Scott Ott studied journalism at The Pennsylvania State University, where he served as Senior Reporter for National Politics at The Daily Collegian and as news anchor for WDFM radio. But his journey as a professional news satirist began in high school with a brief stint at an underground newspaper called The Splinter. That foray launched his career in high school journalism, eventually leading to his appointment as editor-in-chief of The Pen Point. Scott is author of the forthcoming book Axis of Weasels, due in September 2005 from MacMenamin Press. He is editor-in-chief of the daily news satire site, ScrappleFace.
Why do you blog? > For the good of humanity and huwomanity.
What has been your best blogging experience? > Being the first blogger to break the Teapot Dome scandal.
What has been your worst blogging experience? > Before I registered a domain name, I told Glenn Reynolds that I was thinking about calling my blog 'InstaPundit', and the rest is history.
What would be your main blogging advice to a novice blogger? > One word: plastics.
Who are your intellectual heroes? > Gumby and his pony pal Pokey.
What are you reading at the moment? > The question on the left.
Who are your cultural heroes? > That Dannon guy.
What is your favourite movie? > It's a Wonderful Life.
Who is your favourite composer? > Glenn Miller.
Can you name a major moral, political or intellectual issue on which you've ever changed your mind? > I used to think that it was wrong to lie when answering written questions for a personality profile.
What philosophical thesis do you think it most important to disseminate? > If you put sweetener in your cup first and then pour the coffee, you won't need to waste or wash a spoon.
What philosophical thesis do you think it most important to combat? > Antiexistentialdysenterianism.
What is your favourite piece of political wisdom? > If you really believe in something, you should fight for it, even when the polls show that everyone else is on your side.
If you could effect one major policy change in the governing of your country, what would it be? > For elected officials in America, it's time for a return to powdered wigs.
What would you do with the UN? > Through those translation headsets, I would let them listen to dance hits of the 1980s.
What do you consider to be the main threat to the future peace and security of the world? > The United Nations.
Do you think the world (human civilization) has already passed its best point, or is that yet to come? > I'm an optimist, and I look forward to a better day when global warming melts the polar ice caps, bringing the joy of beachfront living to the citizens of Kansas and Nebraska.
What would be your most important piece of advice about life? > Don't believe the lies of the military industrial complex... Cinnamon Life is not nearly as good as the original regular Life cereal.
What do you consider the most important personal quality? > Hygiene.
In what circumstances would you be willing to lie? > When answering written questions for a personality profile.
What is your favourite proverb? > 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.' Proverbs 3:5-6
What commonly enjoyed activities do you regard as a waste of time? > Blogging.
What, if anything, do you worry about? > The pH balance of my hair.
If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything you'd do differently? > I would do everything exactly the same until the moment before I told the genie that I wish I could live my life all over again.
What would you call your autobiography? > Scott Ott by Scott Ott.
Who would play you in the movie about your life? > Jimmy Stewart.
What do you like doing in your spare time? > Counting my spare change, inflating my spare tire and eating spare ribs.
If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to? > Hank.
What talent would you most like to have? > Low altitude levitation.
How, if at all, would you change your life were you suddenly to win or inherit an enormously large sum of money? > I would donate all my winnings to the National Endowment for the Otts.
If you could have any three guests, past or present, to dinner who would they be? > Gandhi, Twiggy and Lassie. (The latter would simply help me with the leftovers.)
[The normblog profile is a weekly Friday morning feature. A list of previous profiles, and the links to them, can be found here.]