Hello - this is my first post to this group. I was told about your group by a tech rep for HP (unofficially, of course), when I problem I'm having was beyond the scope of both Microsoft and HP.
I am self-employed as a programmer (embedded systems mostly) and Operations Manager since I'm basically a one-man show! I first started programming in the 60's in college at Cal State Long Beach in CA (when others were experiencing free love - dumb huh!). My first 'machine' was an IBM 1620,card based, variable word length and a number of other nowadays non-sensical adjectives type computer. I have been around computers all my adult life either as a programmer or manager of same. Still working since I can't afford to retire!
I've programmed in FORTRAN (yes, that very old language), C, C++, assembly, machine language. More recently (within the last 5 years) I've been using Visual C, Visual Basic,HTML, PHP and MySQL, of which I don't consider myself an expert in any.
Except for necessary web development to advertize the business, sdk's, cross-compilers, linkers, remote downloaders and editors I use as a matter of course in developing embedded systems, I consider a PC as a means to an end, not a place to dwell and relish what the gods at Microsoft and others have created for the benefit of mankind. Plus, much of the time the creations mentioned above have left me less than satisfied.
What I do is not very exciting. The embedded systems involve primarily credit card transaction terminals that I write custom programs for, e.g., age verification, time and atttendance and lead retrieval.
Hobbies: My main hobby is bicycling since that is my major form of exercise. I also enjoy golf but don't live for it because golf doesn't particularly like me! I enjoy martial arts, primarily karate, Sho-Ryn Ru Okinawan style for which I was awarded my black belt 6 days before my 60th birthday (it only took ten years!). After all, I had to do something to relieve the frustration and aggravation of programming,etc. Please believe that I'm not bragging in any way. For you novices to martial arts, I black belt in any martial art by itself means basically nothing. In fact, many systems/dojos who cater to the latter day yuppies or those otherwise in need of instant gratification, guarantee a black belt within a few years (2-3) with around 3 days per week of attendance. All this means is that someone has a belt which happens to be colored black and a gi to go along with it but very little substance behind the glitter. Enough about martial arts. Suffice it to say that I think it benefits all who care to attempt it whether their goal is a particular belt level or just learning how to basically defend themselves. I highly recommend it to females and children of all ages in today's very scary world.
In case you're not bored to tears yet, I like to read, primarily fiction (legal cases intrigue me in particular), music (virtually any kind with the small exception and I hope this doesn't offend - jazz and that form of music where rather than sing they talk to you in tongues, I think it's called rap! For me there is only one M&M's! Oh yeah, I also love to gamble, drink beer and smoke, not exactly a candidate for the anonymous group in any of those categories, but living in the neighborhood of several American Native Casinos, it's all but impossible to resist (must finish that program so I can go gamble!).
I am soon to be divorced for the second time (as if you couldn't tell by my subtlely caustic attitude) with five grandchildren, the oldest of which is soon to be seven.
I have two dogs, a Saint Bernard and a mutt (cross between Chow and Retriever - Retriever good, Chow bad!). The Saint Bernard is precious, however she is dying of bone cancer.
Well, I'll leave my bio on that happy note.
Having read a few of the posts on this group it seems to contain people of all backgrounds and ages and seems like a good place to go for technical assistance or just hang out. I'm glad I found it and I look forward to benefitting from it and hopefully reciprocating.
Thanks for your time.
Docjump