I realized very young that I wanted to know everything. I also realized that I derive sincere enjoyment from taking things -- personalities, ideas, symbols, events, social systems -- apart to see how they worked -- and how they could change.

I write for a living as a journalist, with side stints as an impromptu editor or agent, occasionally paid. I also write fiction, poetry and general thoughts, rarely paid.

A long time ago, a friend gave me the name Ampersand Pilcrow, after two editing marks. I thought it was amusing, but didn't really comprehend it.

Then one day, frustrations building, I simply said "hell with it... I'm dorky, I'm politically wonkish, I'm occasionally shy and yeah, I've got an excitable, somewhat gothy side and am a kinky bi switch... ya know what? fuck it. I'm going to charge forward and I no longer give a good goddamn if people think that all fits together or not. It's me."

The Ampersand is an ancient Latin character, first discovered in the notes of Cicero's secretary. It stands for a conjunction and is considered the most feminine punctuation mark. The Pilcrow, the most masculine punctuation mark, originated in the medieval era. It is used to indicate a new train of thought and thus the breaking of an old one.

Conjunction + New Thought

I believe in the balance and improvement of soul, body and mind. I believe in magic, science and instinct. I believe in an infinity of connections, beautiful and terrible.

I believe that there is a better world waiting to be born -- if only we have the courage to grasp it. &¶