Academic interests:
Library services for under-served populations; collection assessment and development in the humanities; ancient religion; and Roman civilization under Caesar Augustus.

Personal interests:
When I'm at home and if I have time, I like to bake bread, grow herbs, cook with entirely too much garlic, listen to music, and read. I collect incense burners, tapestries, and cocktail shakers.

You really should read these authors:
Umberto Eco, Martin Amis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Sophocles, H.P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, Homer, Stephen King, Lord Dunsany, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, Philip Pullman, Marge Piercey, Publius Vergilius Maro, Ursula LeGuin, Dante Alighieri, William S. Burroughs, John Milton, Quintus Horatius Flaccus, Alice Sebold, Jefferey Eugenides, J. K. Rowling, and Margaret Atwood.

Like music? Listen to these:
J.S. Bach, W. A. Mozart, Francois Couperin, Marin Marais, Antonio Vivaldi, The Ramones, John Dowland, Claudio Monteverdi, Ludwig van Beethoven, William Lawes, Camille Saint-Saens, Karel Husa, The B-52's, Luca Marenzio, Scissor Sisters, The Bloodhound Gang, Krysztof Penderecki, John Jenkins, Frank Zappa, Antonín Dvorák, Sum 41, Laurie Anderson, Arcangelo Corelli, and the Beatles (George Harrison's solo stuff is great, too).

And, of course, movies:
I like huge films with gigantic budgets for sets, costumes, and special effects. Period sets and explosions are a plus, especially if both occur in the same scene. I especially enjoy the films of John Waters, Kevin Smith, the Coen brothers, and Ken Russell. The greatest movie of all time, however, is Marcel Camus' Black Orpheus. Also, people think I'm strange because I like the new Star Wars trilogy better than the first.

Most of the best shows on TV are animated:
South Park, Beavis and Butthead, Daria, and The Simpsons. The best non-animated shows are The Sopranos, Queer as folk, 30-minute meals, The daily show, and Los ricos también lloran.

And finally, my recent recommendations:

Books:
  Philip Pullman: His dark materials (it's like William Blake for kids!).
  Alice Sebold: The lovely bones.
  Jeffrey Eugenides: Middlesex.

Music:
  Jordi Savall: Marin Marais: Pièces de violes de 2me livre.
  The Ramones: Rocket to Russia.
  Jordi Savall: J. S. Bach: Die Sonaten für Viola da gamba und Cembalo.
  George Harrison: Brainwashed.

Movies:
  Marcel Camus: Orfeu negro (Black Orpheus).
  Coen Brothers: O brother, where art thou?
  John Waters: Female trouble and A dirty shame.
  Pedro Almodóvar: La mala educación (Bad education).