SnoopyTheGoon was born in the western part of the Soviet Union and, after spending 28 years all over the place, moved with his family to Israel. He studied physics, long since forgotten, and was gainfully employed in various computer software/data processing jobs; he currently fills one of the three-letter positions in a small software company. Snoopy lives with his wife and two elderly cats and is sometimes visited by his grown-up daughter and son. He has been trying to become a mature person for more years than he cares to count, but each time succumbs to a new experience leading him further away from this goal. The latest such experience is the blog he posts on, Simply Jews.
Why do you blog? > For fun, for work-unrelated self-expression and to meet people (virtually and otherwise).
What has been your best blogging experience? > When I laughed reading my own post. (It's happened only twice so far.)
What has been your worst blogging experience? > 'Error 500' for a whole day.
What would be your main blogging advice to a novice blogger? > Don't post anything you do not enjoy writing.
What are your favourite blogs? > The Passing Parade, The Daily Ablution, normblog.
Who are your intellectual heroes? > Albert Einstein (sans that fiddle) and Stanislaw Lem.
What are you reading at the moment? > Seeing by José Saramago.
What is the best novel you've ever read? > Joseph And His Brothers by Thomas Mann.
What is your favourite poem? > 'Life, Life' by Arseny Tarkovsky.
What is your favourite movie? > The Accidental Tourist.
Can you name a major moral, political or intellectual issue on which you've ever changed your mind? > The inherent and automatic superiority of communism as so far implemented during the last century.
What philosophical thesis do you think it most important to disseminate? > The blind following of any ideology or religion is the most dangerous narcotic for the masses.
Can you name a work of non-fiction which has had a major and lasting influence on how you think about the world? > The Great Terror by Robert Conquest. A final eye-opener.
Who are your political heroes? > Gandhi.
If you could effect one major policy change in the governing of your country, what would it be? > Install a presidential system and direct representation.
What would you do with the UN? > A major redesign.
What do you consider to be the main threat to the future peace and security of the world? > The rise of the extremist religious sects (all religions) that we are witnessing.
What would be your most important piece of advice about life? > Live it, enjoy it.
Do you think you could ever be married to, or in a long-term relationship with, someone with radically different political views from your own? > Yes.
What do you consider the most important personal quality? > A sense of humour.
What personal fault do you most dislike? > Pomposity.
In what circumstances would you be willing to lie? > To save somebody (including myself) an unjustified grief.
Do you have any prejudices you're willing to acknowledge? > I had one regarding bald men, but lately my mind is... how should I say it?... more at ease on this matter.
What commonly enjoyed activities do you regard as a waste of time? > TV (most of it at least) and going to sports events.
What would you call your autobiography? > What, that's all there is to it?
Who would play you in the movie about your life? > Peter Sellers?
What would your ideal holiday be? > On the beach of a sea with good snorkelling, and with a huge library and a well-stocked wine/whisky cellar.
Who is your favourite comedian or humorist? > Woody Allen and P.G. Wodehouse.
If you could have one (more or less realistic) wish come true, what would you wish for? > Peace in the world.
How, if at all, would you change your life were you suddenly to win or inherit an enormously large sum of money? > Move to a beach of a sea with good snorkelling, and with a huge library and a well-stocked wine/whisky cellar.
What animal would you most like to be? > Barn owl, preferably male, but female will do in a pinch.
[The normblog profile is a weekly Friday morning feature. A list of all the profiles to date, and the links to them, can be found here.]