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About

Ξ May 30th, 2007 | → | ∇ Blog |

I suppose if you pushed the “About” link, you want to know a little bit about me.  Welp, I was borne in 1970 in Flushing Queens (Queensboro Hill it the name of the section I’m from). You can websearch about it if you’re truly interested in the area, but I’ll just say it’s not a vacation destination.

For High School, I went to a prep school in Astoria Queens.  It was the mid to late 80’s and the NY Hardcore Scene was really big in the area.  Bands like Murphy’s Law and Token Entry came from Astoria.  Naturally I loved it.  It was chaotic enough to make me comfortable and I was socially conscious/political enough to appreciate the lyrics.  I was an angry young man.  In terms of my education, lets just say I couldn’t be confused with an academic.  I graduated from High School with one of the lowest GPA’s in recorded history.

Upon graduation I held a number of uninspiring positions in the health care industry.  I began computer hacking because it offered some kind of mental challenge. I pursued it with the same gusto that people play video games today.  I lived for my time off of work when I could troll networks and explore systems.  I began to loath my job and was at last inspired to go back to school.

I applied to college.  This time my approach to learning was quite different.  I wanted to be there.  I wanted to learn the skills (programming, math, operating systems) that would make me better at my hobby. I also felt trapped by my job.  I felt that without an education, I’d be trapped in mindless jobs (instead of a career) for the rest of my life.  I viewed college as my way out.  With that, I picked up a job as a computer technician and began my undergraduate degree as a part-time student.  I did well enough to appear on the deans list most semesters.

During the day I was working in Data Centers, and in the evening I was learning theory at university.  I eventually lost interest in hacking computers.  I felt that it’s much harder to build something then it was to find fault in things.  For instance, if you can design and build a car, you’re a top notch engineer.  If you find flaw with the fuel injection system and make a small change to suit your own needs, you’re simply a hack.

My career progressed as I attended school.  By the time I graduated, I had tons of hands on experience and had moved into some hard-core technical positions.

Today, I continue working as a systems engineer and software developer.  I’m finishing my MS in Computer Science and am pondering continuing my education with either another MS in Theoretical Mathematics or get the Ph.D. in Computer Science.

Outside of technology, I’m interested in the US Space program, HAM Radio (studying for my first license), and exploring Long Island.  I love visiting Long Islands vineyards, hiking, and BBQ’ing.  I love boxing (though I don’t do it any more myself), and lifting weights. During the summer I try to spend as much time as I can outdoors doing something.

In all, I enjoy life a lot.  I try to make the most of it each day.