Well, while I'm not a huge fan of blog memes, every once in a while I do get caught up in a particularly interesting quiz or survey or what have you. And Chelsea sent me a snail-mail Christmas card this year, so when she tagged me I figured, hey, I can indulge that. Don't worry though, I won't tag anyone else. I don't mind being "it" for eternity, I'll take one for the collective blogging team. d^_^b

This particular "tagging" requires me to share six interesting things about myself. I guess that "I'm a second-year law student at BYU" should be blindingly obvious enough by now that it doesn't count as "interesting." And the recent celebrations over my wife's big break are still interesting, but I feel like that would be cheating as, strictly speaking, it's not about me.

I. But did you know that I adore steampunk? Basically, the steampunk genre puts advanced technological devices in Victorian-era trappings... so you get massive zeppelins, steam-powered robots, clockwork computers, et cetera. Right now my favorite steampunk story is Girl Genius, but another favorite is Alan Moore's the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

II. On a related note, I really love pocket-watches. And not just any pocket-watches--fully analog, wind-up pocket-watches. Now before you say I'm cheating because pocket-watches are decidedly Victorian, it goes deeper than that. The "watchmaker" figures prominently as a philosophical figure, as does the watch, both as a symbol of time and as a symbol of order. I wore a silver (battery-powered) pocket-watch for several years, even though I kept breaking the chain... but earlier this year my grandfather gave me a genuine turn-of-the-century wind-up Waltham that I wear on special occasions. Knowing my propensity for collecting things (like comic books and action figures), I imagine I will accumulate others. Maybe someday I'll learn how to repair them? Maybe not. d^_^b

III. I am a closet transhumanist. Actually, no, "closet" is the wrong word, considering my extended apology on the subject. Maybe "armchair transhumanist?" I am very interested in the idea of transforming our race technologically--downloading our minds into machines, downloading data directly into our minds, enhancing human lifespan and capabilities through technological enhancement... I don't do transhumanist science, I don't practice transhumanist law, I don't read transhumanist websites or attend transhumanist rallies. But I really like the idea. Which is especially funny when you realize that...

IV. ...I am kind of a luddite. I know that sounds really funny, as I am an expert computer technician, avid video game player, et cetera. I love technology, but I have also acquired a healthy mistrust of it. I tend to avoid battery-operated things (where possible and when I can), on the off chance that a global apocalypse will destroy all the battery factories and my stuff will stop working (compare my love of pocket-watches, above). I mail actual paper checks to pay my mortgage. I have absolutely no interest in "ebooks," I like the real deal. I think the tension is that I love technology, but I strongly prefer technology with reliability coefficients well above that of average consumer electronics. I like technology that I could conceivably keep running if I were the Omega Man or something.

I don't know, maybe points one through four just show that I read too much science fiction?

V. I don't really "get" sports, especially team sports. Sometimes people think I don't like sports, but that's not quite right. My siblings all play soccer, and I've watched some pretty amazing soccer games. I've watched the World Series (of baseball) two or three times in my life. I did gymnastics when I was little and I still watch the gymnasts compete in the Olympics from time to time. I think martial arts are awesome, I played racquetball with friends in High School, and I really do have an intellectual grasp of the personal physical excellence that physical competition encapsulates. But I have never worshiped an athlete, never identified myself with a particular team, never aspired to professional or even gifted amateur status in any athletic pursuit, never had a "favorite sport." When I explain this to sports aficionados, they tell me that I just don't "get it," and in truth I never have. Maybe someday? Maybe after I learn how to repair analog pocket-watches.

VI. I can play Enya's "No Holly for Miss Quinn" on the piano. It is the only song I can play with any real skill, though I do work on others from time to time. While I have always been an adequate vocalist, I wish I could play the piano better, and from time to time I take steps in that direction.

So there's my six things. Hopefully you have been entertained! The semester is over and it's break time, so I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season... see you next year!