More About Me
I can spin computer code, make words dance like trained kittens, and I have an abiding passion for startups. Contact me if you want more details.
Words, Ventures, Bits
Words: I'm a published fiction author, primarily in the Science Ficiton and Fantasy genre. My non-fiction runs the gamut from virtual societies to language to Argentine tango.
Bits: I've been a software developer for nearly 30 years, branching off into teaching and writing as soon as my employers discovered I could. I was doing AI R&D programming on Lisp Machines in 1984, making web pages in 1994, and creating applications in Ruby on Rails in 2004. I like the way my brain feels on Ruby.
Ventures: I've started three Internet companies, one of which was HBO and Sony's on-line store for many years. More recently I built a crowd-sourcing app providing on-line information about non-profit organizations.
Consulting: I have conducted usability analysis, provided guidance on media communication strategies, and written marketing materials for the best gelato in Seattle.
Managing and Teaching: I love herding cats. That is, managing techies or anyone with a creative and independent streak. Social engineering is my not-so-secret passion. Management and teaching have in common the goal of taking people from one place to another and getting them to do it under their own steam. That's the kind of fun I like to have.
Fighting and Dance: I have been practicing martial arts most of my life and dancing Argentine Tango since 2006. When it comes to music, physical contact, and footwear, these movement systems are of course quite different. But their similarities are fascinating: in both I learn about balance, integrity, and human nature.
Rumors: You can learn lots more about me from my blog: Noise and Signal.