José Guardia was born in Barcelona, where he currently lives. He holds a law degree from the University of Barcelona, but went straight into business. He's been involved in the tech/new media field since the early 90s, and is now a consultant; he's also a Senior Editor at Pajamas Media / Politics Central. José blogs at Barcepundit, in both English and Spanish.
Why do you blog? > I started shouting at the TV, the computer screen, even at the paper when I saw the coverage by the Spanish media of the run-up to the Iraq war, and I needed a way to vent. Actually, it got creepy when the TV started shouting back; that's when I knew I had to do something. I started blogging in Spanish, and quickly thought that there were some stories that had to be blogged in English, so I set up an English edition.
What has been your best blogging experience? > The general feeling that many more people than I thought seem to be interested in what I write and how I write it.
What has been your worst blogging experience? > The general feeling that many more people than I thought seem to misunderstand what I write and how I write it. They're not really many people, but definitely more than I'd have thought.
What are your favourite blogs? > My RSS reader currently has 1,651 feeds, so it's impossible to pick just a few.
What are you reading at the moment? > Steven Levitt's Freakonomics, and a novel in Spanish by Eduardo Mendoza, Mauricio o las elecciones primarias.
What is the best novel you've ever read? > Not sure it's the best, but Oriana Fallaci A Man is probably the one that made the biggest impression on me when I read it many years ago. I'm planning to re-read it one of these days.
Who is your favourite composer? > Cole Porter.
Can you name a major moral, political or intellectual issue on which you've ever changed your mind? > Gun control; I used to be in favour.
What philosophical thesis do you think it most important to disseminate? > That tolerance has its limits.
What is your favourite piece of political wisdom? > 'With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plea; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost.' (William Lloyd Garrison)
If you could effect one major policy change in the governing of your country, what would it be? > Open lists in elections. Currently, the electoral system in Spain follows a closed list system, which is a recipe for what's worst with partitocracy.
If you could choose anyone, from any walk of life, to be Prime Minister, who would you choose? > Most definitely NOT Kofi Annan.
What would you do with the UN? > Dismantle it and create a Caucus of Democracies.
What do you consider to be the main threat to the future peace and security of the world? > Islamism, that is, extreme Islam.
What would be your most important piece of advice about life? > Don't take yourself too seriously.
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? > No.
What do you consider the most important personal quality? > Integrity.
What personal fault do you most dislike? > Duplicity.
In what circumstances would you be willing to lie? > To save lives.
What is your favourite proverb? > 'Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.'
What commonly enjoyed activities do you regard as a waste of time? > Table games.
If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything you'd do differently? > Not in the general direction, but there's tons of things I'd have done another way.
Who would play you in the movie about your life? > Danny DeVito. Just for contrast, of course.
What do you like doing in your spare time? > Spare time? What's that?
What is your most treasured possession? > I know it sounds geeky, but I have to say it's my laptop computer. Most of my reading, writing, communicating is done with it. Can't imagine living without it.
If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to? > Your Highness.
What talent would you most like to have? > Answering questionnaires.
What would be your ideal choice of alternative profession or job? > Orchestra conductor.
Who is your favourite comedian or humorist? > In English, right now Sarah Silverman really makes me laugh.
How, if at all, would you change your life were you suddenly to win or inherit an enormously large sum of money? > Not much, but I'd definitely get myself one of these; I like travel, but hate the process.
[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.]