CURRENT MISSION

Bike to work, work to live, live to bike

ABOUT ME

I graduated in June 2014! But the mission of learning is life long. I love a good political, philosophical, and existential discussion.
Please feel free to IM me on google! richelson.david@gmail.com

PHILOSOPHY

The basis of Utilitarianism is maximizing happiness. But if all we felt was happiness, we'd become bored. I think that no matter how miserable the other feelings are, they need to be felt too. If nothing else than to remind us how magnificent this life is and how good we have it. That's why I believe in optimizing happiness; the most happiness, with the necessary amount of other emotions.

I also believe in the Non Aggression Principle. The idea is that all interactions between people should be voluntary. This is the surest formula for peace. The only need for violence is self defense.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Unfortunately, so far I have only surfed. I moved into a house in October 2014, so I plan on having guests by February 2015.

Hosts provide two great services to surfers which they could charge heaps of money for. They provide hospitality and warmth that no hotel could match. The second thing is that they teach you something. Ideally you learn something new from each surfer and host.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've only surfed twice and it was fantastic, once in DC and once in Buffalo. But I was traveling with someone so didn't use my profile, so my profile says I don't have any experience.

Interests

Everything under the sun, and even above the sun, and the sun itself. Physics, Math, Excel and Spread Sheets, Philosophy, getting lost in a book, traveling the world,

• books
• poetry
• tango
• waltz
• chess
• traveling
• cycling
• calligraphy
• languages
• mathematics
• physics
• sign language

Music, Movies, and Books

Books
Michel, Michel
Harry Potter 1-7
Series of Unfortunate Events 1-13
Life of Pi
How to win friends and Influence People
Shade's Children
Ender's Game
100 years of Solitude
Atlas Shrugged
Hunger Games
Little Bee
Hobbit
Atlas Shrugged

Music
Ludo
Muse
Fratellis
K.G.B.
Meatloaf
Reel Big Fish
Queen
Say Anything
Killers
Mighty Mighty Bosstones
They Might Be Giants
Pomplamoose
Jack Johnson
Strokes
OK Go
Flight of the Conchords
Black Keys
Beatles
CCR

Movies
Matrix
Fight Club
Knocked up
Waking Life
Austin Powers
Fargo
Bruno

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I once biked 100 miles in 11 hours. It sounds slow but I was totally spent by the end.

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to learn:
at least one word in as many languages as possible
Latin and Greek
how to write poetry
calligraphy
what love is

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can teach:
basic step Waltz, East and West Coast Swing, Tango
American Sign Language vocabulary
how to make a plastic lanyard
how to make your personal stamp
how to play chess

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovenia, Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United States