My name is Shmuel. That's pronounced "SHMOO-el." It rhymes with "do well" or "true hell," with the emphasis on the first syllable. It's the original Hebrew for Samuel.

I was born on May 10, 1973, which makes me a quarter-century old at the time that I type this. I'm currently a junior at Queens College, in New York. I have an apartment not far from QC, and, if I'm lucky, I'll actually find some way of paying the rent next month.

I am an English major. I was born to be an English major. English is my life, my passion, my joy. I am addicted to books, and have been pretty much all my life, excepting the first couple of years, when I was still figuring out how to read.

My other passion is music. Unfortunately, I lack the discipline to actually practice any instument, so I have few skills in this area. I've dabbled in keyboards and drums over the years, but the only instrument I'm proficient in is the kazoo.

I am an insomniac, and a night owl. The two reinforce one another. I guess if I'm not going to be able to sleep anyway, it's just as well that I'm able to enjoy being up then.

That will do, for starters. More information can be found in the survey in my January 17th entry.