I think I'll do this by unpacking some adjectives for you . . . I'll start with "curious," because I love learning about almost anything. Although I'm more abstract than concrete -- an N rather than an S in Myers-Briggs terms -- I'd rather learn about the origins of things (history, evolution, culture) than tackle metaphysics. Politics, language, and humankind are what I'm usually reading or thinking about . . .

. . . that is, when I'm not obsessing about music. So next up is "music-loving" (and yes, it took some keen folding skills to pack that one). I'm constantly making mixes and "best of" cd's for friends, and I DJ whenever I get the chance (including the semi-welcome co-opting of friends' audio systems). Lately I've been listening to a lot of indie folk, Pernice Brothers, Sugarplastic, Azure Ray, Handsome Family, and the Wedding Present. And at this exact moment, as I write this, I have that Schoolhouse Rock adjectives song stuck in my head. (Wish it were adverbs instead -- Lolly!)

Other adjectives I'll toss out are gentle, compassionate, competitive, frank, fair, and, er, INFP (but sometimes J).

That's probably enough unpacking for one profile. I should also tell you that, though I've chosen to settle in open-minded and temperate SF, So Cal (*cough* OC *cough*) is in my blood. Which mostly means I have little tolerance for aloofness and sometimes say "dude."

As for what I'm looking for in a woman . . .

Intelligence is high on my list of favorite qualities, along with open-mindedness and intellectual curiosity. A big heart is also essential, and emotional honesty and openness are preferred. I've come to value the importance of energy, and I've found that what works for me is a woman who is generally upbeat and who balances out my reserve but is not constantly on the go (because a dude's gotta have his down time).

It's basic stuff, really -- smart, good, fun. As easy as it sounds on paper, we all know you can't pick a partner on paper and intangibles usually trump checklists. If you like what you see on paper, let's meet to find out if our je ne sais quois match as well as our profiles!

After spending several years not being sure I wanted to be a lawyer, I seem to have found my calling with immigration law. DC still calls out to me, but it's looking like I will stay in the area once my job term is up 2 years from now.

My plans for the immediate future are to find a dj gig in the city, learn samba or capoeira (or both), research my next trip (probably Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand), study French, and get through my backlog of New Yorkers and NY Review of Books.

Introducing you to your new favorite band. Lock-down soccer defense. Watching every Oscar-nominated movie yet losing the Oscar pool. Understanding people's motives. Trivia and word games.

Music: "B" is the best letter in music, so limiting it to that we get: Belle & Sebastian, Built to Spill, Beulah, Blonde Redhead, Big Country, Broadcast, Bow Wow Wow, Bishop Allen, Burning Airlines, the Boo Radleys, Braid, Besnard Lakes, the Bats, Buzzcocks, Beat Happening, the Budos Band, the Botticellis, and of course the Beatles, the Byrds, Big Star, the Beach Boys, and Beethoven. Also, I just got back from 2 weeks in Brazil, so I've been listening to a lot of bossanova and batucada.

Books: Favorites include Catch 22, Lolita, Guns Germs & Steel, The Third Chimpanzee, Trouser Press Guides, Parting the Waters, and Battle Cry of Freedom. At the moment I'm reading books about Brazilian music and the Plantagenet dynasty in England. Truly-readable history books are a beautiful thing.

I like movies that are puzzles, that evoke a sense of nostalgia, or that really let you live vicariously in another person or place. Among my favorites are Apocalypse Now, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Last Picture Show, The Graduate, Jacob's Ladder, Memento, Notes on a Scandal, Mulholland Drive, Inland Empire, Hot Fuzz, 24 Hour Party People, City of God, Ace Ventura II, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Knocked Up, Excalibur, American Movie, Annie Hall, Jesus Christ Superstar, Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Festen, After the Wedding, Lives of Others, The City of Lost Children, Doubt (fave of 2008), Coraline 3D

TV: Six Feet Under, Coupling, Twin Peaks, The Office (UK), Northern Exposure, Arrested Development, Law & Order, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Soap, The Young Ones, Behind the Music, Seinfeld, Lakers games. I'm about half way through the sole season of Freaks & Geeks -- it's definitely going on the all-time-faves list.

Food: I consider myself to be less of a foodie than most people I know in SF. A good burrito or breakfast scramble makes me happy. I'm open to all kinds of cuisines -- even Japanese has recently been welcomed as a regular visitor to my stomach. Fave restaurants include Little Star, Betelnut, Chow's, and Nopalito. I don’t cook but I love to eat other people’s cooking, because I do my best to support the culinary arts. (I have a similar relationship with music.)

1. music/i-Pod
2. strong coffee
3. the wonders of the world
4. inspirational people
5. sleep
6. breakfast

How can I use all 79 min 45 sec of a blank CD? Will Obama be a transformative figure in American history? Will I ever get tired of peppy, poppy indie rock bands? If I become a parent, how often will I be able to go to shows? And will my kids like the same music I like? Should I learn how to cook at some point? Is Lower Haight the most appealing neighborhood to live in? How much does birth order really define one's personality? Is there any way to learn a foreign language more quickly? French or Portuguese? Is it better to have one great 6 minute song or 2 very good 3 minute songs on a mix CD? What would happen if we abolished immigration laws? How can fans of Fox News not understand that it's mostly propaganda and lies? What part of the world do I want to visit next? What will I do when I time out of my current job? Is reality tv ruining society? How can I practice law abroad?

These days I tend to go for a night of mellow drinking at one of the many fine establishments in the Lower Haight, but I’m always up for dancing when the music is right – funk, soul, indie, Brit pop, and, someday soon, samba.

You're curious to learn more about our je ne sais quois.