Some things I'm passionate about: music, especially classical; figuring things out and explaining them to other people (I earn my bread as a scientific researcher and teacher); photography; words; friends and family.

Some more things I like a lot: conversation; yoga; gardening; swing dancing; hiking; museums; cooking; reading; writing; dogs (and other animals, but there's something special about the intensity of dogs).

Some things I don't much care for: TV, most pop music, football, baseball.

Talking about feelings. Knowing what time it is even if I haven't seen a clock for hours. (Working steading at) being conscious of my faults and open to criticism. Being open to new experiences.

I'm often a little reserved in groups and on first meetings; what people probably get first about me is that I'm interested in lots of things. Those that become friends get to know my warm, generous, and affectionate sides.

Books: My favorites ever are Middlemarch and Anna Karenina (don't make me choose between them). I tend to alternate between big classic novels and contemporary fiction, with forays into mysteries and cyberpunk.

Music: Pretty much any classical music, but especially 19th and 20th century chamber music. Bach, especially keyboard works, cello suites, and cantatas. Schubert, especially the songs and piano pieces. Berg violin concerto. Everything by Steve Reich and most things by John Adams. I also listen to lots of jazz and folk/world music. The two albums I've listened to the most in the past two years are New Ancient Strings (Toumani Diabate) and Angela Hewitt's recording of the Bach partitas.

Movies (looking back at my recent NetFlix rentals)... Milk, Kung Fu Panda, The Band's Visit, Vera Drake, Terminator, Touch the Sound, The Wire, The Visitor, The Diving Bell and the Buttefly, Persepolis, There Will Be Blood, Lust Caution, La Jetee, Hairspray, Shortbus, City of the Lost Children, Metropolis, Delicatessin. My favorite is Wings of Desire. I'll see anything from Pixar, even the bad ones.

Food: I can't eat salt so I don't go to restaurants much and don't do most interesting cuisines at all. Fortunately, I like cooking at home.

close friends
my work
my bike
the new york times
schubert piano sonatas
books on tape

So many choices... Maybe out with friends, maybe (especially if it's First Friday) wandering aimlessly around the galleries of Old City, maybe working, maybe making some photographs, maybe sitting out on my deck with a grilled steak, a mondo salad, and a good book watching the sun set...

What a silly question!

You're smart, sensitive, self-aware, and in the market for interesting friends...