enabling potential, my kid, experiencing worldly cultures through total immersion and being incredibly sarcastic at the least optimum times. Oh yeah, Wisconsin football (Badgers, Packers)
Who wouldn't I like to meet? The diversity of people you expose yourself to help you realize how lucky you are that you're not them! So if I had to be specific, which my #1 friend Tom appears to imply, than I'd venture a list...not in priority order: 1) Budda (the fat one, not the Indonesian one) 2) Mohammed (before his epiphany) 3) Jesus (going for the trifecta) 4) Jim Morrison (Legendary hippy) 5) Ben Franklin/John Adams/Thomas Jefferson (architects of this country, imagine what they'd say about us today!) 6) The Israelis and the Palestinians (Enough already, lets get this settled once and for all!) 7) Elvis (the early years, in an attempt to pick up the perfect impression) 8) Salvador Dali (just to sit and watch him work!) 9) Leonardo DaVinci (the true renaissance man) 10) Ganesh (the hindu lord of beginnings and eliminator of obstacles...he's gotta be pissed about that whole elephant head thing!)
It all starts with the blues...so any good Blues artist. Next up, break into some old school Funk (George Clinton). New styles of Ska or Reggae. Finally, break into the pseudo-punk sounds like The Fratellis and Green Day (old). Also like Foo Fighters, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, 311 (old), My Chemical Romance, Jet, Modest Mouse, Veruca Salt. Throw in a little Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn or Jimi Henrix for skills.
Stupid funny movies...think Kingpin or Airplane or even Bad Santa. Classic movies which are completely quotable!!!Action/historicals like Saving Private Ryan, Platoon, We Were Soldiers Once (allows regular people to feel the horrors of war.)
History Channel (yeah, I'm THAT exciting) or Discovery...everything else is simply tolerable garbage. Okay, so I know who fricken McDreamy is...does that make me gay?
I NEVER LEARNED TO READ!
People who withstand the greatest catastrophes and hardships this world has to offer, yet spring to action in the most dire circumstances to help others. I guess that is a definition more than specificity, huh Tom...my bad!Actually, I do have one hero that comes to mind right off...Rajiv Vinnakota, this guy I went to high school with. This dude is way smart, goes to all the big schools, gets the big job and makes big money. Suddenly, reviews his life and considers "the footprint" he will leave on this planet after he's gone. Cashes in and starts a school called The SEED Foundation (www.SEEDFoundation.com), a boarding school for inner-city children in Washington, DC. Its pretty cheesy to say this, but every time I think about this guys story it reaffirms my belief that there are STILL world-changers out there!!!