Bio/CV

This site is an ongoing experiment in building connections and clarity — an attempt at making sense of things. The experiment began in May 2002, and through the years has been a roller-coaster of changing content, ideas and styles, culminating in what you see today. Of course, don’t expect it to remain this way. Like all good experiments, it — this site — is not static; it is dynamic.

The Author, A.K.A. “Me”

Me

The best way to describe myself and my work may be simply to describe my approach to life. My fundamental philosophical axiom, if I may borrow a phrase from the late Alan Watts, is simply that the universe is not serious. I have yet to be presented any evidence as to the contrary. As a direct corollary to this, I tend not to take myself very seriously either. Who I am or what I do is not really of much consequence in the cosmic scheme of things. But, if you’re anything like me, you wouldn’t have clicked on the “about” button if you weren’t at least curious about the man behind the curtain.

So, for the sake of brevity, I will describe myself as a technologist. Or, more specifically, as a person who makes things and thinks about them. My primary interests lie in promoting the joys of play and wonder and curiosity — mostly through the creation of whimsical technological artworks, and the exploration of new technologies for playful learning and creative expression. I also enjoy thinking about technology in general, and how it changes behavior and affects our perceptions of what it means to be a human being on this little planet we call Earth.

I am, or have been, a computer programmer, graphic designer, writer, teacher, student, business owner, management consultant, Zen Buddhist, kiwifruit orchard pruner, and professional cancer patient. A native of San Diego, I spent my undergraduate years at UCLA, then the next several years working as an entrepreneur and freelance designer/developer, mostly as a tactic to avoid daily incarceration in a creativity-stifling cubicle. Currently, I am graduate student in the Arts Computation Engineering (ACE) program at UCI.

When I’m not coding or tinkering or writing rambling personal biographies, you can usually find me with my girlfriend Sara, outside hiking and exploring, inside playing my guitar, or just reading a book.

This information may change at undocumented random intervals. It was last updated on October 22, 2008. Accuracy is guaranteed to degrade over time.

Curriculum Vitae

If the preceding information wasn’t detailed enough for you, here’s my curriculum vitae.

Talks

Sometimes people invite me to come blab about random things the interest me. I keep an archive of these talks for posterity’s sake. (Coming soon.)