That I'm a big guy.

I like books, I mostly nonfiction now (history, science, skepticism, linguistics, social science). I don't read as much fiction as I used to. Sadly, most novels that I pick up are cursed with either boring characters or an annoying writing style. I still like Edgar Allan Poe, Jack London, Joseph Conrad, J.R.R. Tolkien, and an obscure Quebec fantasy and horror novelist named Patrick Senécal. Stephen King, Robert Heinlein, and George R. R. Martin aren't really all that good but they're guilty pleasures.

I watch entirely too much television: The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, The Mentalist, and too many reruns of nostalgia-laden 1970s to 1990s shows to mention. I have recently discovered the brilliant Arrested Development, which I somehow missed the first time around. I might consider ditching the TV just to eliminate the time-wasting temptation if it weren't for Jeopardy! (which I almost never miss and which I hope to appear on eventually) and PBS (Downton Abbey, The Newshour, Nova, Foyle's War, Sherlock).

In movies, I'll watch almost anything as long as it doesn't put special effects over story. Oh, and most musicals suck. I usually prefer to watch movies at home on DVD. I don't like movie theaters because of the people talking, phones ringing, people kicking the back of the seat, gum on the floor, and the pervading reek of imitation butter flavoring. My favorite films include The Third Man, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Harvey, The Departed, Full Metal Jacket, Schindler's List, Amelie, and Pan's Labyrinth. And while I'm not much of a sports fan, I perversely like sports movies. Rocky is one of my favorites.

Music is not a huge part of my life, I must admit. When I listen, I gravitate toward late-1960s early-1970s rock (Beatles, Stones, Doors) or classical (mostly Mozart), depending on my mood. I'll listen to other genres: blues, soul, sometimes opera. I dislike country music generally, except Johnny Cash.

My daily walk (six miles, more or less)
My daily coffee (four cups, more or less)
Chocolate (How much ya got?)
My books
The books of other people
Family (I suppose, if I must have a sixth)

The best possible place to live. Seriously, I can spend entire afternoons making up charts and graphs factoring in weather, seismic hazards, dominant vegetation, tax rates, proximity to cultural venues, housing values, and the ratio of convited arsonists to man-eating alligators. So far I'm torn between Wolfeboro, New Hampshire (no known alligators); Skagway, Alaska (no known arsonists); and that little blemish you can almost see on the nose of the Man in the Moon (no known weather).

wondering what the hell happened to Friday afternoon.