Some of my interests include V8 muscle cars, firearms, auto mechanics, camping, hiking, hunting, computers, and video games. I currently have five computers in my house, ranging from a 450mhz AMD K6/2 Linux server to a fully loaded Pentium-IV 2.8ghz 800mhz FSB system w/ 256 mb graphics card and 2 gigs of dual channel DDR400 memory. Some of the computer games I enjoy playing regularly are Operation Flashpoint, Battlefield 1942, Battlefield Vietnam, Raven Shield, Athena Sword, and all of the Need for Speed games. I have written lots of freeware and shareware software, including a helper program for the Worldgroup module Mutants. I have also sold several pieces of software to companies, such as a program that keeps track of orders placed at carry-out/delivery restaurants, who is delivering it, total prices, taxes, etc etc.
I am currently enrolled in a B. S. degree program at Shepherd University. I just completed my first semester, making the Dean's List with a 4.0 GPA. My major is "Computer Programming and Information Systems" and my minor is "Mathematics". My parents bought me my first computer when I was four years old, a Commodore 64. That's how I embarked upon the path that I am headed down today.
After receiving my degree, I plan on joining the Air Force as an officer. During my four years of active duty service, I will continue my schooling to receive a second degree in Business Administration. Upon completion of my service in the Air Force, I want to start my own software company. My goal will be to pioneer new technology in the area of artificial intelligence and video gaming!
I started BBSing on the Commodore 64 at the age of five. There was no such thing as telnet back in 1985 -- in fact, I was so excited when I got my 1200 baud modem because it was the latest and greatest technology! Todays modems operate at approximately 56,000 baud, which is about forty-five times faster than 1200 baud! DSL and cable modems are capable of operating at speeds equivalent to and above 1,000,000 baud! Imagine spending 138 minutes downloading a one meg file :) Back in those days, BBSes were local, and only people from your area or people who could afford outrageous long distance fees belonged to them. While earlier BBSes lacked the diversity they have today, those that belonged were often a close-knit family. It was quite common for everyone on a BBS to get together somewhere every month or two and throw a decent sized party! I started playing TradeWars in 1986, so I have been involved in that online game for about eighteen years!
When I was ten years old, I discovered MajorMUD. Telnet existed during this time, but was not very popular. Everyone I played MajorMUD with lived within about thirty miles of me. Over the next few years, as the popularity of telnet and other internet services grew, the amount of local dial-up only BBSes began to dwindle. Soon afterward, I found myself without a local BBS to play on! That's when I began my search for a board to telnet to, and found one in Virginia. I don't even remember the name of it! Since then, I have played on many different BBSes across the country. I have also ran several BBSes of my own on several different platforms. In 1995, at the age of fifteen, I became the assistant network administrator of KeyNet in Frederick, MD.
The area I live in is very remote, and very beautiful. We still don't have broadband, however, and that makes it tough! I've included a few pictures of where I live in this HTML page.
This is me standing in the parking lot area of my driveway with my AR-15.
This is me shooting my AR-15.
This is me shooting my SKS.
This picture is me in uniform standing next to my Sheriff's Department cruiser.
This picture is the view off my porch, looking down the driveway and over at my nearest neighbor. This was taken near the end of January. There is snow on the ground here from late November until the middle of March!
This is a picture of my back "yard". I had to hold the camera at about a 20 degree angle pointed up the mountain to get this picture!
This picture speaks for itself :) I put a lot of money into this car, it's fast as nuts! It will plaster a grin on your face that lasts a week :)
