I am a graduate student in chemistry at UCLA. The major advantage of this is that I get paid to do something I would have ordinarily done anyway. Well, except now I get to play with a machine that can melt *anything*. Seriously. Try me. (No, diamonds don't melt. They explode. And you can do that with a nice enough magnifying glass, FYI)

I tear apart almost everything I can get my hands on. I've been doing that since I was a child. My most often-used explanation (when I got in trouble) was, "I just wanted to see what was inside!" Actually, some variation of that is probably still the case. Right now I'm tearing apart my 1983 Meecedes-Benz turbodiesel. I've learned a lot about cars that way... and now the windows, locks, and stereo work too!

I'm also one of those sorts of people who think that life shouldn't be taken so seriously. It's only life after all!

As an aside, I think that dating websites are a kind of absurd way to meet people. Dating profiles are, in my opinion, more of a spectacle of contrivance than anything else. Still, it can be at least a bit exciting from time to time so... here I am anyway!

Right now I'm at the very end of my graduate career. While I work on my thesis (Titled: The Structure, Properties and Synthesis of Refractory Hard-Metal Borides), my mind sometimes wanders to how strange it is for things to feel in such flux right now. It's an interesting feeling, and one I haven't felt since I was a teenager. I'm savoring that right now. Seems like the while world is open again.

I've lived on the East, and now West, Coasts. So I'm thinking I might try the mid-west next. I've heard great things about both Chicago and St. Louis... (And I seem to have this weird affinity with Midwesterners)

Honestly, I think you can get at least pretty good at almost anything you dedicate your mind and energy towards. I seem to recall Malcolm Gladwell making a bit of a stink about that (aside: I'm not a fan. I mean... he gave a TED talk. *shudder*).

I tend to get along with machines and electronics, and pretty much not at all with plants. So I guess I have a bit of a black thumb.

I do, however, like to cook. My favorite thing is to grill, but I make some pretty mean kimchi and other multi-cultural dabblings as well (you should really try my French onion soup).

I seem as well to have a sort of exasperated, (ironically) jovial, crankiness about me that people find highly amusing to antagonize. Always seem so pleased with themselves... damned trouble-makers!

Personally, I'd just be happy if people noticed I was trying to cross the street and didn't try to run me over with their damned Prius silent-death-machine. (Another aside: cars should not have MPG video games in the console!)

People seem to interpret this question a liscense for nauseatingly long lists. Let's just summarize, folks!

Books: Anything that was written before I was born. I tend not to have much interest in modern fiction, but I love books on history, culture, and other curiosities.

Movies: One word -- zombies. Well, actually, that and almost anything from the 70's.

TV: I neither have nor desire cable. Netflix works just fine for me, thank you very much. Although, I hear HBO has this new porn called "Game of Thrones" that everybody has been talking about. I might check that out at some point.

Music: Sometimes I dance in the grocery store. But never to smooth jazz. Well... usually. My real taste, however, seems to be for indie-rock and indie-folk.

Food: meat, cheese, beer and coffee are my favorite food groups. Also bok choy. Can't get enough of it.

oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus (in order of percent by mass)

Is this supposed to be ironic?

Seriously, though. This question makes me angry. I refuse to answer it.

Anything and everything. To the exclusion of all else.

... but I'm not as big a fan of Wikipedia as you might think.
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I get very excited when the time in the clock reads either 1:28, 2:56, 5:12, or 10:24.

My excitement, however, does not double.

that I am.

So I guess that means I spend a lot of time burning bushes.

I grew up near a dairy farm. To this day, the smell of cow dung makes me think of ice cream. This is more useful than it might sound.

Well... maybe if...

... you have an interesting/weird landmark you'd like to show me

Or

... there is a neat exhibit at the museum and your like somebody to go with you

Or

... you'd like to cook with company

Or

... you know a great bar and want to get a drink

Or

... you really like long walks with no goal

Or

... you want to go yard sale-ing. (Haven't done that in ages!)

Or

... you can show me how to skateboard

Or

... you want to watch a B (or C) horror movie.

Or

... you can edit things for spelling and grammar. Hah, because, FSM sure knows I can't!

Or

... you are just plain cynical about the online dating thing. I actually find that attractive.

Or!

... _______________________________ (bonus points: fill in the blank)