We know how desperately you all are waiting for the answers from our own ultra-cool Brian Lam, so without wasting time, here he is with answers to all your questions.
1). Atul: Hi Brian, I was wondering Gizmodo doesn’t have any tagline or punchline. How would you describe it in one line?
Brian: Actually, I think its something like, “So in love with Shiny Things, it’s unnatural.”
2). Illa: Time Magazine has given iPod - the invention of the year award. If you are asked to pick the best invention instead then what would it be & why?
Brian: The best invention? Wow, there are so many. I’d have to say its maybe the Wii, for obvious (and fun reasons)
3). Seth: Do you think blogs are going to be as acceptable and popular with masses as NYTimes, Time, NewsWeek are?
Brian: I don’t think that is their role. I think looking at media as a whole, it is a blog’s job to be fast and conversational. We break news, and we also aggregate news. And hopefully, we pay attention to stories that bigger media misses.
4). Naina: Which are your top 3 favorite blogs, of course other than Gizmodo, and why?
Brian: My favorite is Cuteoverload. Somehow, I feel like Gizmodo and Cute overload are kindred in spirit. You know, gadgets are like pets for geeks. Pokemon, really. I also love Joel Johnson, former Gizmodo editor’s Dethroner, even though he and I have very different thoughts on how to run Gizmodo. I also love my Girlfriend’s blog, tokyomango.com.
5). Jolly: Brian you said that blogging is a big video game, who do you think you are playing with and who are your nearest rivals?
Brain: Rivals? I used to be obsessed with the Engadget rivalry, as a matter of sport, but I think that its more likely that we keep each other on our toes, but are in the same boat. Sure, we try to push each other out of the boat, but hey, its the same boat. These days, we just try to do the best editorial we can, in terms of unconventional ideas, treatment, while patching up the holes blogs are typically known to have. (I spent a good deal of time fact checking, and doing line edits post publish.) And as far as rivals go, I like to try to scoop as often as I can, so I suppose that puts us at friendly odds with anyone in the space.
6). Rachel: Is there a noticeable reaction towards what your competitive peers are doing?
Brian: Compared to many traditional media organizations, the one thing that makes Gizmodo competitive is that this isn’t a job for me — I am truly dedicated to doing it the best I can. Which is sad, because of all the grammar mistakes I introduce to the site. And I have no illusions about my job being important in a bigger picture kind of way, or even medium picture kind of way, but I do love it. I’m a pretty intense person, and the speed required to do this job give me a great outlet for that. It’s more thrilling than driving 150mph.
7). Juergen: How long could you survive without the internet?
Brian: I tried that once, and it works, but only if I’m somewhere engaged. Snowboarding, on a beach, or just kicking back with my girlfriend.
8). GizmoGirl: Hello Brian! My question to you is, If Saturday night was a gadget, what kind of gadget would it be? And if you were a gadget, what would YOU be?
Brian: Awesome question. If saturday night was a gadget, it could be many different things. If you like to hang out uptown, it could really be something glossy and sophisticated, like an LG prada, but really not all that fun. And also somewhat Eurotrash, like those clubs that always turn me away at the door. If you’re kicking back downtown at some favorite bar, it could be anything fun, like a TiVo or Macbook. Easy and fun to click around on. If I were a gadget, I’d like to think that I’d be a Wii, but I’m more likely a Macbook Pro, since I’m always working on one. It’s like my Axe, as Charlie white says. It focuses my blog power into a fine point that we can scoop hundreds of newspapers with. Boom! (Oh yes, I said Boom.)
9). Dhiram: Is there any time when you are just fed up of gadgets and dont feel like writing on them at all ? If so then how do you cope with it ?
Brian: Ya. Luckily, if there’s a gadget we don’t want to write about, you guys don’t want to read about it. I pass on those. New launches is good at covering the fun and interesting stuff, so you can likely relate.
10). Nandini: One of the most common questions we ask our celebrity guest is about their typical day at work. But since it’s not easy to get hold of Brian Lam, so we would like to know how you spend your weekend. Your typical weekend?
Brian: I’ve been spending my time working on weekends. But I’ve got to give Lisa (the girlfriend) credit for pulling me away from the job, sometimes while I complain I need to finish up my work.
11). Your views on BornRich & Instablogs?
Brian: I’m not that familiar with Instablogs, but BornRich has that certain editorial sense for what is interesting to people. It’s aspirational to see all these neato things none of us could afford without trading in a kidney.
RapidFire Round
1. Any favourite geeky role in movies/TV Sitcom you would love to play?
Brian: One word for you: JamesTKirk.
2. One thing you hate about Gizmodo, since we weren`t able to find any ourselves ;)
Brian: Oh please! The design sucks, to be honest. And I feel like we have too many posts to keep up with.
3. Best Google Gadget other than Google Search
a.) Google Maps b.) Googletalk c.) Gmail d.) Froogle e.) Toolbar?
Brian: Maps. Definitely maps. If you like to go outside, that is. I wish they’d build up calendar.
4. Most Useless Google Gadget
a.) Google Homepage b.) I’m Feeling Lucky! Button c.) Google Desktop d.) Toolbar e.) Google Reader f.) Other?
Brian: Homepage is lame. Lucky is lame.
5. Food(s) You Hated As a Child?
Brian: Chinese kids have to eat everything or get slapped upside the head.
6. What you wanted to be when you were in 5th grade?
Brian: Fighter pilot or astronaut. Boilerplate geek dreams before you get an eye exam and realize you’re too nearsighted for any of that.
7. The Top Reason Why You Loose Your Cool
a.) Traffic b.)People Don’t Listen c.) Telemarketers d.) Rapid fire Round at Bornrich e.) Other?
Brian: I’d say when writers are compromising their posts. I work with really talented people and we all work really hard, so I should be more forgiving about that. Traffic is usually good, so I’m not too worried about that, but it can always be better. (Hail Perez Hilton!)
8.) Biggest Surprises/Shocks of All Time
a.) Google Stock Went above $100 b.) Sixth Sense Ending c.) Stallone Making Another Rocky Movie d.) George W. Bush Was Reelected e.) other?
Brian: C was a happy surprise
9. Favorite Quote
1.) “To Be or Not to Be” 2.) Hasta la vista, baby 3.) My Gut Is Telling Me No... but My Gut Is Also Very Hungry. — Gob Bluth, Arrested Development 4.) “Doh”- Homer Simpson 5.) “You Don’t Need a Weather Man to Know Which Way the Wind Blows” - Bob Dylan 6.) Other?
Brian: I like 3!
10. Top Books That You’ve Secretly Read
a.) Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus b.) Mein Kampf c.) Harry Potter d.) To Kill a Mockingbird e.) The Story of O f.) Other?
Brian: iWoz
11. This Year’s best Super Bowl Commercial
a.) Godaddy b.) Doritos: Checkout Girl c.) “Rock, Paper, Scissors”: Budweiser d.) Coke Ad showing GTA Guy Helping People e.) Other?
Brian: Love D!
12. MMORPG you play
a.) WOW b.) Second Life c.) Guild Wars d.) Final Fantasy XI e.) Other?
Brian: None– no time.
Finally, we wrap-up another most interesting interview and we thank and wish Brian Lam, Best-of-Luck for all his future endeavors!
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