I finished my first MA a few years ago, and just finished a second one. I don't really want to be in academia, but it's only way I know to get credentials. It will be my last time in academia for awhile, though, because I damn well will get a job afterwards. Right now, the Navy is looking like a good option, despite my history as a crazy hippy.

In my personal time, I'm somewhat geeky. I love computer games, particularly strategy games. I also enjoy roleplaying games, but I haven't had much chance to play them recently.

I also love nature and the outdoors, but not in the summer. I can easily walk for hours, just enjoying the leaves/snow/whatever.

I'm also an internationalist. I've had the good fortune to be able to go abroad 3 different times. I speak Chinese well-enough to get by and I know a smattering of Russian. Travel is my passion, and I need a job that will keep me moving around.

Other things people should know about me: I'm a liberal and I'm a pagan. If you don't know what that mean, feel free to ask me. I love to explain myself, and hear other people's responses, but I also know that I'm often just talking to hear my own voice. (One of my flaws.) I am also a strong feminist, and constantly amazed at the people who aren't.

Part of all of this is strong belief in freedom and equality. I understand the tension between the two, and I don't really know which wins out more often. In the areas where these are actually complementary, rather than in conflict, however, I tend to be very passionate. This is why I am so passionate about religious freedom, gender equality, and all forms of gay rights.

Lastly, I also music and dancing. I'm pretty open minded on musical forms, though you can look through my favorites below. As far as dancing goes, I love folk-dancing (particularly Morris and Contra), but I also love a good 80s night (or Goth night! I miss goth night so badly) at a dark dance club.

After a year of failing miserable at finding the kind of work I want, I went back to school, and just finished. I studied diplomacy and international commerce. It recently dawned on me that, for all of my liberal sensibilities and beliefs, it's war and security that fascinate me most. Therefore, my major was international security, which involved classes on strategy and defense. (I still believe that development is far more important, but it just doesn't interest me.) I'm also going through the process to join the Navy, hopefully as an officer.

I'm in a new relationship, which is extremely nice, if a bit odd for me. But we met through OkC, so it does in fact work!

giving advice, apparently. I have a keen understanding of and empathy for people. This has occasionally led to my being thrust into leadership roles, usually in organizations that are too fractious to continue. I'm willing to be a leader, and it comes naturally to me, but only if every one is willing to listen.

I am also good at being patient. The only exception is if I'm running late for something.

At this point, it might well be my voice. I have a bad tendency to talk a LOT. This is mostly because I hate silence...if others are talking, I'll shut up. There is nothing about me physically that stands out, in my opinion.

I've had people tell me my smile, but I still doubt it. Supposedly, it's just like my father's was, but I really can't tell.

a) Fiction: American Gods, Good Omens, anything by Zelazny. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, and the Gap Series. I am really into fantasy and sci fi, if you can't tell. However, I do like something in all genres. I also loved Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr, and Salman Rushdie's The Moor's Last Sigh. (Yeah, I like historical fiction.) Sherman Alexie's short stories are amazing, if also depressing. In terms of classics, I love Twain and Poe. I don't much care for Victorian British lit, but I love the novel Jane Eyre. Macchiavelli's play, Mangragora, is also good. I also, occasionally, read collected comic books, such as Alan Moore's Watchmen, or his (far better, in my opinion) newer works, like Promethea. (I also have a soft spot in my heart for a few classic superheroes, like Thor and Black Panther.)

Non-Fiction: The Utility of Force, the Bottom Billion, any epic poetry (particularly the Eddas.) I also love philosophy, though not as much as I did in college. (In particular, Taoist and Epicurean philosophy appeals to me.) I try to be very broad in what I read. For my academic studies, I read a great deal about both development and deterrence. The Strategy of Conflict, by Schelling is a GREAT primer on deterrence and how to signal intentions in game theory. I also (very occasionally) read books on magic or witchcraft, especially to learn more about different traditions. I am most interested in the "Western Mystical Tradition," including Freemasonry and OGD. Right now, however, it's mostly school stuff all day every day. Fortunately, I love what I'm studying.

b) Hero, Run Lola Run, Casablanca, Dr. Strangelove, Amelie, Chocolat, The Quiet American, Duel to the Death, My Little Chickadee, Seven Samurai, Support Your Local Sheriff. I try to avoid stupid action movies, though I am a sucker for cheesy martial arts movies (like Enter the Dragon). I also can't stand gory horror movies, but I can laugh at a bad one. I will also sit down and watch any old black and white movie.

c) Almost anything. I mostly listen to hard rock when I'm awake and moving, but I also love world, classical, jazz, soft rock, "new age", prog rock, goth, etc. Perennial Favorites: Jethro Tull, Blue Oyster Cult, System of a Down, Enigma, BT, Billy Joel, Ella Fitzgerald, Legendary Pink Dots. Current Favorites: Lacuna Coil, Leonard Cohen (just introduced to him), Panic! At the Disco, Crystal Method, Type O Negative. I'm trying to expand my tastes in rap, but it's slow going--there's some stuff there I like, but not nearly as much. DJ Babu interests me, though.

d) I have yet to meet a cuisine I didn't like. I like to try new things, though, and am always looking for something I haven't had. In particular, though, I love all spicy food, particularly Thai and (good) Mexican. However, as I'm trying to eat mostly vegetarian and (not fried) fish, I'm probably going to be eating more Thai and sushi, and less Mexican. (FYI: I am not vegetarian or vegan, but I am willing to eat that way when around those who are. No judgments from me.)

e) Since everyone does it, TV: Dr. Who, Good Eats, House. That's really about it.

1) Access to the international news.
2) Music. I need music and sound.
3) Touch. It's my most sensitive sense. My emotional well-being depends at least a bit on getting physical contact of some sort.
4) Optimism. I'm an optimistic person. I believe in people, and I believe things will come out ok. It sometimes seems that my life has been particularly blessed, because nothing very bad seems to ever happen to me.
5) Food. I love food, and without it I would waste away. In particular, I love international food.
6) Sense of adventure. I like trying new things. I will not go to my grave feeling bad for missing out on something. I'm starting to feel that this might be pushing me too far, but for now I'm keeping it somewhat in check.

Politics, history, writing, and philosophy. Also, I tend to run endless "what-if" scenarios in my head. Ideas for role-playing games tend to creep in as well. Also, when confronted by a sequence of numbers, I tend to pretend that they are just one large number, and try to figure out whether it is divisible by 3. (I'm a dork.) The world at large, and where I'm going to visit next. (I'm hoping either Africa or Turkey.) EDIT: It'll probably actually be Japan, because I have a friend there I haven't seen for several years.

More recently, I've thought a lot about what I'm going to do now that I've finished with school again.

Something different every night. Tonight, for instance, I'll probably be working on school work or playing video games. This Friday, I plan on going dancing (still not sure whether contra or 80s night). Another night, and I might be making dinner for my girlfriend or going to a conference or heading up to Louisville. My life defies standardization.

I have no real sense of jealousy. I don't understand people getting upset at significant others flirting with other people. That's too much like trying to own someone.

I don't really know why anyone in particular should message me, but I'll respond to anyone who does.

Actually, anyone looking for a dance partner wherever I happen to me could message me.