First things first... I love back scratches. They are just about the greatest things on earth.

Second, I just moved to Madison for law school. I'm planning on concentrating in some kind of public interest law like health, environmental, or labor, so gold diggers need not apply.

Up until March (2012), I was living and teaching English in Quanzhou, China. Since returning, I have been re-acclimating to the West and getting ready for school. Most of my time has been taken up by taking care of my grandfather and volunteering at a senior meal center (I am really hoping karma works).

I am a !graduate! of Ripon College (Wisconsin). I went to school in Louisiana for a year and it didn't work out. I most recently spent 8 months at the aforementioned job in China. I kinda like science, but it's general impotence when it comes to affecting public policy is pretty depressing. I'm thinking about becoming a monk in a mountaintop retreat. Also, I would really like to live somewhere that I can

grow mangoes become a pistachio baron

and where I can move around and meet most of my needs with the least amount of private motorized vehicle use possible.

I like to feel useful.

I am here, self-deprecating, and amusing.

As far as my atheism on the right is concerned. Well, I grew up in a very conservative Lutheran church, and if you spend any time there, my atheism wouldn't be all that surprising. I've gotten over my reactionary angry atheism though and am pretty cool with religious people as long as their religion doesn't get in the way of other people's rights.

Just finishing up my first year of law school.

This summer I will be working in a patient advocacy program for people (and their families) with life threatening/altering illnesses.

I'm also trying to remain a real person and have a real life. If you think you could help with that, let me know.

Volcano Luging, changing light bulbs and reaching high places in general.
Mmm maybe listening? I specialize in existential angst, but I can't promise uplifting responses.
I bake a lot of banana bread, and people seem to like it.

I can also make pasta by hand (and rolling pin and knife).

Height, Hair (when i've let it grow out), then eyes (in the right lighting), (my use of parentheses[sometimes])

Books: kind of a Tolkien fiend, down with Vonnegut, Watchme. I mostly read articles/nonfiction... Harry Potter is entertaining

Movies: just about anything on IFC, Broken Lizard films, as well as more or less bad movies that appeal to my primal male instincts, but 300 is still pretty boring...

Music: Foo Fighters, Death Cab for Cutie, Weezer, Muse, Nine Inch Nails, Pink Floyd, Jim Croce etc.
In my old age I have started to like Blink-182 and especially Green Day even more than when I was a teenager.

Food: I try to be a vegetarian as much as possible and even vegan at times, but will eat dairy and eggs and non-cephalopod invertebrates when I have to.
and I'll eat meat when its been hunted or raised on a small/family farm, or when I am a guest because I'd rather not be that much of a pain in the ass.
Basically I love curry, mexican, traditional and non-traditional chinese...
There really isn't much food I don't like. The only thing I spit out in China was bitter gourd which tastes like cucumber flavored Tylenol. I did eat skin-on frog, duck and pig blood, lots of other innards, and pickled chickens feet.

I'm trying to get beyond the pretenses of this foodie fad and feeling like you're less of a person for not having an immaculate and original meal every time you eat.
I feel like if it is good for the environment and good for you, then anything beyond that is just gravy.

Conversation
Cool Pillows
Soft Blankets
Gummi Bears
a cuddle partner
back scratches

Recently: What kind of life is worth living? and When should a person resign him/herself to death?

Otherwise... What exactly I can do with my life to better the lot of others/fight injustice.

Reading, watching a movie, or staying out much too late with classmates.

I'll bring home the turkey if you bring home the bacon.

I wouldn't be upset if a new lady friend *made* me watch all of Grey's Anatomy.

you can explain how to continue to view the world critically without being consumed by cynicism and self-loathing.

...or if you want to.

P.S. Twilight is kind of a turn off....
P.P.S. I am a bit miffed and disturbed by the number of seemingly otherwise well-adjusted women I see on here who REALLY like Ayn Rand. So when it comes to her: morbid curiosity, OK; buying into her blood-thirsty rhetoric, not OK.