I identify as polyamorous; if you require monogamy (as most people who want relationships seem to), I'm not the guy for you. I have a serious relationship which has lasted a few years now and is going well. If you don't mind sharing, and the rest of what you see and read here appeals to you, then let's talk.

I'm good for an intellectual conversation about spirituality, philosophy, politics, science, or linguistics. I'm also a big fan of board games, particularly German-style resource management ones (Settlers, Dominion, Bohnanza, 7 Wonders, Carcassone) and classic card games like euchre, pinochle, and spades. A friendship can develop over any and all such things, and I am happy to fool around if there's mutual attraction and desire for fun.

When I say I "dislike" cats and dogs, it's nothing personal, but I am allergic to both (cats more than dogs). If the person of my dreams existed, and had cats, I would consider immunotherapy. This is more an FYI than a dealbreaker.

No kids for me, thanks. If you have your own and they don't interfere with date nights, no problem.

I'm a sysadmin/programmer at Carnegie Mellon University, of which I am also an alumnus. I keep a bunch of servers running and help manage some of our processes at work. I have a degree in Physical Sciences; it was a self-defined major, a mix of Bio, Chem, and Physics.

I enjoy day-long road trips to places like Columbus, Cleveland, Erie, Morgantown, Breezewood, etc. for hiking, a good restaurant, a tourist trap, etc.

I'm not precisely an atheist, but I vote like one and think like one when it comes to public policy. But I'm fascinated by beliefs (and by the human tendency to have them) and usually happy to have a civilized yet spirited discussion about beliefs with someone no matter what theirs may be. If your religion is listed as "Other", that makes me a bit more likely to strike up a conversation out of curiosity.

Learning languages. Memorizing song lyrics. Playing old-school video games, especially Galaga. Giving directions from point A to point B. Tutoring and explaining difficult concepts in simple-to-understand terms. Listening and offering honest advice. Being completely inappropriate, or a perfect gentleman, as the situation requires.

I have not a ton of data on this, but what little I have suggests "my eyes".

Books: Principia Discordia. The Book of the SubGenius. Hagakure. Suetonius: The Twelve Caesars. Any decent encyclopedia (reading for fun). Crowley: Magick. Just about anything decent about ancient Egypt.

Movies: The Ten Commandments (oddly, I love biblical epics.) Cleopatra. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Citizen Kane.

Music: Van der Graaf Generator, Rush, Kiss, Yes, Renaissance, Marillion.

Food: My favorite cuisines are Ethiopian, Thai, and Indian, but I don't say no to good sushi, Italian, or Chinese. As of August I'm on a pretty strict diet and it's helping me get my weight back to where it should be; I want to go from "somewhat squishy-around-the-middle geek" to "lean" like I once was. But I can find things to eat many places.

Books. Music. Interesting things to think about. Libraries. Writing implements. Hope.

The nature of human existence. Magick. Spirituality. Theology. Language and how it works (and doesn't work). Ancient history. Law. Civilization. Love. Strange phenomena. Cricket. (American) football. Life.

I am keenly aware of the need to believe in Something Bigger which seems hard-wired into my mammalian brain. I have spent much of my life searching and thinking and inquiring into religious and spiritual systems trying to find the pieces of them which serve to advance human progress, do not offend the rational part of my mind, and yet fulfill that need for spirituality. I do not believe these criteria are mutually exclusive, but they are certainly difficult to reconcile.

Hanging out with some friends, or driving around Pittsburgh looking for an inspiration, or reading a book, or writing a book. Ideally, playing board games with friends for a few hours and then going to sleep with an attractive and funny lady.

I spent a number of years warning partners I had tested positive for HSV. I had, but then my new doctor informed me it was HSV-1 (cold sore virus) rather than HSV-2 (herpes virus). They're closely related of course, but a lot more people have HSV-1.

I'm particularly fond of women who are submissive in the bedroom and strong (but not domineering) outside of it.

You'll have to get to know me to get to know more. But most anything you want to know, you can ask. Chances are I'll tell you. I've not been a very private person, historically.

Any of the following:

You're interested.
You think I seem attractive or cool.
You're a person of non-mainstream, non-organized spirituality and you want to share ideas.
You're a fellow Van der Graaf Generator fan.
You have a cool constructed language you'd like to discuss.
You want to talk about the Turnpike or roads in general.
You're interested in a date which is half cuddling and kissing, and half literate bantering about deep subjects.
You are a firm supporter of the rights of women, non-heterosexuals, non-whites, and non-monotheists.

If you are deeply and conservatively Christian or Muslim, believe that creationism is closer to the truth than the theory of evolution, think Mike Huckabee or Sarah Palin would make a good president (or indeed, good elected official at any level above local dogcatcher), think that homosexuality is a sin or a disease in need of curing or prayer, or things of that sort ... save your time and mine and don't bother. Oh, and if I stalked your profile and visited such things about you ... don't worry, because I'll hit "hide" so I never see you again.