Q: Are you THAT Phillip Rhodes?

A: Maybe, maybe not. Depends on what Phillip Rhodes you're talking about. FWIW, I am NOT the drummer for the Gin Blossoms, he being the only somewhat famous bearer of the moniker "Phillip Rhodes" that I am familiar with. For the record, I /am/ the Phillip Rhodes who was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, on July 20th, 1973, and lived in Shallotte, North Carolina until April of 2000.

Q: Do people really ask all these questions?

A: No, I just made them up. To be more accurate, I tried to anticipate questions that I thought /might/ be frequently asked. Since this website, and my presence on the web, are brand new, nobody has really asked me any questions yet.

Q: You have a domain name that ends in .co.uk, so you live in Great Britain, right?

A: No, I live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Q: Then why do you have a .co.uk domain name??

A: For a few different reasons. The real reason I registered a domain name in the first place, was so I have have arbitrary-email-name@my.domain.com. That is, I got tired of always finding that my preferred e-mail name (mindcrime) was always taken, by whatever ISP or e-mail service I happened to sign up with. So, by registering a domain name of my own, I can have whatever freaking e-mail address I want.

Q: But, why .co.uk, if you live in North Carolina?

A: Mainly it was just the geekiness factor of having a foreign domain TLD, as opposed to a plain old .com or .net, or .org domain. That, and I have always been a big fan of things British, so a .co.uk seemed somehow... appopriate.

Q: I got to this site by typing in cpphacker.(com|net|org), not cpphacker.co.uk, what gives?

A: I registered my domain in all four TLD's, .co.uk, .com, .net, and .org. You can use any of them to get here, I just refer to the site as, and consider the primary domain to be, cpphacker.co.uk.

Q: What the hell does "cpphacker" mean, anyway?

A: It's a reference to the personalized license tag I have on my car, which reads C++HACKR. Unfortunately, plus symbols aren't allowed in domain names, so I used the somewhat common abbreviation, cpp, to represent C++. I also decided to spell hacker out fully, instead of abbreviating it. It's only abbreviated on my license tag because a license tag ( at least in North Carolina ) can only have 8 characters.

Q: That's nice, but what does it mean?

A: Well, the C++ part refers to a computer programming language, of which I happen to be particularly fond. The hacker part represents the fact that I fancy myself a hacker of sorts.

Q: A hacker? So, you break into computer systems, right? Should you freely admit that on your license tag, and your website?

A: No, not that kind of hacker. The term hacker has a few different meanings, depending on the context in which it's used. I don't have time to explain it all now though, so check back later, if you're that interested. (update: 2005-02-30): For more on the meaning of the term hacker, see the entry for the word hacker in the Jargon File of ESR.

Q: I understand you like to go by the online alias "mindcrime." Just what the hell does that mean? Are you some kind of criminal?

A: Whoooaa, one question per person, please. But, since you asked... I got the word "Mindcrime" from the title of the phenomenal Queensryche album Operation:Mindcrime. Operation:Mindcrime is an epic concept album, with a great story, and some incredible songs. In the story, the word "mindcrime" is used to activate the brainwashing that has been applied to our hero. Anyway, I thought it was a cool word, and it seemed like something that would make a cool nick, so I adopted it years ago.

As far as being "some kind of criminal"... I plead the fifth.

Q: What other online names have you used?

A: Lots, especially on the Miami Herald chat board, where I have probably registered in excess of 100 different names, at different times. But, the only other online names I've used with any regularity are: Shadowcaster ( back in the days of the White House BBS ), Crippler ( still use this on ICQ ), and Psykocrime ( AIM ).

Q: You sound really interesting. I'm female, are you available?

A: Aaaaah, this ALWAYS comes up. As it happens... at the moment, I am completely single and unattached to anyone. Mothers, hide your daughters.... bwahahahahaha! :-)

Q: Cute, but how do I get in touch with you???

A: Ok, ladies, single file please... one at a time.... LOL. Actually, it's very easy...just shoot me an E-mail and introduce yourself. Also, STOP reading this FAQ now. Especially do NOT read the last few questions.

Q: Are you that guy I see driving around Raleigh, headbanging and singing at the top of your lungs, listening to heavy metal?

A: If you've actually seen somebody driving around Raleigh doing that, then yeah, chances are it was me. Once a metalhead, always a metalhead.

Q: Aren't you a little old for that? And is that really a BMX bike I see in the back of your car? Aren't you a little old for that as well?

A: It's my firm belief that one is only as old as you allow yourself to be. I also maintain a steadfast refusal to change my lifestyle solely for the purpose of conforming to some bullshit concept of "societal norms." I'm 31, going on 32, but that is just a number on a calendar in my mind. I'll still be listening to metal, headbanging old school, and yes, riding my BMX bike, when I'm 49, 59, 69, etc.., as long as I'm physically able too.

Q: Not to change the subject, but is that an actual <blink> tag I see on one of your pages?

A: Why yes, yes it is.

Q: Isn't the <blink> tag considered way uncool these days?

A: Do I look like somebody who cares about what is considered "cool" or not? I'm one of those people who just relishes being tragically un-hip, non-cool, etc.  I couldn't bloody care less what is considered "cool." 

Q: Do you have an attitude problem or something?

A: Hahaha.  My dad always told me that being "hard-headed" and wanting to do things "my way" was one of my biggest problems.  I answer that by saying - first - "It's not a bug, it's a feature" and - second - "I inherited that from you, Dad."  I don't have an attitude problem, I just don't care about playing by the rules, or any of that bollocks.  It's why I have sometimes referred to myself as a "rebel without a cause."  My "cause" is just to be me, ya know?

Q: If you had to pick one (JUST ONE) song that you would consider the "theme song" of your life, what would it be?

A: First, since I don't like rules ( see above ) I'd cheat and pick more than one.  Having said that, I think my answer(s) would be:

    1. "Here I Go Again" - Whitesnake
    2. "Keep Your Eye on The Money" - Motley Crue
    3. "Don't Stop Believing" - Journey
    4.  "Breaking the Law" - Judas Priest
    5.  "I'll Never Grow Up, Now!" - Twisted Sister
    6. "Die With Your Boots On" - Iron Maiden

    with an "honorable mention" to:

1. "Breaking the Silence" - Queensryche
2. "I Don't Believe in Love" - Queensryche
3. "Walk In The Shadows" - Queensryche
4. "Love Bites" - Def Leppard
5. "The Fire Still Burns" - Twisted Sister
6. "Stay Hungry" - Twisted Sister
7. "Kickstart My Heart" - Motley Crue
8. "Shout At The Devil" - Motley Crue
9. "Highway to Hell" - AC/DC
10. "Another Rainy Night (Without You) " - Queensryche

Q: If you had to describe yourself in terms of AD&D alignment and character type, what would you be?

A: A chaotic-good thief. "chaotic-good" because I consider myself to be, generally speaking, a good guy - but I have little use or regard for rules, laws, conventions, etc. A thief - not because I steal stuff - but just because the idea of that whole rogueish lifestyle is appealing to me. Ya know, not following anybody's rules, getting by based just on the strength of your own guile, cunning and wit. That's kinda the way I see myself.