I'm an amateur story-teller wearing a scientist costume, trapped in the body of an over-sized horse jockey.

I'm a total naive optimist at heart. I pretend to be cynical for the fun of it, but I'm really a terribly positive person. I am not a fan of pretention, arrogance, or people using cynicism as an emotional shield.

Most of the time, all I want to do is cook vegan food, play guitar, read great books, listen to strangers' life stories, and above all, be a positive piece in the lives of others - whether it's from a passing complement to a stranger I'll never see again or from being the closest person in someone's life. Everything else tends to be secondary.

"Life is too short for dawdling" ~ Paul Auster

Finishing my PhD in Cognitive Science. If the academic thing doesn't work out (probably due to me making one too many sex jokes to scientists at conferences) - I fantasize about becoming a professional story-teller. I'm only half-joking.

If the academic thing does work out, I'd love to do a post-doc in Australia...

Entertaining others, gracefully dominating at board games, and announcing what everyone is thinking but no one wants to say. I simply refuse to let people be bored or uncomfortable. It's a cliche but seriously, life is way, way too fucking short to be wasted.

Discovering strange new hobbies - like memorizing the order of a shuffled deck of playing cards.

I was told by someone once that when I talk to people, I make them feel like they are the only person in the room. I don't know if many people notice that but I certainly try to make people feel that way.

Also people notice that I tell lots of jokes. Some bad...some...actually most are pretty bad.

Books by Paul Auster, John Irving, and other authors that I can't think of right now....

Here's a random list of movies off the top of my head - Anchorman, Step Brothers, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Fargo, The Goonies, Best in Show, The Departed, Ratatouille, Wall-E, Inglorious Basterds, Seven, Being There, Moon, The Prestige, Spice World, Knocked Up, The Naked Gun, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Adaptation, Dr. Strangelove, The Big Lebowski, Coraline and a few others.

I can go from a dorky romantic comedy, to a horror film, to an action movie, to an esoteric foreign film without skipping a beat.

Once again with TV shows...Curb Your Enthusiasm, Dexter, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Firefly, Planet Earth, The Office (the early seasons when it was amazing), The X-Files, Futurama, Seinfeld and of course, The Simpsons.

I love (clever) silly humor. I love Monty Python, Will Ferrell, and Jim Carrey (most of the time).

Oh yes there's music too....Bloc Party, Tool, Natalie Walker, Billie Holiday, Chopin, Nine Inch Nails, Mumford and Sons, Third Eye Blind, Michael Buble, Smashing Pumpkins, Yo-Yo Ma, The Mars Volta, Radiohead, Clint Mansell, Explosions in the Sky, Muddy Watters, Iron and Wine, Nada Surf, Muse...

I've been vegan for the past 7 years. I tried it out for 2 weeks in college and never turned back. The idea of cooking with animal products grosses me out now. But I'll admit that hamburgers on a grill smell amazing. Also I'm a total sucker for a nice pair of leather boots.

1. My 4 siblings (and my new nephew!) They are just the greatest.
2. Great music.
3. A place just for me with soft lighting and warm socks.
4. Passionate people.
5. A bike/running path.
6. A well stocked kitchen and a decent kitchen knife.

I love the feeling of settling into an old leather chair, the sound of ice clinking in a whisky glass, and the smell of old wood. I find the mood generated by candle-lit middle-aged castles and creaky, underground taverns to be intoxicating (in the best possible way).

My favorite sound is the rustling of small plants caused by a furry woodland creature when I'm wandering about.

Why I didn't think of creating Facebook when I was in college. It seems so obvious in hindsight.

Trying to surprise people - usually at my own expense.

I invented every internet meme. I apologize for that whole planking thing. That was stupid. I really didn't expect it to take off like that.

If you don't take yourself too seriously or let the little things get you down, and like to have silly fun, then we'll have a great time together : )

If you and your friends like to isolate yourselves at bars / clubs / restaurants and talk about how much better looking / more intelligent / better dressed you are than other people, I have no interest in joining. I'll be the less attractive idiot wearing boring clothes with a huge smile on my face.

For some strange reason I find clumsy women very endearing. So if you frequently trip over your own feet and laugh at yourself while on the floor...I'm sold.