What makes us distinct as a species is our capacity for abstract thought. I have a large diet of ideas, and arrange for the time and intellectual independence needed to chew on them. Science, Philosophy, current events, history, art, these are all worthwhile dedications.

I'm an atheist, of the sort that hopes religion dies out in the long run but who isn't in a big rush to stomp it out right now. Maybe like Dawkins. Except I've had a number of "odd friendships" with religious people where I passionately but politely challenge their worldview (and am happy to talk about areas of agreement too), and they do the same to mine. I'm curious enough about systems of thought that I can converse intelligibly about theology (Usul al-Fiqh? Yup, read all about it). Friendly intellectual competition with good sportsmanship, where people play to win but enjoy the sparring and interpersonal ties that come through that - that's my thing.

I'm a socialist, of the technocratic (not populist) kind, and I spend a fair bit of time thinking about theory. My engagement with activism is complicated because activism is rarely careful or thoughtful enough, and when I hear a bad argument, I'll criticise it (whether it's for my side or some other side). Plus I insist on good arguments, and strongly resist peer pressure to accept frameworks or sets of definitions.

I believe creativity is important in a healthy lifestyle; music, storytelling, and sketching particularly.

I believe society should nurture people, but not baby them, and that activist communities often lose the plot when they demand respect for identities (rather than tolerance). There must be no red lines, and intent is everything in how we judge people. Second-wave activism is healthier than third-wave, and if you're not poking fun at yourself and everyone else, all while caring about them, you're living life wrong. And cultural appropriation is AWESOME. Dark, no-holds-barred, and gallows humour are the best humour. Absurdist humour's good too.

I fear getting bored, but don't mind long naps under trees in the summer. I like being outside, love camping, and regularly walk or run in the parks. Photography's a nice distraction too. I'm mildly into gaming (computer and interpersonal, e.g. Munchkin and Illuminati), and really liked Skyrim, the Civilization series, and Fallout 3.

I try to avoid TV, particularly professional sports.

Learning. Expressing myself. Writing. Mostly alone though. Maybe you can help with that?

I blog. I have endless creative and technical projects, many of which are left unfinished. I sometimes grab things in the park to take them back to my microscope.

I've moved from city to city every few years in my life. I miss Pittsburgh. My life has an international, multilingual, academic flavour.

Professionally, I'm a (Unix Systems) programmer, and I like teaching people to program, how databases work, and about Unix. I've also done neuropsychology research.

Philosophy. Maybe programming. Debate?

The latter's not always a good thing; people often live in worlds-of-discourse where they insist that someone either is convinced of something or they're stubborn/arrogant/difficult/bad. I've thought my views out enough that it's hard to convince me to change them, and no matter who you are, I can almost guarantee you we have some areas where we'll disagree yet one or both of us are passionate about our position. Hopefully that's ok.

Lots of curly hair. Giant computer bag, laptop. Odd accent?

Books: I read a lot of philosophy and am particularly fond of Rawls and ibn Khaldun. I'm particularly interested in philosophy of jurisprudence. In fiction, I like Murakami, Rushdie, and Kundera. I also read some academic journals, particularly those relating to foreign events and neuropsychology, but also more generally in the sciences. I'm not above the occasional trashy fantasy novel.

Movies: I like many of Hitchcock's better films, particularly Vertigo and Rear Window. Svankmajer's also great but too creepy to watch all that often. Woody Allen too, if you substitute depressing for creepy. Wuxia and Bollywood films are fun for lighter moods and sometimes I'll watch anine (Serial Experiments: Lain is great). Films that play with a neat idea (Primer, The Man From Earth) are appreciated. Comedy-horror is also occasionally great (Nightmare on Elm Street series, Leprechaun series). I like watching really terrible films too, with the help of MST3k or raw. Intentionally campy films like "The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra" are fun.

Shows: I don't watch TV, but sometimes get the content other ways. I generally try to keep on The Daily Show, QI, and Mock the Week. I liked pre-remake Doctor Who, and also Deep Space 9. I occasionally will watch Law and Order if it's on TV but don't seek it out.

Music: Firewater, Plaid Tongued Devils, Dar Williams, VNV Nation, Malkit Singh, Vienna Teng, Bad Religion, Panorama Jazz Band, Oingo Boingo

Food: I don't eat meat. Plenty of Indian food, stews, fresh fruit, and pancakes.

Comedy: Dara o'Briain, Frankie Boyle, Lewis Black, Steven Wright

Laptop, pen and paper, travel budget, bare necessities for life, time to think, access to nature.

Just about everything. Meaning in life, motivation, brains, societies, norms, fixing activism, fixing supper, how blind people might program, ....

Probably taking a walk, or at a coffeeshop. I spend a lot of time in coffeeshops.

Calling myself "straight" isn't accurate, but I'm looking for a monogamous relationship with a woman (meaning XX genetics) here.

Interest in kink is a plus, but isn't at all necessary. If you have a really low sex drive (less than 3 times a week), things probably wouldn't work out, although there's no huge rush to get started on that front.

I'm originally from Texas. I love the Texas accent (mine is fairly mild) and the food, hate the politics down there.

I sound like someone you might be interested in.

I'm only likely to be emotionally interested if you're an atheist (or nearly so) intellectual. I'm only likely to be physically interested if you're healthy and not anywhere in the direction of being fat. A backpack and comfortable shoes on you are cooler than a purse and high heels. I'm looking for an equal, relationally and intellectually. Being potentially interested in kids if things work out long-term would be a significant plus.

If you like spending time in the park, at museums, opera, and in coffeeshops, that's a good sign. If going to a public lecture or to philosophy gatherings sounds exciting, that's very promising. If you have a dream of having chickens someday (because they're totally awesome), that'd rock. I'm looking for an equal to share my life and self with; someone who'd challenge me as much as I'd them, someone to call me on my occasional BS, someone to bounce ideas off of, and another hiker of the jungles and plains of the mind.

While I'm primarily here in hopes of a long-term relationship, I may be open to other things.

I might not respond if I'm not interested, because it's a downer to either need to say (or hear) someone say that, and I take it as understood that ignoring a first message is ok. You also *must* have some decent pictures on your profile.