Traditionally, I have not really written very much about myself on this page. I don't like doing it, and I didn't think that anyone really cared. Now, I still don't like doing it, and I still doubt anyone cares. But I think I will elaborate more on this page than I have before, if for the very simple fact that it will live through several updates of this site without needing updating.
As of Jan. 2003, the picture above pretty much represents me. It was taken at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. I'm roughly 6 feet tall (or a few inches taller) with a slender build. Skinny, perhaps. Lately I have been trying to get more exercise, and even work out a little. If you can't tell by the picture, my eyes are very light blue (almost grey). Yeesh, this is beginning to sound like a personal ad. I'll stop now.
In previous "About Myself's" I have mentioned that I live in London, Ontario and don't plan to go anywhere else. This is not particularly true now. I still live in London, but have been thinking very seriously about moving somewhere else. Currently, Australia is at the top of the list, but I am also considering California. Problem with California is that it is simply too crowded, and I have never really liked the feeling I get when I am in the US. Australia sounds like a great place to live. Just outside of a large city, with wide open areas and fewer people. The rotary engine scene down there is also simply amazing.
I have been out of high school since 1999, and working for a local computer store. My job includes networking, servicing of machines, programming and nearly anything else to do with computers. It's not your typical computer shop, and we are not a retail store. Mostly, we service small and medium businesses with some residential work thrown in for good measure. I tend to go on-site a lot which is nice as I do enjoy driving. Some days I spend in the shop, others I spend back and forth from customer's places, still others I spend doing work in Toronto or in the Toronto area. It's far from boring but like any job there are bad days. And in the computer field when it is a bad day, it is a really bad day. As for right now I have no plans to go back to school mainly becuause I have always hated school with a fiery burning passion. The way I see it, I would be paying quite a lot for a small piece of paper that says I graduated, but not necessarily for any more knowledge.
My interests are fairly varied, but all come back to a basic "technical" theme. I am interested in computers whether it be building them, using them, or programming them. Although I have to be in the right mood to actually do some programming since I loath sitting behind a desk for extended periods. I've been interested in computers since early grade 5, so as of 2006 when this was last updated, that's 15 years. Electronics used to be one of my hobbies, but I have since lost interest in it. My life became so saturated with electronics related things that it all just became very boring, and I had no desire to continue pursuing a boring hobby. Electronics was fun for a while but no matter how interesting the project after a while it seemed to lack any sort of payoff. Since then I have moved to more mechanical things like cars which seems to offer a lot more excitement. My most current hobby seems to be the Mazda RX-7. I currently own two RX-7s; an '86 base that has been turbocharged, and an '84 GSL-SE. In the past I have also owned two other RX-7s, another '86 and a '78. My daily driver is a 2000 Honda Insight. For those who don't know, the Insight a gas/electric "mild hybrid". Excellant mileage, low emissions and great fun to drive. This is my current "daily driver". Many Friday nights I can be found at the drag strip and on Sundays I try to autocross as often as possible. On and off for most of my life I have been playing Laser Quest. It's a live action laser tag game, and actually quite enjoyable. From Sept. 2000 to about Sept. 2001, I played probably more then is healthy. Since then my interest has sort of been fading. It's understandable when you consider that summer was insane as far as Laser Quest went. I was even a member of the team that went to Colorado and played in the North America Challenge. As of April of 2002 I have basically stopped playing. I will take a few years off, then starting to play again as my interest seems to go in cycles.
For the past few years I have been working part time (mostly on Saturdays) at CP Racing. CP is a shop that makes things go fast, primarily specializing in Mazda RX-7s. It's great fun, great experience but does suck up the last remaining part of my free time.
I've built some pretty wacky projects over the years, from mulchers, to scooters, go-karts and even hovercrafts. My current long term project is completely restoring and rebuilding my '86 RX-7. This project has been in progress since late 2002 and is where most of my free time goes. I do plan to make another go-kart at some point. The new kart will probably be 2 seater, most likely powered by a single rotor Wankel engine, or a turbojet.
Those are my major hobbies. Over the years I've been interested in quite a few things, from archery to skiing. I had to abandon archery because I simply didn't have enough time to continue, and skiing was sort of a one winter thing. Up until 2001, I shot sport rifle during the winter. Unfortunately, I am now too old to go to the Friday night shoots which is the only time I am able get down to the club as I work during the week. I still make it to the club once and a while to see old friends and pick up a gun when time allows.
At the moment, my favourite television shows include The Simpsons, Family Guy, Futurama, Monster Garage, American Chopper, Holmes On Homes, Build Or Bust, Daily Planet, Sports Car Revolution, Dream Car Garage and various other shows along those lines. As what seems to happen to every television show eventually, most of my all-time favourte shows have been cancelled. These include Forever Knight, Buffy The Vampire Slayer and The Secret Life Of Machines.In general I don't normally go for the mindless crap on TV so I make good use of my Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 PVR to customize my viewing experience and avoid the commercials.
As for music, my tastes vary widely but I'm very specific when I find something I like. Generally that means I'm open to anything with the exception of Rap/Hip-hop, Country and Pop. Normally I listen to specific songs instead of whole albums. I'm pretty selective in the music I listen to. If anyone asks me what my favourite band is, my usual answer is Rammstein. I seem to have more of their music than any other. Heavy industrial and/or goth metal is just perhaps my favourite, and also happens to be perfect driving music. If you want, you can take a look at my playlist.
I've had a few pets over the years, including various fish, a gerbil, some snakes, a whole lot of mice and random insects. My favourite animal is the mouse. My least favourite animal is the human. I do like dogs and cats, but would never actually have one as a pet due to the large amounts of work required. Over the years I have found that I have a starnge sort of understanding with most animals. For example, it's very rare that I meet a dog that doesn't like me.
I'm pretty selective in the people I hang around with. I have a small group of friends, and would like to keep it that way. I don't really like people, or meeting people, or hanging around with a bunch of people. I don't like people being forced upon me, and my friends know that. Like most young people my age, I will hang out in bars but usually only when I'm with my friends. I don't usually go alone simply because that might make other people assume that I'm actually looking to find someone to talk to, when I would rather just be left alone. Also I can tend to sort of have that "creepy guy in the corner thing" going. As far as girls go, I am insanely selective in that area. At the moment I'm single and for the forseeable future will remain that way. I've done the girlfriend thing in the past and while it's fun, ultimately it leads to trouble. I generally keep the attitude that girls are evil, and bringers of trouble. In most cases that is. My best and closest friend is a girl, and we've known each other for quite a long time. It's the kind of friendship that will last forever, and probably cannot be messed up no matter what happens.
I would consider myself a realistic optimist. That is, I realize that something is probably going to fail, but I try it anyway in the hopes that it works. This is in contrast to the pessimist who simply will not try. Many people are very surprised to know that I am not, in fact, a nice person. I'm generally very mean at heart, but don't necessarily show it. It's just easier to fake being nice to people than it is to show them my true attitude.
My philosophy of life and the world is based around "people are stupid". It's a hard thing to explain, so I don't usually try. If you have this same philosophy you will probably agree with me. Perhaps stupid is the wrong word? Ignorant may be better suited. Either way, this basic view of life proves itself over and over every day as I observe the people around me, the events on the news, and the shows on TV. A great irony is that common sense really isn't that common.
As for food, the whole thing revolves around the wonderful combination of pasta and tomato sauce. It's just that simple. Spaghetti, Rigatoni, La Sagna, Raviolla, etc. are the staples of my diet. I tend to eat hamburgers (plain, of course) for lunch, but don't often eat fast food for dinner. Usually dinner consists of either pasta, or meat such as pork chops, steak, ribs, etc. My favourite restuarant is a small Italian place in London called Tony's. My favourite fast food restuarant is the evil empire; McDonalds. I also tend to frequent East Side Marios, The Outback, Montanna's and Swisss Chalet.
My most favourite movie is Contact. Other favourites include the Back To The Future Trilogy, Fight Club (should be mandatory viewing), The Mothman Prophecies, The Terminator (I, II and III) and of course The Matrix.
At the moment I can't think of anything else to include in this little autobiography. However, we will end on what everyone wants to see...random pictures of me!
Me doing a burnout in my now dead '78 RX-7 beater (Ottawa, 2001)
Showing off my Honda Insight (Michigan, 2003...Thanks Amanda!)
Sitting in front of an RX-7 (not mine) looking pensive (Indianapolis, 2003)
Standing in a park during an ice storm (London, 2003...Thanks Lynnette!)
Me standing in a sewer pipe with a stupid look on my face (London, 2003)
