CURRENT MISSION

Taking laughter seriously

ABOUT ME

I'm a mad scientist. But one of the good ones that doesn't want to take over the world. For one thing, I work with babies and computers so I'm not entirely sure how me & my baby-cyborg army would go about taking over the world. I like big cities and music festivals and I have my phd tattooed on my left arm.

I love stories and have an enthusiasm for enthusiasm. I travel more to visit people than places but I can still hit five museums in a day and have energy left over to dance all night. If you are the same then we will almost certainly get along.

PHILOSOPHY

Life is absurd and there's no escaping it. We're smart-ass monkeys turned victims of our own evolved sophistication. Opposable thumbs and self-awareness have handed us an existential crisis that we have taken up with both hands, turned over a few times before putting on one side while we build toys to distract ourselves from its gloomy consequences.

We are very good at playing games and at driving ourselves to distraction. But if ever we look up from our personal pre-occupations, it is hard to miss that life is purposeless and fiendishly complex. What's worse, other people seem to be enjoying a lot more than we are. Don't worry too much about them, mostly they are proving that ignorance is bliss. A better answer is to try to understand some of that complexity and to enjoy the criminally short span of your existence.

I try to study these existential questions through the medium of babies.
I am a professional infantologist and my days are spent playing mindgames with small babies, trying to figure out what makes them tick. It is great fun and I would even go so far as to say I have found my vocation.

Growing up is harder than it looks and, as adults, we are too far distant to remember how we did it or how hard it was. We take everyday miracles like walking, talking, memory and identity for granted but you've got to crawl before you can walk and gurgle before you can talk. Every single one of us had to learn everything from scratch and now I'm trying to figure out how we did it. Besides, it a lot less tangled and more fun that trying to do psychology with grown ups.

Outside of these academic pursuits, my main hobby is debauchery but I balance it out with some tai chi. I am an owl not a lark, and stay up too late at the slightest excuse.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Excellent so far. I've had lots of enthusiastic visitors how have made me more excited about London. Haven't stayed anywhere yet but will change that over the summer.

Interests

Brains, Babies, Books,

• books
• music festivals
• festivals
• dancing
• running
• walking
• traveling
• music
• psychology
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

I generally preferred the book to the movie.

Music should be live, lively or danceable. i really, really can't dance but that never stops me. Here's what is rated highly in my itunes: AC/DC, Aimee Mann, Alabama 3, Apocalyptica, Arlo Guthrie, Asian Dub Foundation, Azzido Da Bass, Basement Jaxx, Blackalicious, Bong-Ra, Buck 65, DJ Powers, DJ Skully, GZA, Half Man Half Biscuit, Harry Nilsson, Hedningarna, Iron Maiden, J-Five & Charlie Chaplin, Johnny Cash, King Pleasure, Krafty Kuts, Lowkey, Metallica, Neil Hannon, Non Phixion, osymyso, Outkast, Rodney P, Roots Manuva, Sage Francis, The Flaming Lips, The Pixies, YT

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Running 7k through the city of london with 700 people all dressed as Gorillas
Drove an old ambulance all the way across europe to see Iron Maiden headline the Sziget festival in Budapest

Teach, Learn, Share

Eu estou tentando aprender o português brasileiro. Gostaria muito de receber qualquer um que me deixou praticar a minha língua bebê brasileiro com eles.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Germany