I support responsible consumption, recycling, and the hunt for a really good slab of filet mignon. I believe life is too short for cheap beer (infatuated with the Cheeky Monk). I think if you're going to live in Colorado, you'd better get out and play sometimes. I find Eddie Izzard's monologues apply in far too many situations. I think football and hockey are fun to watch, but baseball revolves around two guys playing catch and some other bloke with a stick trying to interrupt. I like playing pool because I perpetually suck at it and a little force-fed humility is good for the soul (yeah, well, I grew up Catholic-ish).

Work, play, or the way I interact with others: I always want to be better tomorrow than I am today, and I put in the effort to make it happen. When people ask me if I know how to do something, I'm more likely to say "Not yet, but I want to learn," than "no."

I think first impressions can tell you a lot, but it's that second look that can really help you gauge what you're looking at. There are many wonderful varieties of people out there, each with their own stories, and I love hearing them. Meeting new people is usually exciting and rewarding.

My mountain bike is my favorite transportation, though lately it's seeing more of downtown than of trails. I try hard to catch up with my friends, and at least keep in touch with many of the other exceptional people I've met over the years. I love getting a friend or three together, and searching for the rare hole-in-the-wall restaurant with excellent food.

I voted for Obama, but am disappointed with how he's squandered the mandate he was voted in with. At this point, I'd easily vote Stewart/Colbert, or even Pinky/Brain next time around. As an aside, if you haven't watched Stewart's recent interview with Betsy McCaughey , it was fantastic – no wonder she was fired the next day.

Note (because I was frequently asked): Yes, I did cut my hair off recently, those are the newer pictures.

Editors

• shaggymama

I just recently finished a small travel binge, and hung out with dozens of friends across the country - 6 weekends, 4 cities, 4 timezones. It was a blast, and now I'm looking forward to spending more than one consecutive weekend in town for a bit.

During the weekdays I'm an engineer, currently working for a big telecom company. I love my chosen profession and enjoy the challenges and creativity involved. Once I'm out of the office, I do a lot. I'm ecstatic if the weather is good enough for an outdoor game of volleyball at Wash Park. I go out dancing frequently. Weightlifting at the gym during the week helps clear my head, and if I can polish that off by cooking some tasty recipe that I've hacked together, then the evening ends on a finer note.

When I'm home seeking downtime, in addition to listening to music music (see below), I read, cook, and futz around on the computer. I care about the community around me, and believe that it's our obligation in life to leave things better than we found them. A lot of what I have in life isn't "earned" or "privilege," it's just luck, and we shouldn't forget those who aren't so lucky. I grew up in a family of teachers, and was raised to care.

I really like who I am, but if I ever stopped trying to grow and improve, then life's lost its luster.

Editors

• shaggymama

making connections between people, places, interests, and things I think might help people. Trying hard to get it right, but not seeking total perfection all at once. Finding the right question, or maybe the perspicacious observation.

On first glance, it's usually the eyes, whatever that counts for. Also, there are decent odds I'll be caught in an odd position, or with a stupid look on my face, if the pictures that friends post on Facebook are any indication.

But after that, it's usually the way I handle a conversation. One-on-one, I love learning about people, so I often will just ask the right questions to keep things going, rather than talk about myself (unless asked). I hate to sound like I'm just talking out of my ass, so in a group, I usually will just shut up and listen until I think I actually have a handle on the flow of things, and then maybe I'll speak up if I think I have something to say, or a question that I think really needs answering.

Currently reading Breaking the Spell, by Daniel Dennett, after finding myself quite impressed by some of his presentations. Recent readings include: Guns, Germs, and Steel, devoured Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, Terry Prachett, World War Z (an oral history of the zombie apocalypse), Under the Banner of Heaven, Anansi Boys, Lamb, War of the Worlds, I Am Legend, His Dark Materials, and probably more wikipedia than one should reasonably imbibe. Before that, Catch 22, some of Sam Harris's essays, a dystopian literature kick, sci-fi, ...

I've been fascinated by some of the TED talks (you should go check them out online, they're free, enlightening, and often mind-boggling), especially Daniel Dennett, and Dawkins (though there's a difference between being proud of who you are and being egotistical; I'm not quite sure where he falls on that scale).

There's almost always music on when I'm at home or working solo. I'm a big fan of industrial/synthpop music, and I'm always looking for those bands who have interesting ideas in composition and execute them well. I've had a lot of different influences in my musical taste and many of them have left lasting impressions.

In the past few months I've seen The Ditty Bops, Kim Massie, Barbara Morrison, Frontline Assembly, the Dropkick Murphies, my friends' nerdcore band, and B.B. King (amazing). The CD collection also has lots of Tori Amos, Depeche Mode, metal, ska, tango nuevo, trance, and plenty of other "we made up a name for a genre that's just us and this other guy" discs. I wish Massive Attack would tour again.

I'm currently fascinated by the shameless ripoffs of popular music that are played in Vietnamese restaurants. The current high score is held by an electronic remix of the Bonanza theme song.

I don't own a TV, but I still catch a few shows or movies here and there. Lately it's Naruto, Bleach, and wondering if something will come up that's a good replacement for BSG.

I'm not exactly a gourmand, but I do appreciate a good meal. I love good BBQ, pho joints on Federal, sushi, Italian, and a good bit of other things. I enjoy cooking, and I've been told my cooking's very good, but I'm bashful about sharing. I also really like spicy food - the intersection of kitchen experimentation and habanero makes for some good stories, especially if you're into schadenfreude.

Editors

• shaggymama

Music (mostly of my choosing).

Warm days with a field, a volleyball, and some friends.

Dancing, and the community of friends that it has brought with it.

Something new to learn/experience.

All of my appendages and senses (really, it would suck to lose any of them).

The internet, probably. I mean, it's where I get all of my news, many new ideas, shopping, and use it to keep in touch with my friends all over the world. The world would be so much smaller without it.

My friends. Music. World affairs, and happenings at home. Wondering of I'm really making the most of myself, and how I can make things better. If I added too much habanero that time. Atrocious sentence fragments.

Wondering when and how basic health care became "fascism."

I've been recently awestruck again by the work of Oliver Sachs.

...going dancing, going out for dinner or drinks with friends, cooking, or maybe some combination thereof. If I've been out and about enough during the week, maybe I'll stay in and chill out with a book or movie or game, either alone or with a friend or two.

is that I was once a Hootie and the Blowfish fan, and knew all the lyrics. I also own Real Genius on DVD.

You think we can turn common interests into engaging conversation, and see where it goes from there. If you think you might, or might not, want to have kids someday, but don't have any already. If you're not a smoker.