Itay Hod: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

The Steeple Times asks journalist and news personality Itay Hod: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

Never take anything too seriously and, whenever available on the menu, order banana cream pie.

“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

Live and let live. And avoid Fox News at all costs.

Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2014?

Kerry who?

Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

Garbage Pail Kids.

What might you swap all your wealth for?

That’s easy: I don’t have any wealth. But if I did, I’d swap it for harsher punishment for parole violators. And world peace.

Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?

Banking Crisis? Those criminals never experienced a crisis. I’d put them in a cell and throw away the key, then give their houses to the people who lost everything. Gordon Gekko was an asshole. Greed is not good, it’s evil. I love Oprah, no one should hoard money.  Why the hell would you keep a billion dollars in the bank? Keep a few million and give the rest away.

What phrase or word do you most loathe?

“Proportional response”: Hear that a lot when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ridiculous notion. You come to kill me, you’re going to get the full brunt of my force. Fuck “proportional”.

In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

Sure, home is important, but we no longer live in a bubble. What happens out there will and does eventually affect us here. I’d start with getting AIDS medication to Africa. Drug companies should be forced to donate their drugs to the needy in exchange for the billions they make here at home.

The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

I’m the wrong person to ask that question. On my phone constantly and it is a good buffer.

If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

Oprah, the President, Rasputin (apparently he had a 13-inch dick, did you know that? It’d make for a great conversation) Alanis Morissette, Ryan Gosling, Golda Meir and Michael Cunningham.

If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

Sushi from Sugarfish in Los Angeles.

What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

Not a big drinker, but I’ve been known to have a Bloody Mary before noon. Ain’t no shame in that.

A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

None of these. Diet Coke is my vice.

Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

Jay Gatsby’s. This is a weird question.

Who is the most positive person you know?

My friend Chad Kawalec. He knows how to find humour in the most awkward and difficult situations. I admire that in people.

What’s your most guilty pleasure?

French fries and Real Housewives.

If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

The one that’s most badass. Hate when tattoos have meaning. It’s like trying to find meaning in a nice T-shirt. You want meaning? Go meditate, don’t put that shit on your body.

If you were a car, what marque would you be?

A Lamborghini, baby.

Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

At this point? I hope there are no surprises about me. What you see is pretty much all there is.

What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

Books. ‘The Goldfinch’ by Donna Tartt.

Itay Hod is a broadcast and print journalist. He has worked for NY1, CBS News, MTV, TMZ and Fuse TV and his articles have appeared in titles including Salon Magazine, Albany Times Union, Out Magazine, Genre and The Daily Beast.

Follow him on Twitter @Itayhod and click here to like his Facebook page.

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