CURRENT MISSION

See the World, research at archives, write non-fiction books

ABOUT ME

I took time off to write a non-fiction book. I have to travel to archives for research and to interview people.

I am now running for the Office of Borough President of Manhattan. Which means I will not be a great host until election day, November 3, 2009.

PHILOSOPHY

When you have a chance, take it. The things you didn't do and the places you didn't see are the things you regret not doing or seeing afterward.

Example, Chile. I went to Chile and found cheap digs. I could have stayed for another week but did not. Not seeing those places I would have gone in those extra few days are what I regret.

As one colleague of mine who urged me to write said, "You'll never have this chance again."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

For myself, I would like to locate colleagues in academia. I need to get to the National Archives in Maryland. (There is a bus running there from Washington's National Archives.) I would like to spend a night in other archival locations.

I can put a couch-surfer up here and there. It would be good to meet people who are working on projects on a shoestring as well. Research and interviews take time. Writers and academics have very little money. We also need company and a chance to talk and compare research notes.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have couch surfed since 1991. I stayed with friends in China, Taiwan, Kenya, and Washington to name a few. Nothing beats having someone there when you arrive.

Pakistan was my most interesting couch-surfing experience. That's because the place was so dodgy. I bought a local Shalwar and grew my moustache. It was astonishing. I looked somewhat like a Pakistani. We all had fun with that. And it lead to an interesting situation up on the Afghan border. The local tribesmen took me for a Pakistani. When they found out I was an American they were tickled by it. I became the man to meet! Everyone laughed and enjoyed it, an American - not a blonde - looked like them.

Interests

Writing, University Life, Foreign Travel, Stories of life abroad, non-fiction books, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Organized Behavior, Group Behavior, History.

• writing
• books
• running
• traveling
• socializing
• surfing
• history
• psychology
• science
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Between the Wars music. Music from 1920 to 1950 draws me nowadays. I find some of these classics excellent. I urge everyone to look into them. It isn't all about Louie Armstrong, but he's a good start!

I worked at Carnegie Hall for a while. So I listen to classical music at times. Bach impressed me. Like everyone else I was familiar with Mozart and Beethoven. The classical range is so much more.

I like a good singer. The voice is important and I like contemporary music but not rap.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was a volunteer at the World Trade Center on Nine-Eleven.

I sailed to Zanzibar. I booked ship out of Mombassa and sailed a turbulent Indian Ocean.

Teach, Learn, Share

I cultivated a few gardens of knowledge.

I used to teach American History at College. (I am an academic nomad, teaching where there is an opening.) I have studied many Histories and so am well versed in many obscure things. Sometimes I have rewarding conversations on far flung parts of the World.

I know a lot about real estate. The MSRE stands for Master of Science in Real Estate. That's a rare degree.

Right now I'm interested in Industrial and Organizational behavior.

Countries I’ve Visited

Nepal

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States