Male

29

Washington, D.C.

Three incidents that molded me:

3/2004: Madrid is bombed in the deadliest terrorist attack in Spanish History. I fly there ten days after the bombing and spend five days stopping people on the streets and interviewing them about the attacks: how did they find out about them? Did they know anybody hurt? Who did they vote for in the subsequent elections? Did the response to the attacks influence their vote? Do they feel less safe on the subways now?

I collect 3 1/2 hours of tape and it changes my life--for the first time I'm interested in international affairs. Whatever part of my brain as an American processes the world's problems as "over there" breaks...permanently...good riddance.

?/1986: I figure out from spending an entire afternoon pressing every button on my parents' stereo how to make noise come out of it--not just any noise--"Who's Next" by the Who (which I still consider the greatest rock album ever made). The opening arpeggios of "Baba O'Riley" become permanently etched in my mind. To this day, whatever I am doing, if I hear the song I will stop everything to listen to it.

From this point on, music will always be a major force in my life.

8/2006: I go to Burning Man for the first time. Needless to say I am permanently altered by the experience. From the art to the people to just the vibe of being there, I soak it into my bones and never want to leave. I trip for the first time as the man burns and as I watch the fire dancers in the conclave, I come to the conclusion that it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my entire life. I resolve that being a fire dancer is one of the most sacred pursuits an individual can have and start referring to the temple burn as "going to church."