I'm working to finish my Ph.D in computer science at Cornell. I am seriously into swing dancing (Lindy Hop, Blues, and Balboa), and log thousands of miles a year traveling the world to dance with people and learn new moves and techniques. I was also quite the sci-fi geek in my youth, and I obsessively bike to work every day (year-round, from downtown up the hill to Cornell) for personal fitness and to save the world.

It's hard to describe the type of person that I like hanging out with, but I'll try anyway. Most of my friends and crushes are witty, charismatic, and generally together people who draw out fun parts of myself and encourage me to try to be better or have more fun.

I'm nonreligious, but I fulfill my spiritual needs through self-discovery, and I appreciate the grace of the happy accidents that can occur in this endeavor. I like to throw myself into things that I like, and try to get as much enjoyment and life experience out of them as I can. I care deeply about a small set of close friends, and have a strong tendency to pick up mannerisms, values, and beliefs from them. Earlier in life, computers were my passion, and I converted this into an education and a career.

I'm fortunate to have discovered the world of dance. I enjoy the simple fun and relaxation of a good dance, the challenge of pushing myself to learn new things, and the new insights that the dancing experience reveals. Sometimes, when I'm not dancing, a simple visual or physical hint can lead to an interesting new dance idea. Often, a dance event will reveal some interesting new ideas about people and social interactions.

One of the most interesting and rewarding dance challenges has been to learn the traditional women's role. This has taught me a lot about the leader/follower relationship on the dance mechanics and emotional levels. It's also fun overturning the social boundaries and sexuality issues that can prevent two dudes from having fun dancing together.

Off the top of my head, here are three possible first dates:

One-on-one dance lesson or practice: I could teach a swing dance lesson, or practice other dance material.

We could meet at a quiet cafe or bar.

Go to a dance club to dance. Not my first choice because it's hard to talk and get to know someone at a dance club, but it's still really fun.