I can't stand usernames with meaningless numbers or gratuitous "x"s, hence my overly cheesy one. Perhaps I should have just stuck with "_Nate". =P

I'm very self-assured and confident but also laid-back. I'm a (recovering, hopefully) perfectionist which is a blessing and a curse. I love learning and technology. My goal and my drive is to do something with technology that in some way helps to increase the quality of human life around the world, and I believe the best way to improve the human condition is for everyone to have access to quality information and education.

I'm agnostic after growing up in a conservative Christian family with a pastor as a father, so I understand religious beliefs very intimately but probably would not work well in a serious relationship with someone whose religious beliefs are so important to them that they need to convert me. Basically, I believe that people should do whatever makes them happy as long as it doesn't harm anyone else - i.e., tolerance. I'm a man of science and logic, not of faith, although I do have a lot of faith in humanity. I'm slightly on the optimistic side of realistic.

I have a pretty broad sense of humor and I'm light-hearted. In large groups I tend to listen and observe. I'm much more talkative in one-on-one or small-group-of-friends settings.

Music and art have always been a big part of my life in one form or another; it complements my scientific nature well and keeps me grounded.

I am intelligent, thoughtful, and laid-back

Just starting a very cool new job in downtown St. Louis! I'm excited since Lake St. Louis/O'Fallon was a bit too upper-middle-class and white; it will be nice to be around people my age again and a more diverse crowd. (Now living in 100% more STL!)

Eventually I'll be finishing my bachelor's degree and think about grad school (maybe even a doctorate), but for now I have a kick-ass job where I'll be learning a ton.

Kicking ass at the gym and down to 175 (but I'm not a gym rat). Only 10 pounds left to go!

listening, math, web development, software development, interface design, games, StarCraft 2, Dota 2, procrastinating, cooking, understanding technical jargon, relating to people, sarcasm, unintentional naps.

Probably how young I look. (My last roomie's younger sis just said I should go hang out with her and her friends, if I was over 21. I'm just about to turn 28. Maybe I should keep a 5 o'clock shadow at all times just to add a few years to my appearance for now.)
My fake dimple. (I was bitten by a dog when I was younger, but it's alright because it really does look like a dimple.)
My rugged good looks and eyelashes. Or something.

books: The Dresden Files were awesome, but now that I've read all that are out up to now I need something new to read that's fun. (I'm currently working my way through a 1600 page technical book. Pain in the ass...) I love sci-fi, anything with well-fleshed-out characters, and books that deal with sociological, psychological, or technical issues. (e.g., Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut)

movies: Good movies. There's really not one particular type I love, and I love way too many to have a short list of favorites. I've been catching up on old movies like The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, Klute, and all the R rated movies I wasn't allowed to see as a teenager; anything that makes you think or teases the imagination, but not so obscure that you have to spend 30 minutes on Wikipedia or Google trying to figure out what you just watched; something that inspires you to delve deeper afterward or have discussion with friends is definitely a plus. I have a soft spot for sci-fi, intelligent thrillers/horror, and zombie flicks like 28 Days Later. Also: Pan's Labyrinth, The Orphanage, Moon. Netflix is so awesome; I've been able to catch up on a lot and find movies I'd probably never have gotten a chance to watch otherwise.

Music: And So I Watch You From Afar is by far my favorite band right now. They're awesome, you should check them out! Also, a lot of other indie lately. Mumford and Sons (as well as several other singers/bands from the folk revival going on in Europe), Mono, Jónsi, Bon Iver, Laura Marling (it kind of makes me sick how accomplished she is at her age), Florence + the Machine, Pomplamoose, Foster the People, Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, Ladyhawke, Vampire Weekend, The Prodigy, Radiohead (especially In Rainbows - Reckoner is one of my favorite songs of all time), Rise Against, the new blink-182 album, etc. I love listening to things I haven't heard before, and whether or not it's mainstream or popular has no bearing on whether or not I like it. If you have good recommendations, I'd love to hear them! I'm constantly looking for good new music.

Food: I love to cook. Food Network is one of my favorite channels (Good Eats with Alton Brown - he's like the Bill Nye the Science Guy of food). Italian and Mexican foods are probably my favorite and what I go to first when I'm not sure what I want, but I enjoy trying new things. Oh, and homemade pizza is amazing! Unfortunately, I don't have a stand mixer and I'm usually feeling too lazy to knead the dough for the 30-45 minutes it takes by hand. (Perhaps a stand mixer should be my next big purchase.)

Music
The internet
My friends
Cooking/good food
Sports, outdoor activities, or other physical things (giggidy giggidy?)
My phone (GPS + Google Maps + finding new restaurants and things to do + getting there without getting lost)

Psychological and sociological issues,
Technology and how it can improve people's lives and connect people,
Politics since about a year and a half before this last presidential election (I hate politics but right now they seem to be the best vehicle for change in this country, so I finally made the choice to become informed),
Why I have such a drive to improve the human condition...perhaps leftover from my Christian upbringing or some innate survival characteristic of a species?
Will I ever get done with my degree?
Human interface design (making intuitive interfaces that are beautiful artistically, elegant, easy to use, and don't make people think)

Getting to know the STL area since I'm still pretty new (I grew up around KC)! I love active things (hiking, sports, you name it), games (board and video), movies, good food, good company, and good conversation.

I'm a very open person about virtually any topic. Ask me and you'll probably get an answer.

Just for laughs: I think my hair looks better in 3D than in flat photographs. Objects made out of Christmas lights bother me because they look too pixellated.

you're interested, have similar interests, think I sound like someone you would enjoy talking to or hanging out with. Or you managed to get through my ridiculously wordy profile. (Whoops. Sorry about that.)

If we don't click, oh well. Not the end of the world. =) I'm really easy to get along with and love hearing from different points of view.

Please note that I'm very happily independent and prefer other people who are as well. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy being in relationships; I very much do, but I don't need to be in one to be happy.