Everything in my life has some common thread, some pattern, some order that explains it or justifies it. But it's a winding, thin-in-parts thread and the things in my life are diverse and contradictory: I did very well at university but I barely went to class; I studied science for most of my life but now prefer to invest my mental energy in philosophy and related works; I believe in the potential of the market but regularly refuse to participate.

I'm some strange combination of introverted and extroverted, slightly shy but sometimes terribly social. Even by the Jungian mental energy definition, I think it varies: sometimes I am refreshed through alone time, other times a night out gives me the energy to tackle anything. I'm bookish but often the only ones I read have pictures. I think the grown ups who act it have gained self awareness but forgot to go on to conscious introspection.

When inclined, I find meaning in everything, but the beauty of that can be tempered by the understanding that it's only because we impose meaning onto everything: our universe is anthropocentric by definition (the "our" part).

I still think I can massively impact the world.

I'm currently driving across the country, moving to Portland, Oregon. But that won't last forever – estimated arrival March 12 or so.

With an MFA poet friend of mine, I help run a literary publishing company that publishes poetry and short stories exclusively on the iPhone. It's pretty and it brings art into others' lives, both of which are worthwhile ends in themselves. You can see it here: http://www.scarabmag.com

I also do a bit of freelance work building very complicated toy websites, but I'm transitioning away from computer programming. I might become a famous writer and thought leader. Might as well be optimistic.

I also play chess, jog, hike and camp, read books for fun, go to burlesque shows, host dinner parties, enjoy quieter pubs, and peruse museums when possible. I also recently discovered that I rather enjoy cross country skiing; if I can swing it I think it'll become a staple winter activity for me.

Cooking: I went to culinary school in New York City. It was way overpriced, but every now and then when I fix something fine I forgive myself the rash indulgence.

Programming: It's my tradecraft for now. The plan is to braindump to the world and make a clean getaway, though.

Traveling: It soothes the soul. Plus you get to eat way more varied food. Somehow in a strange twist my transportation pendulum has swung back and I again enjoy driving more than flying. Unless there's an ocean in the middle.

Just because I believe in magick doesn't mean I'm psychic.

I tend to read a lot of graphic novels (ahem, comic books). I particularly enjoy works by Alan Moore, and also on my shelf are Sandman, Preacher, Lucifer, Ex Machina, Fables, Sin City, the famous Batman works, some Eddie Campbell... and a few miscellaneous must-reads like Persepolis and Maus.

On the prose side, my bookshelf has a lot of Alan Watts, Aleister Crowley, Neil Gaiman, Hermann Hesse, Kurt Vonnegut, and a cross section of popular works: Burroughs, Burgess, Orwell, Maugham, Hemingway, Kerouac, ...

I enjoy any movie that either makes me think (There Will Be Blood, say) or is tremendously entertaining (Slumdog Millionaire, for instance). I have a strong appreciation for beautifully colored and well shot scenes. Not that I'm snobby, as I also like explosions, gun fights, car chases, side boob, and other cheap cinematic thrills.

My tastes in music are eclectic, and my most frequently listened to albums fall under the categories of folk, hip-hop, and bubble pop. My most recently played artists are Aesop Rock, Architecture in Helsinki, Danger Mouse, Greak Lake Swimmers, Horse Feathers, Super Furry Animals, Metric, Devon Sproule, Emily Haines, Paul Curreri, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cake, Del tha Funky Homosapien, Kila, Ladytron, CocoRosie, MIA, Neko Case, Outkast, Neko Case, Brazilian Girls... If it's good, I'll like it irrespective of genre.

There's no cuisine in the world that doesn't have its high points. Often when I eat out it's thai, pho, sushi, or, umm, Chipotle.

Eastern thought (primarily Buddhism and Taoism), magick, happiness, personal growth, story-telling, the power of the brain, God. And that's just because I suspect those are all basically the same thing.

I don't really hold David Sedaris, The Chronicles of Narnia, or His Dark Materials in very high regard. I don't hold any in complete disdain, mind you, I just don't react as strongly positively as most of the dating world seems to.

(In order: He's cliche, trite, repetitive; clearly seeing the Christian allegories as an adult discolored my childhood wonder; such promise as was created early on was totally squandered by the end.)

you're not sure it's progress that 80% of the messages sent on this site are from men to women;
you want to get a coffee and tell me your deepest darkest secrets;
you can help me figure out my life's purpose;
you're super cute;
you like what you see;
or you almost like what you see except for one or two hard edges that are probably not as hard as they look in real life.