Issuing supreme power to you...one moment.

My self-summary Propose an edit

I'm a good-natured geeky guy. I like good books, bad books, coffee, goth music, folk music, RPGs, computers, dead languages, good beer and cool weather. I'm part gamer, part goth, part folkie and part bibliophile. I can spend a pleasant few minutes explaining exactly what a balrog is or how Old English differs from Shakespeare's language, but I usually have the sense not to do so unless specifically asked; I can accept that many people don't share my obsessions, and I can shut up about the ones people aren't interested in.

I enjoy conversation and language. In conversation, I find the ideas more important than the expression; in written works the elegance or depth of the language complements the idea. I'm not a grammar snob, but I do appreciate memorable and thoughtful phrasing. I'm not often satisfied with my own efforts here, though, and of course there's a difference between serious writing and the everyday.

And I also enjoy sitting back with a good beer and watching Adult Swim, playing the latest absurd computer game, or hitting the clubs. I don't dance very well but it's fun to have an excuse to dress up, listen to loud music and drink with my friends.

One of my former coworkers once accurately identified me as the kind of person who might own a cloak. I don't actually own a cloak, but I'm willing to admit to being the kind of person who might.

I live in a cheerful shared house full of animals. None of the animals are mine, but they seem fond of me anyway.

What I'm doing with my life Propose an edit

I work on Boston.com's content management system. Like any other job it has its good and its bad points, but I like that it's a well-known, local company.

I try to remember to spend more time on books, socialization and exercise, and less on computer games. I don't always succeed. Learning to play Rock Band is at least a way to play computer games and socialize at the same time.

From time to time I think about grad schools, but I haven't quite made up my mind yet. If they were more aimed at teaching and less at research I'd be more certain of my interest. The other down side is that they expect you to apply with a specific focus - coming in with the attitude of "I dunno, I just want to study areas that make me think" doesn't really work.

Sometimes I take evening classes at Harvard to keep my brain from atrophying, and to help remind myself to read new books outside the usual SF/fantasy literary ghetto. Most recently I took one on Law and Ethics. Before that, it was "The Madness of Crowds", which was disappointing but at least led to a number of entertainingly nutty rants against environmentalism from the professor. Back in what's increasingly a long time ago, I studied Oscar Wilde and Icelandic sagas - consecutively, not in the same class.

I'm really good at Propose an edit

Coming up with obscure trivia. Listening. Remembering things I read once two years previously. Mental arithmetic.

The first thing(s) people usually notice about me Propose an edit

Shouldn't this question be saved for the testimonials or something? My best guess is the widow's peak and weird tee shirts. When people want to flatter me, they usually tell me I have nice eyes.

The TSA thinks I look like a terrorist. I've been stopped in airports because of this.

My favorite books, movies, music, and food Propose an edit

I have far too many books to easily pick favorites, but some authors I keep coming back to are Terry Pratchett, Tim Powers, Patricia McKillip, Diana Wynne Jones, Gene Wolfe, Michael Chabon, R. A. MacAvoy and Barbara Hambly. Neal Stephensen's books are a lot of fun and occasionally approach seriousness. Neil Gaiman writes excellent comic books, but I don't think his novels are up to the same standard. Last Chance to See was Douglas Adams' best book.

Shakespeare, John Donne and T. S. Eliot are some of my favorite famous dead white men. Nabokov is my latest addition to that list. I've read a fair number of the recent popular interest books on econmics (Freakonomics and so on) but I'm not sure I'd really call those favorites.

I'm less of a packrat about movies. Some of my favorites are Donnie Darko, Grosse Point Blank, Boondock Saints, and the first two Aliens movies. Or at least those are some of the ones I own.

More recently, Juno was cute, if a little too self-consciously clever. The Dark Knight was an excellent comic book movie. The Illusionist was well worth a rental, as were Sweeney Todd, Brick and Sideways.

I've never seen a Humphrey Bogart movie without at least some redeeming value.

My music's varied. A lot of it's mainstream within its genre, but I like a lot of superficially incompatible genres. In other words, I might wear a Ministry tee shirt to a Dar Williams concert.

I have a lot of Leonard Cohen, Love and Rockets, Bob Dylan, Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Suzanne Vega, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Pixies and the Pogues. In the indie category, the big names are Neutral Milk Hotel, the Decemberists, the Mountain Goats, the National and the New Pornographers.

I have a weakness for singer/songwriters, especially women with guitars; Erin McKeown is my favorite local example. Aimee Mann's up there too.

I've seen the Dresden Dolls live more times than I can easily count.

My favorite foods usually involve garlic, capers or both.

On a typical Friday night I am Propose an edit

Most of the time I'm at home unwinding after the work week - watching Dr. Who or Battlestar Galactica, if they're in season. Exciting, isn't it? Saturday nights are usually more lively.

I used to go out to Man Ray sometimes, but since it closed I haven't found a Friday night event close enough to my tastes to make a habit out of.

You should message me if Propose an edit

You'd like a friendly argument, company for a movie or play, or a new victim for a video game. Or if you like both Suzanne Vega and Bauhaus. Or just think I sound worth talking to.

I'm mostly interested in meeting local people. I might write back to someone remote, but the odds are against it.

I respond to woos infrequently at best. I'd rather get a message that says something specific, even if it's short.

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