TJ Barkwill

Vegetarian. Socialist. Raised in the Garden of England, educationally shaped in America, I write when I can and I think about writing when I can't.

THINGS THAT ARE COOL: The countryside (despite the bugs) Wildlife (though maybe not the bugs) Dr Who (except for that crap period when it was really crap) and the Battlestar Galactica reboot (hate using the word "reboot;" but that was probably one of the most intelligent and creative pieces I have ever seen). ComicCon (I saw Ray Bradbury there. Yes. Ray freakin' 'Bradbury!!!!). Santorini because the beach is black (volcanic). The Scottish isles ( bleak beauty and surprisingly sunny). People (generally) (except for the crappy ones). Those who think of others before they think of themselves. Trains (seriously, train journeys are just wonderful). The sea. Rose tea. Bob Dylan. The 1970's. Good wine. Cuddly animals. Clangers and Moomins. Fawlty Towers and Black Adder. Faulkner and Pynchon. Pinter and McDonagh. Passolini and Proust. Hayao Miyazaki. The Rolling Stones. The sunlight streaming through blinds and catching the dust motes as they swirl. Reflections. Everything that makes you smile. And makes you want to be a better you...

THINGS THAT AREN'T COOL: Those who hunt animals. Nazis and Fascists. Those who ignore the feelings of others. Those who hurt others. Those who harbor racial or sexual prejudice. Those who harbor those who harbor racial or sexual prejudice. Hail (it can really hurt). Finding out that you don't have enough logs to start a fire. Finding out you don't have a fireplace. Money. Smog. Drivers who don't signal. Driving. Reality TV. Missing out on seeing the dawn and sunset. Music that's plastic. Plastic that's melting. Meat. Fish that're on a plate instead of swimming around. Selfishness. Lack of humility. When your hair won't cooperate and you end up looking like you have topiary on your head. Topiary. Especially at the Overlook Hotel. Time travelers who try to distort the course of history. Time travelers who don't try to change things for the better. Time travelers who aren't Dr. Who, basically.