I have been watching this 5 Things Meme blitz it’s way across all the blogs I read. I typically try to stay away from participating in the modern equivalent of a chain letter but I thought this one was fun.  It adds a face, personality, what have you to the relatively impersonal world of the blog.

So here are my 5 things:

1. My interest in technology began with a radio shack electronics kit that you created circuits with by placing wires between springs.  I loved that kit. Eventually I moved up to HeathKits, built a Sinclair from a kit, etc.

2. My formal training is in computer engineering.  I have a BSEE in Computer Engineering but almost switched to computer science my senior year.  I was fed up with the physics of doping P/N junctions.  I enjoyed creating a program in minutes to do what it would take me months to design a chip to do.  Hence I ended school one class away from a computer science degree!

3. I was a CompuServe sysop for a number of years.  I ran the Microsoft support forums on CompuServe with a gentleman by the name of Runnoe Connelly. I then went on to run a network of 15 or so forums including the VBPJ, WINAPA-F, etc forums.

4. My introduction to the world of speaking at conferences was sudden.  My first VBITS I spoke at was in Munich Germany. The following week I spoke at a GUI Computing conference in Melbourne on Monday and Sydney on Thursday.  This was also my longest trip to date.  I flew Seattle-London-Munich-London-Singapore-Perth-Melbourne-Sydney-Cairns-Brisbane-Auckland-Papeete-Los Angelese-Seattle.  This was before the days of online ticketing and my travel agent initially told me the fare would be $7,000.  After I got up off the floor she figured out by making it into an around the world fare the ticket would drop to $2300.

5. One of my first jobs while in High School was as a lifeguard on the Bangor Naval Submarine Base near my home.  This led to me becoming a first aid instructor, CPR instructor, water safety instructor, lifeguarding instructor, fire fighter and emergency medical technician.  I paid a good portion of my way through college working as a reserve firefighter / EMT for the city I went to school in.

I guess I have to tag some other bloggers: Keith Pleas, Sandy Khaund, Richard Hundhausen, Walt Rischer and Brian Noyes

Friday, January 05, 2007 1:06:43 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)         Comments [0]