About

Cultural Exchange Advocate? … What the?!?!

(Updated April 2025) I was born in Hoboken, NJ on September 9, 1966. I began to hand cut, paste and publish underground paper fanzines in the late 1980s. I moved to the realm of the internet in 1999. I continued to write, edit, produce for many publications, websites, blogs until 2011 when I gave it all up to run a small cafe. Then, in 2023, I gave up the cafe. And that brings us to now. After two years of soul searching, I’ve decided to start writing again.

So, why Cultural Exchange Advocate?
I believe that we all deserve to have a title that describes who we really are. We already have titles that describe what we do. Since I so enjoy the exchanging of cultural tendencies, my obvious choice was “Cultural Exchange Advocate”.

It was originally a way to say that, when I discovered new things that I liked, I’d do my best to tell others about it. Music, art, books, beer, food, gadgets … whatever. I want to find out what makes people tick.

So, why do I do this?
The only way to answer that question is to ask another question. Why do humans create? Humans have always been blessed—in some cases cursed—with the need to express themselves. They can’t just sit quietly and float on until death comes calling. They whistle, they hum, they paint, they write, they dance, they make shiny things and so on. But why?

As I walk thru life, I’m constantly searching for reasons to live (no, not in a morbid sense). Sometimes I go diving into the deep end of myself to fish for some personal justification. More often however, I’m wandering the world around me gathering inspiration from the creations of others.

There are many opinions that try to explain what makes a piece of work good or bad. But there is no doubt about what makes the true art of creative expression magical. The inherent honesty embedded within. And this is what I search for.

My goal is not to judge the work or criticize the creator. We have enough of that negative muck oozing thru the media daily and it is a waste of energy. Instead, I get a great deal of satisfaction in recommending new discoveries to others.

I truly believe that we would all benefit from this philosophy of encouragement. By casting off the slime of unnecessary criticism and meanness, we can all get to know and like each other a little better.

What Would Your Title Be?
Give it a try. Look into yourself. What inspires you to get out of bed, to breath, to live? Once you find it, validate it with a title.

Cheers,
Stephen

Now go read my stuff!