ABOUT ME

I am a carbon-based life form on the planet Earth, which orbits a star called "the sun," which itself is in a galaxy known as the "Milky Way." I'm the uncle of 2 sweet little girls, Bella and Cecilia.

I have a truncated Polish surname but am mostly Irish (100% Irish on my maternal side, mostly Irish with a bit of Polish, Scottish, and English blood on my paternal side). As my grandfather often says, "Ireland is a Viking country," which leads me to the question, "what does it mean to be '100% Irish' or 100% anything? is there such a thing?"

I have been known as Stephan, Steve, T, Sterve, Steerve, Steve el Loko de los Satelites, el Esteve, Steve El de los Mil Paranoias, Steve el Gringo, Steve el Yanqui, Steve the drummer from Elysian Fields, Schtebble, el Güero Chingón, Stif, Estif, Maderfaker, Spaceman-Steve, Mythic-P, Bison7, "808", and Frampton.

I have spent the better part of my life in Minneapolis, Minnesota (19 years), and St. Louis, Missouri (8 years); I currently reside on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. I have also lived for brief periods in Nuremburg, West Germany (1991), San Juan, Puerto Rico (1995-1996), Madrid, Spain (1998), and Buenos Aires, Argentina (2001). Other Countries I've been to include Brazil, Uruguay, France, Switzerland, Canada, the Netherlands, and Austria.

Out of high school we had a little band that went on until I moved to the Caribbean. We played rock and roll and had a fairly decent following after about 5 years, cut a CD in 1994, et cetera. I miss playing those gigs, but I have continued to play music whenever I've been able. I play drums and percussion, and a bit of guitar, and can sing okay.

For about the past 9 years I have practiced the hobby of visual satellite observation, which has led me to a passionate interest in astronomy, cosmology, and physics, as well as human spaceflight. I've always held a great passion for aviation and aviation history. Beginning in the fall of 2003, I began to maintain a journal having to do with these topics. Some highlights of that journal include meeting Burt Rutan and Eric Lindbergh at the X-Prize award ceremony, the Venus Transit of 2004, the Cassini Saturn Orbital Insertion and continuing mission; the landing of the Huygens probe on Titan, the landing and continuing missions of the Mars Exploration Rovers, the shuttle return to flight in 2005, the Deep Impact mission success, the return to Earth of the samples collected during the Stardust and Genesis missions, et c, and also many sessions of making observations, mostly naked-eye, but also from such observatories as the UMSL observatory in St. Louis, MO, and the Dearborn Observatory in Evanston, IL.

PHILOSOPHY

"have a good time... all of the time!"

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

just joined today 6 feb 2008

Interests

Observing the Firmament, Percussion, Traditional Irish Music, Guitar, Celestial Navigation, Cosmology, Travel, Literature, Sailing, the Wilderness, Canoeing, Skiing, Aviation, Spaceflight, Astronautics, Spanish Cuisine, Physics, Economics, Cinema, Visual Art, Flamenco, Football, American Football, Churrasco, Astronomy, Sound Recording, Visual Satellite Observation, Aviation, Flight Simulation, the incredible Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) World War II Online, History, Science Fiction, Surfing, Baseball, Rock and Roll, Efficiency Maximization, Geography, Dystopian Literature and Cinema, Disc Golf, my Frisbee-Dog, Green Architecture

• dogs
• arts
• literature
• singing
• architecture
• flamenco
• aviation
• movies
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• drums
• canoeing
• surfing
• sailing
• skiing
• baseball
• american football
• soccer
• golf
• astronomy
• economics
• geography
• history
• physics
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Guzzard, PELLIZCO, Earth, Wind &; Fire, LED ZEPPELIN, the Doors, El Grupo Niche, Stevie Wonder, A Tribe Called Quest, the Cows, Camaron de la Isla, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, Kiko Veneno, Paco de Lucia, Luis Gonzaga, Las Guanabanas, the Rolling Stones, La Polla Records, the WHO, the Replacements, Ivicuin, Pink Floyd, P-Funk, Los Martires del Compas, Housebreaker, Busta Rhymes, Tomatito, Soul Asylum, Sonic Youth, RHCP, the Black Crowes, Bob Dylan, el Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Gang Starr, Samuel Barber, Angel Y Khriz, Brahms, Van Halen, Tribalistas, Isao Tomita, Debussy, Dmitri Shostakovich, Negativland, the Meatmen, the Dead Kennedys, Jane's Addiction, Deevani, Cool G Rap, los Tigres del Norte, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Steel Pulse, La Sonora Dinamita, Damas Gratis, Flema, Helmet, the Beastie Boys, the Melvins, Gilberto Gil, the Jayhawks, Motorhead, Yellowman, Pitbull, the Pharcyde, Digable Planets, Burning Spear, Wyclef Jean, the Fugees, the Ramones, Saafir, AC/DC, U2, Sergio Mendes, Kumbia Kings, Wisin y Yandel, Aerosmith, Outkast, the NOISE, the Gear Daddies, Chuck Berry, the Beatles, MC5, Wayne Kramer, the Flaming Lips, Dr. Dre, Cypress Hill, Juan Luis Guerra Y 440, the Seatbelts, Mai Yamane, Los Residentes, Black Uhuru, the Pogues, Shane MacGowen and the Popes, Kinky, Emir Kusturica &; Zabranjeno Pu..enje, Miles Davis, Funkdoobiest, Porno for Pyros, Charlie Parker, Fela Kuti, Golden Smog, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Ozomatli, M.I.A., REM, Otis Redding, Janis Joplin, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Maceo Parker, Wilson Picket, Booker T and the MGs, Lucky Boys Confusion, Grubby, Nanchaku, Sugar, Talking Heads, the Clash, Leadbelly, Grey Buffalo, Wu Tang Clan, Albert King, Los Lobos, Josephine Baker, the Clancy Brothers, Lenny Kravitz, Willie Dixon, Tears for Fears, Dinosaur Jr., King Can, Steely Dan, Walter Wanderly, Black Sabbath, Phish, Warren G &; Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, Jimmie Smith, Smashing Punpkins, Lemonheads, Johann Strauss, Nat Cole, Shabba Ranks, Memphis Blusera, Notorious B.I.G., Rush, Marisa Monte, Kruddler, My Bloody valentine, Babes in Toyland, the Specials, the Scofflaws, MU330, Sugarplant, Mustard Plug, the English beat, Ministry, Coolio, The Band, the Allman Brothers Band, any brother named Marsallis, Sugarhill Gang, Banda Blanca, Fugazi, Sebadoh, Pavement, Godhead Silo, We'd Rather Be Flying, Tea &; Sympathy, Black Flag, Tesco Vee and the Hate Police, Smiley Culture, Patra, Capelton, Selena, DRI, Descendants, All, Alice Donut, Fluf, Big Black, Shellac, Minor Threat, Fishbone, Run DMC, De la Soul, N.E.R.D., Spymob, Uchpa, Drupatee, Kitchener, Inyectores, Sepultura, the Boneless Ones, Slick Rick, Digital Underground, the Gooby Band, Curtis Mayfield, the Pixies, Buzzcocks, Joe Cocker, James Brown, Arrow, Shadow, Tambu, Organiser, Daft Punk, Burning Flames, Spice, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, the Steve Miller Band, CCR, Metallica, Bolt Thrower, Sonic Youth, Mudhoney, the Trashmen, Jamiroquai, Jurassic 5, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5, Thelonius Monk, Boogiedown Productions, Lope de Vega, Paul Simon, Peter Tosh, Mott the Hoople, Iggy Pop, Earl King, Doug E. Fresh, Prince, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Sex Pistols, Dumpster Juice, Ween, Walt Mink, Mark Schirmacher, Osezua, Harry Perry, Panic Channel, Archibald, Ninjaman, Fats Domino, Amos Milburn, Byron Lee, the Gypsy Kings, Jewel King, Benny Spellman, Guru, Jazzmatazz, DJ Premier, Davy Spillane, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Q-Tip, NiNa Sky, N.O.R.E, the Wayward, the Dashboard Saviors, the Bleeding Hearts, Jefferson Airplane, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Gabriel o Pensador, the Cure, the Church, Billy Idol, Naked Eyes, Vera Lynn, La Bruja, Macka-B, Dread Zeppelin, ODB, Jethro Tull, the Grateful Dead, Bela Velloso, Caetano Veloso, Ojos de Brujo, Sheikh Ahmad Al Tuni, La Caita, Chico Ocaña, Neguinho da Beija-Flor, Titas, Zion Y Lennox, Tego Calderon, the Wailin' Jennys, the Butch Thompson Trio, É O Tchan, Morris Day and the Time, CRU, Spearhead, Tupac Shakur, Amon Duul II, Die Toten Hosen, Daniel Lanois, Nick Cave &; The Bad Seeds, Crime &; The City Solution, Elvis Costello, Can, the White Stripes, Brand New Heavies, Brasil '66, Depeche Mode, YoungBloodz, St. Lunatics, Toya, Lil Jon &; the East Side Boyz, Chingy, Gwar, Dies Mali, Ying Yang Twins, Carlos Santana, Tito Puente, Roxy Music, Lou Reed, Lil' Dap, Three 6 Mafia, Violent Femmes, Sade, Styx, Slade, Amil, Kid Capri, Greg Nice, the Neptunes, Nice &; Smooth, Group Home, Melachi the Nutcracker, MJG &; 8Ball, Everclear, Lil Troy, the Presidents of the United States, Ice Cube, Beenie Man, La India, Iron Maiden, Daft Punk, Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Onyx, Living Colour, No Doubt, Boston, Daddy Yankee, Trillville, As Meninas, Ivete Sangalo, Edwin Starr, Babado Novo, Siniestro Total, Carla Cristina, Timabalada, Paraíso (los del 'Makoki'), Jammil e uma Noites, Propagandhi, Buddy Guy, Ludacris, Bad Religeon, NWA, Herbie Hancock, America, Harry Nilsson, the Circle Jerks, the Suburbs, Dire Straits, Olodum, Banda Eva, Too Short, Rhymefest, Terra Samba, Luny Tunes, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Rashid Ali, Buddy Rich, Screaming Trees, Lil Wayne, Point Breakers, Vanessa Rangel, Love and Rockets, the Church, Modern English, Ben Harper &; the Innocent Criminals, Supernova, Ska-P, Simple Minds, Brian Herb, Eddie Cochran, Bill Haley and his Comets, Clarence Garlow, the Mighty Mofos, Jessie Hill, Kongar-ool Ondar, Kaigal-ool Khovalyg, Huun-Huur-Tu &; Angelite, Juvenile, the Jesus Lizard, Tesla, Kiss, Blind Melon, Cracker, Big Audio Dynamite II, Alice In Chains, Xtreme, Calle 13, Aventura, Crime Mob, Radiohead, the Guess Who, Audioslave, the Tossers, Erykah Badu, the Willie Wisely Trio, Midnight Oil, Billy Idol, The Traveling Wilburys, Fleetwood Mac, Shocking Blue, Bennie Smith, John Wolf, The Cars, the James Gang, Joe Walsh, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Headlights, Run Westy Run, Joan Osborne, Mr. Bungle, Spacehog, Death Cab for Cutie, Dr. Zhivegas, Grand Funk Railroad, Average White Band, Count Basie, Oasis, Mano Negro, los Hermanos Rosario, the Yardbirds, Slaughter, the COWS, My Morning Jacket, The Oak Ridge Boys, Milton Nascimiento, Punto de Equilibrio, Alpha Blondy, los Heroes del Silencio, Deee-lite, Gomez, Skank (de BH MG), Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens, The Hold Steady, Hüsker Dü, the Fixx, Bob Mould, Big Country, Arm, the USA is a Monster, Los Shains, Ronnie Spector, the Ronettes, Boz Scaggs, Sly and the Family Stone, Vietnam, the Black Angels, the Burning Brides, Big Business, Send Help.

The Cassandra Crossing, Central Station, Abre los Ojos, The Shining, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Dr. Strangelove (or, How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb), Full metal Jacket, the Thing, Alien, Aliens, Predator, the Terminator, Ferris Beuller's Day Off, Brazil, Time Bandits, The Life of Brian, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Das Boot, Stalingrad, Kanal, Until the End of the World, Candyman, Blade runner, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Serpico, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Exorcist, Sympathy for the Devil, The Day After, Dune, Red Dawn, The Wall, Heathers, From the Earth to the Moon, Stroszek, the Butcher Boy, Amor Es Perros, Apocalypse Now, Flying Tigers, Hell's Angels, Tomorrowland, Three Days of the Condor, Jaws, Gattaca, The Handmaid's Tale, Vengo, Being John Malkovich, Feeling Minnesota, Untamed Heart, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, Communion, Escape from New York, Twilight, Clerks, Heavy Metal, The Spirit of St. Louis, The Dirty Dozen, Anzio, Conspiracy, Downfall, the Andromeda Strain, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Image of an Assassination, Mallrats, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, the Bridge at Remagen, Soylent Green, Fahrenheit 451, Snatch, Atomic Cafe, Requiem for a Dream, Half Baked, The Gift, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Repo Man, Mad Max, Destination Moon, Bamboozled, Training Day, Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios, Cowboy Bebop, Man Bites Dog, Where the Green Ants Dream, the Lost Boys, Life Force, Volver, Carlito's Way, Goodfellas, Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, the Poseiden Adventure, Tron, C.H.U.D., Evil Dead II, Tremors, JFK, Platoon, Airplane, Apollo 13, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Kentucky Fried Movie, Saving Private Ryan, Henry V, This Is Spinal Tarp, Swing Kids, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future trilogy, Star Wars, Running Man, Total Recall, One Trick Pony, Death Race 2000, the Indiana Jones saga, The Departed, El Mar Adentro, Blood In, Blood Out, Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers, So Goes the Nation,The Lives of Others,The War Tapes, Onibus 174, Cidade de Deus,Le Mepris, The U.S. vs. John Lennon, Princesas, America: Freedom to Fascism, Winter Soldier, Stoned, An Inconvenient Truth, Borat, Marathon Man, Good Night and Good Luck.

Disturbing the Universe by Freeman Dyson, Anna Karenina by Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth by Richard Buckminster "Bucky" Fuller, Candide by Voltaire, Fundamentals of Nuclear Flight by R.W. Bussard and R.D. DeLauer, Neuromancer by William Gibson, Count Zero by William Gibson, Longitude by Dava Sobel, Cien Años de Soledad por Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell, Down and Out in Paris and London By George Orwell, The Spirit of St. Louis by Charles A. Lindbergh, The Wartime Journals of Charles A. Lindbergh, Stuka Pilot By Hans Ulrich Rudel, Centauri Dreams by Paul Gilster, Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer, Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, Burmese Days by George Orwell, With the Night Mail by Rudyard Kipling, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck, Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck, The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck, Biplane by Richard Bach, The Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach, If The Sun Dies by Oriana Fallaci, Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho, Vol de Nuit by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Terre des Hommes by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Pilote de Guerre by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien, The Two Towers by J.R.R Tolkien, The Return of the King by J.R.R Tolkien, Así que Pasen Cinco Años por Federico García Lorca, The Eye of the Dragon by Stephen King, Nanosystems by K. Eric Drexler, Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning by Richard Hinkley Allen, Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Thunderbolt by Robert S. Johnson, The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, the Air War 1939-1945 by Janusz Piekalkiewicz, the Realm of the Nebulae by Edwin Hubble, Lightning Strikes: The 475th Fighter Group In The Pacific War 1943-1945 by Ronald Yoshino, Decision at Nagasaki by Fred J. Olivi, Dick Bong: Ace of Aces by George Kenney, A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin, the Case for Mars by Robert Zubrin, A Peace to End All Peace by David Fromkin, All the Shah's Men by Stephen Kinzer, Mathmatical Principles of Natural Philosophy by Isaac Newton, Little Crow, Spokesman for the Sioux by Gary Anderson, The City of Gold and Lead by John Christopher, When the Tripods Came by John Christopher, The Pool Of Fire by John Christopher, the White Mountains by John Christopher, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick, the Sand Pebbles by Richard McKenna, Almanac of Soviet Manned Space Flight by Dennis Newkirk, North to the Orient by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, the Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, By the Waters of Babylon by Stephen Vincent Benet, the Doors by Danny Sugarman, Hammer of the Gods by Stephen Davis, The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley, My Son Jimi by Al Hendrix, Are You Experienced : the inside story of the Jimi Hendrix Experience by Noel Redding, Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Novella by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Der Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, the Bhagavad Gita, the Iliad by Homer, the Aeneid by Virgil, Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel, Aviation Fundamentals by Jeppesen, Hyperspace by Michio Kaku, Entering Space: Creating a Spacefaring Civilization by Robert Zubrin, The Conquest of Space by Willy Ley, The Great Brain (series) by John Fitzgerald, The Three Investigators (series), The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, Project Orion by George Dyson, German War Birds from World War 1 to NATO Ally by Kenneth Munson, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

observed leonid meteor showers 1998-2003; observed venus transit of june 6th, 2004.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

Puerto Rico, Spain, United States