Biography
I am twenty-five years old and have called three cities home: Kearney, NE, Boston, MA, and Merriam KS (K.C., KS). I was born and raised in the south central Nebraska town of Kearney and received bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and psychology from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. During my undergraduate education I met Paula, my future wife. Upon graduation, she and I moved to Boston and both began graduate school at Boston College. Eventually I received a master’s degree in philosophy, while she received her J.D. from the Law School. Most recently, we relocated to Kansas City, KS, a bit closer to most of our friends and family. I commute to and from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS where I am enrolled in the Ph.D. program in philosophy and help teach introductory classes in philosophy. She works for the Employee Benefits Security Administration in downtown Kansas City, MO.
I have three cats (Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, & Albert Camus; notice the French cafe theme?), and I love kids. I am the commissioner of a fanatical fantasy football league. I enjoy dipping french fries in vanilla ice cream. I like to think about what existence will be like in thirty years, assuming I make it that long. Space travel? Time travel?
I would consider myself a night owl and a fairly private person.
I have many interests and am an avid multi-tasker, often doing ten things at once. I enjoy playing guitar, writing philosophical fiction, and doing absolutely nothing. I also like hockey (and sports in general), counter-culture, true crime, and the dark side of human nature. I have too many books and too little ambition. My goal in life is to find a goal in life.
Many thinkers and artists have significantly influenced me. I’d like to meet Friedrich Nietzsche, Soren Kierkegaard, Franz Kafka, Socrates, Plato, Jim Morrison, Jesus Christ, David Hume, Einstein, Jimi Hendrix, Timothy Leary and Hunter S. Thompson, if only any of them were still alive. As far as those still breathing, I’d like to meet the members of Pink Floyd and the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. And Trent Reznor. And the members of The Beta Band. And Irvine Welsh. And…
Musically, I have diverse interests, but for the most part I am stuck in the 60’s and 70’s. These bands are among my favorites: Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Doors, The Velvet Underground, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, Bob Marley, Alice In Chains, Sublime, and Radiohead.
My literary influences are equally diverse. I am a fan of “Indecision,” by Benjamin Kunkel, Friedrich Nietzsche’s works, Kafka’s stories, Kierkegaard’s philosophy, “Diary of a Drug Fiend,” by Alesteir Crowley, “Doors of Perception,” by Aldous Huxley, some of Kerouac’s stuff, Robert Musil’s, “The Man Without Qualities,” Albert Camus’ philosophical fiction, William Burroughs’ literary trips (e.g. "Naked Lunch"), and James Joyce’s novels.
It’s very hard to keep my interest for the entire duration of a movie. Consequently, I watch far fewer movies than most people. Movies I do like include "American Beauty," "Adaptation," "Amelie," "Fight Club," "Dumb and Dumber," "Napoleon Dynamite," "A Clockwork Orange," "The Doors," "Trainspotting," "Science of Sleep," "Naked Lunch," and "Misery."
I am obsessed with TIME. We’re dying every day.
I like to think. I think.