Favorite Books:
I'm a nerd. I mostly read technical books on math, physics, computers, economics and languages. I am terrible with languages. I have studied French, Spanish, Russian and Romanian with little success. I read an occasional novel, usually if I really enjoyed the movie. I especially liked The Name of the Rose (my favorite) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Favorite Songs:
This is a tough one. I like many types of music, but usually just certain songs. Appassionata (Beethoven) as played by Sviatoslav Richter, Amidinine by Bombino, Bolka by Azis, Your Anchor by Asaf Avidan, and Ya Sidi by Orange Blossom (from soundtrack to TV series Marseille) are some examples of music that blowed me away when I first heard them. I like discovering new music. Sometimes I visit rooms in MFC just because the music is new and interesting to me.
Armeen Musa, Bhromor Koio Giya (from Bangladesh)
Armeen Musa, Jokhon Chole Jao (a soulful Bengali blues tune)
And Amr Diab, Osad Einy (from Egypt)
Favorite Movies:
My all-time favorite movie is Dr. Strangelove Or How I Stopped Worrying And Learned To Love The Bomb (Kubrik, 1964). Also, Zorba The Greek (1964), Sleeper (1973), Windwalker (1980), Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981), El Norte (1983), Children Of A Lesser God (1986), The Name Of The Rose (1986), Proof (2005), The Illusionist (2006), Millennium Trilogy (2010) and The Life Of Pi (2012), Most recently, I enjoyed the movie Ex-Machina.
My favorite movie scene: Slim Pickens riding an atom bomb being dropped on Russia like a rodeo performer in Dr. Strangelove.
If I Could Be Anywhere Right Now:
I would like to travel to Europe, but not just for a few days. My idea of travel is to take an apartment, study the language of the country I'm visiting, make a few friends and absorb some of the culture. There are language programs that cater to students like me. I have looked into such programs in Brazov and Stockholm. I hope to be able to do this in a couple of years.
Hobbies:
Computers, chess, listening to music, reading and studying ... and watching MFC, ofc. Can I count my cats?
Talents:
Too few. I am quite good at math and other technical subjects; I write reasonably well; I can program a computer; and I am a fair cook. But I don't sing or dance or play a musical instrument, or engage in other artistic activities, and I am shy and socially awkward, though I do tend to get along well with others and take an interest in their lives once I break the ice.
Perfect Mate:
A strong woman, one who looks to the future with optimism, is youthful in her attitudes towards life, but has the wisdom that comes with age. And, most important, one who can overlook my faults. :)
Perfect Date:
Being close to a woman who I like and who likes me. The rest is unimportant.