Every week I write a column called BE YOU for one of the local papers (The Times of Acadiana) – Each week someone different answers the questionnaire – the paper often has to edit them,  so here are all the answers, unedited (the whole truth) :

Paul Cutta Broulilette and Jacob White

Paul and Jacob are funny. Funny in a way that makes you laugh, not makes you run away. They are also intelligent, creative, thoughtful and a pleasure to be around, but that’s all too serious to write about them (and by the time you have even thought that, they are off on another tangent and making you laugh). Don’t take my word for it (I have strange tastes in humor) –  They have their own show on AOC – Jacob and Paul: Off the Wall (Sunday 4.30pm) and you could do a lot worse than tune in.

What was your first job?

Paul: I was an upholstery dis-assembler.

Jacob: When I was eight I was a custodian at Maurer’s Southland Sports, my uncle’s place; my first non-crony job was Beck’s Pets in the seventh grade. Best. Job. Ever.

Describe a typical day in your life.

Paul: My days are hectic, but fun. I fix copiers by day and my evenings are filled with cars, bicycles, friends and music.

Jacob: Imagine the alpha-most lion on the Serengeti [not much happens].

What advice would you give the younger you?

Paul: Stop that!

Jacob: Quit smoking cigarettes at nineteen, rather than twenty-five.

What event in your life most shaped who you are now?

Paul: My Air Force career

Jacob: The big bang

What values do you live by?

Paul: I live a few blocks from a Dollar General and they have lots of good values.

Jacob: E^iπ + 1

What do you most appreciate?

Paul: A good Bourbon…

Jacob: Living as a human creature during this life age of the Earth (First runner up is being
interviewed by this prestigious publication!)

What is your favorite journey?

Paul: My trip with my son to the vintage races at Road Atlanta every April in a classic car.

Jacob: The Journey of the Three Fates

Where is your favorite place to be alone?

Paul: What does alone mean?

Jacob: On my mildly moving bicycle

What living figure most inspires you?

Paul: Ron Paul

Jacob: Saidou Wayne (@saidouwayne), Mauritanian abolitionist and activist

What was the best advice you were ever given?

Paul: Measure twice cut once.

Jacob: The Creator is the only being with the power to judge, and She never does.

What book would you tell everyone to read?

Paul: Bike Snob, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Jacob: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

What is the best thing about where you live?

Paul: My recording studio. It has an airplane in it!!

Jacob: The plumbing

How do you “let the good times roll”?

Paul: The good times always roll in my Deuce (army truck)

Jacob: By not striving

What did u want to be when you grew up?

Paul: Pilot

Jacob: Exo-paleontologist

What is your motto?

Paul: Chill

Jacob: PER ASPERA AD ASTRA (“that road is rough which leadeth skyward”)

How would you like to be remembered?

Paul: As someone who gave back.

Jacob: Through an inscription on the lunar surface which can be seen from Earth with the naked eye

What do you say to yourself when you doubt yourself?

Paul: You got this!!

Jacob: We cannot and should not be certain regarding all seemingly external things, but as far as our Self, we must only use doubt as the scour to polish, that our motives be pure and our cause just. We must not doubt our ability when the time comes to act.

What three things are vital to BEing YOU?

Paul: Music, cars, bikes

Jacob: My loved ones; curiosity; breath.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Paul: Duh

Jacob: Y’know, I mean, uh, um, etc.

What is your favorite word?

Paul: Velo’

Jacob: Infinitesimal

What do you collect?

Paul: Cars, old fans, bicycles, stuff

Jacob: Miniscule wages

What food could you live on for a month?

Paul: Pizza! It has all the food groups.

Jacob: Fried haloumi cheese from Athena’s downtown

What would you change about yourself?

Paul: More money and less stunning good looks 😉

Jacob: My level of self-discipline

What literary, movie or cartoon character do you most identify with?

Paul: Steve McQueen

Jacob: Meursault from The Stranger by Albert Camus

Describe yourself in five words.

Paul: Got Too Much To Do

Jacob: I’ve said too much already.

What is your idea of happiness?

Paul: Flying low in an airplane with my Dad and son.

Jacob: The eternal present

What is your favorite movie?

Paul: The Three Amigos

Jacob: North by Northwest

What music defines who you are?

Paul: Sweet soul music

Jacob: I can get behind nearly anything tonal. Got some Lana Del Ray playing at present.

What do you most regret?

Paul: This question is too serious for me.

Jacob: I reject the question. Lamentations did not raise Lazarus. Although to be fair there is no proof anything else did. Dude was dead for four days. I think maybe Matthew was in that tomb with marionette string, and Mark was throwing his voice.

What question do you wish I’d asked?

Paul: What is your favorite beer?

Jacob: What is the purpose of life?

What would the answer be?

Paul: Complimentary!

Jacob: Very good question