Meet Bo Baker. Again. Bo’s been with the library a few years, but recently shifted into a media-centric role for the impending new library: Studio Librarian. He’s cooking up exciting things for that space, all of which will blow your pants off. But until then – let’s get to know him all over again. Think of it like a second date, just a little more intimate than when he wooed us at Champy’s.
If you could swede any 1970s film, which would it be & why?
Any of the blockbusters would be the most fun, right? Swedes of The Conversation or The Killing of a Chinese Bookie wouldn’t really be entertaining since a lot of the amusement comes from trying to recreate special effects or really evocative characters or style. The thing is, most of the big movies have already been sweded really well like Alien or the epic Star Wars Uncut. There’s a serviceable Jaws trailer. Michel Gondry already did one of the best ’70s movies with Taxi Driver. So … I don’t know … Zardoz?
If you were a wrestler, what would be the name of your finishing move, what would it entail, & describe its emotional impact upon your opponents?
It would have to big and dramatic — a crowd pleaser. It would involve jumping off the top rope. But it would probably backfire easily. Like, someone could just roll out of the way because they weren’t as incapacitated as I thought when I climbed the ropes and I would end up hurting myself or losing the match as a result of my hubris. Lesson learned, wrestling fans.
Favorite celebrity mustache? What makes it so?
I don’t have a singular favorite mustache. I guess I think men should find the style that best suits them or makes them feel most confident. I like the full, bushy mustache on late-sixties/early-seventies Elliot Gould but I also like John Waters’s pencil mustache; I don’t think they could swap styles. According to my wife, the mustache style best-suited for me is the “no mustache.”
How old were you & how did you learn to tie your shoes?
I believe I was three or four and I remember that the hard part for me occurred after you make the first loop and you wrap the other side of the lace around and push it through to make the second loop. I had no idea where to push the lace through. It was most frustrating thing ever until I tried to tie a bow tie 25 years later.
You have 10 words – what will your tombstone read?
Either something kind of rugged but totally phony like “Tussled with his last bobcat” or something snappy like “He’s dead. Why aren’t you?”
What’s an awkward experience from your undergraduate years?
Every day as an undergrad was awkward. I remember starting college and thinking that the awkward days were behind me. Nope. But it was also good because feeling awkward or uncomfortable can sometimes be a side effect of personal growth. At least that what I told myself when I was alone … just so alone.
What song do you always fall back on to get the neurons on overdrive?
My Bloody Valentine’s “Only Shallow” usually does the trick.
What’s the most disappointing thing you’ve ever spent money on?
I like to think I’m pretty discerning about things that I purchase. I mean, I’ve paid to see lots of bad movies and have purchased ill-fitting clothes like everyone else, but I don’t think I’ve purchased something significant that let me down. I don’t really gamble because of anxiety over squandering money.
If you owned a hotel, what accommodation would you provide that you’ve always wanted but never seen in other hotels?
When I stay in a hotel, I’m pretty thrilled to have a big bed and … like … cable. My tastes can be pretty simple sometimes. If I owned a hotel, though, I’d probably try to make it seem haunted. In my head this involves a big control room with lots of levers and buttons and spooky noises.
If you could create your own chip flavor, what would it be?
The perfect potato chip flavor exists. It’s salt and vinegar. Specifically, the Jones brand of north central Ohio is my favorite. If I wanted to improve upon their formula, I would just increase the amount of flavor dust until they glowed with delicious radioactive strength.