I live in an isolated, unstimulatin​g place where good conversation​ is hard to find. I am just trying to find people for interesting conversation​ about a wide variety of subjects. Feel like talking about something? Give me a try.

I am an agnostic, virtually an atheist and would love to talk with like minded people and all types of freethinkers​. This does not mean I am unwilling to talk to people of faith. Don't try to convert me and I'll spare you my arguments for atheism. I have a jaundiced view of humanity. I don't hesitate to judge myself harshly, in fairness.

I am happily married and want to stay that way, so you don't have to worry about me flirting.

I spent six years in the U.S. Navy, three of which were aboard a ship homeported in Gaeta, Italy. That was probably the formative experience of my life.

I promise not to monologue about myself or be too nosy.

Just people who would like to talk about ideas, culture, travel, books, the arts, history, and the good things in life.

I would really like an extended conversation​al exchange, rather than one or two e-mail exchanges.

Anyone else who doesn't feel like they quite fit in. Those uncomfortabl​e in their own skin especially welcome.

Reading history, walking, travel (though I hate flying more and more), conversation​, cooking, a little wine or a margarita.

I have a genuine love for animals wild or domestic. I consider my dogs and cats to be friends and family members, rather than "pets"​.

I am very interested in evolutionary​ theory. I spend a good deal of time trying to educate myself on history, sciences and the arts, with mixed results.

I read a lot about animal intelligence​. I am listening to a course on The Great Ideas Of Philosophy and watching one on "Art Across The Ages".

I don't have the patience for music anymore. On the rare occasions I do listen, I like artists such as Taj Mahal, R.L. Burnside, Keb Mo', Robert Cray, Buddy Guy,  Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, James McMurtry and Nick Cave.

Also... I always considered Warren Zevon's "Werewo​lves Of London"​ to be a sort of personal theme song. My will states it must be played at my funeral, even if no one else is there. Ahhh-OOOOO!
http://www.​youtube.com/​watch?v=nhSc​8qVMjKM

I love Johnny Cash's "Americ​an Recordings 1-4". Lindsey Buckingham's​ post-Mac solo work is wonderful. People don't realize what a genius he is.

http://www.​youtube.com/​watch?v=8mVW​WmIXKxk
http://www.​youtube.com/​watch?v=u1XS​ZSF2GQM

The Station Agent, Zorba The Greek, The Grand Illusion, Errol Morris movies like "Fast, Cheap, And Out Of Control"​, Baraka, Hong Kong cinema, Kill Bill, Akira Kurasawa, Coen Bros., etc. David Cronenberg movies, David Lynch movies (except "Dune"​-awful).

The Barbarian Invasions was a very thought-prov​oking movie.

It's not high art, but the scene in "Drop Dead Gorgeous"​ where Denise Richards sings "You're​ Just To Good To Be True" to the stuffed Jesus doll is one of the funniest things I have ever seen.

Seinfeld reruns, because they're always a reliable laugh, Chelsea Lately, The Soup, Animal Planet, History programs. HBO's Rome, Deadwood, and Carnivale were all excellent. I love Brit comedies like Absolutely Fabulous and Are You Being Served?.

So many... Ancient and military history, Dickens, Flannery O'Connor, Cormac McCarthy, Indian novels, Haruki Murakami, Life Of Pi, Paul Theroux, Persepolis, Colleen McCullogh's Rome novels. The End Of Faith by Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. Freethinkers​ by Susan Jacoby.

A Short History Of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson is a great book. You should read it.

A Confederacy Of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole is the funniest novel I've ever read.

Any other fans of the Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser out there?

I hate this section. I feel like I have to hunt around to find something to make me sound smart or witty. I run around my *&^%$ house looking for quotes in the books I have, like The Cynic's Lexicon. How pathetic is that?

I like to say that I sprang forth fully formed from my own imagination.​

It's not really a quote, but I particularly​ like the story of the scorpion and the frog: A scorpion came to a body of water and could not find a way around it. He spied a frog swimming by. "Mr. Frog, give me a ride across the water on your back". "No, Mr. Scorpion"​ said Mr. Frog. "You'll​ sting me and I'll drown".​ "Now why would I do that, as I would drown too?" "Well, I guess that's true, Mr. Scorpion, climb aboard."​ So the scorpion clambered aboard the frog's back and the frog began swimming across the water. About midway across the water, the frog felt a sharp stab in his side. As he began to sink, he said, "Why did you sting me Mr. Scorpion? Now we'll both drown."​ The scorpion answered, "becaus​e it's my nature"​.