I made this profile in a fit of boredom some years ago while designing a test to determine which of the chemical elements most closely fits a given person's personality. I was then, and proudly remain today, zinc.

http://www.okcupid.com/tests/10462132396003208006/Which
-Chemical-Element-Am-I

When I was young I was unable to distinguish the perceived from the imagined, and my world was a wild and untamed place. I miss not having so many filters on how I perceive the world. Thankfully my pursuit of natural truth has only revealed how little we can take for granted. Science only creates increasingly better informed questions.

English is my 2nd language. Gibberish was my first. I'm still fluent in it.

I walk the line between realist and optimist. I'm a pushover when it comes to small things if it means making someone happy. I lose a lot of arguments because I believe that being convinced of something is a victory in its own right.

I'm no longer ashamed to meet people online. I generally enjoy meeting people, so it's a nice addition to the people I randomly encounter. Say hi :)

Oh, and I have stopped hitting on people on here because I was starting to feel sketchy.

Professional: Going to graduate school at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to become... well... an oceanographer. Class of '09+ Anyone who has been a graduate program will understand the "+." I'm also tutoring a bit.

Generally: Exploring my world to find more people, places, things, foods, and activities that I want to fill the remainder of my life with.

Swordfighting. Abstraction. Standardized tests.

I am self propelled!

You'd be better off asking "people" because I tend to notice things in the wrong order.

(a) A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, A House of Leaves, The Brothers Karamazov, Hyperion, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.

(b) Labyrinth, Tron, Braveheart, Hero, Cube, Battle Royale

(c) Tom Waits, Morcheeba, Portishead, Bright Eyes, Modest Mouse,

(d) I love food :D

Sandwiches, the intangible, other people, nostalgia, this planet, the fundamental forces.

The oceans, the Earth, crushes, chemistry, fantastic realms, dreams from the night before.

Dancing, going to the TGIF party at SIO, finishing up a game of disc golf, just going out generally, on my way out somewhere to go skiing.

I might be lacking when it comes to depth of emotion. I'm not emotionally dead by any measure, but I tend to keep my equilibrium more often than not.

No if, really. You should just message me. I like random contacts, and I don't expect you to have anything to say.