I am a warrior for freedom. My weapons are journalism, law, and my current field of study, philosophy. I am a defender of man.

I write and read all sorts of things, from deep intellectual arguments on fundamental moral questions to Harry Potter fanfiction, for work, for school or just for fun--I enjoy singing, listening to a wide variety of music and attending musicals.

I'm on the cusp of the dissertation stage of a doctorate in philosophy at the University; I brought an M.A. from the City University of New York.

Virginia is a great place to do philosophy. Aside from our philosophy faculty (which is is very impressive) and the faculty in related departments such as Classics and Politics, we get quite a good run of relevant guest speakers.

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying Charlottesville. I've been quite surprised at how much there is to enjoy here, even just on and around Grounds. I've attended a number of a capella concerts, and I look forward to attending more. And I'm learning some Southern culture--quite different from the New York culture with which I grew up--and enjoying it. Chivalry does have a place in a flourishing life.

Writing.

Thinking.

I'm also a good singer--but as a singer, I'm only a good amateur.

That I'm wearing a tie. I'm almost always wearing a tie. I've worn ties fairly consistently since high school--I tried going without one for a year in college, but I didn't like it, so I went back.

Now I'm trying again. I just bought about a dozen polo shirts. I'm not yet sure what I'll wear in the winter.

Fiction books I read at least once a year include: "Atlas Shrugged"; "The Fountainhead"; "Les Miserables"; "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress" and probably a few other Heinleins; and the "Harry Potter" books. Nonfiction favorites begin, but certainly do not end, with the Nicomachean Ethics.

Movies I own on DVD and greatly enjoy include, in no particular order (unlike the list of books, which is in a particular order): Oliver Stone's "Alexander" (OK, some order!); "Dangerous Beauty"; "Titanic"; "The Shawshank Redemption"; "Galaxy Quest"; "Spartacus"; "The Aviator"; "Mulan"; "Camelot" ... and need I mention a certain series of films concerning a young wizard?

I enjoy Handel, especially the Fireworks Music, Bach, especially the Magnificat, and Beethoven, especially (big surprise) the Ode to Joy. Among living composers, I greatly enjoy John Williams, whose "The Mission" helped shape my sense of life and who may actually have written a phoenix song that lives up to the myth, Vangelis, whose opening theme for Chariots of Fire was one of my three favorite pieces of music for a long time but has now been eclipsed by his even nobler Eternal Alexander (his closing theme for Bladerunner is good too, by the way), and Mike Shapiro, an Objectivist some of whose music can be found at mikemusic.com.

When I sing, it's about half show tunes (favorite musicals include Les Miserables, 42nd Street, Man of LaMancha and Cabaret, and I enjoy Andrew Lloyd Webber's melodies greatly) and half a broad spectrum of all sorts of other things. On a good night in karaoke, I'll do "Music of the Night" or "To Where You Are," just for the vocal fun of it, but I may also do "Private Emotion," "One," "Whiskey in the Jar," "Hava Nagila," or even "Toreador." "America the Beautiful" is also a standard of mine, and on one very special occasion where I was at the time a karaoke regular, I sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" to an utterly silent bar.

I looked for years for a copy of Sarajevo Ljubavi Moja, which is very significant to me.

Although I enjoy eating and wouldn't want to omit it (though I do on June 4), I don't much enjoy talking about it, so I'll just say I enjoy the cuisines of Japan (especially sushi, but also teriyaki, tempura and other things), China, Thailand, Italy, India and Bosnia (especially proper Sarajevan cevapcici, which I had there and have now found again in Queens).

First, my own good character. That implies reflection and good action, but those are more acts than things, so I won't count them toward the six.

Second, my computer.

Third, my PDA. I am never as productive without one.

Fourth, my glasses. Actually, these should probably be second on the list, as items two and three wouldn't do me nearly as much good without them.

Fifth... hmm... how about the Constitution of the United States?

And sixth, I will suspend metaphysical concerns about calling them one (and a thing, no less!) and, in a daring move with only about a few hundred thousand precedents on OKCupid, include my friends and family.

Ethics (theoretical and applied), politics (ditto) and law. Journalism. Things I will, or might, write--which sometimes do and sometimes don't coincide with those subjects. Manliness, gentlemanliness and chivalry. How to teach. What art to put in my apartment.

Home at my computer, same as most other days and nights.

Most of my friends are beautiful women... but I've never had a girlfriend. One reason for this is that I tend to want to know a person before asking her out, and by the time I'm ready to date her, she thinks of me as a friend and therefore not a romantic prospect. This always seems backward, because I'd think the trust and mutual appreciation that develop between friends would be the best possible foundation for a loving relationship.

If you're thinking of dating me, all this has three ramifications: One, it means I'll be genuinely interested in getting to know you, and quite likely in remaining (or becoming) friends if romance doesn't work out. Two, it means you'll have to accept that there will always be good-looking ladies around me whom I'm not dating. Three, our interaction will probably be affected in various ways by my substantial experience being friends with women (one of my friends recently told me I was "as good as a girl," then started to apologize because she thought I was too manly to be told that) and lack of experience being a boyfriend.

Or to make a long story short: If you want a man who'll value you as a complete person while never forgetting that part of that is appreciating you as an attractive woman--I might be your man. If you want to build a romance and a friendship at the same time--I might be the right person with whom to try it. But if you want a more purely physical relationship, or if you want a guy who's an expert boyfriend--I wish you luck elsewhere.

You would like to talk about any of the subjects mentioned above, and you are willing and able to do so in good English.