I am playful, silly and creative. Or, serious, analytical and focused. In one moment, I'm the guy who is in engaging conversation, trading thoughtful insights with other adults about serious matters of global geopolitical consequence. A few minutes later, I might just be that silly guy entertaining the four year olds with funny stories and games. Later, I'm the guy quietly sipping his wine, sitting on the couch to thoughtfully observe the party.

I tend to have an unusual set of interests including a number of apparent contradictions: techno and folk music; non-fiction reading and tango dancing; quick, cheap take out Chinese food and elegant home-cooked dinners. I'd probably have withdrawals if I'm home and my broadband connectivity is down, but I don't really miss it while I'm traveling.

My circle of friends is small, but I care deeply about each of my friends.

By the way, if you know what a parrot, a triad, and the letter "V" have in common (besides their role on, say, Sesame Street), or, if you don't know, but are curious, feel free to email me, we may have more in common than might otherwise be apparent.

"It is not death that a man should fear," according to an ancient philosopher, "He should fear never learning to live." Definitely working toward living a life of taking smart risks in life adventures. Still fairly cautious, but have taken some pretty big steps over the last year in my work life. Have a new job working for a new company with very different goals. Hard to explain in a sentence, but if you're interested, feel free to ask questions.

Other things I do with my life include:
sleeping, eating, personal hygiene, yoga, email to keep in touch, restaurants with friends, Argentine Tango, reading, movies, grocery shopping, cooking, hiking, video games and a variety of activities that don't often make it on to the schedule, like Swedish massage, writing and Balkan line dancing and house cleaning (aka. "the never-ending war against the always growing clutter!").

Finding a way to make an otherwise stressful situation funny. While miserable situations sometimes can't be helped, over the longer term, suffering is optional.

I wonder about lots of things. Lately, I've been interested in conflict: how people get into conflicts and how they resolve them; why some conflicts between people are so difficult to solve and why others seem so effortless.

I'm creative in the kitchen when the desire captures me. I'm pretty good at being mysterious, and just to prove it... if you'd like to know more about what I'm good at, you'll just have to get to know me. ;-)

I recall various people saying things that were their first impression, but can't remember them now.

== Books

No particularly "favorite" books, but some I've read recently:
- Culture and Prosperity - a book about why some countries have a higher standard of living than others, written by a notable British economist, John Kay. It's surprisingly easy to read, with lots of anecdotes to illuminate the various economic theories he employs.
- Blink - the power of thinking without thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell.
- Compassionate Communication by Marshall Rosenberg
- Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
- Reading about economics and social justice
- Reading about conflict resolution

== Movies

The Bridge on the River Kwai, Matrix, Jean de Florette / Manon du Source, Burnt by the Sun, Cuckoo, English Patient, Princess Bride, Ferris Beuler's Day Off, Whale Rider, La Vita � bella, The Road Home, Catch Me If You Can, Fight Club, Star Trek: First Contact, Abyss, City of Lost Children, His Girl Friday, Amelie, The Illusionist, and I'm sure a bunch more that I just can't recall at the moment. Pretty much most foreign film, good sci-fi or drama. I really enjoy comedies as well, but really good comedy is hard to find.

I have to say I was surprised to have enjoyed Firefly in it's for-television format more than I enjoyed the movie Serenity.

== Music

It really varies depending on my mood. International ethnic music like Balkan ( like the local bands Balkanarama and Ensemble Sub Masa), Indian Carnatic music, Irish /Celtic/ Gaelic music, Chinese and Brazilian. Some techno / trance / ambient / industrial. Some instrumental / classical, like Chopin, Piazzola, Joplin, Enya, and Stanley Greenthal.

== Foods

South Indian food, especially Ayurvedic (had a *great* experience once in South India). Dim Sum especially, but Chinese food generally as well as Thai and Vietnamese. Vegetarian food. Fusion foods that cross ethnic lines. Ethiopian is good, as well as French / Spanish / Italian / German / Polish / Russian food (in roughly West to East order...). Difficulty digesting certain foods limits my enjoyment of some cuisines, but I enjoy trying new dishes.

Not necessarily in any particular order...

opportunities to be creative
close friends
a chance to make a difference
interesting challenges
quiet time
broadband Internet connectivity... ok, I *could* adjust to life without it, but at the moment, I'm pretty hooked.

What I'm going to be when I grow up. Whether I should grow up. About conflicts and why they happen. About sex and relationships. Wondering why physical attraction is so rarely symetric. Go figure.

More recently, why there are so many twentysomething women online on this site who are already "seeing someone." Are they just "online to take the tests?"

I don't really have a typical Friday night. Sometimes I just come home and relax. Sometimes I go out to dinner or movies with friends. Sometimes I go to a milonga (an Argentine Tango dance). Sometimes I play games online with friends... sorta just depends what's happening that week.

That I'm fairly private. :-)

You have read a book by Deborah Anapol and find my profile interesting.

Or, you're sweet, funny, and curious. Hint: If you're still thinking about the cryptic message about the parrot from the intro, you're probably curious. Email me, I'll satisfy your curiosity...