This is a page for stuff that I care about.
It mainly consists of links to other people's pages, because
I'm not interested in reinventing what's already been done.
Like 90% of all web pages, this one is permanently under construction.
If you've found this page, it's probably because I've given
you the URL, so I'm not going to tell my life's story here.
I live in
Wellington,
New Zealand
, where I've been ever
since I started my first permanent job in 1984.
Most recently (until March 2003) I was employed by
the New Zealand subsidiary of
EDS
as a computer-type person.
You can see my CV here, if you're interested.
I live with my partner Steve.
Of course I care a lot about about my family. But this page is about me.
Me, me, me, ME!
One of the many things the human race is doing wrong, in my humble
opinion, is pouring way too much junk into the atmosphere.
I would rather be part of the solution than part of the problem.
Oh, and it's fun too.
Here's my
Electric Mazda.
Here are my pictures of the Hutt Valley High School electric vehicle team activities.
Some other EV links:
I joined the
Wellington Medieval Guild
in about 1996 in order to do
dancing, because I needed the exercise. I met some really nice people
there so I stuck around, and at the time of writing (April 2003) I am the
Chancellor (which means I'm nominally in charge. Bwaaahahahaha!)
Dancing remains my strongest medieval interest. I also occasionally play
the recorder, do costume work when I have sufficient time and inclination,
and I have learned to cook a very small number of medieval dishes.
I don't do combat, and I haven't bothered much with heraldry.
Some interesting and useful medievalist links:
There are far too many good web pages out there for me to list them all.
Besides, I'd have to maintain the list.
So here are just a few of the ones I like.
Note: Bear in mind that some of these sources are better than others.
If you care about authenticity, check the references.
I have been learning Italian very slowly for several years.
First I did the two courses classes offered by Victoria University's
Continuing Education
unit,
and then I joined the
Circolo Italiano di Wellington
Another useful page is that of the
Italian Embassy.
No, I haven't been to Italy yet, and I don't have any immediate plans to go there.
I used to read quite a lot of science fiction, but these days I spend most
of my time "doing stuff" which doesn't leave a lot of time for reading.
However, I do watch a fair bit of what turns up on the TV and at the movies.
I like to think I'm picking out the good bits to watch but who knows.
I belong to the
Phoenix Science Fiction Society (no relation to Pheonix, Arizona)
and I'm a founding member of the newly created
SFFANZ
- Science Fiction and
Fantasy Association of New Zealand, administrators of the
Sir Julius Vogel Awards.
Most years I manage to get to the NZ National Science Fiction Convention.
This year (2003) it was
Emoticon,
held in Auckland at Easter.
In 2004 it will be
ConTour,
in Rotorua at Easter.
(It isn't always at Easter, it just seems that way right now.)
When I go to conventions, I usually join in with the
filking.
For those who don't know, it's a nasty habit that involves mangling well-known
songs by putting different words to them. We do it because it's fun, and the
words are more important than little things like getting the tune right.
It could be worse - I could be a smoker.
The other thing I particularly enjoy at conventions is the Masquarade.
This is essentially a talent quest for those who make costumes and perform skits
In 2001, four of us got together and did an act called "Martian Linedancers
for Jesus". In 2002, I got together with some medievalist friends for
"The Future Reenactors". Both of these acts seemed to be appreciated at the
time (we were given actual prizes) so I'll probably do it again one day.
There are photos of these two acts, maybe one day I'll put them up here.
This bit had to come up eventually I suppose. Are you bored yet?
When I was working at EDS, we had a special term for people who
are experienced in both Unix and Microsoft-based environments.
Such people are called "cross-dressers". I am one of them.
I will refrain from discussing the pros and cons of the various
Windows and Unix flavours, it's not good for my blood pressure.
I'll just say that I prefer the Open Source philosophy and leave it at that.
Having said that though, I confess that I am running Windoze on my
main computers at home, and having set them up correctly I am
quite happy to use them that way.
There are certain programs and settings that make life on a Windoze PC bearable.
Th-th-th-that's all, folks!