Personality Test: John Ventre
If you think you've seen a UFO, the man to talk to is John Ventre of Greensburg. He's the state director of MUFON, the Mutual UFO Network, which evaluates and investigates the credibility of UFO sightings, checking them against existing data about satellites, military aircraft and other possible explanations for weird objects in the sky.
The History Channel's sister channel, H2, has a new show, “Hangar 1: The UFO Files,” that digs into the organization's files and calls upon Ventre's expertise often. The show airs at 10 p.m. Fridays (see also www.history.com), after the popular “Ancient Aliens.” More information can be found at www.mufon.com and johnventre.blogspot.com.
The star who would play me in the movie version of my life:
Although I look like Gene Hackman, the star I most relate to is Sylvester Stallone. We both lived on Long Island in the 1970s, and I relate to his movies.
Childhood hero:
Muhammad Ali, because he was brash but backed it up
The piece of memorabilia from my childhood I wish I still had:
I had some early issues of the Justice League comic books.
Favorite brunch food:
Denny's Grand Slamwich
The superpower I wish I had in real life:
Power to cure all diseases, because my son got diabetes at age 4.
I can't live without my iPod, cellphone, DVR or laptop:
Laptop
My favorite reality show:
“Hangar 1: The UFO Files”
App I wish I could invent:
I don't use any apps.
Best mistake I've ever made:
Bought UPS stock the week before it went public.
Something I would do over if I could:
I turned down a promotion to work in Europe to appease my wife who didn't want to live in Madrid and London, but we got divorced anyhow, and I never got promoted again.
Favorite guilty pleasure:
Apple pie and vanilla ice cream
Top thing on my bucket list:
Visit Egypt
Favorite lunchtime spot:
Smokey Bones
In five years, I'd like to:
I have everything now.
My favorite thing about Pittsburgh:
Riding my Seadoo's around the Point
One word my mother would use to describe me:
Bad
Pick one:
A. Pirates
B. Penguins
C. Steelers
D. Other — Detroit Tigers
E. I hate sports
I root for the Pirates in NL but have always been a Detroit Tigers fan.
My favorite Pittsburgh athlete:
Andrew McCutchen
My favorite sandwich:
Pastrami, rye, cole slaw
If I was auditioning for “American Idol,” my song would be:
“I Did It My Way”
My quirkiest inherited trait:
Talk with my hands
My favorite cable channel:
History
When I was 10, I wanted to be:
An actor
The first band I saw in concert:
Diana Ross at Westbury Music Fair
The best concert I've ever seen:
Average White Band
The oldest thing in my refrigerator:
Olives
Exercise I hate most:
Hiking
My most treasured fashion accessory:
Gold neck chain
I'm deathly afraid of:
Heights
TV marathon I could watch all day:
“Walking Dead,” great drama and characters
Saturday mornings, you'll find me:
At the gym
My favorite website:
Best new gadget I've tried recently:
Personal locator device
The worst advice I ever received:
Sell my UPS stock
The person I'm most often mistaken for:
Gene Hackman
In high school, I was:
A leader
The most famous person I ever became friends with:
Bill Birnes
The movie that always makes me cry:
“Gone With the Wind”
What you'll always find in my glove compartment:
Flashlight
My most embarrassing junk food:
Chocolate doughnuts
If I wasn't a UFO expert, I'd be:
A football player
Favorite Pittsburgh-area landmark:
The Point
Celebrity crush:
Natasha Henstridge
The last book I read:
“They Knew Too Much About UFOs”
My favorite Pittsburgh pizza:
Pizza Marsala
Movie I could watch every time it appears on cable:
“King Kong”
My most memorable fashion mistake:
Wore white shoes as a senior in high school
If I could live my life as someone else, it would be:
Sylvester Stallone
My childhood nickname:
Vent
My favorite “bad” movie:
“The Thing from Outer Space”
My first job:
Paper route
My worst job:
Cleaning dishes
Life would be better without:
Left-wing liberals
I never travel without my:
GPS
People would be surprised to know that I:
Was on the Anderson Cooper show
