Of the ultimate origin of life we know nothing, as we know nothing of its ultimate end.  What concerns us is that immediate section of the stream of life in which we find ourselves. - from The Creed of a Biologist by Aldred Scott Warthin.  When I was a child, I was frightened by the sudden alternations of light and darkness and was told that it was day and night.  I was mystified by the sudden appearance and disappearance of beings and was told that it was birth and death. - from West-Green Random Notes by Shih Chenlin.  For only when a person has a certain belief and is sure of the principles on which his belief rests, can he be said to possess scientific knowledge, since, if he is not more sure of his principles or premises than of his conclusion, his scientific knowledge will be only accidental. - from Book VI, Chapter 3 of Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle.  The preceding passages embody my philosophy of life, which is... that the constant pursuit of knowledge and understanding provides both meaning and purpose to the stream of life through which we meander.  As you may have surmised, science is a passion which at times I eat, breathe and sleep.  However, lest you think me ivory tower-bound, I derive my greatest pleasures in life from spending time with my wife and children.  Many a time, I have returned home from a frustrating day of experimentation to be greeted by my smiling and exuberant children, thus reminding me of what is truly important in life.

 

Artistic Tastes:  Here my tastes are definitively Renaissance:   Some of the most provocative paintings I have encountered were in Italy at the  Musei Vaticani in Roma and at the  Galleria degli Uffizi in Firenze.  These, of course, were spiritual in content.  I am also fascinated by ancient and rare texts and enjoy collecting antiquarian books (when I can afford them), particularly books on natural history and folk medicine.  If your artistic tastes tend toward the Southwestern and Native American you will surely enjoy images from my recent visit to the  Georgia O'Keeffe Museum  located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Along similar lines, you might also like our painting of an Angel by Roberta de la Vega which we acquired from the Liza Williams Gallery.    Musical Tastes:       My tastes in music are quite eclectic (some would say even bizarre) but here goes:   Classical - Of course I love the masters such as Mozart, J. S. Bach, Vivaldi, Wagner, Mahler and many of the Russian composers such as Prokofiev, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovski and especially Rimsky-Korsakov (Scheherazade is my favorite).  I also like Italian Opera, the three tenors and Kiri Ti Kanawa.  Lillian too, has grown to appreciate classical music but quite adamantly draws the line at Operatic works.    New Age and Ethnic - My tastes in New Age tend towards the mainstream like Yanni and Enya (especially Enya's "The Memory of Trees").  I also listen to Gregorian chant (the Benedictine monks of Santo Domingo de Silos), Celtic music (Loreena McKennitt is one of my favorites), LadySmith Black Mambazo and ancient folk music (Indian, Chinese and Japanese).   Literary Tastes:   Science and science fiction predominate my current reading habits, however, I have on occasion delved into poetry and even some philosophy.  I like Issac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Frank Herbert, Jack. L. Chalker, Richard Adams and especially Harlan Ellison ( whom I think is a literary genius of the sci-fi/fantasy genre!).  I also am an avid reader of sci-fi anthologies and Star Trek- related paperbacks (One of my prized possessions is a copy of "Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe" signed by George Takei).  In addition, I am a comic book collector with close to 2000 comics.  I mostly read Marvel and DC such as Avengers, Silver Surfer, Ghost Rider, JLA, Lobo and a few others.  I particularly like the Marvel horror titles from the early 1970's such as The House of Dracula, Werewolf by Night, Frankenstein, Manthing and many of the sci-fi/space adventure books from DC.

 

Wine Tastes:   Now on to the "Nectar of the Gods" (Baccus in particular) and don't worry, my tastes here are a little less eclectic.   I prefer the tannins of the massive Italian reds such as Barolo, Brunello de Montalcino and Chianti Classico Reserva Ducale.  I also like a few French wines, mostly from the Paulliac region, such as Chateau Lynch Bage, Chateau Giscours and Chateau Haute Batailley (‘82's rule!).  Of the Zinfandels, Lyton Springs ‘92 and ‘94 are my favorites and on ocassion I will try a white wine, although I prefer off dry (I know - don't cringe).  Recently, I have been turned on to the marvelous wines produced by Wyndham Estate of which their 1996 BIN 555 Shiraz is a prime example.  An excellent source for information about wines (i.e. discussion groups, reviews and viticultural gifts) is the  Wine Spectator.  Culinary Tastes:   A fine wine is best appreciated when paired with the perfect meal.  Of pairings, I think some of the most versatile wines are Lyton Springs Zinfandels for the heartier fare and the Simi "Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon" for the lighter and or grilled fare.  I enjoy cooking as a means of creative release, often subjecting my wife and friends to my culinary experimentations on weekends.  Some of my favorite cookbooks include The Joy of Cooking (not the newer politically correct version!), Shirley Corriher's Cookwise, and Julia Child's The Way to Cook.  For the most part my concoctions require second and sometimes even third attempts, but every once in a while I make a dish that even I think is fantastic (Sellati's are often their harshest critics).  To my way of thinking, the key ingredient for turning a good meal into a great one are the spices and seasonings one uses.  In this regard, my little secret is a fantastic spice and seasonings company called Penzeys Spices.