Hey guys, I'm Ken. Figure I'll start with a quote that describe me pretty well:

"I can live with doubt, and uncertainty, and not knowing. I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong." *
- Richard Feynman (a personal hero of mine)

I'm a twenty-something transplant to the Bay Area. Small town guy living in the big city. American by birth, but Italian by blood, culture and family. I'm loyal to friends and family. I have a terrible memory, but that's what facebook birthday reminders are for! I'm easy-going and a slow walker, but I work hard (science ain't easy folks).

Most importantly, I'm a good person. I like to think of myself as a "boy next door" type. You can take me back to mom and dad. I'm a young guy looking for some company as I live out my life, and while I'm not an arrogant person, I know whoever I end up with will be lucky to have me in the end. I hope I find him, some day. :)

** I just realized that quote could be applied to my romantic life too.... hmmm.

Though I'm originally from Rhode Island, I just moved to San Francisco for graduate school at UCSF after graduating from college in Atlanta (yeah I get around haha). I really love this city so far, and I think I could see myself sticking around for a long time.

Becoming a proper neuroscientist is keeping me occupied these days, but when I have time....

• Biking: Recently got a bike and have been using it to commute to work. Freedom from Muni is awesome!
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• Volunteering: What can I say, Boy Scouts left an impression on me haha
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• Rugby: Joined a rugby team when I first moved to the city. Particularly useful when experiments aren't going well and I just need to hit someone haha. EDIT: Not sure if I'm going to be able to continue with this particular one.... dislocated my knee and my surgeon says no more contact sports for me :(

Learning languages of all kinds. I was a linguistics minor in college where I picked up Spanish and some Japanese, and recently I've been teaching myself how to code (i.e. completing the transformation into a true San Francisco twenty-something).

Some people notice my blue eyes. I like 'em too! And older women like my beard. A lot. It's a curse.... but it's gotten me good tips soooo....

All the things about the world we know because of science. I like looking at fields of grass and thinking about how much DNA is hidden in there, or about how the potential energy of my gasoline is leaving a trail of energy in increased temperature behind me on the road, or wondering if one of the carbon atoms on the surface of my right thumb is from the same sun as another one on my left thumb. It's beautiful to me.

There's an element of romance to it too... when someone says my name, the pressure waves of sound can reach my ear, frequencies causing certain parts of the inner ear to jiggle just right, causing salt ions to buzz around and charge up a few particular cells in my brain, which will then charge up the next cells and then the next, and suddenly I'm aware, that's my name! I want to know what it feels like when the right person calls my name, when the right frequencies jiggle just the right way and get just the right cells firing. I want to feel that catastrophic cascade of electrical consciousness called love.

These days I might be working. Last summer I spent many a Friday playing cards with friends (anything from Hold 'em to Magic the Gathering). I'm known to make it to a bar or club from time to time too. I usually like to go out with others, though lately I've been enjoying taking myself out, so to speak. :)

... alright fine. The first time I ever heard Fall In by Esperanza Spalding, I cried. Just a little.

You like something I said, or we have something in common, or if you feel like it! Can't hurt, right? I promise I'm not a jerk. Heads up though, two things. One, I'm a grad student, so if I don't get back to you immediately don't take it personally, I'm just a very busy guy! And two, I'm more interested in conversation than disembodied torsos and "hey what's up dude"s. I'm not on here just for the sex. I'm new to the city so it'd be cool to meet new people.