I'm a passionate, independent guy who is looking for friends first and foremost, and then to see what happens. I'm probably deciding to look for more substantive romance later in life, whereas when I was younger I focused more on my career, but now, I know what I want and am very loyal and committed.

My friends say I have many diverse interests. I can be creative, musical, have good business sense, intelligent and outspoken as well as soft and considerate. It all depends upon the scenario. I've spent much of my younger years focusing on my career and I'm now learning to slow down and have fun and hopefully find some cool people to spend time with and maybe a special someone.

I am resourceful, erudite, and defying convention

I run my own business and have a pretty nice situation. I've worked very hard to get here and now I am focusing more on enjoying life and my friends.

I love music (play many different instruments and have performed all over with a variety of groups/styles), computers and technical stuff like software engineering (awarded "Editor's Choice" in PC Magazine for software I wrote). I've written a few well-known tech books. I'm always willing to learn something new. My interests and hobbies include: scuba, motorcycles, fine wine, woodworking, construction and DIY projects, stained glass and other types of glasswork, games, MTG, welding, philosophy, psychology, religion, debate, travel, outdoors, camping, etc., etc.

Probably my sharp sense of humor, passion and intensity. I'll never be the dumbest guy in the room.

I have been reading a lot of philosophy lately, including work by Daniel Dennett and Richard Dawkins. I'm kind of picky about movies and think a lot of what's in the theaters is crap nowadays, but every now and then I'm quite surprised by something that turns out quite good. My favorite movies are pretty diverse: from Fight Club, Citizen Kane and Apocolypse Now to Jerry Maguire, Office Space and This Is Spinal Tap. As for food, I love to cook and learn new things. I love to watch Hell's Kitchen.

Let's see...

1. A biologically-acceptable concentration of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

2. Di-hydrogen oxide

3. A variety of protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins

That's what I could "never do without". Beyond this... hmm, let me think... if we're talking figuratively...

4. Companionship in one form or another: good friends, loyal pets, lovers
5. Some sort of mental challenge

Oh wait, that's not what this is really about huh? Ok, I'm getting with the program:

1. Chinese noodles
2. My Franklin Mint Star Wars Chess Set(tm)
3. Tivo
4. My autographed copy of "Kama Sutra"
5. My pet flea: "Raphael"
6. "Chip clips" - those cool clip-type thingies that keep your opened bag of Doritos closed

how to make the world a better place. I feel as a human, I have more than a responsibility to entertain myself.

Creating or sharing something, or exploring someplace new either in the physical or the intellectual realm.

It probably sounds really cheesy, but I really do want to become a better person. I have the standard male bravado and facade, but underneath I am really open-minded and sensitive. I really want to be the best I can be, make the world a better place, and find that really special woman who truly loves and appreciates me. I often wonder if it's a lost cause, but I don't want to give up. So I pretend that it doesn't matter and my material successes are adequate, but underneath, they're not. But I won't settle. I act like I don't need anybody, but anyone who's smart and intuitive knows that's bullshit. I guess I am demoralized by how many women don't seem to look very deeply, and I am trying not to give up, but it's hard sometimes.

Also, one extra thing...I subtracted a few years from my age, because it seems there is some kind of threshold where all I end up with are really older women in my search results, and I am much younger looking and younger at heart than most people in their 30s even. So don't judge a book by its cover, especially in this case. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

You are looking for a new, interesting friend, and maybe more.