I prefer a conversation to a list of things that I am. It feels like a more natural way to get to know someone. So, I play and watch hockey. Think pugilistic and truculent Burke is like an out of date car maker building old style, gass-guzzling SUV's, when what people want is small, fast, exciting smart cars. I'm reading a book called Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Cotzee, which is so far not as good as Disgrace but I was promised it was some I'm holding in there. I saw "Away We Go" this summer, by Sam Mendes, it was ok, it had the guy from "The Office." I like the "the Office" and although I love British humour, I prefer the American Version. I would talk about Tom Waits, saw John Prine play this summer, went to Paris. All good conversations

Looking for really good conversations (see above.)

Listening, talking, being really interested and honestly curious.

OK 500 more words and I'm 65%.

We could talk about Quantum Physics chaos theory, string theory ohhh parallel universes. There is a guy online that will teach you to jump to other universes and find an Alternate You and learn all the secrets of the world and then jump back to this one. Begs the question though... how does Alternate You know all the secrets, aren't they mostly you but with the odd opposite choice. What if Alternate You doesn't believe in parallel universes and has you locked up in a mental institution and you are stuck there?

We could talk about whether Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, whether Harper should give up politics for a singing career,
whether his art excuses Roman Polanski's "youthful discretion,"
whether Scotland was right to release the Lockerbie bomber,
whether it's good for the life of the traditional narrative that more people aren't watching Jay Leno,
whether it matters Letterman is sleeping with subordinates,
whether new world or old world wines are better,
whether Diana Krall should ever be considered Jazz,
whether Elvis Costello lost all street cred by marrying Diana Krall,
whether Michael Moore offers more than just left wing propaganda, whether Woody Allen is brilliant or just creepy
why the British are so funny,
whether being a tourist in very poor countries is fair
whether a good life's work could make up for accidentally killing someone at Chappaquiddick or does one very bad deed define your whole life

shirley, that's 500 words?

If you are interested in any of the conversation topics listed, if you think people should start with an interesting conversation -- about anything, if you have an interesting conversation to suggest.