Forrest

Where to start?
I love tinkering around with computers. After building my first one at 14, I've become somewhat of a geek. I know enough for "normal" people to call me a geek, but not enough of one for real geeks to call me so. I hate messing with code, and vow never to do programming less I become insane. I love computer gaming, and have a hate towards console shooters. Shooters are meant to be played with a keyboard and mouse, not thumbsticks and buttons. I love tactical simulation games, the more realistic the better.

I play paintball and airsoft, prefering scenerio based games rather than competetive. Airsoft is similar to paintball, but uses realistic looking and operating guns, firing bb's instead of paint.

I fancy myself a photographer, albeit a very bad one. I have a digital camera (not slr unfortunately, $$) and a very good film camera, and have been practicing with both. Working in a darkroom is fun, but such a chore when compared to digital. I also do some work with photoshop, mostly cleaning up and enhancing my work. Though I ocassionally try to create something artsy with it.

I have gone mountain biking with my friends Pope and Tom, and love it. The adreneline and endorphine rush one gets from ripping up rough trails, jumping logs and roots while skimming along 30 foot cliffs, taking a break to admire a sunset whilist standing above hundreds of feet of forest... one cannot fully describe the majesty of it all.

I've since given up on cigarettes. Call me a pansy, but I only smoked Cloves, Djarum Blacks to be exact. I wouldn't mind one once in a while, or accompanying a drink or chasing a good cigar. But five dollars a pack to ruin your lungs seems... less than ideal. I still enjoy cigars, and will never have more than one a month.

I do own a drum set, however it's pretty bad, and wish I had the money to replace/upgrade it. I took lessons for about 2 years, but have since neglected the instrument for some time. After playing, I have learned to appreciate truly good drumming, such as Billy Cobham and some jazz. But it also led me to love drumming in extreme metal. Some of the best drummers I've seen have been in metal bands, though Cobham in my mind reigns supreme.

I enjoy discussions of philosophy and sometimes religion. I am interested in the idealogy of Bhuddism (not the chinese interpretation) and am currently trying to learn to meditate. Hoever I cannot see myself becoming Bhuddist, or a member of any organized religion.

Politics piss me off the more involved I am in it. Blind party following, (liberal or conservative) irritates me. Extremeism pisses me off as well, I find the best outlook is a balanced one, though I prefer the balance to be slightly to the left, hah. I am a slightly moderate liberal, though I admire those who are hard core left. The guys wearing a hammer and sickle, Che t-shirts... so flawed. But one must appreciate their idealism and naivety.

I dislike uninformed stances, liberal or conservative. I also dislike non-activism, or general apathy towards politics and global events. I'm not the most informed or active person in a political sense by any means, but I see too many people who have no care whatsoever in our own government.

I'm interested in violence (like almost all humans) and love movies with realistic gunfights. Many a time have I discussed firearm ballistics with my compatriot Tom, who rivals me in knowledge of various assault weapons. I do believe there is an art of sorts in combat, as morbid as it seems, and appreciate the strategic and tactical aspect of combat. However, I'm not a fan of the whole killing and death thing, apparent in my disinterest in hunting after I killed my second deer. After felling a noble creature and pondering upon it, I decided that it wasn't for me. I don't look down on hunting (except for assholes who cannot appreciate the challange of a fair hunt), but I'm not going to shoot animals. Maybe people.
I'm kidding about the last statement.
Maybe not.

That be all.