Sheldon Lee Compton: A video of your most embarrassing moment goes viral. Do you venomously respond or stay quiet and suffer privately?
Jim Ruland: None of the above. I fire up the gunships and go “Ride of the Valkyries” on whoever posted the video.
SLC: You’ve been asked to travel to North Korea as a United States ambassador. Let’s see your agenda for the one-day visit.
JR:
- Give welcome speech on tarmac.
- Visit with dignitaries.
- Visit the “sauna” at the Yanggakdo Hotel with Dennis Rodman.
- Take nap.
- Give farewell speech on tarmac.
SLC: So there’s this painting by Jackson Pollock called “Mural” and there’s this six-year-old kid who wants to know what it’s all about. Tell them whatever you think’s best and share it with me here.
JR: Look, kid, art isn’t “about” anything. It just is. Like when you pick your nose and wipe your boogers on the wall, that isn’t “about” anything is it? Fuck no. It’s boogers on a wall. Don’t tell your mother we had this conversation.
SLC: What Lead Belly song do you wish you’d written?
JR: “Angola Uber Alles”
