Issuing supreme power to you...one moment.

My self-summary Propose an edit

I'm a relaxed guy who has seen enough of the world to know that I want to see more, but also to really enjoy the place where I am. I like to cook, and I've been told I'm good at it. I am quick to laugh, and am unashamed of laughing out loud. I picked up a bit of British humour as well as the spelling, understatement from living in England for five years. My accent has mostly reverted to American after a few years back, but I still say words like queue and loo. When I am around a Brit there is a noticeable foreign twinge to my voice. I am passionate about the world around me, and try to do my best both to experience it and to improve it.

What I'm doing with my life Propose an edit

Making corrections to my thesis so I can finally finish my PhD. Doing some programming contract work on educational software for people with severe physical handicaps.

I am fairly political and have been getting involved in the progressive political scene here in Philly. Not really sure where that is going, but it is nice to try to make a difference. I should start making plans to go to the convention in Denver so I can vote for Obama there.

Since moving to Philly I have acquired a new hobby of gardening on my rooftop. Its nice to see the plants living because of me, and then I get to eat fresh vegetables. Most of the plants I have growing are grew as seedlings from my compost heap. Sadly, it looks like I have to remove the garden to the back for now.

I'm really good at Propose an edit

I was once rated by my friends at 97% adequate, but that is almost certainly an overestimate. I'm a good cook (not just BBQ), I am a player of games, grassroots politics, I can give a good speech to get a crowd enthused, and I can find my way around a new, foreign city. I can also cook a medieval banquet or recite middle english poetry. A friend described me as the guy who taught him how to party, although I haven't thrown any epic parties for a while, only novellas worth I guess.

The first thing(s) people usually notice about me Propose an edit

Probably my long red hair sticks out, people stop me on the street to comment on it. A friend told me that I should mention my eyes, lately I have been getting comments on my smile and infectious enthusiasm.

Most people are surprised that I can talk about (and enjoy) a wide variety of topics, I know just enough about most things to have an opinion (and I'm not too afraid of being wrong). I'm happy learning about what other people are interested in and talking about that.

My favorite books, movies, music, and food Propose an edit

(a) The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood, The Plot Against America by Philip Roth, Ian Banks's Culture novels, The Sandman by Neil Gaiman, and The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri.

(b) Not sure I have a favourite movie, I prefer "indie films" to blockbuster, but if I listed specific ones I would have to choose them at random.

(c) Sheryl Crow, Counting Crows, Bare Naked Ladies, Ani Difranco, Billy Joel, Amy Winehouse, Ella Fitzgerald.

(d) I like most cuisines and like to try new things, but Japanese, Greek, and Thai are near the top. I was complimented lately upon sharing a meal with some African immigrants on my willingness to try new food, I think it was called foofoo or something.

The six things I could never do without Propose an edit

A good book, a computer, my e-mail, a kitchen, my passport, and my friends where ever they may be.

I spend a lot of time thinking about Propose an edit

Politics, philosophy, the meaning of life. How to save the world, and what area my small efforts are best put too. How to run a campaign and keep volunteers happy and willing to come back and do more work.

That is of course when I am not thinking about biophysics, molecular dynamics, and thesis writing.

I have been accused of sounding like a militant liberal anti-capitalist. I don't think that I am militant, but I do maintain a boycott of Starbucks, Walmart, Microsoft, and Spar for their soulless, monopolistic business practices. I think that most people should be boycotting at least one company of their own choosing. I am not anti-capitalistic either I am just anti-monoploistic and favour a system where the powerful are prevented from abusing their power.

On a typical Friday night I am Propose an edit

I don't think that I have a typical Friday...

Before the presidential campaign left Philly, it was often my one night off from meetings, events, or political parties. If there was nowhere I had to be, I would stay home, maybe have a friend over for something quiet.

Now I need to reset and go back to hanging out with some friends over some beers, or having someone over to watch the backlog of movies on the DVR.

The most private thing I'm willing to admit here Propose an edit

I'm still thinking about that one, I'm happy to tell embarrassing stories about myself, but its more fun in person.

I've never really thought of myself as a voyeur, but I do get a bit of a voyeuristic pleasure when I browse this site. Its fun to see what people are willing to make public about themselves here.

You should message me if Propose an edit

You think I am interesting and you think you are too.

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