Happy Birthday, Loka! 
An interview with Lokasenna:
*Why are we doing this interview thing?*
Your guess is as good as mine!
*So, how old are you?*
25. Officially no longer young.
*What is the best birthday present you've ever received?*
A stripper..? No..? Oh, alright then - lots of books.
*If you had a personal theme song what would it be?*
Knowing my luck, probably 'Send in the Clowns'...
*Are you male or female? *
Male, though I like to think I'm in touch with my feminine side.
*If you could build an entire planet from scratch, what would it look, sound and smell like?*
It would be very green, smell of roses, and sound like Mozart.
*Would you like to join Maximilianus' Air Force?*
Only if I get to make 'knnnneeeeee-ooooooowwww' noises at all times.
*If you owned the site, what would you change?*
I'm not sure I would change anything - though I would probably post more often!
*What was the inspiration for your LitNet username?*
It's the title of one of my favourite poems - it means 'The Insults of Loki' in English.
*Which countries did you visit?*
I'm pretty well travelled. I've seen most of Europe, as well as China, Russia, Japan and the Carribbean.
*Which languages do you speak?*
English, Old English, Old Norse and Icelandic, with a smattering of French, Spanish, Danish, and Old High German.
*What is the last thing that you have done that you have been really proud of?*
I organised my own conference last April, and it was rather successful (if I do say so myself!).
*If you could live somewhere different, where would it be and why?*
A remote cabin in the Icelandic wilderness: lots of peace and quiet, a roaring fireplace, and some fantastic night skies.
*Do you have any pets?*
Nope.
*What makes you happy?*
In the long term, friendship and family; in the short term, whiskey.
*What's your favourite song for singing in the shower?*
There are far too many to name, but at the minute I'm singing a fair bit of Gilbert & Sullivan in there.
*Which actor should play you in a movie based on your life?*
I'd like to think Benedict Cumberbatch, but knowing my luck I'd probably get Pee-wee Herman
*What's your signature dance move?*
I don't dance. Under any circumstances. I have a court order.
*How do you like your coffee? *
In the bin. Revolting stuff.
*Given the option, what animal would you choose to be?*
Well, rabbits seem to have a lot of fun...
When you were younger, what did you want to be?
A publisher - being paid to read books seemed like a dream job...
*What makes you feel great about yourself?*
The satisfaction of doing a job well.
*How did you meet your significant other?*
Sadly, there isn't one at the minute. I am, I'm afraid, one of life's bachelors.
*What was the best day of your life?*
Probably my birth..? I don't know - most days are naturally good!
*What are you naturally good at? (Skills, abilities, gifts etc.)*
I have a very good memory for words, which is useful. I'm also good at handling an audience.
*What is the one thing you must do before you die?*
Um... make a will..?
What’s the geekiest thing about you?
That I understand more dead languages than I do living ones..?
*If you had to teach something, what would you teach?*
I do teach, as it happens. Mostly Old Norse and Old English literature.
*What would you regret not fully doing, being or having in your life?*
I sometimes wish I'd gone in for a more financially profitable degree. But only sometimes.
*If you were to be stuck at a particular time in your life, which one would you choose and why?*
University undergrad life looks fantastically easy and fun in rose-tinted retrospection...
*What one thing would you NEED to have on a deserted island if you didn't have to worry over food and water? *
Only a fully-loaded kindle would keep me sane. Either that, or a branch of Waterstones.
*If you were a king/queen for a day, what would you do?*
Order all the politicians, sportsmen and z-list celebs in the country to be thrown into the Tower.
*What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?*
Mint choc-chip.
*What song is in your head at the moment?*
Ray Charles - Hallelujah I love her so
*Which book are you reading at the moment?*
Several, including some Lord Dunsaney and Neil Gaiman - both of whom have been on the 'to read' list for far too long.
*What is your favourite quote?*
Have a look at my siggy below.
*What’s your favorite word?*
'Fimbulfambi' - it means 'nincompoop' in Old Norse, and I just love the sound of it.
Which comedians or cabaret artists do you like?
I'm something of a fan of Billy Connollly and Eddie Izzard, and there are a few others too.
*Favorite avatar on the Forum?*
Well, certainly not my own!
*Favorite threads?*
Classical Listening is always my favourite place to be.
What's your favorite sandwich?
Coronation chicken.
*What is your answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything?*?
A single word: 'bugger'.
*How could English teachers make reading literature more meaningful to students (young or old)*?
Enthusiasm. One's success as a teacher depends entirely on that one factor.
*What are you wearing at the moment?*
Navy jumper, blue checked shirt, jeans and slippers.
*Favorite poem?*
No idea - it changes constantly.
*First novel you remember reading on your own?*
I can barely remeber what I read last week, nevermind years ago.
*What era do you find most of the books you read are from?*
The early medieval period.
*Favorite TV shows?*
Some of the classic British comedies, with Yes Minister being first among equals.
*Which Forum members would you like to meet in person?*
I think we should have a big party sometime and all try and meet up.
*Are you a winter or summer?*
Definitely winter.
*Last words you said out loud?*
"Sod that for a game of soldiers. No chance" to my housemate who was trying to encourage me to come to the gym five times a week with her.
*Last person you hugged/kissed?*
The aforementioned housemate, when I saw her for the first time post-Christmas the other day.
*What do you do to be able to keep your LitNet addiction going? And are you happy with your chosen profession?*
Sadly, these days I don't post as often as I should like to - just don't have the time.
*What would you like to be if you could change your profession?*
Taste-tester in an ice cream factory?
*Which one of the seven dwarves are you and why?*
Doc (come on PhD!).
*What is your most outstanding feature?*
Probably my height..? I'm 6'4''.
*If you could change one thing about the way you look, what would that be?*
Oh sod it, just start from scratch. It'd be easier.
*Which book do you wish you had written?*
Harry Potter. Then I'd be fantastically wealthy, and would be guarenteed to have anything else I wrote published.
*What book would you recommend to others of all types and ages as a must read?*
Anything from the corpus of Old Norse literature - it is seriously brilliant stuff, and deserves to be more mainstream than it is.
*What should you be doing at the moment instead of answering these questions?*
Working on my thesis, though actually today has been quite productive.
*Describe your ideal day, please.*
In no particular order it would involve a hike of several miles through the countryside, dinner with a few friends, curling up with a good book for a while, and then maybe doing a bit more socialising.
*Favorite movie?*
Like the poetry question, this would change every time I thought about it.
*Last movie you watched?
Blues Brothers - probably the best soundtrack to any film ever.
[*How are you going to pick just one favourite painting?*
I'm not.
*Favorite painting?*
Told you!
*Are you gellin'?*
Probably..?
*Wonderful Superman or depressing Batman?*
Batman.
*Something you want to forget but you never can?*
My deadline.
*What is the wisest thing that has been said to you?*
'Of course, it's all nonsense really.'
If you could relive one moment in your life whenever you wanted to, what would it be?
Probably graduation - that was an awesome day.
What is the best thing that happened to you since your last birthday?
I visited Ireland - I've been meaning to do that for a while.
*If you could send one thing to the Room 101, one would that be?*
My deadlines. Or possibly the French.
Tell us something scandalous about yourself.
Um... nope, can't think of anything.
*How long did it take you to answer all of these questions?*
Far too long.
*One final word of wisdom for LitNet users?*
Do your best. It's all you can do.
*What question would you like to ask to the person to be interview after you?
How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
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