The first thing you should know about me is that I'm not very good at writing about myself. I'm far too modest to do it well. However, just for you, I'll put some things down.

• Because of my talent for being able to figure out what other people want and give it to them, mostly, I have two very closely related superhero identities: Likeable Lad and Diplomatic Dude.
• My other superhero identity is a bit less-flattering: Stating-the-Obvious Man. I got this name because I have an uncanny, almost preternatural ability to verbalize something obvious as though it was only through my extraordinary perceptive powers that I alone could figure it out.
• I am six foot two on a tall day.
• I have fangs; my two top incisors are very pronounced.
• I have a deep resonant voice, and I'm not afraid to use it. My laughter is loud and distinctive, and when I yell (which is extremely rare) I can be deafening.
• My name is pronounced just like "Jack." J.A.K. are my initials so it seemed to my parents to be a good idea to have an unusual spelling. I used to get teased for it, but now I like it. Almost nobody else has the same name.
• I live in Seattle, and I no longer own a car. I get around exclusively by bus, bike or Flexcar.
• I am an electronics geek. Even though I can't afford the latest technology, I love to geek out over exceptionally kickass audio and visual toys. For example, I insist on getting DVDs in widescreen and DTS sound.
• I was born in the sixties.
• I have a bachelor's degree in Biology and English.
• My favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla.
• My favorite hard science fiction is Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy — Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars.
• I was an avid soccer and basketball player until I tore my ACL and had reconstructive surgery.
• My favorite band is Pink Floyd, specifically old Floyd before Roger Waters left. I think neither the new Floyd nor Waters by himself has the same magic.
• My favorite cyberpunk book is William Gibson's Neuromancer. I also think Burning Chrome is an awesome collection of short stories.
• My all-time favorite piece of Literature (notice the capital 'L') is William Shakespeare's King Lear.

For a more lengthy look at the details and trivia of my life, feel free to take a look at my journal, Mandala.

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