Click here to read the extensive Brainwavez.org interview with Tim Richman


INTERVIEW WITH TIM RICHMAN, AUTHOR OF IS IT JUST ME OR IS EVERYTHING KAK?
My Gadgets from The Times, May 2008.

Are you into technology?
Sometimes. Like any guy, I’m interested in cool new things, but I often think that technology is half the problem with the world today. I mean leaf blowers – the only reason we have freaking leaf blowers in existence is because some tech-freak went mental in his garage one day.
What's the best gadget/toy you have played with?
I’m not sure if it qualifies, but I really loved the IWC Pilot’s Watch I looked at recently. That’s technology at its best.
Has technology changed your life?
Yes. I have a bad back and its made worse by sitting in front of my computer screen for hours at a time… From a positive point of view, I’m hoping my life will change for the better shortly when I get PVR – no more suffering through the aggravation of insanely loud television advertising.
What gadget does the world need now?
Definitely a teleporter. Just think of all the road-rage issues that would solve. Not to mention the time we’d all save instead of sitting in traffic or waiting in airports. And an idiot-spotting device would also be good. I reckon that would be a good time-saver, too. Can see overload problems being an issue though.
Do you use a Mac or a PC?
I’m in publishing so it has to be a Mac. Not be a Mac dork or anything, but I must say they rock.
Do you have a flat screen/plasma TV?
Not yet. It’s on the wish list.
Do you have an iPod and what’s on it?
Yes, I got a Mini a few year ago and got a Nano with my latest cell phone upgrade (so technically I’m not an “iPod upgrader”, just to be clear on that). The music on board varies, of course, which is the beauty of the thing: The Killers, Incubus, Dave Matthews Band, Peter Gabriel, Massive Attack, a bit of classical, quite a lot of chilled electronica – but no hip-hop or mainstream pop.
Does blu ray mean anything to you?
Kind of… I know there is a tech battle going on between blu ray and HD DVD. Not sure of the details, though.
What is your cell phone model?
Sony Ericson K810i – I had to look that up.
What are the specs on your Mac/PC?
My Mac at home is a 2005 G5 (the flatscreen model), with a memory upgrade. Not sure of the exact specs, but it handles just fine and the important thing is the screen is massive.
Do you have a Second Life?
No.
Are you on Facebook?
Yes. I joined to generate some interest in Two Dogs, our book imprint, among friends, and I created a page for Is It Just Me Or Is Everything Kak? But besides the photo sharing which is cool, I mostly loathe Facebook and the social insecurities it defines. If we do a sequel it will have to be included.
What’s your homepage?
Google. I use it all the time. And I’ve got 27 favourites on my Bookmark Bar.
What gadget can’t you live without, excluding cellphones?
Well, I’d prefer to live without a cell phone to be honest. But that’s not going to happen, so perhaps we could train everyone in the polite use of them? Is there anything more annoying than some twat yakking on his phone in the middle of a movie? Er, but to answer the question, I would probably say my iPod. I still use it all the time. Bit of a boring answer, though, so I’ll throw in my Bang & Olufsen headphones. They’re almost as important as the actual iPod.
What would you blow all your money on?
Lots of things – but an Aston Martin DBS would be right up there.