By training, I'm a biology major from Berkeley. I had aspirations to be a veterinarian, but at some point in college I realized I was having more fun with computers. Unfortunately, that point came well after the time when I could have reasonably switched majors; there is not a lot of overlap between Berkeley's CS and biology departments.
By chance, I am occasionally a writer. People who know my name know it because of two books I wrote in college, Zen and the Art of Resource Editing and The Tao of AppleScript. Both these books are out of print now, but they are still well regarded in some small corners of the Macintosh universe. These days, I'm working at transferring my writing skills to food writing. I have a lot to say on the subject of food. In fact, some friends convinced me to start a blog about my food experiences, so I did.
Also by chance, I'm a puzzle designer. I started collecting mechanical puzzles in '96 or so, and it turns out I have some talent as a designer, as well. Indeed, I was very excited recently to win an honorable mention in the International Puzzle Party's 2nd Annual Design Competition. I am also very fond of word puzzles, and am a member of the National Puzzler's League. My nom de plume in that group is Mirepoix.
By passion, I'm lots of things. My greatest passion is reading and I am a strong supporter of independent bookstores. You won't find any links to Amazon.com on my site. I am also an avid cook. I obsess about food: preparing it, eating it, and learning about it. I'm a member of Slow Food, an international group concerned with preserving traditional, artisanal foods, teaching people how to taste, and basically enjoying good food and wine the way one should--slowly.
So that's me in a nutshell. Here are some links if you want to learn more about some of my interests.
| Books | My Food Blog | Puzzles |
| Board Games | Opera | Miscellaneous |