Will Bridewell

Sometimes people ask me what I like to do, or what music I like. I usually say, "Oh, you know, stuff," but that's because I'm trying to get out of having that standard conversation about interests. So, now I can just say, "See my web page," which is a bit less vague.

Well, I finished the dissertation, but I still haven't hit the books on Sanskrit. I suspect it's just a pipe dream these days—kind of like a free America.

I just (9/05) started learning a Yang-style long form again. If you're in the Bay Area, you should give it a shot at the Taijiquan Tutelage of Palo Alto.

When I'm in a foul mood, I love to play bass guitar. When I'm in a good mood, it's worthless. There's something about angst, depression, and frustration that is easier to communicate than joy and bliss. I wonder what that says about the human condition.

Ahh, finally something that I have time for these days. I like a little shakti from my music. Have you heard "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone ("Birds flying high, you know how I feel")? How about her version of "Sinnerman"? Since I'm always asked, here's a list of a few artists that I enjoy--right now: Diamanda Galas (La Serpenta Canta), David Bowie, Skinny Puppy, CocoRosie, John Lennon, Antony & the Johnsons, Fields of the Nephilim, Bob Dylan (up to Blonde on Blonde), Peter Brötzmann (and Last Exit), Bauhaus, and Phil Ochs.

I'm a big liar. I don't like to read books. I started Moby Dick over two weeks ago and haven't picked it up for at least 10 days. However, there are some works that I can devour. I'm a big fan of mystical works, and Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" comes as close as anything else ever produced by an American (I've not made up my mind about P.B. Randolph). Among other authors that I admit into my brain are William Burroughs, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, Albert Camus, Franz Kafka, and Chuck Palahniuk. Just in case you get any ideas, James Joyce is the closest cure I know for not having a headache.

I am a scientist discovering how the process of scientific discovery works. I happen to enjoy some of the less dogmatic works in this field, though it's hard to get anything worthwhile from a philosopher's pen.

Do you like fun? I sure do. In my book, nothin' beats it.