I'm a thoughtful but easy-going kind of guy who believes who you're with is more important than what you're doing. My favorite times are spent just hanging out with friends, talking as we walk, play, eat, drink, or whatever. I like cooking and hiking, though I wish I could do them more often. I love art in all its forms, especially music and film. I'm intelligent, analytical, and rational, but also very emotional, creative, and silly. I'm a nerd and a computer programmer by profession. I have a passion for technology, but I also appreciate its complete absence; I love the peaceful escape of nature, and clearing my head of the constant barrage of media to focus on more personal, human things.

I'm open-minded and curious, always interested in new ideas. Politically I'm pretty liberal. I have strong opinions on matters of public policy, but I have a real distaste for politics and most politicians. I love the human brain and I find it endlessly fascinating. I'm always curious about psychology, sociology, neuroscience, and whatever cool new research is happening. I'm scientifically minded, so while I understand passion and faith, I much prefer reason, rationality, and evidence. I'm not religious, though I do value the moral guidance and spiritual outlet that religion gives. I believe that sexuality is complicated and personal, and certainly not something to judge, fear, or discriminate against.

I'm a software engineer specializing in user interfaces for web applications. At times I get tired of writing code all day, but I do love it, and I'm good at it. For my life outside of work, I try to find a peaceful balance to all the stress and analytical challenges of my job. A large part of that is finding the people I want to spend my time with.

I have a great sense of humor, though sometimes it's a bit quirky. I'm excellent around animals], thanks to growing up with far too many. I think I'm a pretty decent cook, but I like to let others decide on that. I have a talent for listening and understanding; people feel they can open up to me, and sometimes I even have decent advice. I sing and whistle with some degree of skill, but mostly in the shower or walking the city. I'm good with computers, though they often drive me batty.

I'm not sure, really--people don't often tell you their first impressions! A friend says I should put "easy-going and conversational".

books) The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson; Neverwhere, American Gods, and most short stories by Neil Gaiman; anything at all by Douglas Adams; a smattering of works by Philip Dick and H.P. Lovecraft, and many, many more. I mostly go for fiction, and usually science fiction or fantasy. I really like to see the world from a different perspective, to think about what could be, and to contemplate what makes us human.

movies) 12 Monkeys, Being John Malkovich, Crash, Dark City, Donnie Darko, Fight Club, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Ghost in the Shell, Hot Fuzz, Princess Mononoke, The Lion King, Titus, V For Vendetta, Yojimbo, and lots more. I especially like movies that are visually striking or make you think. I'm a big fan of anime and animation, since some of it can be really innovative or incredibly beautiful.

music) Apocalyptica, Bela Fleck, Boards of Canada, Cake, Coldplay, Daft Punk, the Decemberists, Dredg, the Dresden Dolls, Elbow, the Flaming Lips, The Get Up Kids, Green Day, Guster, Jets to Brazil, Justice, LCD Soundsystem, M.I.A., Modest Mouse, Neutral Milk Hotel, Notwist, Oasis, Pink Floyd, The Postal Service, Radiohead, Sebadoh, Sigur Ros, Spoon, Super Furry Animals, Tom Waits, etc.

food) I love food. I like all sorts, though two of my favorite are sushi and Indian. I like good simple food, and complex intricate food with subtle flavor combinations. Spicy is nice, but not if it's so hot it overpowers the rest of the dish. I love good bread, cheese, and wine, and while I can enjoy vegetarian food, I do love meat. Some of my favorite ingredients are tomatoes, chili peppers, eggplant, mushrooms, spinach, basil, garlic, and ginger.

My friends, music, a computer, some creative outlet, good pans and cooking knives, and a quiet place to relax.

I think big and small. I think a lot, but I'm just as likely to be contemplating the nature of the Universe or the future of human culture as I am to be thinking about the peculiar wording they chose for some ad or what I'll eat for dinner. I also like to think out loud, discussing and debating with a friend over something profound or profoundly silly.

Hanging out with friends, watching TV with my room mate, or just taking some time to relax and unwind. I'm not much interested in going out clubbing or bar hopping. I love a good party (and sometimes, yes, getting drunk with friends), but I like it best when it's with a group I know well. I have most of my fun on the weekend, during the day when it's beautiful and sunny!

I've tried to like casual sex, but I just don't. I need to really get to know somebody and have strong feelings for them first.

I am a bit of an artist, though I haven't done anything in ages. If you're curious, almost everything I've done since middle school is on Deviant Art, good, bad or otherwise. Don't mind all the crappy abstract stuff at the beginning, that was just one annoying assignment in college. Here's my stuff: http://wren42.deviantart.com/gallery/

You live near by and you'd like to get to know me! My goal here is to meet real people who I can spend time with in person.