When Rags Blake was born, signs and auspices graced the world like none before. The sun composed a song to celebrate the occasion, the four winds conspired to whisper a secret recipe for excellence in his ear, and beneath his crib was found a pair of golden headphones. And from these humble beginnings, he has grown into the man of humble legend we know today: thoughtful and gracious in his friendship, fierce in his scorn of jabronis and pylons alike, blessed with an ear for music most tuneful, and generous in his sharing of said musics. It was with great delight that I recently turned the spotlight of 5 Questions with Rags upon his noble personage, whiling away a pleasant hour gathering the fruits of his wisdom on many a topic, for the personal edification of us all.

1. What's something you wish you'd had growing up?

Wow, that's a good question. Huh, that's hard. I had a really happy childhood. I had parents who loved me, I had friends and grandparents. I had pets. You know what? I used to really resent my mom for not letting us have a computer in the house. I didn't get a computer in the house until I was nearly graduated from high school. I was so jealous of all the kids with computers in there house, talking on ICQ and shit. But in retrospect, I'm really happy that I wasn't allowed to have a computer around all the time until I was 18. I don't think having unfettered access to the internet as a teenager would have been a good idea. I honestly don't know how young people today deal with anything. So yeah, a computer. It seems really superficial, but I was really lucky to have a lot of love in my life as a kid and that was pretty awesome, so it's going to be something like that.

Music is what I write about because it's what I love. It is a powerful communicator and a vital part of any thriving culture. But, at the end of the day, it's just music. There are people out there doing important, compassionate, world-changing things that improve the lives of everyone and everything they come into contact with. Eco-feminist and human love-beam Dr. Vandana Shiva is one of those people. When I found out that she'd be speaking here in Victoria at UVic on the eve of her receiving an honourary doctorate from the university I jumped at the chance to interview this vitally inspiring person. I had originally planned on doing a phone interview before she arrived as a preview piece, but instead was given the privilege of sitting face-to-face with her and conversing like humans. I consider myself a relatively intelligent person but I the nerves I felt going into conversation with this intellectual titan where nearly overwhelming. I asked some things that I may have already known, but that I wanted articulated to be by one of the most important and inspiring people working today. As we sat across from each other I was quickly calmed by her calm demeanour and warm smile.

When the night did come for her to receive her honour from the University of Victoria, I was amazed not at the turn out of people, but at the passion that she inspired in everyone in that room. Dr. Vandana Shiva is a beacon of light and hope in a world that is seemingly more enveloped in darkness and chaos by the day. Seemingly is the operative word there...

5 Questions with Rags #68 - Rags

I talk to Vandana Shiva, real-life Superhero.