Welcome

Self-portrait of the blogger.

I am Al Natanagara and this is my site. I am or have been a Writer, Journalist, Editor, Musician, Web Community Manager, Litigation Consultant, Criminal Investigator, Filmmaker, Artist, and Multimedia Developer*.

tubgoat features interviews with musicians, artists, Internet personalities, and the technologically inclined. There’s also some filler thrown in–the bloggy equivalent of meat by-products.

If you think you would make a good interview subject, or if you know of anyone who wants to talk about their stuff in a PG-13 online environment, please contact me. I am open to an embarrassing range of subject matter. No, I can’t pay you.

*Yes. I have done every one of these things for a living. I did not mention cashier, forklift driver, karate instructor, janitor, and library page so I could maintain some degree of humility.

Techno Geek Nerd Princess Parenting Advice

All your apps are belong to us.

When last we spoke with the Techno-Geek Nerd Princess, she told us some stuff about her work. That was boring, so we talked again. About love–both the “bow-chicka-chicka-wah-wah” kind and the “awwwwww” kind.

YOUNG LOVE

Al: I think we left off with me about to ask you if your geekiness limited your dating options.

TGNP: Haha, I think so. I never really “dated” much, but when I did, I think it was difficult to find guys who were into the things I was. I actually met my husband on an internet dating site, believe it or not.

Al: You have a son. Does he know that his mom & dad met on the Internet?

TGNP: Heh, not yet. Though he’s definitely going to be a techie kid.

Al: How are you so sure? Are you putting gallium arsenide in his Quisp?

Brad Poynter on Guns and Family

Yee haw.

When last we spoke with Arkansas native Brad Poynter, he told us about all the cool guns he owns.

tubgoat neither advocates nor condemns gun ownership. What it does advocate, however, is artistry and creativity in all its forms. For those who disagree with the NRA’s interpretation of the Second Amendment, put aside your preconceptions of the paranoid gun nut for a few minutes and consider this: Brad does not use his superpowers to take life. He uses them to create works of artistry and whimsy.

FAMILY MAN

Al: Thousands of comedy fans love you for your gun-related hijinx. Do you have an alter ego?

Brad: By day I am a mild mannered IT guy for a software development company. By night I am working to become a modern day renaissance man, sans all the sculpting and painting.

Al: Is there a missus? Young ‘uns?

Brad: I have been married for 15 years and I have three beautiful and intelligent daughters aged 10, 12, and 14. Kid Bragging moment: My 12 year old got to take the ACT early and made a 19. I am very proud.

Al: Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Let’s talk about guns. Of all the firearms you own, which is most dear to your heart?

Brad Poynter on Growing up with Guns

"Yew shall not pass."

Brad Poynter is a hick. Even if he didn’t use the word to describe himself, I would. He’s not one of those “squeal like a pig,” or “the gubmint’s gonna shut down mah still” kind of hicks–he just happened to grow up in the sticks and he’s proud of it. He’s also proud of his guns; he’s got lots of them, and he ain’t afraid to shoot them.

So what’s a gun-crazy hick doing on tubgoat? I’ll tell yew whut: Few gun owners justify the possession of firearms like Brad does. He doesn’t hunt (not like I have a problem with hunting, but hunting isn’t all that special in and of itself), he doesn’t go around screaming that Obama’s gonna take away all his toys, and he doesn’t rescue space princesses from evil empires.

What Brad does do is shoot things in an entertaining manner. Before you read past this paragraph, check out some of Brad’s comedy articles on ZUG.com. If you only have time for one, make it the one entitled Can the Twilight Saga Stop a Bullet?

…

Now that you fully realize why I’ve enthusiastically invited Brad into the tubgoat pantheon, you may proceed.

I Wanna Be Your Dog

"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies." -- Gene Hill

We adopted a puppy nine days ago. Every member of the family has wanted a dog for years–my eight year old asked “When are we getting a dog?” every single day for four years, and I never told her to stop because I asked myself the same thing–but circumstances have only just allowed it.

The last time I lived in a home with a dog was when I was a teenager. I remember ol’ Solo (named, of course, after a certain Corellian smuggler) chewing up my favorite Chess King jacket, so you can take a guess as to how old I am. If this new dog gets into my stuff and chews up my skinny keyboard tie and parachute pants, my connection to the past will be lost. I will be thrust into the 21st century, exchanging my Cavariccis for Lucky jeans and my checkered Vans for Uggs.

Aradhna, part 3

Spirit Guides

Chris and Pete. God is there, too, but got cropped out.

In part two, we talked a bunch about music and fans. In the final installment, we talk about God and music. Before proceeding, please leave behind any preconceived notions you may have regarding religious musicans.

Al: Do you decide as a group how much of your spiritual beliefs you will express on stage? Outside of the music itself, I mean.

Chris: Jim, want to tell him about the wet napkin?

Pete: I think we all want to be real people, and that is hard when the music is intense and spiritual. We are learning.

…I think Jim stepped out for a chai.

Chris pretty much carries the spiritual talking in the concerts. I throw in the odd story, but there is no set delivery of spiritual matters