My name is Mark Manashirov. I'm a native New Yorker who was born and raised in Brooklyn. I have a Jewish heritage, but I'm really not religious at all, and I actually consider myself to be an agnostic. English is my native language but I can also speak fluently in Russian.

I have a unique personality just like everyone else! Seriously though, I'm a quiet, simple kind of guy who's honest, loyal, and kind. I'm very principled, and I take responsibility for my actions. I set a high moral standard for myself, and I live by it everyday. I'm also extremely methodical and meticulous about the things I care about; I guess that's a fancy way of saying that I'm a perfectionist.

I'm not much of a party animal, and I usually don't have much in common with the typical party-goer. I generally like to spend my free time by kicking back outdoors; I like going to parks and beaches, and I love to fish and hike. I also love going to libraries, book stores, and museums. Mostly, however, I like to just spend time at home with my family, my dog, and anyone else I care deeply about.

I exercise a lot and eat pretty healthy. I like to take good care of myself because it makes me feel great. I've been playing hockey since I was about eight years old, for which I have my father to thank: I actually wanted to play baseball as a kid but my father didn't want to hear it because he thinks baseball is a sissy sport. Russians... go figure!

Anyway, I'm not quite sure what my purpose in life is yet but I do know that I love the endless pursuit of knowledge. I'm passionate about programming and I think math is sexy! My dream is to positively change the world someday. Maybe it's a bit too ambitious but if you're going to dream then you might as well dream big!

I'm currently a full-time student studying Math and Computer Science at Brooklyn College. Basically I'm still trying to get myself established in this world. Once I get my Bachelor's degree, I'll have to decide whether to pursue my education further or to become a cog in the corporate wheel. While I love and respect academia, money is what makes the world go round, and time waits for no one. Ah, decisions, decisions.

Anything I set my mind to. What can I say? I'm just that good!

Joking aside, I'm pretty good with computers, programming, math, and other nerdy stuff like that. I'm also pretty good at hockey. Heck, I've been playing since I was about eight years old so I would hope that I'm at least somewhat good at it by now. Consequently, I'm also a really good skater so I'm often rollerblading with my dog on Ocean Parkway (say hello if you see us!).

I don't know. Why don't you ask them? Better yet, let's meet so you can tell me yourself!

However, I would like to point out that regardless of the things that people may notice about me initially, there are so many different sides to me that will only manifest over time as a person gets to know me better. Shrek, my hero, once said that "ogres are like onions: onions have layers, ogres have layers; you get it, we both have layers!" Well, I too have layers, and I think it would be foolish to judge a person solely on their outward appearance when it's what's inside that counts.

Textbooks! I honestly don't read much unless I have to learn something. I should probably start reading more novels though.

I like most movies, but these are so good that I could probably watch them over and over again:
The Patriot, Braveheart, Gladiator, Troy, The Lord of the Rings, Rocky, Stargate, Star Wars, Serenity, Apollo 13, Contact, The Matrix, Rudy, The Shawshank Redemption, Jaws, Jumanji, A Christmas Story, Toy Story, Shrek, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, Disney Fairy Tales

I rarely watch television, but these shows rock:
Battlestar Galactica, Stargate SG-1, Firefly, The X-Files, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Futurama, King of the Hill, Married... with Children

I generally prefer rock music, but I kind of like a bit of everything. For example, I often listen to new age music whenever I'm working, studying, or sleeping. Some of my favorite bands are Disturbed, Lacuna Coil, Linkin Park, Three Days Grace, Five Finger Death Punch, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. This is obviously not an exhaustive list, but you get the idea.

I'm not a picky eater, but I especially love:
Mom's homemade food. ♥
Fruits: nature's candy.
Pizza!

Material possessions are nice, but they're not essential. For the sake of answering the question though (in descending order):
1. Health (without which everything else is useless)
2. Family/friends/camaraderie
3. Soap/deodorant (for my own sake as well as theirs!)
4. Privacy (not necessarily solitude)
5. Bedding/plumbing (comfort in general)
6. Computers/Internet (technology in general)

Besides reflecting on the day's events, I spend a lot of time thinking about:
My work and projects.
Ways in which I can improve myself.
The Universe, the origin of life, and philosophy.
Politics, sociology, and current events.
The past and the future!

Plotting to take over the world.

The magnitude of my natural log is inversely proportional to the distance between us.

(If you understood this then you deserve a cookie!)

You consider yourself a nerd, geek, and/or dork.
You're a student.
You live nearby.

Feel free to message me even if you don't fit these criteria. I don't bite; I only nibble.

However, please do not message me if:
You're dishonest.
You're a smoker.
You're a drug user.
You're an excessive drinker.
You're vulgar, and/or you curse a lot.

Thank you, and have a nice day!