Interests

Well, if you hit this page, you must be a sucker for punishment, wondering what would interest this poor, twisted mind. The best description of those interests would be varied (or as mentioned before, twisted).

Reading I am an avid reader. For enjoyment, I read primarily Science Fiction and Fantasy. I also read a number of periodicals, many computer related, some current event and a new favorite, the MIT Technology Review.

Science Fiction and Fantasy My biggest problem is running out of Authors. My favorites are hard to pin down. My first favorite was J.R.R. Tolkein; his works started me on the path. Others that I've read and enjoyed have been Anthony, Asimov, Bear, Eddings, Heinlein, Lackey, LeGuin, McAfferey, Norton, Rawn...

As you can tell, I enjoy the work of many writers. At present, we have around 1,000 SciFi and Fantasy Paperback Books in the basement. I tend to find an author I enjoy and then exhaust that writer's work.

Reviews of Some Books I've Read

Computers I have been involved with computers for over 20 years now. In 1980, I worked in a small computer firm, selling Cromemco computers, which used the CP/M Operating system, then later switched over to a Unix clone. (For those of you who may not know it, this was before IBM came out with their first PC, which was one of the bigger mistakes they had made.)

Since then, I have had a hand in computers, in sales, service, programming, playing, working, well you get the idea.

Handy Newsletter The Langa List is a great newsletter for people who work with computers. He deals with many current issues, addresses problems readers contact him about and offers reviews of freeware, shareware and commercial software. He has both a free and a Plus! (subscription edition). So far, I've only enjoyed the free version but someday I'll graduate to the Plus! Edition.

Scouting Yes, I have been a registered Boy Scout, even as an adult. I was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout as a child and still believe that the program teaches valuable lessons and skills. When my son entered Cub Scouts, I volunteered as an Assistant Cubmaster. I then inherited the job of Cubmaster, and moved to Boy Scouts with him, as an Assistant Scoutmaster. When work became more time consuming, I was unable to get to as many of the meetings, so, when the Committee Chair resigned, I stepped in.

Recently, due to many factors, I've stepped away from Boy Scouting. However, I hope I will be able to be more involved in Scouting again soon.

© Bob and Helen Gilson, 2004