Do you know this man?  Chances are that if you do, you wouldn't be here.


 

My Background

I was raised in New Castle, Kentucky (pop. ~890).  "Saaaa-lute!"  I did my undergraduate degree at  Transylvania University.  I thought I wanted to go into Computer Science, but I got hooked by an Anthropology class I took as a freshman and then by Sociology (since it was a joint Anthropology and Sociology program).  In my junior year, I took an Environmental Sociology course and it was all over.
For grad school I ended up at Penn State University where my major emphasis was Science, Technology and the Environment.  I did my Master's Thesis on environmental attitude change and my Ph.D on political protests surrounding the incineration of municipal solid waste.  I know that just makes you want to go "Yee-haa!"

So I did my 5 to 7 years at State Penn...uh...I mean the Pennsylvania State University.  Then serendipity found me a job back in Kentucky at the Kentucky Department of Education.  Basically, I did research on various aspects of the Kentucky Education Reform Act for the Office of Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability.  While there I continued looking for academic positions and finally landed one at Western Kentucky University in 1998.

As of July 2005, I will have been at Western Kentucky University for seven years.  I received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor.  So basically, I can stay forever (or until the powers that be read this website) whichever comes first. 

On September 11, 2001, in the midst of tragic world events, I finally met my match (She was right under my nose.).  We dated for 2 years and 8 months and were  married on June 5, 2004.  I love her bunches and bunches.  

So my life now revolves around trying to be a good sociologist and a good husband.  Tamela, Morgan (my lovely, smart and talented step-daughter), and myself are just completing renovations (with the help of our families...Thanks, Folks!) our bungalow so that we can fit our lives into it.  We are also in process of turning the two car garage behind the house into my home office / tiki lounge.  If all goes well, we should be joining Tiger and Silver (the two guard cats living at the house) before snow flies. 


My Personal Interests

I figure that you can see my professional interests on my stodgy professional page.  Once upon a time I spent my free time working (Pound for pound, I was the hardest working man in the Sociology business once.  I still try hard...I'm not just going to sit back on my ass now that I have tenure.  I have too strong a dose of Don Quixote in me...I love to tilt at windmills.) and playing.  Anyway, here were some of my favorite things:

My Favorite Music Venues

The Exit/In, Nashville, TN
Bogart's, Cincinnati, OH
Headliners, Louisville, KY

I used to get out to music quite a bit.  However, as I have aged, my interest in the modern music scene has dwindled.  I would rather just listen to Lounge Against the Machine or Nouvelle Vague.  

My Favorite Drinking Establishments:

Saint George and the Dragon Pub, Frankfort, KY
Zeno's (Still conveniently located over the Center of the Earth!), State College, PA

Favorite Things to Drink:
Ale81
Brooklyn Brown
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
Celis White
Mort Subite Peche
Saranac Black and Tan.
Yuengling Porter

My Favorite Undiscovered (thus far) Musicians:

Michael Gough
Neo Pseudo
Satchel's Pawn Shop
Queen Bee and the Blue Hornet Band
Bet Williams
Pat Haney
Claude Miles

TV Shows that I am embarrassed to admit I currently addicted to:

24
ER
Sealab: 2021
Harvey Birdman:  Attorney at Law
Family Guy
The Daily Show
Rescue Me

Favorite Things To Do when Not Working, Listening to Music, Drinking or Watching TV (i.e., other ways I blow my money):

The House
The House
The House
A Variety of Comic Books/Graphic Novels (1602, The Flash, Winter Men, New Avengers, New Thunderbolts, The Countdown to Infinite Crisis Stuff, Y:  The Last Man, The Walking Dead)
L5R
Did I mention the House?

Places that I would rather be most days:

Bellingham, Washington
Bernheim Forest
Columbia, Missouri
The Terrace at University of Wisconsin
Mammoth Cave National Park
New Castle, Kentucky
Ostuni, Italy
Portland, Oregon
Red River Gorge, Kentucky
Shaver's Creek, Pennsylvania
The Buddhist Temple in Xi'an, China
The Ice Cave in the El Malpais, New Mexico
The Ghost Planet

Media that I will take when I run away:

Archer
A Canticle for Leibowitz
Chasing Amy
Clerks
Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility
Life of Pi
Neverwinter Nights
Stand on Zanzibar
Welcome to Night Vale
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Favorite Animals:

BadgerBadgerBadger
The Regal Chipmunk
The Dancing Hamsters
The Naked Dancing Llama
The Evil Squirrel
The Nimble Moose

Favorite Sport:

Squirrel Fishing -- Harvard Style
Squirrel Fishing -- Penn State Style
Squirrel Fishing Technique

Words or Phrases that I can't seem to get out of my head:

FUQUA! 
MONKEY!
SANDANISTA!
KENSEN GAKKA!
SWEET FUNKY MONKEY MALLET OF JUSTICE!


Website Updated on:  May 18, 2004