Greetings, all!

  I'm finally getting around to making my introductory blog entry.  I go by Humanimal, which is basically my acknowledgement that while we may be humans, we are still animals.  There are animal qualities that humanity would do well to emulate, but there are also some humanity would do well to overcome.

  I like to think a lot and learn a lot, but I generally prefer to do it passively.  I'm the kind of person who could listen to a lecture for hours, but would hesitate to read a textbook.  I admit that I'm a little lazy, but there's an element of efficiency as well.  Listening is more efficient for me.

  I think a lot about human nature and various aspects of it.  I consider myself philosophical, but I know very little about the famous philosophers.  Whenever I try to read stuff by any of them, I don't really understand most of what they're trying to say.  There's always a lot of words that I don't know.  Vocabulary is not my strong suit.

  Another reason I chose Humanimal is because I'm a little more intuitive than the average person, though it's due to some practice.  I think of the human brain/mind as a computer.  Through the senses, data is input and then it gets processed along with all previous data.  I don't have a good memory for details, but I have a great memory for essences (or so I call it).

  To me, every second of awareness is the inputting of new data.  Let the subconscious process it, and then allow yourself to recieve the results.  It's not really that different from letting a particular action become "second nature".

  I'm largely a practical person.  I strive for a certain level of minimalism.  If it wasn't for my video tape collection, everything that I would consider "important" to me would probably fit into a car, speaking in terms of moving, should that ever actually happen.

  I think of myself as a generalist in many respects.  I can appreciate rules of etiquette when dining in "polite" company, but I have no fundamental problem with eating with my hands and burping out loud.  I do like to behave in what is considered the acceptable manner of the company, but I do so because of a combination of consideration and a desire to be skillful.

  I admire skill in all its forms.  Even if the act is something I despise, I can still respect the skill in which it is performed, and therefore, that aspect of the person performing it.

  I am a person without carreer ambitions.  I measure success in life by character, and odds are, if you have a lot of money and vauable possessions, then I'll probably find some serious flaw(s) in your character.  This is not to say I have anything against people having a lot of money.  I don't begrudge anyone their monetary fortune, as long as it was gotten fairly and legally, generally speaking.  "Fair" is subjective, and the law is flawed.

  I'm pretty casual, for the most part.  I'm a t-shirt and jeans guy.  Pretty much all my t-shirts are black.  Actually, apart from my jeans and socks, everything I wear is black.  It's my favorite color.

  The practical reasons I like it are that it goes with everything and it hides dirt.

  I'm not really sure I can accurately pin down the impractical reasons that I like it, but here are some words that come to mind when I think about the color: content, potential, serenity, quiet.

  When it comes to music, I do tend to prefer the general "rock" genre, and I do use the word "rock" extrememly generally, but I enjoy music that I find unique.  There may be a lot of songs that I like, but there are very few artists that I would consider worthy of having.  Just look at the music section of my profile.

  I have a fundamental distaste for country music, though I think it may be more accurately the twangy quality if it.  Even though Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash are considered country, I can enjoy listening to them, because they are unique and do not have the twang.  Incidentally, I do not own any country music at all.  Not even Patsy and Johnny.

  I do have my own website called Humanimaland.  It features my art, poetry, short stories, the more fascinating dreams I've had, and some other things (a few of which I really need to revise).

  It may not occur frequently, but I do intend to make future blog entries, sharing my philosophical views on various topics, and I'm always open to hearing the opinions of other.  I enjoy discussions, though I do prefer to have them with objective people.

  In the past, I've been in many online discussions with people who react emotionally instead of logically.  It's very difficult to have discussions with people who read INTO what you say, instead of just reading what you say.  It's surprising how many objections I've gotten to things I'd never said or even meant.

  So, anyway... that's my introduction, such as it is.  I hope to peak your interest in the future.  As I understand it, you need to be on a person's friends list in order to comment on their entries (do correct me if I'm wrong).  If you want to comment on anything of mine, I'll be glad to add you, no matter who you are.