I'm Ryan. I'm 27 years old. Lifelong Southsider. I'm kind of a big deal around here.
I work at Firestone building tires. I'm in the union, it's not too bad and it pays decent. Hard and dirty work though sometimes.
Born into a fairly normal, decent blue collar family. My parents are still married and I have one sister and a nephew born over the summer.
I was in the Marine Corps Reserve for about 7 years, did one combat tour in Iraq. My job was infantry. I kind of miss it sometimes and realize this has been a big part of who I am.
Currently trying to trudge my way through school as more of a hobby than anything. I ended up with about 90 credits from DMACC with a business admin AS and liberal arts AA and I'm now working towards a bachelor's in liberal arts from the University of Indiana's distance program. This has been keeping me very busy lately. My job pays for it, so I might as well take advantage of it. Currently taking classes in human variation, geography, the late plays of Shakespeare and I'll be starting a French and European history class shortly.
I like lifting weights (and shooting Iraqis), try to eat healthy and sometimes get into running. I have five different containers of protein powder open in my house, so I suppose that makes me something of a meat head (3 different flavors and two different types). I haven't had alcohol in over a year. Never officially added "straight edge" to my subcultural repertoire but I live it. There's some talk of some interesting things happening with that, but that's all I'll say for now. Always a skinhead though.
I'm a total Anglophile. I'm all about British style, music, history, literature, culture and so-on. That's what I'm into and also my heritage. I guess I take interest in most other European countries' cultures (and the cultures of European-influenced countries like the US, Argentina, New Zealand, etc). It's safe to say I have a very unapologetic Eurocentric view of the world, to say the least. I enjoy traveling to these places when I can and in the mean time reading about them, eating their foods, etc.
Musically I'm into punk, reggae, Oi!!!, mod and various other stuff. Favorites: The Jam, Madness, English Beat, Skrewdriver, The Specials, No Remorse, Cocksparrer, Minor Threat, Generation X, Rezillos, The Lambrettas, Secret Affair, Stone Roses, Templars, The Pogues, Elvis Costello, Oasis, Blur, Above The Ruins, Prince Buster, Derrick Morgan, Violent Femmes, Blue Eyed Devils, Last Resort, Combat 84 and many more. I collect vinyl and probably have the second largest reggae collection in Iowa. Looking to greatly add to it next month in London.
Politically right-leaning, although I swing to the left on SOME economic issues and most environmental ones. Pat Buchanan would make the greatest president ever.
Contrary to my avatar, I am not Juan Manuel de Rosas. Here's a pic of me at Cafe Tortoni in Buenos Aires:
