About Me: A Primer

A bit about me, from simplest to most complex.

• I love humor, specifically dry humor of the UK kind. I was raised on the local PBS station, which routinely showed British comedies from the 60s and 70s. American humor, to me, is too slapstick. Think "funny haha" verses "funny hoho". As a result, most American comedy shows don't make me laugh. With that said, I absolutely love sarcastic humor (a la "Mystery Science Theater 3000"), and dark humor (many Sesame Street memes and such available online). I do not like humor that is racist or pokes fun at religions, but anything up to that, and I'm your man.
• I love science. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a scientist. I was torn between Egyptology, Archaeology, and Astronomy. At the age of 8, I was digesting high school and college-level textbooks on those subjects, along with texts on Geology and Paleontology Upon adulthood, I branched out into Cosmology and Particle Physics. If I weren't a happily-married man, I'd be actively creeping scientists like Moogega Cooper and Michelle Thaller.
• I love science fiction and fantasy. I'm a huge Star Wars and Star Trek nerd. Collected comic books as a kid, and have become a bit of a comic book canon snob when it comes to movie adaptations. I have more sci-fi and fantasy books in my collection than any other subject.
• I love anime'. Hiyao Miyazaki for the win.
• I prefer beer over wine, and wine over hard liquor.
• I love to cook. I'm best at comfort food, but I love to try recipes from other countries.
• I make kick-ass BBQ sauces.
• Odd foodstuffs, like haggis, pickled herring, and brown goat cheese, are always welcome.
• I have an allergy to seafood, to pickled herring is enjoyed once a year, and shrimp is no longer eaten (damn).
• I love to wear a kilt when the weather is warm.
• I work in the media/communications industry, but I am not comfortable speaking in public.
• I am politically aware, but dislike political discussions. Over the years - from being a music major in college, to a small business owner, to where I am today - I've gone from die-hard liberal to conservative to "sort-of Libertarian" (there I am now). I haven't - or currently - label myself as as a member of any party. My voting choices have evolved over the years, to reflect my needs as a citizen. While being politically aware (and, I admit, I tend to lean conservative on matters of national interest), I am disgusted by the so-called "discourse" on social media, and in what I see on TV. There is no room for folks like me, who don't conform to either the Democratic or Republican party platform assumptions. I have consistently asked friends on social media to be tolerant of differing political opinions. I have called for a level-headed interchange when points of contention come up. I have learned, though, that - since the latest Presidential election - a social media conversation is anything but civil. In most cases I have been unfortunate to be a part of, it's about tearing down opinions, taking apart opinions, and trying to prove that one "side" is right. I would rather be part of discussion that didn't involve politics, as that topic is much more toxic than anything else these days. I think it's beneficial to focus on what we have in common, not what we vehemently disagree on. My political opinions will be made at the ballot box.