User:Stoic Stan

Hello and thank you for visiting my user page. I have a few interests that I try to keep up to date on and occasionally contribute edits:

a) Pop music - my roots are in 1980's British pop and alternative, but my interests now extend to a few different genres and I go to around 30 to 40 gigs each year. I highly recommend the online History of Rock class by University of Rochester on Coursera. I am a weekly contributor to Setlist.fm.

b) Film - in 2020 I founded an online film club called West Side Stories, and have hosted over 50 discussions of classic movies, good but obscure movies, and international movies. I typically watch and write about over 100 movies per year.

c) Greek pots - I have a master's degree in ancient Greek civilization. I like to check out old pots when visiting the world's great museums because they provide interesting illustrations of life in ancient times.

d) Mathematics - not something I am particularly good at but I love a good proof. I recommend the online courses Introduction To Mathematical Thinking, and Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity, both by Stanford University on Coursera. I am a member and advocate of the National Museum of Mathematics in Manhattan, New York City.

e) Radio - I presented various music shows on two UK radio stations between 1985 and 1995. After moving to New York City in 2006 I served as a member of the Community Advisory Board to New York Public Radio.

f) Birdwatching - I'm a keen but woefully poor student. Birdwatching preserved my sanity (mostly) during lockdown.

g) Word games - The UK Daily Telegraph Cryptic Crossword, and the New York Times Spelling Bee.

h) Languages - I speak English and French and can read Latin pretty well. As of 2022, I am improving my Ancient Greek, learning basic German and practicing Python from time to time. I find that languages, like juggling, exercise a different part of the brain.

Please leave a comment on my talk page!

Stoic Stan (talk)