I enjoy confounding people's expectations.

I'm an introvert that often gets mistaken for an extrovert.

I like to call myself a generalist, somebody whose interests and aptitudes span multiple disciplines.

I'm a recovering geek, as my sci-fi collection will attest.

I am passionate about ideas, and drawing connections between those ideas with other people.

I think people's bookshelves are a proxy for their identity.

I'm playing ultimate frisbee again after a knee injury last summer, and it feels great to run around again.

I have found that homemade cookies are appropriate for any audience and any occasion, from toddlers to wine tastings.

I bike to work most days.

I have sky dived, bungee jumped, scuba dived, ridden a motorcycle, lived in Switzerland and Manhattan, eaten at the French Laundry, served coffee at Burning Man, climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge, officiated at my sister's wedding, and sung with a chorus at Carnegie Hall.

Former physicist, former software engineer, former biotech scientist and consultant, former product manager, now an analyst at Google.

Conversation is my superpower: I can talk about any subject you find interesting, from abstract art to sociology to physics to professional football (okay, you probably don't find that interesting). Or else I'll resort to snarktastic commentary.

Height (6'3"). Even people that have known me for decades often comment "Did you grow again?!" when they haven't seen me in a couple months.

(A) I'm unable to walk into a used book store or library without getting a book, so choosing favorites is difficult. Authors I like include Bruno Latour, James Carse, Richard Feynman, Lois McMaster Bujold, Steven Brust, Chuck Klosterman, David Foster Wallace. In other words, pretty much anything goes, so long as it's well-written and interesting, although I aspire to read more thoughtful nonfiction or essays these days.

(B) I watch the summer blockbusters (Star Trek was surprisingly decent). I'm currently a fan of How I Met Your Mother and Chuck on TV.

(C) My favorite music depends on my mood. I've got everything from Mahler to Steve Reich to The Who to Green Day in my collection. Although I have to admit that an all-80s radio station would suit me just fine.

(D) Indian food like saag paneer is my favorite at the moment, but noodle dishes from lo mein to ramen are always great.

How to optimize management. How the brain works. The fundamental interconnectedness of all ideas.

you are somebody who attacks life with gusto. (What a weird word gusto is. Seriously. Just say it out loud with me. Gusto. English is so wacky. Anyway.)