Brandon Stanton's Blog, page 506

“I’m a science writer.”“Is there a particular area of science...

“I’m a science writer.”
“Is there a particular area of science that you’re most interested in?”
“Anything complicated.”

“I’m a well known magician.”“What’s your greatest...

“I’m a well known magician.”
“What’s your greatest trick?”
“Turning a $5 bill into a $100 bill.”

“So can you notice differences in their personalities...

“So can you notice differences in their personalities yet?”
“Absolutely. Emma’s the sensitive one. She likes to be held and comforted. And Mia is a big eater.”
Then Dad chimed in: “She eats like an animal.”

“If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of...

“If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be?”
“Pay attention.”
“What’s something in your life that you wish you’d paid more attention to?”
“My education. And my jobs. I lost some good jobs because I didn’t pay enough attention to them. I once had a great job with the phone company fixing teletype machines. I was lucky to get it, because I was colorblind, and couldn’t tell the wires apart. But they made an exception and hired me.”
“How’d you lose the job?”
“I got in with some guys at the company who were doing heroin. And I just missed too many days of work because of it.”

“I just ate some West African Land Snails. So I’m happy.”

“I just ate some West African Land Snails. So I’m happy.”

“We met on the school bus when we were ten years old.”“Who...

“We met on the school bus when we were ten years old.”
“Who approached who?”
“I approached him.” 
“What did you say?”
“Hello.’”
“And what did he say?”
“Go away.”

“There are too many characters out here. Some of them don’t even...

“There are too many characters out here. Some of them don’t even do a show or anything, they just harass people for money. They’re making the business look bad.”

"We grew up together.""What’s the greatest day...

"We grew up together."
"What’s the greatest day you’ve ever spent together?"
"… when we made love."

I’ve noticed this homeless man in the same spot for years....

I’ve noticed this homeless man in the same spot for years. He recently made some renovations…

"If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of...

"If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be?"
"Stay together."
"Is there someone specific that you wish you’d stayed together with?"
"Yes. My wife. But that was nature’s fault, not mine. And also my son.” 
"Who’s fault was that?"
"Mine."
"What happened?"
"Issues surrounding his mother, things like that. But honestly, he’s getting to the age now, that I really think it’s time he reached out."
"Why don’t you reach out?"
"I can’t find him."
"If you could say one thing to him, what would it be?"
"Please."