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He definitely tops the list of people I would love to run into again on Thayer St. and chat with for an hour.

I don't remember what sort of Kevin Bacon Game shortcut was the original connection between Mike and me, but we hung out now and then during the first 2-3 years at Brown. Mike's study was his passion was his forte was his life, and seeing someone that interested that early on in the bigger picture--world affairs that I never cared to pay attention to until my late 20's--is truly impressive.

Besides the bounce in his step and the infectious laugh, what I enjoyed about Mike what that he was not above having the truly sophomoric dialogue (initiated and spurred on by me of course) about his other passions: U2 and khaki pants. I remember incurring his wrath once by claiming "U2's lyrics were pretentious and that pound for pound, even Soundgarden was a more interesting band". Needless, he debated his side masterfully. Or when someone pointed out that he sure did love his birkenstocks and khaki pants, he countered with a fantastic schpiel about how khakis were the best thing since sliced bread, so good that he even preferred sleeping in khakis to sleeping in pajamas.

I could never keep pace with the academic side of him, but it never mattered. He was willing to talk and laugh about such a wide variety of things, and whenever necessary, humour the sophomore in me. Good memories of a great guy.