Questionnaire by Angelo Rinaldi

What would you like to relive?

Mostly first meetings. With Élodie. With Tasneem…

Where would you like to live?

Paris is just fine so far, but I do think of moving out to Sydney, California or maybe England, like, Warwickshire. Not just now anyway, and not for long each time: 2 or 3 years tops. In the long run, I just don't know.

Must one be someone?

Being true to one's self seems like a great accomplishment already.

Your character trait you regard as a flaw?

A chronical, although declining, tendency to come to the front stage, to crave for attention. I'm proud of my accomplishments and refuse to play the false modest, but I still have a lot to learn in properly dosing my speech depending on who's talking with me: people often hear “I did this and I'm proud of it” in “you just didn't do as good.”

Your ideal of happiness—do you have any?

A wife I love, kids idem, the whole thing both ways, a cool house and a job I enjoy.

Do you give in to a woman's seduction?

If I'm not otherwise engaged, then yes. I love women too much not to respond to their seduction.

How do you regard the concept of fault today?

I think we label as fault far too many inconsequential things. While our society may overlook serious stuff at the same time. For instance, think strictly personal weed possession vs. SUV urban driving.

Your idea of horror?

Violent death of loved ones.

Your idea of holidays?

Weather's great, not too hot, the view rocks, I have nothing special to do and I'm in love.

What is modern music to you? What about modern painting?

I couldn't care less whether it's modern or not. I'm only interested if I start moving on it and/or being swept of by it. Still, on the whole, for most contemporary art (especially commissionned by the public sector), I believe we now celebrate a lot of mediocre self-declared talents while ignoring many who are truly gifted. Just look at what TV programs are popular, what songs top the charts, what movies are blockbusters, or what exhibitions people flock to. It's all about advertising, baby.

Do you believe women to have special qualities?

Sweetness is foremost, plus this little something that means we men will never quite get them, even should we read all of John Gray's books!

Are you able to respect someone enough not to kill them, even when you are guaranteed immunity?

Yes.

What color do you respond to?

Warm colors.

Your favorite animal?

The dog. I would have said the dolphin, but I haven't been around them enough so it's hard to say. Oh yes: I used to dig my goldfish, but he died all of a sudden, without anyone understanding why.

Are flowers mysterious?

No. Just beautiful.

Have you ever wished your parents would be dead? Or your life partner? Or your kids?

Never.

Do you enjoy reading?

I love it. I read quite a lot, I always have at least two books going, one technical and one fiction (well, mostly), my favorite genres being SF and Fantasy. Trouble is, I can't spend much time reading these days so I only read about one fiction book a week. For technical books, it all depends on their size and how immediate is the need they may address.

The firstname you love?

Élodie, you bet! More mysteriously, Manon, Marion… And Allan. Allan just kicks ass.

Do you have fantasies in real life?

Yes.

What do you despise most?

Pedophilia. Not in the legal sense, like banging a 15-year-old. I mean, today's 15-year-olds now full well what they're doing… But there's a limit not far under that, below which you just can't go. Like sex under constraint, that's just inacceptable.

Is nature a free gift?

Certainly not free. Just look: we're not respecting it enough, it's vanishing at an alarmingly increasing rate. The price is to be careful. It's respect. When I see, for instance, the shameless water waste on the gardens of individuals screwing quotas during water restrictions, or all these assholes driving SUVs in urban areas, thereby spitting 40 times more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than a regular car, not to mention the option of using public transporation… It's infuriating!

Are you afraid of death?

Not as such. I would just like it to leave me enough time to become a father and rear my kids well.

Who or what do you think about when, in a plane, the flight attendant starts trembling?

It all depends on why she's trembling… :-) If she seems scared, I'd probably think about my loved ones.

Have you ever considered committing suicide?

Never.

Are you happy with your sex life?

Very much. In my current relationship, and the previous ones, I've actually been extremely satisfied. When I'm single, I usually have very little sex. I'm not one of those types women just fall for, so I'm either wildland or with someone. Situations in-between are seldom.

The best year of your life?

Every year seems better than the one before. So I'd say 2005, even if it's been, in many ways, kinda tough. 2006 looks promising, so wait and see.

If none satisfied you, do you think it will happen in the future?

If it were the case, then of course.

Have you ever donated anonymously?

No.

Are you capable of doing for yourself what you would do for others?

It depends. As for behavioral issues like bad habits, most often yes. Sometimes though I'm just too lazy, not motivated enough.

Circumstances under which you could cross the line to murder?

Pure, undiluted hatred for what the victim represents.

Dogmas or ideologies that resonate with you?

Those urging individuals to push their limits, to get better, both for themselves and those around them.

Is dandysm superior to snobism?

Both are ludicrous.

Your most secret shame?

Not having been strong enough to always tell the truth to someone I had promised myself never to lie to.

Your favorite dishes?

Those with great sauces, and those with chocolate. Élodie's homemade deserts and guacamole.

Your favorite vertue (not necessarily one of yours)?

Sincerity.

Have you ever taken part in a game of Truth or Dare?

Yes.

Do you think your answers so far would be valid in this game?

Probably.

Is there such a thing as chance?

Yes.

Would you add Love to a new Declaration of Human Rights?

To any behavioral guidelines, but looking at how badly the world follows such declarations…

Do you have a sense of silence?

Sometimes.

Did one of those questions, more than the others, incite you to lie?

Yes.

In the affirmative, could you state which one in public?

Just quote it? I don't think so.