Is it just me, or is everyone on here simply perfect? ;)

Well, I’m not perfect, but I continuously strive to head in the direction of being a better person (alas, perfection is never absolute). Accordingly, I like people who are hell bent on learning and growing … ad infinitum. Insert insightful, slightly bourgie, but highly on point quote here: “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” Bonus points if you can name the author without Google?

Other things that are important to me … in a fairly randomized order: passion for life, communication, awareness of one’s surroundings, entrepreneurialism, sapiosexuality, empathy, inquisitiveness, an artistic sensibility, the tactful use of sarcasm, living a healthy lifestyle (balanced with the passion for life bit), abstract reasoning, laughing and smiling, cosmopolitanism, a relentless pursuit of excellence (in whatever it is that you may do), and perhaps most importantly of all … the human touch.

Creating and innovating: whether in the kitchen, on the guitar (albeit infrequently these days), or with the numerous start-ups that I have been involved with over the years, or more recently in fighting global obesity. Accordingly, my life is currently a delicate balance of:

1) half-heartedly leaning Mandarin, Portuguese, and Australian (what the hell is a budgie smuggler???)

2) trying to figure out the best way to get from New York to Sydney to Shanghai to Singapore to Rio and back ... in a span of two weeks ... without losing one's mind.

Cooking!

is that I need a haircut

Books: absolute favorite? I will always have a soft spot for Catcher in the Rye. Otherwise, find David Sedaris incredibly funny, fascinated with the Beat Generation, and a sucker for a good thriller/espionage novel.

Music: been on Hot Chip overload since seeing them in Brooklyn this past summer. But I have eclectic tastes. Here are a few of my Pandora stations (besides Hot Chip):
- Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
- Amy Winehouse
- The Brazil Music Channel (LOVE Bossa Nova)
- Mumford and Sons
- Snow Patrol
- Nick Drake
- Cesaria Evora
- Arcade Fire
- Miles Davis
- The Samples

... you probably get the picture.

TV: I really don't have time to watch TV regularly, but when I do I love me some trashy Showtime (Californication, Shameless, and House of Lies ... random fact: I worked with the REAL Marty Kaan - and no, my consulting life was not nearly as exciting as the show)

Movies: Office Space comes to mind as a top favorite; Little Miss Sunshine, Bond/Bourne, Lost in Translation, Easy Rider, Superbad, Casablanca, Swingers, American Beauty ... and perhaps a bit randomly ... On Golden Pond ... all rank quite highly.

Food: anything and everything!! The spicier the better. Oh and the healthier the better. I have always been an adventurous eater: had a Lebanese babysitter growing up and started eating hummus and caviar at age 2. At age 4 I was eating Pho and Papusas ... often together. Today I'll try just about everything, but usually lean towards Japanese, Greek,Thai, and Middle Eastern. Oh, and Korean, how can I forget about Korean?? And yes, pizza ... in moderation!

Just Six???
iphone with global data plan (albeit unfortunately)
hot peppers/hot sauce
running shoes
passport (which likes to go places without me apparently)
sunscreen
good company

What time zone am I in? Generally at 2:30am. Like right now, as I am typing this out ...

Alternatively, how to assemble a disparate and incongruent inventory of items in the kitchen into a thought-provoking culinary masterpiece.

out and about ... somewhere in the world!

I lost my passport on a flight to Japan. I got deported to Hawaii. It went on an adventure to Bangkok but eventually made its way back. It was kind of a win-win situation ...

If you have a sure fire cure for getting over jet lag that does not involve pills