About Me

Hi! My name is James Wash!

Standard Biographical Data

• Grew up in Maryland
• Two parents, one sibling, dog
• Majored in Physics and Mathematics at a small Christian university in Nashville
• Currently working towards my PhD in Mathematics at Auburn University in Alabama
• Births, Marriages, Deaths: Oct. 25th 1999, none, and none

But who are you really?

I currently live and work in Auburn, Alabama, trying to earn my PhD in Mathematics. My primary mathematical interest is in graph theory - if you don't know math, it's the thing Matt Damon does in Good Will Hunting. Besides hit people. And Minnie Driver.

I played violin as a child, but stopped somewhere about halfway through high school where I just stopped enjoying it. Now, I occasionally practice piano - when I get the time - and have a continued-if-seldom-practiced interest in music and sound synthesis. That is, using electricity and electrical components to make sounds. I learned a fair bit of the math behind synthesis at school, so it's a way of thinking about sound that appeals to me.

Random skills I have include:

• Some basic understanding of French: I actually had the good fortune to have a conversation in French at a party recently. Surprised the hell out of my buddy Wyatt.
• Tutoring: Teaching/tutoring has been the main job I've had for nigh-on ten years now. I specifically focus on mathematics, but have also helped out with writing, physics, programming, and even theology.
• Juggling: I have some basic proficiency with juggling, thanks to the fantastic book Juggling for the Complete Klutz
• Basic Python Programming: I almost only use it for solving petty mathematical conundrums, but I do understand the basics of programming in Python and one or two other, specialty game development languages
• Swing Dancing: Took some classes at the local community center for a while. I don't do it anymore, but I can still do the basic steps with just a bit of practice
• HTML: No kidding

For books I enjoy a fair mix of fiction and non-fiction. My fiction interests typically go to the "Classics" of the Western canon, or to science fiction or horror. Non-fiction interests tend to spin towards mathematics, psychology, or increasingly history. I'll read just about anything as long as it's suitably "out-there", a tendency my friends and family will readily attest to. Favorite book at the moment: The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by James Martin, S.J.

In the realm of movies I typically most enjoy science fiction or horror, and have an especial fondness for cult films - though really, I have a pretty strong pull towards "cult media" in all forms, books or movies or videogames. Favorite movie at the moment: Godzilla Minus One Minus Color, directed by Takashi Yamazaki.

Videogames and music I'll try pretty much anything once, and often more than once - my tastes can be pretty varied for both. Again, though, my tastes tend to run to things that are pretty off-kilter, generally - I enjoy lots of games from the 90's and early 2000's for instance, provided I can get them running, since that's where a lot of the "classics" are. Music my tastes are a little bit more standard and poppier, though my favorite genres are most likely metal and rap.

• Favorite game at the moment: Even split between Brigador and Sims 3
• Favorite song at the moment: "Nowhere Fast" by Fire Inc., but really anything by Jim Steinman

There's certainly more to my life than all this, but I've written about some of those things elsewhere on the website. Be sure to take a look around to learn more about what I'm interested in and up to!

Where else can I see what you're up to?

I've essentially decided to minimize how much I interact with social media in the future, though only Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube are what I've ever "seriously" used in the first place. I've described elsewhere on this site why social media, generally, is pretty lame in my opinion.

Twitter I've just stopped using entirely by now, and won't bother posting a link to my profile. Very toxic place to be. Anything I put on Instagram I'll also put on YouTube or here, so there's not much need to follow it. My Youtube should also be linked on my Videos page, so I recommend just going there to see my video projects.

I do use some other social media sites, typically to track what books or movies I've been through or to get recommendations on new ones - or to have places to post things I make myself. Might post those here in the future, or just leave them on my creative pages. Thanks for the interest!

How can I contact you?

I'm not going to leave a P.O. box or a phone number or anything like that here. If you really want to contact me, I recommend you send an email to fortherandomgarbageofjames@outlook.com. But I offer no guarantees that I'll respond quickly!